The Delaunay

The Delaunay is a grand European cafe-restaurant on Aldwych, open seven days a week for breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea and dinner. Inspired by the great cafes of Vienna and Paris and created by the team behind The Wolseley, it is all polished wood, brass and leather banquettes, one of the most elegant rooms on the eastern edge of Covent Garden.

The menu moves through the day without pause, from Birchermuesli and Viennoiserie in the morning to Holstein schnitzel, wieners and tartes flambees in the evening. Afternoon tea draws on the Viennese cafe tradition with classic pastries and cakes, finger sandwiches and a full selection of teas and coffees, and the bar runs a cocktail list alongside. Next door, The Delaunay Counter offers the same spirit in a more casual setting, open from breakfast into the evening.

European grand cafe in Covent Garden

The Delaunay is placed for the West End, a six-minute walk from Temple, Covent Garden and Holborn stations, and pre-theatre dining is one of the main reasons people come. The kitchen stays open late from Monday to Friday, with a set three-course pre-theatre menu and a drink, and the Aldwych and Novello theatres are on the doorstep. It is equally suited to a working breakfast, a long Saturday lunch or a quiet coffee and cake at the counter.

What to expect on a visit

The restaurant opens at 8am on Monday, Friday and Saturday, 7am from Tuesday to Thursday, and 11am on Sunday, serving until 10.30pm most nights, 10pm on Monday and 9pm on Sunday. Service is formal in the best sense, with uniformed waiters and white tablecloths, and booking is recommended for dinner. It is one of the most polished fine dining restaurants in Covent Garden, and pairs naturally with a visit to Simpson's in the Strand a few minutes away for another taste of the grand tradition. For a Viennese-style cafe restaurant near the Strand, it has few rivals.