London is full of restaurants that call themselves romantic. Far fewer actually deliver on that promise. If you’re searching for the best romantic restaurant in Covent Garden, the kind of place where the lighting is soft, the pasta is handmade, and the evening feels unhurried — La Ballerina has been quietly perfecting that experience since 1999.
Tucked into 7–8 Bow Street, right beside the Royal Opera House, La Ballerina has become a go-to date night restaurant in Covent Garden for couples celebrating anniversaries, marking first dates, or simply wanting a proper Italian evening away from the noise of the West End. This guide explains exactly why and how to make the most of your visit.
What Actually Makes a Restaurant Romantic?
Candles and red wine help, but they’re not the whole story. A genuinely romantic Italian restaurant in London needs three things: an atmosphere that lets conversation breathe, food worth lingering over, and service that never feels rushed.
At La Ballerina, all three come together naturally. The dining room sits in a quiet corner of Covent Garden, away from the piazza crowds, with warm lighting and an opera-inspired elegance that suits a special occasion without trying too hard. Tables are spaced for privacy, not turned over in a hurry — which is exactly what a couple wants on a date night.
A 25-Year Love Affair With Covent Garden
La Ballerina opened its doors in 1999 and has remained family-run ever since. In a part of London where restaurants open and close with the seasons, that kind of longevity says something. Locals return for anniversaries year after year; tourists discover it once and book again on their next trip to London.
Being steps from the Royal Opera House on Bow Street gives the restaurant a natural romance of its own — the kind of street where couples already come dressed up for an evening out. Whether you’re here before a performance or simply for dinner, the setting does half the work for you.
The Dishes That Set the Mood
A romantic dinner lives or dies by the food. Here’s what we’d recommend ordering for two.
Start With Something to Share
Tomato, Mozzarella & Basil or a plate of Calamari Fish (£15.50) — tender squid in breadcrumbs — make easy, unfussy starters that don’t compete for attention before the main event.
Tagliatelle al Salmone — Built for Candlelight
Smoked salmon, fresh chopped tomato, and a delicate cream sauce over silky tagliatelle. At £16.75, this dish is refined without being precious — the kind of pasta that photographs as beautifully as it tastes, and pairs effortlessly with a glass of white wine.
Tagliatelle Mare e Monti — Sea Meets Mountain
For something a little more adventurous to share, Tagliatelle Mare e Monti brings baby prawns, garlic, and a fragrant pesto cream sauce together at £16.55. Bold, aromatic, and built for lingering conversation between bites.
Gnocchi della Casa — Comfort Without Compromise
Soft potato gnocchi in tomato sauce or sage butter, at just £14.95. Simple, warm, and the kind of dish that makes a date feel relaxed rather than performative.
Finish With Tiramisu
At £6.50 and made fresh in-house, the tiramisu is the obvious way to end the evening — two spoons, one plate, no need to overthink it.
The Pre-Theatre Advantage
If your date night includes a show at the Royal Opera House, La Ballerina’s exclusive relationship with the venue makes the evening effortless. The Pre & Post Theatre Set Menu (£25.95) is built around performance timings: a starter before curtain-up, your main course during the interval, and coffee to finish once the show ends.
It means no clock-watching, no rushed courses, and no missing the opening act because the kitchen ran late. For couples who want dinner and a show without the usual stress of timing it themselves, this is the easiest way to do it.
Setting the Scene: Why the Atmosphere Works
Unlike many West End restaurants built for volume, La Ballerina’s dining room is designed around the idea that a meal should feel like an occasion. The opera-inspired décor, the warm low lighting, and the unhurried pacing all point toward the same goal: making two people feel like the room is theirs for the evening.
It’s also genuinely versatile. The same setting that suits a first date works just as well for a 20th wedding anniversary or a quiet Tuesday night when you simply want something better than takeaway.
Gluten-Free Without Compromise
Romance shouldn’t come with dietary caveats. La Ballerina offers gluten-free pasta options across the menu, so dietary requirements never have to mean sitting out the main event of the evening. Just mention it when booking and the kitchen will take care of the rest.
Planning Your Date Night
Best for a quiet, intimate dinner: Book a weekday evening — Monday to Thursday tends to be calmer than weekend nights.
Best for pre-theatre romance: Reserve the Pre & Post Theatre Set Menu and let the timing do the work for you.
Best for a special occasion: Mention anniversaries or celebrations when booking — a family-run restaurant like La Ballerina can often make small accommodations a chain never would.
We’re open Monday to Saturday, 12pm–11pm, and Sunday, 12pm–10pm — plenty of room to plan an evening that doesn’t feel rushed.
Why Couples Keep Coming Back
In a neighbourhood saturated with new openings chasing the next trend, La Ballerina has stayed exactly what it set out to be: an honest, family-run Italian restaurant where the food is made properly and the room knows how to hold a quiet conversation. That’s a harder thing to find in Covent Garden than it sounds — and it’s precisely why this has become the address couples return to, year after year.
Book Your Table at La Ballerina
Ready for a date night that doesn’t feel like every other restaurant in the West End?
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 the Pre & Post Theatre Set Menu
La Ballerina Authentic Italian Restaurant in Covent Garden, London. Candlelit dinners, handmade pasta, and 25 years of romance done properly.
