The London Coliseum on St Martin’s Lane is one of London’s grandest theatres, home to English National Opera and, each festive season, to English National Ballet’s much-loved production of Nutcracker. A night at the ballet 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 Coliseum’s door, a very close, easy 9-minute walk. It’s one of the nearest 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 London Coliseum Right Now
Nutcracker — English National Ballet 17 December 2026 – 10 January 2027 | Age guidance: 5+ | Running time: approximately 2 hours, including one interval
English National Ballet’s festive staple returns to the Coliseum with a production choreographed by Artistic Director Aaron S. Watkin and Olivier Award-winner Arielle Smith. It’s Christmas Eve in Edwardian London, and Clara’s enchanted Nutcracker doll sweeps her into a dream world of the Rat King, an ice realm, and the Sugar Plum Fairy’s grand celebration all set to Tchaikovsky’s score, performed live by the English National Ballet Philharmonic. With over 100 dancers and musicians on stage, it’s one of the true highlights of the London Christmas calendar.
Please note: children under 5 are not admitted to the auditorium, with the exception of the Family-Friendly performance. All children under 16 must be accompanied by, and seated next to, a responsible adult.
Evening performances typically run Monday to Saturday at 7.30pm, with matinees on most days at 2.30pm (1pm on Wednesdays). A relaxed and schools performance takes place on Thursday 7 January 2027 at 1.30pm, and a Family-Friendly matinee, where children under 5 are welcome, runs on Saturday 9 January 2027 at 2pm. As with any festive run, it’s worth double-checking the calendar when you book, as timings shift slightly through December and January.
La Ballerina: 9 Minutes from the Coliseum Door
The London Coliseum sits at St Martin’s Lane, London WC2N 4ES. La Ballerina is a short walk away at 7-8 Bow Street, a comfortable 9 minutes on foot, and one of the closest proper Italian dining rooms to this end of Covent Garden. No tube, no taxi, no stress.
That’s well worth building into your evening, especially with a running time of around 2 hours. A 9-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 9.30pm, leaving a comfortable window for a proper late dinner at La Ballerina straight after. A 2.30pm matinee wraps up by around 4.30pm, making an early dinner or a leisurely late-afternoon table an easy option too. Either way, a table at La Ballerina works comfortably around the Coliseum’s festive schedule.
How to Book
La Ballerina fills up quickly during the festive season, particularly at weekends and around matinee times when families arrive together. 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
London Coliseum: St Martin’s Lane, London WC2N 4ES — 9 minutes’ walk
Whether you’re introducing the family to Nutcracker for the first time or making it your annual Christmas outing, La Ballerina makes the whole evening easier, tastier and a great deal more Italian.
