The London sister of the beloved New York brasserie, Balthazar Covent Garden captures the grand Parisian brasserie experience perfectly. The Art Nouveau decor (red banquettes, marble, ornate mirrors), brunch offerings, plateau de fruits de mer, and steak frites make this one of the West End's most reliably excellent all-day restaurants.
Balthazar on Russell Street in Covent Garden opened in 2013 as the London outpost of Keith McNally's celebrated New York brasserie. It captures the atmosphere of a great Parisian brasserie with remarkable fidelity: the dining room is arranged with red leather banquettes, antique mirrors, cream marble, mosaic floors, and a zinc-topped bar that together create an entirely convincing vision of a belle époque French restaurant. The menu follows the brasserie blueprint with intelligence: plateau de fruits de mer (shellfish platter on ice) as the centrepiece of the starter offerings, steak frites, duck confit, and a selection of omelettes and salads for lighter orders. The brunch is one of the West End's finest — eggs Benedict, croque madame, French toast — and draws a substantial weekend crowd. The wine list is appropriately Francophile with excellent champagne and Alsace selections. The bread is baked in-house and is exceptional. Service is professional and warm without the formality that can afflict grand rooms. The location between Covent Garden and the Strand makes it ideal before or after a theatre performance, and the kitchen serves until relatively late. Bookings are advisable for weekend dinners and weekend brunch.
Location
51.5122, -0.1237 View on map
Highlights
- Grand Parisian brasserie atmosphere — red banquettes, zinc bar, antique mirrors — faithfully executed
- Plateau de fruits de mer: a spectacular chilled shellfish platter as the signature centrepiece
- Weekend brunch among Covent Garden's finest — eggs Benedict, croque madame, French toast
- House-baked bread of exceptional quality, served throughout the meal
- Ideal pre- or post-theatre location near Covent Garden and the Strand theatres
Tips for visiting
- Weekend brunch requires booking two weeks ahead — Saturday and Sunday mornings fill quickly.
- The plateau de fruits de mer for two is the most characterful order at dinner.
- The bar area can often accommodate walk-ins for oysters and champagne without a full dinner booking.
- Pre-theatre menus offer efficient dining before evening performances at nearby West End theatres.
- The steak frites and duck confit are the reliable dinner anchors — both are consistently executed.
Accessibility
Balthazar is at street level on Russell Street with step-free entry. The ground-floor dining room is spacious and accommodates wheelchair users. Contact the reservations team when booking to confirm specific seating arrangements.
Frequently asked questions
Is Balthazar London the same as Balthazar New York?
Balthazar London was opened by the same owner as the New York original, Keith McNally, and deliberately replicates its atmosphere and menu philosophy. The two restaurants share the same design DNA but operate independently in their respective cities.
Is Balthazar suitable for pre-theatre dining?
Balthazar is very well suited to pre-theatre dining given its location near the major Covent Garden and Strand theatre venues. The kitchen offers a pre-theatre menu with fixed timing and can accommodate curtain-up schedules with advance notice when booking.
How far in advance should visitors book Balthazar?
Weekend dinners and weekend brunch should be booked two to three weeks ahead. Weekday lunches and early-week evenings are more accessible and can often be booked with a few days' notice.