Cora Pearl

Cora Pearl is the Covent Garden sister restaurant to Kitty Fisher's in Mayfair, set in a historic townhouse on Henrietta Street a short walk from the Royal Opera House. It takes its name from the nineteenth-century courtesan who lived close by before becoming the toast of Paris, and it serves modern European bistro food, cocktails and wine across two softly lit floors.

The restaurant opened to strong reviews and has kept them. Eater London called it the new darling of Covent Garden, Condé Nast Traveller described it as an instant classic, and Giles Coren in The Times famously crowned its cheese and ham toastie dish of the year, the decade and the century. CNN Travel placed its Sunday roast among the best in London. The kitchen is led by head chef Charlie Shaw with Kate Smart as general manager. St Paul's, the Actors' Church, adjoins the building, and Cora's own parents were married there.

Pre-theatre dining in Covent Garden from a Michelin-listed kitchen

Cora Pearl appears in the Michelin Guide's selection of the best pre-theatre dining in London, and the lunch and pre-theatre menu is the sensible route before a show. The a la carte runs at lunch and dinner, Sunday lunch is a roast-led affair, and the drinks list covers cocktails and a thoughtful wine selection. A click and collect service lets regulars take the house favourites home.

What to expect on a visit

Lunch is served Monday to Saturday from noon until 4pm with the kitchen closing at 2.30pm, dinner from 5pm until 11pm with last food orders at 9pm, and Sunday lunch from noon until 6pm. Full or half hire of the restaurant is available for private events, and gift cards can be bought online. The room is intimate and in demand, so book ahead, particularly for Sunday lunch. Explore other restaurants in Covent Garden, or for dumplings on the same street see Din Tai Fung.