Bow Street, Covent Garden — about a 4-5 minute walk
Some of London’s grandest nights out begin at Theatre Royal Drury Lane, the oldest theatre site in the world still in continuous use and one of the true jewels of the West End. And any evening at “The Lane” deserves a dinner to match rather than a rushed sandwich on the way in.
La Ballerina Italian Restaurant sits on Bow Street, right next to the Royal Opera House, roughly a 4-5 minute walk from Theatre Royal Drury Lane’s door on Catherine Street. It’s a well-established, family-run Italian restaurant that has been serving Covent Garden since 1999 — over 25 years. If you want your pre-theatre dinner to feel like part of the occasion rather than something to get out of the way, this is a solid choice.
What’s On at Theatre Royal Drury Lane Right Now
Disney’s Hercules the Musical
Now booking until Saturday 5 September 2026 | Tickets from £29.50 | Age guidance: 6+ | Running time: 2 hours 10 minutes, including a 20-minute interval
Disney’s mega-musical is in its closing weeks at Drury Lane, having played the theatre for over a year. Directed and choreographed by Tony Award-winner Casey Nicholaw, with music by Alan Menken and lyrics by David Zippel, Hercules brings the much-loved 1997 animated film to the stage in an energetic, gospel-inspired retelling of the Greek myth — complete with hit songs including Go the Distance and Zero to Hero. It’s a genuinely family-friendly night out, with plenty of spectacle and a fair amount of humour aimed squarely at the grown-ups in the room too.
Evening performances typically run Monday, and Wednesday to Saturday, at 7.30pm, with matinees on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays at 2.30pm — so Tuesday is usually a matinee-only day. Schedules can shift slightly week to week, so it’s worth double-checking your exact date when booking. With the closing date now confirmed for 5 September 2026, this is very much a last-chance booking for anyone who hasn’t seen it yet.
Jesus Christ Superstar
16 October 2026 – 9 January 2027 | Tickets from £34 | Age guidance: 10+ | Running time: 2 hours, including an interval
Following a record-breaking summer season at the London Palladium, Timothy Sheader’s Olivier Award-winning production of Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s rock opera transfers to Theatre Royal Drury Lane for a strictly limited 12-week run the first time a Rice/Lloyd Webber musical has played the venue. Eurovision star Sam Ryder takes on the role of Jesus in his West End debut, bringing his powerhouse voice to a score built around I Don’t Know How to Love Him, Gethsemane and the title number Superstar.
The role of King Herod is shared across the run by a rotating cast, including Matt Bomer, Michael Ball, Simon Russell Beale, Layton Williams, Bob The Drag Queen, Rob Brydon, Reece Shearsmith and Omid Djalili. So it’s worth checking who’s on before you book if you have a particular favourite.
Please note: the production contains flashing lights, pyrotechnics, theatrical smoke and haze, scenes of violence, imitation blood and a depiction of the crucifixion. It won’t suit every younger theatregoer, so do check the age guidance if you’re bringing children.
La Ballerina: A Short Walk from the Drury Lane Door
Theatre Royal Drury Lane sits on Catherine Street, WC2B 5JF, in the heart of Covent Garden. La Ballerina is a short stroll away at 7-8 Bow Street up Bow Street, onto Russell Street, then Catherine Street. No tube, no taxi, no stress, even if you’re not cutting it as fine as 3 minutes.
That closeness still matters. A walk of a few minutes means you’re not eyeing the clock through your main course, and if the evening runs a little long over coffee, you’ll still make curtain-up with time to spare as long as you build in a sensible buffer.
What to Eat at La Ballerina Before the Show
La Ballerina’s menu is built on Italian cooking, handmade pasta, wood-fired pizza, fresh seafood and classic Italian desserts. The kitchen is well used to pacing a table for a show, so whether you’ve got ninety minutes or a more leisurely two hours, there’s a route through the menu that works. (Menu items and prices are subject to change; it’s worth checking the current menu on La Ballerina’s website or confirming with the restaurant when you book.
Coming Out After the Show?
According to its own listed hours, La Ballerina stays open until 11:00 PM Monday to Saturday, and 10:00 PM on Sundays. If you’d rather eat after the curtain than before it, the kitchen should still be running, but it’s worth calling ahead to check on the night, especially for a large or late booking.
- Hercules runs roughly 2 hours 10 minutes including its interval, so an evening performance starting at 7.30pm should let you reach a restaurant for a table from around 9:45 PM.
- Jesus Christ Superstar runs to roughly 2 hours including its interval, so a 7.30pm curtain should have you free from around 9:35 PM.
Vegetarian, Vegan & Gluten-Free Options
La Ballerina caters for varied dietary requirements, including vegetarian pizzas and pasta dishes, a vegan lasagne, and gluten-free options available on request. It’s best to confirm specifics directly with the restaurant, as menus can change. The restaurant is also generally family-friendly — useful to know given Hercules’ family appeal.
How to Book
La Ballerina can get busy on show nights, particularly at weekends. A call or email ahead of time is a sensible way to secure your table.
📞 Phone: +44 20 7379 6659
✉️ Email: reservations@laballerina.co.uk
🌐 Online: laballerina.co.uk/reservation-page-la-ballerina-italian-restaurants-covent-garden/
📍 Address: 7-8 Bow Street, Covent Garden, London WC2E 7AH
Theatre Royal Drury Lane: Catherine Street, London WC2B 5JF — about a 4-5 minute walk
Whether you’re catching Hercules in its final weeks or booking ahead for Sam Ryder in Jesus Christ Superstar, La Ballerina is a convenient, well-established Italian option close to Drury Lane — just build in a realistic buffer for the walk over.
