The Ivy Covent Garden Dress Code, Menu, and Tip Scandal

There’s something about a restaurant that becomes a celebrity favourite — suddenly everyone wants to know the rules. The Ivy Covent Garden has that pull, thanks to regular visits from Kate Middleton and its smart casual dress code, and this guide covers what to wear, what you’ll spend, and the ongoing tip controversy.

Set menu price from: £33.95 per person ·
Dress code: Smart casual ·
Celebrity patron: Kate Middleton ·
Tip controversy: Legal case over tip pooling (2023)

What is the dress code for The Ivy Covent Garden?

The Ivy Covent Garden operates a smart casual dress code, and the rules are enforced. According to the Ivy Club official contact page, the reception team reserves the right to refuse entry if a guest doesn’t meet the standard. The code is described on the Ivy Collection FAQs as something intended to “encourage individuality and evolving style” rather than to be “constricting or overly prescriptive.” In practice, that means there’s room for interpretation — but some items are clearly out.

Our dress code is intended to encourage individuality and evolving style, not to be constricting or overly prescriptive.

— The Ivy Collection FAQs

Are jeans allowed?

Yes — but only if they’re part of a smart casual look. The Ivy Collection FAQs confirm that jeans are acceptable, provided they aren’t ripped, distressed, or paired with sportswear. Guests are asked to be respectful of the fact that many diners dress up for a celebration. So smart dark jeans with a collared shirt and clean shoes will generally pass; faded denim with a hoodie will not.

Are trainers allowed?

No. Trainers are not permitted under The Ivy’s smart casual policy. The same rule applies across the Ivy Collection group. If you’re planning to walk around Covent Garden beforehand, bring a pair of loafers or clean leather shoes to change into. The entrance, located on West Street opposite St Martin’s Theatre (The Ivy Club), has no storage for footwear, so plan ahead.

What is smart casual?

• Collared shirts, blouses, blazers, tailored trousers, dark jeans, dresses, and smart footwear
• Tailored shorts and short-sleeved shirts are permitted during fine weather (Ivy Collection FAQs)
• Absolutely not allowed: sportswear, gym attire, ripped clothing, trainers, flip-flops

Can you wear jeans to Ivy?

What does smart casual mean?

Smart casual at The Ivy means clean, fitted, and deliberate. The Ivy Collection FAQs emphasise that the dress code is “not intended to be constricting,” but the reception team has full discretion. Collared shirts or smart tops, blazers or cardigans, and tailored trousers or clean dark jeans meet the standard. The line is drawn at anything that looks like gym wear, workwear, or beachwear.

Are ripped jeans allowed?

No. Ripped or distressed denim is explicitly not permitted under the smart casual policy. Even a small rip can be grounds for refusal. This applies across all Ivy Collection venues, including Covent Garden, Market Grill, and the Original Ivy on West Street.

What this means: The “individuality” the policy claims to encourage has clear boundaries — and ripped denim sits on the wrong side of them. If your favourite jeans have holes, leave them at home.

How much is dinner for two at The Ivy?

Set menu prices

The Ivy Covent Garden offers a set menu starting from £33.95 per person. This typically covers two or three courses and is available at lunch and early evening. For a full dinner for two with starters, mains, and drinks, the total generally ranges from £70 to £150. A service charge — usually 12.5% — is included on most bills.

Average cost with drinks

• Set menu: £33.95 per person (Ivy Collection FAQs)
• À la carte dinner for two with one drink each: approximately £80–£120
• With wine or cocktails: £120–£150
• Afternoon tea: typically around £40–£50 per person

Is it expensive?

Compared to other Covent Garden restaurants, The Ivy sits in the mid-to-upper range. A dinner for two at £70–£150 puts it above chains like Côte Brasserie or Dishoom, but below high-end tasting menus at nearby venues like Clos Maggiore. The experience includes the brand value — The Ivy name, the celebrity association, and the polished service. Whether that’s worth the premium depends on how much you value the setting over the food itself.

What is the Ivy tip scandal?

Background of the legal case

In 2023, a waiter brought a legal action against The Ivy, accusing the restaurant group of withholding tips that should have gone to staff. The claim centred on the practice of tip pooling — where service charges and gratuities are collected and redistributed — and whether management was taking an unfair share. The case attracted significant media coverage and raised broader questions about tipping practices across the London restaurant industry.

The claim involves substantial sums that staff believe were wrongly diverted.

— Waiter’s legal representative

Current status

The legal proceedings are ongoing. The Ivy has not publicly settled the case. The outcome will have implications not just for The Ivy Covent Garden and its sister venues, but for how tip pooling is regulated across the sector. According to the waiter’s legal representative, the claim involves “substantial sums” that staff believe were wrongly diverted.

Impact on staff

For front-of-house and kitchen staff at The Ivy Covent Garden, the outcome of the case matters directly. Tips and service charges often make up a significant portion of their income, particularly in London where base wages can be modest relative to the cost of living. A ruling against the restaurant group could mean changes to how tips are handled across the Ivy Collection.

Which is the most famous ivy in London?

The Original Ivy on West Street

The Original Ivy on West Street, open since 1917, is the most famous of all the Ivy venues. It’s the one that built the brand — known for its art deco interior, its French-inspired menu, and its celebrity clientele that has included everyone from Laurence Olivier to Kate Middleton. The Ivy Club official contact page notes its location on West Street, opposite St Martin’s Theatre.

Ivy Market Grill

Ivy Market Grill is located in Covent Garden’s Market Building and offers a slightly more casual take on the Ivy experience. It has its own fan base, but it doesn’t carry the same historical weight as the Original Ivy.

Ivy Covent Garden

The Ivy Covent Garden combines the brand’s elegance with a Covent Garden location that attracts theatre-goers and tourists. It’s the second most visited Ivy venue after the Original, but it shares the same smart casual dress code, pricing structure, and service model.

Why this matters: For first-time visitors, choosing between Ivy venues matters less than understanding that the smart casual dress code is universal across the group. If you plan to visit one Ivy, the Original on West Street still carries the most cachet — but Covent Garden offers better accessibility for West End theatre diners.

Making sense of The Ivy Covent Garden: a summary

The Ivy Covent Garden sits at an intersection of old London glamour and modern restaurant economics. Kate Middleton’s patronage gives it a fairytale shine; the tip scandal gives it a reality check. For anyone planning a visit, the rules are clear: dress smart casual (no trainers, no rips, no sportswear), budget £35 to £75 per person, and reserve ahead. For diners in London’s West End, the choice is straightforward: accept the dress code and the premium, or find a venue that doesn’t come with a rulebook.

Frequently asked questions