Playful and delicious date ideas in Covent Garden, London

Whether it is a first date or a 10th wedding anniversary, it is never a bad idea to go on a date. It can be hard to come up with something interesting to do after many years together.

I remember reading in Cosmo magazine once that moving location a few times on a date is a good idea. It can inspire new conversation topics. This inspired me to try something new with my spouse in London for our date night.

Since my husband and I moved outside of London about 18 months ago, going out currently consists of a walk to a local pub with our dog. To avoid another evening of déjà vu, we booked a dog sitter and ventured into Central London. We were headed to Covent Garden, which offers numerous restaurants, shops, street performers, theatres and more. It’s also a great spot to meet up with friends and see where the day/night takes you!

interior of Paro restaurant in covent garden

Favorite Covent Garden Haunts

When we arrived in Covent Garden, we decided to walk around to see what had changed. There always seems to be new shops to explore and foods to try. If you are planning a full day, the two spots for brunch I would recommend are Ivy Market and Lilly’s. If you have a sweet tooth and looking for a snack, I recommend stopping by Secret Nicky’s for custard. They boast a delicious selection of toppings and their hot cookie dough. This shop is located on the lower ground. As you enjoy your dessert, you can listen to the opera singers who perform just across the way. These performers are incredibly talented so be sure to tip them.

double decker bus on oxford street in london by eileen cotter wright

Back on the ground level, tucked in the corner is the London Transport Museum. It’s fun spot to learn about how people have traveled across London for the last 200 years. Even if trains and buses are not your thing, you should at least stop by the gift shop. There’s a selection of vintage adverts, games, books, and home furnishings with the same fabric as the upholstery on the Tube. You can take home something to remember your day with or discover unique gifts for family who live outside of London, especially if they like trains.

The Royal Opera House is also located in Covent Garden. Tours and experiences cover many topics, such as ballet and tea, architecture, tea and dances, and masterclasses with cast members. There are ballets and operas too if you would like to experience something more cultural. I was interested to see that the Pet Shop Boys, Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe are performing over five days in July 2024.

Indian Delights for Dinner

If you have made it to dinner time, there are many restaurants and pubs in the area that have a theatre prefix menu. Then you don’t have to worry about missing the curtain rising! We were invited to try out a new restaurant called Paro, which offers Calcuttan-inspired Indian food, before going to the theatre for my birthday. Since opening five months ago, the waitstaff told us they now have regulars who come weekly to enjoy the diverse menu. Executive chef, Niaz, runs another restaurant, City Spice, on Brick Lane and wanted to bring the flavours of Calcutta to London. This location shared with the Lyceum Theatre where The Lion King is playing. This great spot is only a five-minute walk from the Strand, where several other theatres are located.

Paro indian restaurant under the lion king theatre london uk

At Paro, the menu has a large selection of both traditional Indian dishes and modern inspirations. We started our meal with poppadoms as we perused the menu. The poppadoms came with dried coconut, mango chutney, and onions. To drink, my husband, James, went for an Indian-inspired cider, Peacock, while I enjoyed a glass of Sauvignon Blanc (or two).

PT Mollie looking at the Pro menu in Covent Garden

We started with Bang Bang Chicken, flavoured with Para’s mild spice mix, pomegranate seeds, and plum sauce. I found it spicy with my delicate pallet, but the sauce mellowed out the punch. The Potato Chops were delicious, fried and served with a lime sauce. James ordered Gunpowder Lamb, a Paro favourite, and basmati rice for his main course. I went with my usual Cream Chicken Korma and Perswari Naan.

PTMollies partner enjoying food at Pro restaurant calcutta food

Our food arrived quickly and everything was delicious and well flavoured. The portions were perfect so we left full without wasting too much food. I wish we had room to try any of the Calcutta-inspired desserts (Mango Kulfi, Gulab Jamun, and Barfi).

There is a pre-theatre set course menu also available. We ate at 5pm on a Sunday night and finished in an hour and a half with plenty of time to make it to our next destination on the Strand. The only unusual feature of the restaurant is that the bathroom is shared with the Lyceum Theatre. It didn’t cause a problem while we were there but perhaps during interval there may be a queue.

sign for indian food restaurant paro in London

To end the evening, we booked tickets to a musical, which is something we do every year for my birthday. It was only a five-minute walk to the Vaudeville Theatre where Six was beginning at 7pm. The show is only 80 minutes long (without an interval) so we were back home before 10pm. The Savoy Theatre is also within walking distance of Covent Garden. Also, the nearby Adelphi theatre has Back to the Future showing (an excellent show if you watched the movie as a kid). Keep in mind that many theatres are closed on Mondays and book well in advance.

If you don’t have to work the next day, you can continue your evening! At Tequila Mockingbird, a cocktail bar near Paro, offers karaoke, a photo booth and disco brunch. I haven’t been there yet, but it is now high on my list as it looks like a lot of fun. When I do get there, I will be sure to update this post.

As you can see, Covent Garden is a busy area that is always changing. It gives you something new to experience every time you visit. You can either head there on a whim to see what you can find or plan for a special occasion. If you have another great spot to recommend in the area, leave a comment below!