Paul Hamlyn Hall Balcony Restaurant and Bar in City of London, Westminster

A really lovely experience. The young lady serving us was very attentive. Food was ok. Of course the food is overpriced but you are paying for the whole experience not just the food. We loved that we could come back during the interval for our dessert.

A wonderful way to enhance a visit to the opera. Have two courses before the performance and then dessert at the interval. The ambiance is, as you would expect, amazing, being within the old Floral Hall and adjoining the Royal Opera House. A good choice of food and wines served by attentive and very pleasant staff.

Beautiful interior, extremly spacious, clean, good service, drinks are expensive in a comparison to other west end theatres

Absolutely do not recommend for this price. Very nice service and atmosphere, however food is really Tesco's level, and of course overpriced: £70 pounds for two tiny portions. Overcooked monkfish, even had a dry skin formed. Ceviche tasted like nothing. Duck and lamb also were like from Tesco's. This restaurant aims to be classy and exceptional, presents the food aesthetically, but they just cannot cook. Wine was great (Primitivo), however with 400% price increase. Won't go again.

Wir haben vor La Traviata einen Tisch in Balconies Restaurant gebucht. Es war eine gute Wahl ! Der Champagner stand schon angenehm kühl bereit.Das Essen war hervorragend und schön präsentiert. Der charmante und professionelle Service der jungen Dame war tip -top! Vielen Dank für den schönen Abend, welcher bei uns noch lange in unseren Erinnerung bleibt!

Although we had visited the ROH on many occasions previously, we had not eaten here. It is in a stunning location and convenient to reach for the interval dessert and coffee option. So for our first return visit post Covid, it was a ‘must’. The menu was interesting and seasonal and ordering in advance actually enhanced the experience as we discussed the menu and planned our trip. Nothing about the experience disappointed us, bar one thing*. The service was excellent, friendly and attentive without being fussy. The food was delicious. My burrata and broad bean pesto was really lovely and my friend hadn’t tasted asparagus as fresh. I had been tempted to pick the steak but thought it might be a large portion as it was! My friend was able to finish it and said it was beautifully cooked and very tasty. My fish was cooked well and the new potatoes and peas was perfect on a very hot evening. We returned at the interval for a very chocolatey cremant with sweet juicy raspberries and coffee waiting for us. * The one thing that affected our complete enjoyment was that we ordered two G&T’s on arrival at the table and when it was delivered, they were doubles. Not only was this not what we had ordered but the size of the glass meant you couldn’t fit enough tonic in to get the mix you wanted, so the majority of mine was way to strongly gin flavoured for me. And of course we had to pay for a double, although it was reasonably priced for where we were. We could have complained but we didn’t want to spoil the evening. The three course meal was £85 which considering its central London and in such beautiful surroundings and with the quality of the food we had was actually really good value. 12.5% service charge was added but that was fine for the excellent service we received. The whole operation looked well oiled, calm and efficient. If you’ve splashed out for the opera tickets and dressed up for a night out, this is a ‘must’ to make the whole experience complete.

Very convenient location, pre-concert. Excellent service. Very nice food,. Special atmosphere/unique location.

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.

Appalling food. Appalling service. Indian staff who hadn’t a clue about fine dining. Clearly untrained. Scruffily dressed “managers”. Not a patch on pre pandemic when the French operators were excellent, professional and had personality. Nothing was too much trouble. Used to be c£250 per couple. Now £270 per couple. Not worth it at all. Avoid avoid avoid. ROH get your act together! This mediocre service and food at best is simply not worth it! We have eaten there ever since the remodelling of the House was completed. We won’t be going back until you get proper, professional operators back in charge.

We have on previous occasions had great service here, but not this time. Waiter tried carry too many used items when clearing our table, I ended up with a knife hitting me on the face and a fork hitting me on the arm leaving a mark on what was a very nice jacket. At the interval came back to out table for dessert only to find someone had spilled either wine or water on my coat that I had left on the chair. Waiter said he would get the manager but no one came, Not impressed at the price my daughter paid for the meal I expected first class service, will think twice before going again Please to say I have managed to remove the mark from the jacket just a slight stain now which will go with another try , hopefully.

So convenient for thge opera (inour case Tosca). I found the food very good and, altough maybe a bit pricey, the service and the atmosphere were all that could be desired.

We have been patrons of the Paul Hamlyn Hall Balconies Restaurant at the ROH for many years and the food has, in the main, always been very good but on this last occasion, it really was not and I have now cancelled a forthcoming reservation in October, as a consequence. At £85 pp for 3 courses, plus wine and 12.5% service charge, the price is not too far short of some Michelin One Star establishments but sadly the food and service both fall comparatively far short. We both chose the crab on compressed watermelon starter, which was 'okay' but the watermelon (and seeds 🤔) dominated the small portion of crab meat and similarly with the cod main course, the pumpkin draped over the fish itself, dominated the dish. Dessert was once again 'okay' but the millefeuille was not well structured and consequently rather dry. The cappuccinos that we ordered for the interval (one advantage of the restaurant is that you can keep you table through the interval(s)) were effectively tepid, milky water. Altogether it was a disappointing experience. Having reopened recently, since Covid forced closure, the front of house team all seem to have changed and based on the disappointing cuisine, I would think the kitchen team and senior chefs have also changed. Frankly, it was a disappointing return to the Balconies Restaurant at the ROH and sadly, I am not sure when we might return.

A performance at Covent Garden is always a joy. Starting the evening with dinner at the Balcony restaurant is a major added value feature. Food and drinks consistently excellent. Service attentive and courteous. No last minute rush to settle the bill and get to ur seat without chronic indigestion. A recommended combination.

The good points - the restaurant is a beautiful setting, and the service was very attentive. The sourdough bread was delicious. Now the not-so-good - the food was OK for the most part, although I left half of my main course as I wasn't enjoying it. Choice for vegetarians was quite limited, so I got stuck with a spicy dish (I don't like spicy food). Portions were small, and the whole thing was ridiculously expensive. On top of that, they automatically added a 12.5% service charge to the bill (even for a party of two). Given what I ate, I would consider it too expensive at even one-third of what they actually charged us. I definitely won't be returning - there are an abundance of places to eat nearby, where the food will be better, and the prices more realistic.

La comida excelente, según lo esperado cuando se reserva por Internet la comida y bebida que se desea que esté servida en el entreacto,. El servicio perfecto, muy cuidado, y el ambiente magnífico. Es un sitio muy elegante, agradable y comn una decoración impactante, que lo hace único entre los restaurantes o bares de los teatros de ópera.

Booked as part of a trip to the opera and this is the only reason they can get away with charging the extortionate prices they do. Don't get me wrong, the food and wine was nice (the crème caramel in particular deserves a mention) but...

We had dinner here before the performance of Sleeping Beauty that was wonderful. The first and main course was before the first curtain call and dessert and coffee were served during the two intervals. The venue is stunning and dinner was well organised and served...

Nous avons diné au Paul Hamlyn Hall Balcony en allant voir "the sleeping beauty". Le lieu est très agréable, nous...

Tutti uguali i Paul, a Parigi come a Praga. E anche questo non si differenzia poimolto. Ma è proprio questa...

Booked the restaurant to co-ordinate with a visit to the ballet. You have to pre-book online and it's a limited menu but it's guaranteed to work with the timings. High quality ingredients well presented - the cheese was my favourite course. A little bit on...

I was here with a close friend of many years to celebrate her birthday. I did tell the restaurant of this event but no mention was made or addition-which I felt was sad as she has been a regular customer over the years. We started...

When you book your performance tickets online you can also book your dining experience at the same time. You then are contacted shortly prior to your visit to access the online menu booking. The choice is very limited and not overly exciting but sufficient to...

We eat in the Balcony Restaurant two or three times a year before Opera performances and have always been happy until this week. The ambiance seems to have gone downhill, my wife's veal chop was tough and although we received a discount off the bill...

I have to say that my expectations were not very high, but they were easily surpassed. Normally, I would not associate good food with a restaurant inside the opera house. This place changed my perception.

I attended on a weeknight evening for the full experience - four courses and wine in an opera with two intervals. It was utterly fabulous; the food was divine, though I do wonder if my fellow patrons in the Stalls Circle agreed with the garlic...

Wonderful people-watching from the balcony and should be a great start to the evening. But... I agree with previous reviewers about value. We are fortunate to live comfortably and eat in many ££££ places in many countries, where the experience is usually well worth the...

Given the prices are up there with top London restaurants this was a big disappointment. It was supposed to be a real treat for my partner’s Christmas present and although the opera was very good the food was ordinary and the fish over cooked and...

We really enjoyed our meals pre-performance. The on line pre-ordering process worked well and the food was beautifully served and was delicious. Our wine, Bin202 Novita Pinot Grigot Umbria 2016, was a perfect accompaniment. A great choice of starters, mains and puds, and some lovely...

If you have a ticket to one of the matinees, I would recommend having lunch before the performance. Staff are always very friendly, and although it is perhaps not the most economical choice, it is definitely worth it just for the experience.

We have dined here many times when attending opera performances and it seems to get better and better. The staff are superb, very helpful, professional and friendly. The food was delicious and well cooked and plentiful. The venue is delightful with a good view down...

We couldn’t have asked for more. The food (which we’d pre-ordered) was so tasty and the wine was magnificent. The waiters were genuinely helpful and friendly, taking photos for us and going downstairs to the bar when we wanted nuts. It’s a pricey meal on...

This is a restaurant with a very definite role in life, feeding people before and indeed during productions at Covent Garden. We went last week when we went to see La Bayadère (which is a wonderful production, go if you like classic ballet next time...

Unlike some other reviews, we had a wonderful evening, we were early and shown straight to our table. The waiting staff were a treat, welcoming and they missed nothing. It was a real treat to be able to leave bags and coats at the table...

We enjoyed an tasty and unusual experience. The meal was following the intervals of the concert. We had diner in three times. The service was very professional and our dished and glasses were served at each interval enabling us to enjoy each dish quietly at...

Ce restaurant qui fait partie du Royal Opera House Covent Garden propose des déjeuners ou des diners avant les représentations...

We travelled to London to see La Boheme at the Royal Opera House. We enhanced our experience with a lovely meal at the Balcony restaurant. Starters and main were before the performance. Both the crab and salmon starters were superb and the steak and turbot...

We had pre-booked drinks and nibbles for the interval of a performance of Don Giovanni. Normally this would not result in me posting a review but there was a small but impressive bit of individual service that merits plaudits. In a heaving bar my drink...

This was my xmas present from my husband and we treated ourselves by pre-ordering lunch for before and during Swan Lake. Arrived at agreed time to find our starters already on the table covered with clingfilm. They had sat there a while because my Portland...

booked it at same time as i got the ballet tickets and had to choose from menu then. it is a bit regimented as nobody is allowed in before 5.30pm then it's a dash to get to your table and eat starter and main before...

We booked here for dinner in conjunction with seeing Swan Lake. We found the whole experience to be very well run and friendly. The meal choices are all pre-booked on-line, including wine, coffees etc. However they were flexible when we decided to add a drink...

At about £160 for two, dinner at the Paul Hamlyn bar at the Royal Opera house is expensive by any standards… and especially so when food needs to be ordered days advance, only cold food is available and the menu is very limited. However, on...

I booked this for my Husband, along with tickets to see Carmen, as a Birthday treat for my Husband. Whilst food hasto be pre booked, the online service was detailed, thorough ans very efficient indeed, with a great selection of dishes and courses to choose...

Having dinner prior to a performance, and dessert during intermission is lovely. The food is tasty and the service is excellent. It is a bit rushed to get there at intermission for dessert. Pricey.

王立歌劇場内にあるバーです。雰囲気があるバーです。ハウスワインを提供しています。割と安いです。席が少ないので、大体の人が...

First class setting, superb service and delicious menu served in this rather unique restaurant overlooking the opera hall. Had starter and main before performance and then dessert during the interval. Marvellous. Watching the world pass by below.

A wonderful view over the atrium. You have to prebook food but it is beautifully presented and set up for dining prior to the performance. The only problem is getting to your seat if you are on the far side of the opera house. Pricey...

初めてのロイヤル・オペラ・ハウスでのオペラ観劇のプレ・シアター・ディナーをどうせならオペラハウス内のレストランでとろうと...

Great place to have dinner whilst at the opera. The food and drink were great and the staff very helpful.

I don't go often - it's a bit pricey - but whenever I do I have always enjoyed my meal and the atmosphere. The staff are polite and friendly.

My wife and I had a pre ballet dinner here. Good views over the hall, good food and wine and very friendly service.

I was looking forward to a nice meal before Swan Lake, but what was served was terribly salty, overcooked and uninspired. Not an experience I wish to repeat.

I have been to Paul Hamlyn Rest. very recently. I was very surprised when we were served our main courses as they were just cold! I asked the waiter and i was explained that at that part of the restaurant only cold food was served....

We both really enjoyed our pre-performance dinner at Balconies Restaurant. Great service, great food, this is a slick operation - which you pay for but, heck, this is Covent Garden at its best. We had the creamiest Burrata for starters then an exceptionally well cooked...

Firstly, this isn't a cheap evening out but the atmosphere, the surroundings and the performance make this a very special evening. The balcony restaurant is beautiful and my husband and I adored the people watching element of the evening - what a selection of people...

Superior service and a very special way to enjoy refreshments before the ballet and during the interval. Expensive but a very special treat.

We've eaten in the Balcony Restaurant 3-4 times in the last year. Its a really nice way to complete the evening; and you get a great people watching view of the comings and goings in the bar area below. If booking ahead, simply book and...

First of all, eating in this restaurant is an occasion in itself. Spectacular design within a spectacular building. Secondly, the food is absolutely fantastic. Finally the service; brilliant! It has to be here, they must work around the performances. It isn't cheap, but it's worth...

If you are attending the ROH for Opera or Ballet then I would book here if you can The food is always excellent and the staff friendly and professional The view is over the main hall and central bar and the whole experience is very...

The Restaurant bad, good ok but the service is non-professional. It was like A street Restaurant but expensive.

Everything was perfect at this pre-show meal. The organisation was spot on, the staff highly professional but very friendly, and the food excellent. Worth every penny.

The Paul Hamlyn champagne bar is a merit to the Royal Opera House. We dined in the bar before the performance of “the magic flute” –choosing not to book The Crush Room having tried this the previous month – also, very good! We arrived promptly and were shown to our table.As per the Crush Room there was a small note on t he table detailing what we ordered for me to check on arrival, which was all correct. We choose to dine on more food while we were there as we managed to scoff down the pre-ordered food quite quickly – probably as it was so delicious! Sadly as we were ordering on the evening, the choice was quite limited, for example, I could not order the lobster salad which I so enjoyed the previous month, still, we opted for the cheese and salmon plates and sulked in silence – though to be fair, given the location, the value was quite fair. The service was given with a smile too –which is always nice after a long slog of a day in the City working before enjoying a show! We will return!