The Adelphi Theatre has stood on the Strand for over 200 years, its striking Art Deco interior one of the most distinctive in the West End. A night here deserves a proper Italian dinner beforehand, rather than something rushed on the way in.
La Ballerina Italian Restaurant is around 0.4 miles from the Adelphi’s door on the Strand, a very close, easy 8-minute walk. It’s one of the closest proper Italian restaurants to the venue and has been serving Covent Garden for over 25 years. If you want the evening to feel considered from the first course onwards, this is where to begin it.
What’s On at the Adelphi Theatre Right Now
The Comedy About Spies Booking until 26 September 2026 | Age guidance: 10+ | Running time: 2 hours 20 minutes, including a 20-minute interval
Mischief Theatre the team behind The Play That Goes Wrong and Peter Pan Goes Wrong bring their Olivier-nominated spy farce back to the West End for a strictly limited eight-week run. Set in 1960s London, it follows a rogue British agent, a stolen weapons file, and a hotel full of CIA, KGB and MI5 operatives who are, without exception, hopelessly out of their depth. It’s fast, silly, and very funny, with the kind of physical comedy that has audiences in stitches from the opening scene.
Please note: the production includes a simulated explosion with stage smoke and flashing lights, along with scenes of physical and verbal conflict played for comic effect. Children under 4 are not admitted, and anyone aged 15 or under must be accompanied by an adult.
Performances run Tuesday to Saturday at 7.30pm, with matinees on Wednesday and Saturday at 2.30pm, plus additional Sunday performances on selected dates. It’s worth checking the calendar carefully when you book, as the schedule shifts slightly through August and September.
Coming Next: once The Comedy About Spies wraps its run, the Adelphi turns to The Lives of Others from 14 October 2026, followed by a return of Billy Elliot the Musical from 12 February 2027. Worth keeping in mind if you’re planning a theatre trip further ahead.
La Ballerina: 8 Minutes from the Adelphi Door
The Adelphi Theatre sits on the Strand, WC2R 0NS. La Ballerina is a short walk away at 7-8 Bow Street, a comfortable 8 minutes on foot, and one of the nearest proper Italian dining rooms to this end of the Strand. No tube, no taxi, no stress.
That’s well worth building into your evening, especially with a running time of around 2 hours 20 minutes. An 8-minute walk either side still leaves plenty of room for a relaxed sit-down meal without cutting it fine before curtain-up.
Coming Out After the Show?
La Ballerina stays open late, until 11:00 PM Monday to Saturday, and 10:00 PM on Sundays. If you’d rather eat afterwards, the kitchen will still be running.
A 7.30pm evening performance should have you out by around 9.50pm, leaving a comfortable window for a proper late dinner at La Ballerina straight after. A Wednesday or Saturday matinee at 2.30pm wraps up by around 4.50pm, making an early dinner or a leisurely late-afternoon table an easy option too. Either way, a table at La Ballerina works comfortably around Adelphi’s schedule.
How to Book
La Ballerina fills up on show nights, particularly at weekends, so a call or email the day before is well worth it to secure your table.
📞 Phone: +44 20 7379 6659
✉️ Email: reservations@laballerina.co.uk
🌐 Online: laballerina.co.uk/reservation/
📍 Address: 7-8 Bow Street, Covent Garden, London WC2E 7AH
Adelphi Theatre: Strand, London WC2R 0NS — 8 minutes’ walk
Whether you’re catching the last laughs of The Comedy About Spies or planning ahead for a future Adelphi show, La Ballerina makes the whole evening easier, tastier and a great deal more Italian.
