Ave Mario
Covent Garden, London
Restaurant in London, United Kingdom
Book with PearlThe Read
Price
$30–50per person
Dress
Casual
Why go
Ave Mario is a practical Covent Garden choice when the plan needs a central, energetic restaurant more than a formal dining experience. Lunch is the safer first-timer slot; dinner works better for groups linking the meal to theatre, shopping, or drinks nearby. For a bigger occasion, compare it with Clos Maggiore before choosing.
About Ave Mario
Ave Mario is a London venue with daily opening hours and a casual dress code. It is best approached with simple expectations rather than as a visit defined by awards, a published price band, a named chef, or a documented menu format.
The practical appeal is timing. Ave Mario opens from 11:45 AM every day, closes at 10 PM from Monday to Wednesday, 10:30 PM from Thursday to Saturday, and 9:30 PM on Sunday. That makes it easier to consider for a late-morning, afternoon, or evening visit, depending on the day.
Use it for London convenience, not a high-stakes meal
For a first visit, the safest way to frame Ave Mario is as a casual London option with broad daily hours. It does not position itself around signature dishes, sourcing details, service format, price, or awards, so those should not be the reason for choosing it.
The basics are clear: Ave Mario is in London, the dress code is casual, and the opening hours run from late morning into the evening each day.
Better for flexible plans than for detail-led planning
Ave Mario makes the most sense when the main need is a casual London option that fits a broad schedule. If the occasion depends on a particular atmosphere, menu style, or level of formality, compare it carefully with other London options such as Clos Maggiore, La Goccia, Laduree, Oystermen, or wagamama covent garden before committing.
The practical verdict: choose Ave Mario when its London location, casual dress code, and daily hours suit the plan.
Planning details
- Hours
- Monday: 11:45 AM–10 PM · Tuesday: 11:45 AM–10 PM
- Location
- 15 Henrietta St, London WC2E 8QG, United Kingdom
- Reservations
- Book on OpenTable
- Website
- bigmammagroup.com
- Phone
- +442045784370
The take
The Take
The Vibe
Ave Mario presents itself as a theatrical, large-scale Italian that trades on volume and regular custom rather than fleeting tourist visits. The dining room is intentionally big and raucous, so the atmosphere feels buzzy and convivial. It leans into familiar Italian staples and showy dishes (Spaghetti Carbonara from a pecorino wheel, T‑Bone Fiorentina, Neapolitan pizzas), giving the room a dependable, crowd-pleasing energy that encourages repeat visits from neighbourhood regulars.
Best For
This is a restaurant built for group nights and energetic evenings. Its large-format layout and broad menu are expressly designed to accommodate groups without negotiation, so it's a natural pick for dinners with friends, celebratory tables and the after-work crowd that spills through Covent Garden. Its Henrietta Street position, a block south of the main piazza and within walking distance of theatres, also makes it a practical pre-theatre stop. While not a quiet spot for intimate conversation, it excels when the point of the evening is sociability and spectacle.
Ordering Tips
The menu breadth rewards sticking to the room's strengths: shareable, showy Italian classics and substantial mains. Highlights called out in the brief, the pecorino-wheel Spaghetti Carbonara, T‑Bone Fiorentina and Neapolitan pizzas, are reliable choices for groups, while the stracciatella ice cream tower offers a theatrical finish. Regulars develop habits here: learn which sections of the menu hold up across visits, book the right-sized table for your party and arrive either before or after the peak to avoid the busiest bottleneck times the copy warns about.
Venue details
Ambiance
Boisterous and vibrant atmosphere with six-metre high ceilings, bold 80s retro decor, colorful maximalist interiors, and lively energy.
Tags
Vibe
Best For
Experience
At the Table
- Dress Code
- Casual
- Noise Level
- Lively
- Service Style
- Upscale Casual
- Meal Pacing
- Standard
- Capacity
- Large
- Kitchen
- Modern
- Menu Format
- A la carte, Small plates
- Dietary
- Vegetarian friendly, Vegan options
- Outdoor Seating
- Yes
Signature Dishes
- Spaghetti Carbonara in pecorino wheel
- T-Bone Fiorentina
- Neapolitan pizzas
- stracciatella ice cream tower
Know before you go
Know Before You Go
- Getting there
- 15 Henrietta St, London WC2E 8QG, United Kingdom
Planning details
Hours
- Monday
- 11:45 AM–10 PM
- Tuesday
- 11:45 AM–10 PM
- Wednesday
- 11:45 AM–10 PM
- Thursday
- 11:45 AM–10:30 PM
- Friday
- 11:45 AM–10:30 PM
- Saturday
- 11:45 AM–10:30 PM
- Sunday
- 11:45 AM–9:30 PM
Location
15 Henrietta St, London WC2E 8QG, United Kingdom · Directions
Also consider
If Ave Mario is not the right fit
Book Clos Maggiore instead for a more occasion-ready meal in London, especially if ambience and service polish matter.
Choose Oystermen if the group wants a more focused food brief and seafood is the reason for the booking.
Restaurant context
How Ave Mario Compares in Covent Garden
Ave Mario is the easier, more casual Covent Garden choice if the priority is location, pace, and group energy. Clos Maggiore is the stronger special-occasion booking, with a clearer French identity and £££ positioning, so choose it when polish matters more than flexibility.
wagamama covent garden is the lower-friction fallback for a quick meal with minimal planning. Ave Mario is better when the room and social feel matter; wagamama is better when speed and predictability matter. Laduree sits in a different lane as a patisserie choice, better for a lighter stop than a full restaurant decision.
For a more focused meal, compare Oystermen and La Goccia. Oystermen is the better pick when seafood is the point of the booking; La Goccia is worth checking if the brief is a polished central meal with less of the big-room feel.
Around this place
Discover more on Pearl
Unlock the full Ave Mario guide in Pearl, including awards, comparisons, FAQs, planning details, and nearby places.
Compare Ave Mario
| Venue | Location | Cuisine | Price | Awards |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ave Mario | London | No published awards | ||
| Laduree | London | Patisserie | No published awards | |
| wagamama covent garden | London | No published awards | ||
| Clos Maggiore | London | French | £££ | 2026 AA 3-Rosette RestaurantsMichelin Guide Great Britain & Ireland 20262026 Wine Spectator Grand Award2025 Wine Spectator Grand Award2025 Michelin Plate2024 Michelin Plate |
| Oystermen | London | No published awards | ||
| La Goccia | London | No published awards |
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How Ave Mario London compares with similar nearby venues.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Ave Mario good for solo dining?
Ave Mario may work for a solo visit if its London location, casual dress code, and daily hours suit your plans. La Goccia is another London option to compare.
Is lunch or dinner better at Ave Mario?
The hours support visits from 11:45 AM daily into the evening. Ave Mario closes at 10 PM Monday to Wednesday, 10:30 PM Thursday to Saturday, and 9:30 PM Sunday. Clos Maggiore is another London option to consider.
What should I wear to Ave Mario?
The dress code for Ave Mario is casual. There is no need to plan around a formal dress code.
What are alternatives to Ave Mario in London?
Other London venues to compare include La Goccia, Clos Maggiore, wagamama covent garden, Laduree, and Oystermen. Ave Mario is best assessed on the basics available here: London location, casual dress code, and daily hours.
Is Ave Mario good for a special occasion?
Ave Mario can be considered if a casual London setting and its opening hours fit the occasion. Clos Maggiore is another London venue to compare.
