Balconies Restaurant in City of London, Westminster

At the beginning of October we had dinner in the outdoor area of ​​the Balcony restaurant overlooking Covent Garden. We had Seared halibut, Honey roast carrots and Chargrilled vegetables with cheese tard. Everything was wonderful, and I would particularly like to highlight the service, friendly, attentive, professional.

I’ve always been captivated by the grandeur and buzz of the Paul Hamlyn Bar and had always wanted to dining in the Balconies, soaking in the atmosphere while watching the ballet. It definitely comes at a premium, but now that I’ve done it, I can confidently say it’s well worth it. When booking, you’ll be asked to select your show and pre-order your meal. The great thing is that your table is reserved for the entire evening. We attended the ballet Alice in Wonderland, which had two intervals, and it was a pleasure to return to our table each time, greeted by a glass of wine or coffee. Yes, the food is priced at a premium, but when you consider the overall experience, it’s absolutely worth it. The food was exceptional, and the service was impeccable. Our server was well aware of the show timings, offering timely updates on when we needed to head back to our seats and what to order for the interval. We even had a glass of wine we didn’t finish, and it was waiting for us during the next break. Overall, dining at the Balconies added an extra layer of magic to our evening at the Royal Opera House. It truly makes the experience more memorable.

Beautiful views across London and Covent Garden. Very relaxing atmosphere

Well plated and flavoured food!

We visited the restaurant area on a spontaneous evening and were pleasantly surprised by the quality of the food! Well plated and flavoured! Not to mention the beautiful view you get. Definitely recommended!

Gorgeous venue. Convenient for the show but food is ok. Would recommend going early for a drink in the cafe vs a full meal. But nice to do once with a show for a special occasion. But paying most for the convenience. The Cornish hen was dry and could have been delicious with a bunch more gravy. Beef was nice and succulent but also would have been nice with more sauce. Most enjoyable was the lovely ceiling and view of the Royal.

Very good service beautiful place

The best view over the main hall of the Opera House. The food is delicious, and the service is impeccable and efficient.

You have to pre-order, we were told because one of us had intolerances (wheat and dairy) it would apply across both orders which wasn’t asked for. However when we arrived at the table butter was already there and they brought bread out too but not gf bread which had to be asked for. The starter also had Parmesan?! Thankfully the waiting staff were very helpful in sorting it out in the end, Saddin in particular was amazing. The food when it was sorted out was good especially the cured salmon which melted in the mouth, but the hassle meant i scored it down.

Wonderful restaurant and the food always absolutely delicious and service second to none

Service and food was awful. My food arrived cold and inedible. I complained, but nothing done. I have been a member of the ROH for years, and been to this restaurant many times, but this was chaotic and very poor. Won't be going again.

Do not recommend for this price. The restaurant has a great atmosphere and services, classy food presentation, however the food tasted like from Tesco's. Ceviche tasted like nothing, monkfish overcooked and even had a dry skin formed; duck oversmoked and lamb either not great. For food, £70 per two tiny portions. The wine (Primitivo) was really good, however with 400% price increase. They really try to be a classy restaurant, but just cannot cook.

A great view and great place to relax and watch the sunset with a drink even if you are not watching a performance

Astounding food, great service and atmosphere. Lovely building too. We booked ahead so food arrived very very promptly before our show, can't recommend this more. The meats were cooked to perfection and the sauces devine! They also had a fantastic selection of wines and the champagne they serve as standard is very very nice indeed. With drinks, worked out to about £100 a head, but I would say worth it!

Beautiful view in a place full of history and style. Competent and friendly staff. First-rate spirits.

It’s a nice rooftop terrace to have drinks, tends to get very busy during the intermission, otherwise it’s quiet. Lovely ambience indoors too and prices are reasonable. Nice view over Covent Garden.

A fine dining experience to pair with a ballet performance at the Royal Opera House. Atmosphere is classically grand and one of a kind. Staff were outstanding and professional. The food was well prepared and seasoned. Beef was better than the fowl if you had to pick. The fish looked good too. Beef carpaccio starter was very good and so was the dessert cheese plate. Tasty house-made butter. Price reserved for special occasions but well worth it.

I went to Balconies with my mom before we went to see the opera "Turandot". It was a great evening, the opera was fantastic and the location of the restaurant is wonderful. The scenery/setting of the hall is beautiful, with a quaint bar in the middle. The service was really great, and our server was very attentive and nice. The food was also very good - we started with the slow-cooked Clarence Court egg (superb!), and then had the guinea fowl. It all tasted really nice and was accompanied by good champagne. We had an amazing time at Balconies and at the Royal Opera House, and I would absolutely recommend visiting Balconies if you are going to the Opera. 5/5.

Great place to eat ,lovely staff.

Despite good reviews we were really disappointed. Booked for pre theatre drinks. The space overlooking Covent Garden is fantastic but service non to ordinary. Confusion over the table and where we could sit. No table service for drinks and for a beer had to go to a separate bar. Staff were confused as to what was going on? Needless to say, no one came to offer us a second drink so we went on to another place.

Visited the Royal Opera House to watch the nutcracker it was an amazing experience. Opera house has a cafe just at the entrance and a gift shop . The staff seemed friendly and everything around was user friendly . Highly recommended

Nice find and a great place to go for a drink. There are views looking over Covent Garden from the third floor. Drinks are ot too expensive.

Came with my parents for cocktails. Unfortunately service was unfathomably slow, the barman stank of bo to the point that my mother had to walk away. My drink had to be remade, i’m a bartender myself and he didn’t measure any of our drinks out properly. nice views and the man that took over from him was good

No es barato pero tiene ambiente

Un luogo straordinario da cui può goderti una vista dall'alto di covent garden

Experienced the tour of the front of house areas and architecture of these most fantastic buildings. Highly recommended. Cafe also excellent.

We had lunch and it was very nice.

Just like their ballet, too good for words.

Expensive drinks. Ordered for interval, 1 double vodka and coke, 1 coke. Waiting for me was 1 coke and a glass of ice. Poor. It was sorted but took untill we had to go back in

One place to definitely give a try

An absolutely brilliant experience! Everyone was welcoming and the performance was superb

We popped in here for a drink over looking covent garden. The drinks were reasonably priced and staff were friendly. I definitely recommend if you fancy a drink with nice views.

Personally I don't like to eat there. Too rushed

Amazing view of Covent garden with a very quite environnement.

We went for cocktails in the bar over looking Covent Garden and we really enjoyed it . The view is lovely and it’s so peaceful . Lovely decor making it feel very relaxed . Will return

Stopped for coffee in the cafe, and it was very enjoyable. We had a Quiche and a Cheddar sausage roll, very tasty. Staff were very friendly. Really pleasant all round.

Amazing view. We visited the coffee shop, where everything was excellent, but the Spanish lady serving was quite rude at the coffee shop.

Views are great. Next time will go for lunch

Excellent food and service, thank you

Poor service at Level 5 bar. Waited 5 mins to pre-order but was ignored And they were busy

Went to see 'The Magic Flute'. It was wonderful! Building is beautiful. Lovely experience.

Just seen 'The Magic Flute'. Unbelievably magical setting! Loved everything about the evening!

Family day was aysom and we have fun at ROYAL OPERA HOUSE . Staff was following govt covid 19 guidelines and I have found clean and friendly atmosphere.

We only had a drink in the bar having gone to the ballet but it was all very well organised.

I saw the Nutcracker on the main stage.

Cancelled due to the virus, got there at 7pm, tried all day to see what was happening, nothing on their website, got there told its been cancelled obviously the right thing to do under the current situation, just waiting for a refund now.

Very poor quality food and very expensive for what it was and extremely limited choices. The tea/coffee served in a half full plastic beaker it was so disappointing. This was the ground floor care.

Lovely lovely! Beautiful historical building

Excelente lugar para disfrutar de un lunch y una buena obra!

The member of staff that assisted me was outstanding

Lovely sandwiches and great service, but VERY pricey

La Traviata we saw, excellent performance, lovely breakfast menu very good service.

Wonderful location, excellent staff, good but expensive coffee.

Totally recommended, food was good.

Good food long lines not a huge selection

Nice surroundings and decor, food premade and pre packed ready to serve; saves time before the bell rings....

Absolutely brilliant, bucket list ticked, even better than expected.

Pretty good. ROH Kir Royal really excellent. Bit pricey but not excessively considering venue.

It excels in every way. So lucky to be able to come here to see the best opera and ballet. Our tickets were £45 each so fairly affordable.

Beautiful architecture, appreciated the easy to access free water, yet somewhat invasive stench of fish

The best place to enjoy an intermission drink and snack!

The restaurant was often busy but now it open to the broader public it is usually very busy and booking is essential The food and service is very good well worth the wait as you know it is all freshly cooked.

Beautiful building, fab to visit

Very nice and although it is a bit on the pricy side, you can't fault the food and you have a seat to come back in the intervals.

I was there on last week for a beer and a mouse was under my table, when i mentioned this to the people in the bar they just told me that they are aware about the problem, they didn't even apologize...they have opened an area and they serve drinks and snacks while they are aware about this... Inappropriate, unhealthy and disgusting.

Great location for informal meetings at not too inflate prices

Beautiful space. Didn't attend for a show but to have coffee in their cafe. Couldn't resist looking in their gift shop either which has a great variety of gifts such as items for children all the way up to very glamorous pieces of jewellery.

Beautiful, newly renovated setting

Nice food however very expensive could get just as good a meal for half the price. The staff however were lovely and made it feel special.

@ROHromeo today, for interval drinks and sandwiches. Best place.

Always good quality. Plus how is the house champagne better than most good restaurants "good" champagne?

Utterly delightful, not too pricey, great smoked Salman sandwiches, fine Veneto white wine. Well placed near to the Auditorium and in easy reach to the toilets.

Went to see cosi fan tutti, absolutly brilluant and such an amazing building. Has a lovely balcony looking over covent garden market

Good quality food and reasonably priced for children

Nice venue, bit expensive but you get what you pay for. Nice to be able to hang out there before the ballet though

Level 5 terrace has amazing view over covenant garden and always open to public. Well worth a drink and enjoy the view.

Our first visit to this Covent Garden National Treasure, which has undergone extensive refurbishment in recent years. A range of seat prices, with some standing options. Very nicely appointed. Free deposit of coats, and free chilled water. Mulled wine £7.00! Restaurant prices up to £45-55 in the smart area! Comfortable seats with decent legroom. Opulent auditorium, for a venue holding 2000, and queues for drinks, coats and loos move fairly quickly. Experience recommended.

Lovely space. Interval drinks hard to find! Bottles of wine are cheaper than glasses but they'll put the remainder aside for the interval.

Esu balėto megėja. ROH baleto trupė labai profesionali. Žiūrėti čia baleto spektaklius - didelis malonumas. Pats teatro pastatas gražus, patogus žiūrovui. Gražioje Londono vietoje.

Just luv this place. Brilliant atmosphere with performances to match and all at surprisingly reasonable prices (for London). Definitely one for your "must do" list 🎭

Loved the atmosphere in ROH. Great building. Nice place to go for a tea or coffee though rather expensive to eat there. Worth going for views over Covent Market, helpful staff.

Had my first experience of a ballet st the Royal Opera House this week watching the final rehearsal of La Baydere amazing

Always a wonderful experience, excellent food and service

I went with my husband and we were very impressed with the service. The waiters are fast and very professional. Food was lovely and filling. The waiters don't get tipped that well through the card machine... would recommend to bring cash to give them a little extra which we felt bad we didn't.

Local espetacular para ver bons espetáculos, regado a bom e sofisticados drinks no coração de Londres.

Pre- theatre dinner was well overpriced, the food was okish. Staff is very friendly, but service is poor, we had empty plates sitting on our table for more than half an hour and had to ask for the main course (downstairs table by the bar). The opera was great, but next time we'll eat elsewhere.

17:30から空いてるし、メニューは事前にわかる（逆に指定しなければならないですが、事前に辞書を引いてじっくり選べる）し開幕前なのか幕間なのか選べる。味も良いし工夫されたメニューです。サーブする人も良い人ばかり。 但しそれなりのお値段です！なので四つ星。でも五つと迷いました

This is the final restaurant in this vast opera house for us to try. We have tried them all. But this is by far the best.The quality of the food (the only restaurant to serve warm food in the Opera House) was magnificent. Served warm and well presented, with the portion sizes being ample.We had in fact chosen to enjoy the desert in one of the intervals during our performance however changed this at last minute as we had plenty of time left. The waiter dealt with this change very well, and of course, as did the pastry chef.My partner and I both choose three courses each and allowed 2 hours for these prior to the performance. We also choose white wine (English!) and it was perfectly chilled.The service was good too, being attentive and quick without overly so.The place was packed so be sure to book well in advance.