A discretionary service charge of 12.5% will be added to your final bill.

The Royal Opera House usually opens one and a half hours before the curtain rises. All restaurant and bars open at this time and close at the end of the last interval.

The Recommended Dining Time

The recommended dining time for the restaurants is first and main course pre-performance, with dessert and coffee taken at the interval. Most intervals are no more than 25 minutes long. Not all performances have two intervals. Please note that there is not enough time to serve more than one course per interval.

If you would like more information on performance timings, please contact the Box Office. Royal Opera House Restaurant Reservations staff receive the timings approximately one week prior to the first performance.

For security reasons, please use the Royal Opera House Cloakroom for checking in coats and bags as they cannot be left in the restaurant or bar areas. Our cloakrooms are only open for those attending a performance or going on a tour. Larger bags and backpacks need to be check into our complimentary cloakrooms. We cannot store pushchairs, e-scooters or e-unicycles, even if folded, so please do not bring those into the building.

Submission of Pre-orders and Cancellation

Restaurant Level 5, Balconies Restaurant and Crush Room
Meal pre-orders must be received three working days before your reservation. A minimum two course meal per person must be pre-ordered. If you are forced to cancel, please give us three working days notice, otherwise the price of the meal or a fee of £30.00 per person, whichever is the greater, will be charged. Please note your bill will be settled on the day.

Paul Hamlyn Hall Bar and Bar Level 5
Drinks-only orders can be placed at the bar on the day/evening from House opening time.
We also have a bar food menu to order from on the day/evening.

Please be aware that bar area pre-orders do not include table service. Your order will be placed on a table.

Food pre-orders must be received at least three days before your visit. We ask a minimum spend of £15.00 per person on food only. Cancellations must be made at least three working days before your visit otherwise the price of the food will be charged. If we have not received your food order by midday on the day of the performance, your reservation will automatically be cancelled and a fee of £15 per person will be levied.

We will do our utmost to contact you if we have not received your pre-order. Royal Opera House Restaurants cannot accept responsibility for bookings cancelled or subject to error if these notice periods are not observed. Late bookings may be accepted at our discretion. Please note that returning your tickets will not automatically cancel your dinner reservation.

Group Bookings – Matinee and Evening Reservations

For parties of ten or more, credit card details must be given when making the reservation. Pre-ordering of food and drink is required (including Restaurant Level 5 reservations). For parties of ten and over a 12.5% service charge will be added to the total bill.

Please Note:

The bill will be settled on the day/night.

All restaurants and bars are now operating with Chip and Pin machines in the Royal Opera House. All guests will be required to supply a credit card with a chip and will be asked to enter their pin when settling their bill. Patrons of Covent Garden who have a credit account with the Royal Opera House will of course be invoiced once a month and do not have to present a credit card.

Special requests: Table position requests are taken but not guaranteed.

Special diets: Please detail any special food/drink requests on your online pre-ordering form, giving as much notice as possible. Gluten-free and vegan dishes are available, subject to pre-ordering. At least three working days notice is required. Please contact the Reservations Team for further information.

Nuts: All of our products may contain traces of nuts. If you require a nut-free menu, please ask the Reservations Office.

Unpasteurized produce: is used. Please ask for details.

Visitors with disabilities: All facilities at the Royal Opera House are fully accessible to visitors with disabilities.

Data protection: Your details will be held on our computers to facilitate your future transactions and so that we can send you information on our menus and promotions, and occasionally conduct market research. If you do not wish us to use your details, please inform the Restaurant Reservations Office.

Restaurant Reservations Office hours of business: Monday to Friday 9.00am – 6.00pm, Saturdays and Bank Holidays 10am – 3pm. These times are subject to change.