Lady’s Guide to St Martin’s Courtyard in Covent Garden

Today I want to share my guide to St Martin’s Courtyard in Covent Garden with you. This secret corner of the UK capital is a great place to discover fun shops, restaurants, and cafes in London.

St Martin’s Courtyard

Tucked away off Long Acre and Upper St Martin’s Lane, St Martin’s Courtyard sits at the end of Slingsby Place in Covent Garden. Full of great details and colorful art installations, it’s an exciting place to explore.

Restaurants

On this trip I’m here to discover a new restaurant. I walk up to Dalla Terra, where I’m having lunch with the PR for St Martin’s Courtyard (which is also called The Yards). She’s invited me to spend the afternoon experiencing some of the highlights.

Dalla Terra is fronted by floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking St Martin’s Courtyard. Its interior is lined by walls of wine.

The restaurant has a menu that mostly focuses on Italian cicchetti, or small plates. We share a beautiful salumi board and bask in the bright ambiance.

As we enjoy our temporary status as ladies who lunch, she tells me about how St Martin’s Courtyard came to be. When she gets to the part about it being a parking lot a while back, I balk.

But it’s true. A number of years ago, this secret little spot in the heart of one of central London’s busiest areas was an ugly car park.

But thanks to some visionaries, the layers of concrete were torn down and replaced by a hip haven tucked away down a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it alley right by busy Covent Garden station and around the corner from Seven Dials.

In addition Dalla Terra is Bill’s, a lively restaurant from a group that’s taken the UK by storm. It’s a fun place for brunch and casual meals.

And that’s to say nothing of Arome, the famous bakery on the edge of St Martin’s Courtyard. This place is known for its mix of classic French techniques and Eastern flavors. The Pain Suisse and Matcha Croissant are legendary.

Other good places to eat here include Brother Marcus, Lahpet West End, Ukiyo Handroll Bar, and Oriole. Coffee shops like Fair Shot Cafe round out the scene. Just outside St Martin’s Courtyard is the famous Dishoom Covent Garden, too.

Shops

But it’s not just food here. There are plenty of good shops, too. This is Covent Garden, after all.

At the Long Acre entrance are Abercrombie & Fitch and lululemon. Deeper in there’s Bloom Perfumery, The White Company, and Townhouse Nail Salon.

Experience

Beyond the shops and restaurants, St Martin’s Courtyard is a fun place to relax and soak up the West End scene in Covent Garden. In the warmer months the space fills with deck chairs that are perfect for sunny afternoons.

St Martin’s Courtyard in Covent Garden

As I leave, I hesitate for a moment. Should I call off my plans for the rest of the day and sit in the sunshine instead? Either way, I love knowing I can always come back to St Martin’s Courtyard next time I’m in the mood for food, shopping, and relaxation in the heart of London.

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