Tried & Tested: Private Dining At Penelope’s, Covent Garden

If you’re looking for somewhere to celebrate a special occasion without spending hours cooking or hiring out a whole venue, private dining can be the perfect middle ground. Not only do you get to enjoy chef-prepared fare, it means you’re separated from the hustle and bustle of the restaurant and can properly get stuck into conversation with your fellow diners. London is overflowing with options in this field, from underground hideaways to al fresco greenhouses, so what sets the offering at Penelope’s apart? For their latest work social, the C&TH team swapped office drinks for a swish dinner at the Covent Garden restaurant – here’s what they thought.

Review: Penelope’s at Hotel AMANO

Penelope’s is a stylish fusion restaurant housed within Hotel AMANO Covent Garden. With low lighting and glitzy interiors, plus DJ nights on weekends, it’s well-suited to lively get-togethers – but if you want that more intimate feel, the private dining room is the place to be. 

Sitting adjacent to the main restaurant, it seats up to 18 guests for a meal around a large marble table, with sparkly golden lights hanging from the ceiling and chic black-and-white artworks dotted around the walls. You’ve got control of the music too, so you can really make the evening your own.

The menu, meanwhile, is inspired by co-founder Ariel Schiff’s heritage, drawing on the flavours of Tel Aviv and southern Spain, focused around convivial, sharing-style dining, and the private dining offering includes the option to create bespoke dishes.

The Location & Setting

‘Being in the centre of London, just a short walk from the hustle and bustle of Covent Garden, made this the perfect spot for stopping off for a break between exploring the sights of the city. It was well-nestled within one of the busiest areas of London, but still maintained a secluded feel so you could quite happily catch your breath and unwind.’ – Charlie Colville

‘The spacious dining room offers the vibe of a private dinner party, but with the welcome addition of a personal mixologist, attentive service and a slice of atmosphere from the public restaurant area outside. There’s a risk with private dining of being shut away and forgotten about but the team at Penelope’s were always on hand without interrupting the flow of the evening.’ – Rebecca Cox

‘The location is perfect for pre-theatre – should you have a family box at the Royal Ballet (ha) you’re a stumble away. The rooftop bar upstairs is supposed to be mega so one might want to head upstairs for a sundowner/digestif.’ – Tessa Dunthorne 

‘I had such a lovely time at Penelope’s! The interiors were beautiful and set the tone for a lovely evening. All the staff were really nice and welcoming from the moment we arrived to when we left. The private dining room was spacious and ideal for a larger group – perfect for a special occasion.’ – Mckenzie Mullany

The Food

‘The food itself was superlative; generous sharing plates bursting with flavour, Middle Eastern flavours with veggie and meat options offering equal appeal. It’s the perfect spot for a pre-theatre birthday dinner, or a long evening celebrating great news with friends.’ – Rebecca Cox

‘With a mix of smaller and larger sharing-style plates, the food was ideal for group dining. My savoury highlights were the deliciously fresh tuna ceviche, flavoured with mango and almond, as well as the paella, a hearty dish made with freekeh, sun-dried tomatoes and harissa. But the star of the show had to be the baklava cheesecake, which featured hints of on-trend pistachio and a honey syrup – heaven.’ – Ellie Smith

The Drinks

‘I thought the touch of having your own private bartender was special – they anticipated needs with the drinks and preemptively top up your glass.’ – Tessa Dunthorne

‘We kicked things off with a delicious melon champagne cocktail, followed by free-flowing Albariño wine (always a crowd-pleaser) – plus the option to round things off with a glass of port.’ – Ellie Smith

BOOK IT:

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