Poetry Cafe
22 Betterton Street, Covent Garden,  WC2H 9BX
Telephone: 020 7420 9887/8
poetrycafe@poetrysociety.org.uk Email poetrycafe@poetrysociety.org.uk
 
Location Map of Poetry Cafe
 
Friendly café/bar/restaurant with live poetry performances.

Quaff coffee in the company of artists, lyricists, poets and performers as the delicate strains of sonnets and similes, quatrains and couplets, ballads and blank verses float through the air. Hidden away on an unassuming Covent Garden side street, this cosy hideaway offers customers a gentle introduction to poetry combined with a tasty, warming afternoon tea. Toast, cakes and a selection of leaf and herbal infusions can be munched on in a delightful atmosphere of unassuming creativity. Managed by the Poetry Society, this café/bar/restaurant also doubles up as a performance space with a varied programme that includes the odd floor-spot - so if you’re feeling inspired by your cup of Darjeeling to pen an ode to ‘Tea’ here’s the place to recite it. On Saturday evenings they hold a regular event in the Cellar highlighting the best in poetry and performance so why not follow-up afternoon tea with some of their excellent vegetarian food and then an hour or so discovering the best new and existing talent on the scene. A warm and welcoming, funky and friendly environment this isn’t one of those exclusive, high-brow joints. You don’t need to be a poet or even a liker of poetry to appreciate its charm - come and read the paper, contemplate life or simply sit back and sup - but here’s betting you’ll be writing sonnets before the teapot’s dry.

Best for:
Cosy hideaway, poetry, papers and performances, tea and toast.

Did you know?
A hymn written between 658 and 680 dedicated to the Creation is said to be the earliest known English poem.
 
Visiting Poetry Cafe
 
 
Opening Times
Mon to Fri 11:00-23:00, Sat 18:30-23:00
 
Ticket Prices
None available
 
Travel
 
Underground Stations
Covent Garden Tube (3 minutes)
Holborn Tube (6 minutes)
Railway Stations
Charing Cross Railway Station (12 minutes)
City Thameslink Station (21 minutes)
 
 
 
Car Parking
 
Drury Lane NCP (2 minutes)
Holborn NCP (2 minutes)
 
 
Alternative Cafes and Delis Near Poetry Cafe
 
 
London Restaurants
Progreso
Downstairs,  Thomas Neal’s Centre, 35 Earlham Street, Covent Garden,  London,  WC2H
3 minutes distance from Poetry Cafe
Two London addresses, both ideal for a break from frantic shopping. Escape the hustle and bustle of Portobello Road, or the sea of fashion outlets ...More...
 
London Restaurants
Monmouth Coffee House / Company
27 Monmouth Street, Covent Garden,  London,  WC2H
3 minutes distance from Poetry Cafe
Long before Starbucks, Costa, et al were peddling their wares on every street corner in London, Anita Le Roy had her foot on the English ...More...
 
 
Local Restaurants Near Poetry Cafe
 
 
London Restaurants
Rock & Sole Plaice
47 Endell Street, Covent Garden,  London,  WC2H
2 minutes distance from Poetry Cafe
Fresh fish, fat hand-cut chips and some fantastic home-made samosas for the more adventurous diner make this the best traditional chippie in the West End ...More...
 
London Restaurants
Sarastro
126 Drury Lane, Covent Garden,  London,  WC2B
2 minutes distance from Poetry Cafe
Ornate, opera-themed Turkish restaurant with singing waiters and unique opera-box style seating. One of Theatreland’s favourite restaurants, Sarastro must also rank highly as one of ...More...
 
 
Local Hotels Near Poetry Cafe
 
 
London Hotels
High Holborn Hall
178 High Holborn London,  WC1V
2 minutes distance from Poetry Cafe
This impressive building, set at the top of Theatreland’s Drury Lane, puts you right in the midst of London's West End. With 494 beds it ...More...
 
London Hotels
Kingsway Hall Hotel
Great Queen Street, London,  WC2B
3 minutes distance from Poetry Cafe
Well-equipped, comfortable rooms await guests to this elegantly modern hotel in the heart of Theatreland. Set yourself up for the day with a hearty breakfast ...More...
 
 
Local Event Near Poetry Cafe
 
 
London Event
Life is a Dream
The Donmar Warehouse, 41 Earlham Street, Seven Dials,  WC2H
3 minutes distance from Poetry Cafe
The brilliant Donmar Warehouse is delving into the 17th century to breathe new life into this classic, poetic work by Spanish playwright Pedro Calderon de ...More...
 
London Event
The Sleeping Beauty
Royal Opera House, Bow Street,  WC2E
3 minutes distance from Poetry Cafe
In 1946 the Vic-Wells Ballet, soon to become The Royal Ballet, performed a new production of The Sleeping Beauty to mark its move to the ...More...
 
 
Local Entertainment Near Poetry Cafe
 
 
3 minutes distance from Poetry Cafe
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3 minutes distance from Poetry Cafe
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3 minutes distance from Poetry Cafe
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Local Sights and Attractions Near Poetry Cafe
 
 
London Sights and Attractions
Elms Lesters Painting Rooms
135 Flitcroft Street, Covent Garden,  London,  WC2H
5 minutes distance from Poetry Cafe
Elms Lesters Painting Rooms are housed in an extraordinary space, purpose built as a painting studio in 1904. Since 1984 the gallery has been specialising ...More...
 
London Sights and Attractions
The Cartoon Museum
35 Little Russell Street, Bloomsbury,  London,  WC1A
5 minutes distance from Poetry Cafe
Combining art with humour, this addition to London's museum-cum-gallery scene is refreshingly vibrant. From political cartoons of Thatcher, Brown, Bush and Blair to rare originals ...More...
 
 
Local Shopping Near Poetry Cafe
 
 
London Shopping
Aveda
Urban Retreat and Chakra Rooms 174 High Holborn, Covent Garden,  London,  WC1V
2 minutes distance from Poetry Cafe
Environmentally conscious hair and make-up brand with 'lifestyle' stores like this one in High Holborn - where there's even a herb garden on the roof ...More...
 
London Shopping
Birkenstock
70 Neal Street, Covent Garden,  London,  WC2H
2 minutes distance from Poetry Cafe
Every summer, the London streets are ablaze with a rich array of sandals and flip-flops. Clumpy, frumpy and built for comfort, Birckenstock footwear has become ...More...
 
 
Local Education Near Poetry Cafe
 
 
London Education
English [Out There!]
10 Coptic Street, Bloomsbury,  London,  WC1A
4 minutes distance from Poetry Cafe
English [Out There!] takes a very hands-on approach to learning English. The course places an emphasis on using what you have learned. Students are taken ...More...
 
London Education
Central Saint Martin's College of Art and Design
Southampton Row, Bloomsbury,  London,  WC1B
7 minutes distance from Poetry Cafe
One of the premier arts colleges in the world, St Martin's accepts only a few talented students each year, and is very well regarded in ...More...
 
 
Local Leisure Near Poetry Cafe
 
 
London Leisure
The Hospital Club
24 Endell Street, Covent Garden,  London,  WC2H
1 minutes distance from Poetry Cafe
Before it was a hip private members' club designed specifically for the creative industries - complete with bar and dining rooms, cinema, TV and recording ...More...
 
London Leisure
The Sanctuary
12 Floral Street, Covent Garden,  London,  WC2E
4 minutes distance from Poetry Cafe
This day spa exclusively for women is a total pampering experience from the minute you step through the door. Located in bustling Covent Garden you'll ...More...
 
 
Local Pubs Near Poetry Cafe
 
 
London Pubs
The Cove
1 The Piazza, Covent Garden,  London,  WC2E
5 minutes distance from Poetry Cafe
Overlooking Covent Garden Piazza, the Cove is a world away from the crowds outside. Tucked up in a worn, leather armchair under the pub’s low, ...More...
 
London Pubs
Lamb & Flag
33 Rose Street, Covent Garden,  London,  WC2E
6 minutes distance from Poetry Cafe
One of the oldest pubs in London. Once known as the Bucket of Blood, thanks to the bare-knuckle fights held here, the Lamb & Flag has ...More...
 
 
Local Nightlife Near Poetry Cafe
 
 
London Nightlife
Madame Jojo's
8-10 Brewer Street, Soho,  London,  W1F
11 minutes distance from Poetry Cafe
This was once a sleazy Soho strip club, as the name suggests, and it really shows. Deep reds are the dominant colour, with mirrors, booths and velvet curtains ...More...
 
London Nightlife
The Den and Centro
18a West Central Street, Covent Garden,  London,  WC1A
3 minutes distance from Poetry Cafe
For many, the real damage of this bleeding recession came when iconic club The End and its upstairs bar AKA closed its doors to business. ...More...
 
 
Local Business Near Poetry Cafe
 
 
London Business
The Hospital
24 Endell Street, Covent Garden,  London,  WC2H
1 minutes distance from Poetry Cafe
Before it was a swanky private members' club - complete with bar and dining rooms, cinema, TV and recording studios - The Hospital was exactly ...More...
 
London Business
Origin Bar and Dining Room
24 Endell Street, Covent Garden,  London,  WC2H
1 minutes distance from Poetry Cafe
...More...