Planning a family day out in London? Covent Garden is one of the city’s most beloved destinations for families — with its iconic Piazza, vibrant street performers, world-class shops, and some of the finest restaurants the capital has to offer. But finding the right place to eat with children in tow can be a challenge. You need somewhere welcoming, somewhere with a menu that genuinely caters to young diners, and somewhere that lets the whole family relax and enjoy the meal together.
At La Ballerina Italian Restaurant in Covent Garden, we have been welcoming families since 1999. With a dedicated Kids Menu, an extensive selection of homemade pasta and wood-fired pizza, and the warm, unhurried hospitality that comes from being a genuinely family-run restaurant, La Ballerina is the natural choice for family dining in Covent Garden’s West End.
Whether you are visiting London for the first time, spending a day exploring the Piazza with the children, or treating the family to a special lunch before a show at the Royal Opera House, La Ballerina has everything your family needs for a truly memorable Italian meal.
Why Families Love La Ballerina
In a neighbourhood filled with dining options, La Ballerina stands out as one of the most genuinely family-friendly restaurants in Covent Garden for several important reasons.
First and foremost: the food. Italian cuisine is universally loved by children and adults alike. Fresh pasta, crispy wood-fired pizza, simple and satisfying sauces — these are dishes that appeal to even the most selective young diners. At La Ballerina, every pasta dish is made fresh in-house daily, and our pizzas are prepared from scratch with the finest ingredients. When children eat at La Ballerina, they are not eating reheated, packaged food. They are eating real, authentic Italian cooking — and they can taste the difference.
Second: the welcome. As a family-run, independent restaurant, we genuinely love welcoming families through our doors. Our team is warm, patient, and experienced in making young diners feel at ease. There is no rush, no impatience, and no sense that children are anything other than completely welcome. This is the kind of hospitality that has kept families returning to La Ballerina for over 25 years.
Third: the location. Our address at 7–8 Bow Street, directly next door to the Royal Opera House, places us at the very heart of Covent Garden — a few minutes’ walk from the Piazza, the London Transport Museum, and all the other family attractions that make this neighbourhood so special. After a morning exploring Covent Garden, La Ballerina is the perfect place to sit down, recharge, and enjoy a proper Italian meal before the afternoon’s adventures continue.
The La Ballerina Kids Menu – Delicious Italian Food for Young Diners
One of the things that truly sets La Ballerina apart as a family-friendly restaurant in Covent Garden is our dedicated Kids Menu. We believe that children deserve to eat as well as the adults at the table — not just a bowl of chips or a plain cheese sandwich, but genuinely delicious, carefully prepared Italian food that introduces young palates to the true flavours of Italy.
Our Kids Menu has been thoughtfully designed to offer familiar, child-friendly dishes that are cooked with the same care and quality as everything else on our menu. Young diners can enjoy:
Kids Pizza
A perfectly sized, hand-prepared pizza with a crispy base, vibrant tomato sauce, and fresh mozzarella — exactly the kind of pizza that makes children’s eyes light up. Our kids pizza is made fresh in our kitchen, not defrosted from a packet, and it shows in every bite.
Kids Pasta
A simple, beautifully cooked pasta dish with a choice of sauce — the kind of honest, satisfying Italian pasta that children instinctively love. Made with the same fresh, homemade pasta that we serve to every guest in the restaurant, our kids pasta is a little taste of authentic Italy for young diners.
Kids Ice Cream
Every great meal deserves a great ending, and for younger guests, our Kids Ice Cream dessert is the perfect finish. A generous scoop of classic Italian ice cream that never fails to delight.
Our Kids Menu is available throughout service and is priced to offer genuine value — because we believe that a great family meal should be accessible to everyone.
The Full Menu – Something for Every Member of the Family
Of course, while the children enjoy their dedicated Kids Menu, the adults at the table have the full breadth of La Ballerina’s authentic Italian menu to explore. And what a menu it is.
Homemade Pasta – Fresh Daily, Never Frozen
Our pasta is the heart of everything we do at La Ballerina, and it is one of the main reasons families return to us time and again. Every pasta dish is crafted fresh in-house each day — silkier, more flavourful, and more satisfying than anything dried or packaged.
Highlights from our pasta menu that are particularly popular with family diners include:
- Spaghetti Bolognese — The classic family favourite. Rich, slow-cooked meat sauce with perfectly cooked spaghetti. Simple, honest, and deeply satisfying for adults and older children alike.
- Gnocchi della Casa (£14.95) — Soft potato gnocchi with your choice of tomato sauce or sage butter. A wonderfully comforting dish that appeals to all ages.
- Lasagne alla Bolognese (£15.95) — Layers of fresh pasta, rich meat sauce, and creamy béchamel. The ultimate Italian comfort food, and a family favourite across every generation.
- Pennette Arrabiata (£10.95) — For adults who like a little heat. A simple, vibrant tomato and chilli sauce with penne — and excellent value right in the heart of the West End.
- Tagliatelle al Salmone (£16.75) — Smoked salmon, fresh tomato, and cream sauce. An elegant choice for parents who want something a little more sophisticated while the children enjoy their favourites.
Wood-Fired Pizza – A Family Favourite
Is there anything more universally loved by families than a great pizza? At La Ballerina, our wood-fired pizzas are made entirely from scratch — hand-stretched bases, the finest toppings, and the kind of irresistible crunch that only comes from a properly made Italian pizza.
From the classic Margherita (£11.50) to more adventurous options like the Sicilian (£16.50) — topped with mozzarella, Parma ham, pepperoni sausage, basil, and oregano — there is a pizza on our menu to satisfy every member of the family. Our Ballerina Pizza (£14.50), with its signature combination of tomato, mozzarella, pineapple, and Parma ham, is a particular favourite with younger diners who love something a little sweet with their savoury.
For vegetarian family members, our Fiorentina Pizza (£14.50) — with tomato, mozzarella, spinach, and egg — is a beautifully satisfying option that proves great vegetarian pizza is very much part of the Italian tradition.
Fresh Seafood and Meat Dishes for the Adults
For parents looking for something beyond pasta and pizza, La Ballerina’s full menu extends to beautifully prepared fresh seafood from our Pesce Fresco section and a carefully curated selection of meat dishes from our Carne menu. Our Grilled Salmon with Green Pepper and Pesto Sauce is a light, elegant option for adults, while the Saltimbocca alla Romana (£19.95) — veal with ham and sage in white wine sauce — is a genuine Italian classic that parents who love to eat well will thoroughly appreciate.
Italian Desserts the Whole Family Will Love
A family meal at La Ballerina does not end with the main course. Our dessert menu is one of the most genuinely Italian in Covent Garden, and there is something on it to delight every generation.
While the children enjoy their Kids Ice Cream, the adults can indulge in some of our most beloved Italian desserts:
- Tiramisu (£6.50) — Our homemade Tiramisu is the stuff of legend. Espresso-soaked ladyfingers, velvety mascarpone, dark cocoa — a dessert that has been delighting guests at La Ballerina for over 25 years.
- Panna Cotta (£5.95) — Silky Italian cooked cream with fresh vanilla and raspberry coulis. Light, elegant, and beautiful on the plate.
- Profiteroles Scuro (£6.50) — Soft choux pastry filled with cream and covered in rich milk chocolate. A dessert that adults and older children adore equally.
- Cassata (£6.50) — Traditional Italian ice cream with vanilla, chocolate, cream, and candied fruit. Colourful, indulgent, and a wonderful way to end a family meal.
Perfect for Every Family Occasion in Covent Garden
La Ballerina is not just a great choice for a casual family lunch — it is the ideal destination for every kind of family occasion in London’s West End.
Family Day Out in Covent Garden: After a morning at the London Transport Museum, exploring the Covent Garden Piazza, or watching the street performers, La Ballerina is the perfect lunch stop — relaxed, welcoming, and serving food that the whole family will enjoy.
Family Birthday Celebrations: Whether it is a child’s birthday or a grown-up milestone, La Ballerina’s warm, festive atmosphere makes every celebration feel special. Our team loves marking special occasions, and we can accommodate group reservations for family celebrations of all sizes.
Family Visits to the Royal Opera House: Covent Garden is home to some of London’s most famous performance venues, and many families visit the area for matinee performances and family shows. La Ballerina’s location directly next door to the Royal Opera House makes us the natural choice for a family meal before or after a performance — with a Pre & Post Theatre Set Menu (£25.95) that offers exceptional value for the whole group.
School Holiday Dining: During half-term and school holidays, Covent Garden fills with families exploring London. La Ballerina is open Monday to Saturday 12pm–11pm and Sunday 12pm–10pm, making us perfectly placed for family lunches and early dinners throughout the holidays.
Practical Family Dining Information
Address: 7–8 Bow Street, Covent Garden, London WC2E 7AH (Directly next door to the Royal Opera House — 2 minutes from Covent Garden tube station)
Opening Hours: Monday to Saturday: 12pm – 11pm Sunday: 12pm – 10pm
Kids Menu: Available throughout all service times.
Reservations: Strongly recommended, especially at weekends and during school holidays when Covent Garden is at its busiest. Booking ahead guarantees your family a table and allows us to prepare for any special requirements.
Dietary Requirements: Gluten-free pasta options are available. Please let our team know about any dietary requirements or allergies at the time of booking and we will be happy to assist.
Highchairs: Available for younger diners — please request at the time of booking.
Group Bookings: La Ballerina can accommodate larger family groups and celebrations. Please contact us directly to discuss your requirements and we will do everything we can to make your family occasion perfect.
Book Your Family Italian Dinner at La Ballerina Today
From our dedicated Kids Menu and freshly made pasta to our wood-fired pizzas and warm, genuine Italian hospitality, La Ballerina is everything a family-friendly Italian restaurant in Covent Garden should be. We have been welcoming families to our table since 1999 — and we look forward to welcoming yours.
La Ballerina Italian Restaurant 7–8 Bow Street, London WC2E 7AH 📞 020 7379 6659 📧 reservations@laballerina.co.uk 🕐 Mon–Sat: 12pm–11pm | Sunday: 12pm–10pm
👉 Book Your Table Online 👉 View Our Kids Menu 👉 View Our Full Menu 👉 Pre & Post Theatre Set Menu
