Private dining: Covent Garden's hidden gems

NYS Conference Team Supervisor, Donna Cartman, enjoyed exploring the hidden gems of Covent Garden. Despite operating in one of the busiest cities in the world, standards were high across all the private dining venues she visited, with five restaurants in particular standing out…

Clos Maggiore

Billed as “the world’s most romantic restaurant”, Clos Maggiore on King Street has received glowing feedback from our clients and conference consultants alike. This striking restaurant is renowned for the white blossoms trailing the conservatory ceiling, which combine with the green buxus along the walls to immerse diners in a peaceful, natural haven within the City. 

The main restaurant is smaller than its reputation may suggest, sitting up to 50 guests, but the creative use of glass panels and mirrors give a sense of spaciousness and light, making the most of both the Victorian architecture and the natural beauty on display. A private dining space for up to 23 guests can also be found on the first floor, which is decorated with dark wood, fresh flowers and an open fireplace. The food is influenced by the country inns of Provence and Tuscany, with fresh ingredients sourced from local suppliers. 

Ivy Market Grill

Ivy Market Grill, sister restaurant to the ever popular Ivy Grills and Ivy Cafes, is located directly on the Covent Garden Piazza. The restaurant itself is hard to miss, particularly as it is often surrounded by a crowd of eager onlookers hoping to sample the food or spy a celebrity on the terrace. It is equally busy inside, but the staff are friendly and attentive, offering flexibility as well as excellent service.

The restaurant has two private dining rooms, which benefit from their own kitchen to ensure there are no delays to service. Individually, one room can host up to 40 guests, the other up to 24 guests, but they can also inter-connect for larger events. The atmospheric lighting and portraits of actors from the golden age of film give the space a feeling of grandeur. 

Tuttons

Tuttons, which is also located on the Covent Garden Piazza, includes a luxurious art deco restaurant and a sizable outdoor terrace. This popular venue is always buzzing, with a friendly atmosphere fuelled by the adventurous mixologists behind the bar. 

Two stunning private dining areas – The Vaults – can be found downstairs. These striking rooms with their vaulted ceilings can accommodate about 20 guests each, and can be interconnected for larger events. The main restaurant is also available for semi-exclusive hire, seating approximately 70 for dinner and also offers cocktail masterclasses.

Balthazar

Tutton’s neighbour, Balthazar, offers warm lighting, smooth jazz and French cuisine.  The private dining room upstairs can sit up to 30 people, and includes its own vestibule which can be used as a registration area or cloakroom. The room’s stylish décor includes curvaceous windows, hard wood floors and an extensive wine selection. There is also the option of having your own private entrance, which can be branded or dressed with a red carpet.

The Delaunay

The Delaunay is located on The Strand, five minutes from Covent Garden Station. Despite its extensive size, the restaurant boasts a tranquil atmosphere and calm, elegant décor which brings to mind the Steve Jobs quote: “simplicity is the ultimate form of sophistication”. The private dining and meeting space features dark wood panelled walls and a view of the main restaurant from its raised vantage point.

It can sit up to 24 people or be split into two smaller rooms, and is popular for executive meetings. It has some excellent features which are not immediately apparent, such as the built-in plasma screen hidden discretely behind a landscape painting.

All of the restaurants Donna visited offered a highly flexible service and were willing to work with event managers to agree a menu, bespoke flowers and optional extras. The service provided by the staff was outstanding, and we were impressed to see that they provide a dedicated team of waiters/waitresses for events, ensuring that you receive the personal touch.