LONDON’S TEN OLDEST RESTAURANTS
A Chronological Guide to Historic Dining Institutions | Complete Directory
While the definition of a restaurant has evolved over centuries – spanning oyster stalls, chop houses, coffee shops, and private clubs – these ten establishments represent London’s oldest continuously operating dining institutions. Ordered chronologically by their original founding dates, this curated directory details their history, location, culinary specialties, and full contact information.
1. Wiltons (Est. 1742)
Location: St. James’s | Specialty: Seafood & Shellfish
Short History: Wiltons began life over 280 years ago as a humble shellfish stall in Haymarket run by George William Wilton. It evolved into a formal sit-down oyster room in the 1800s and now operates in St. James’s, serving classic British seafood, oysters, and game.
Address: 55 Jermyn Street, St. James’s, London SW1Y 6LX
Telephone: +44 (0)20 7629 9955
Website: www.wiltons.co.uk
2. Rules (Est. 1798)
Location: Covent Garden | Specialty: Traditional British Game & Pies
Short History: Officially recognized as London’s oldest continuously operating restaurant on a single site with the same core concept. Established by Thomas Rule in 1798, it is famous for its artwork-laden, Victorian interior and historic ties to literary legends like Charles Dickens and
H.G. Wells.
Address: 35 Maiden Lane, Covent Garden, London WC2E 7LB
Telephone: +44 (0)20 7836 5314
Website: www.rules.co.uk
3. Simpson’s-in-the-Strand (Est. 1828)
Location: The Strand | Specialty: Traditional British Roast Meats
Short History: Initially opened as a chess club and coffee house before transitioning into a restaurant. It became world-famous for rolling out joints of roast beef, lamb, and duck on silver-domed trolleys—a tradition created so waiters wouldn’t disturb chess matches in progress.
Address: 100 Strand, London WC2R 0EW
Telephone: +44 (0)20 7836 9112
Website: www.simpsonsinthestrand.co.uk
4. Scott’s (Est. 1851)
Location: Mayfair | Specialty: Fine Seafood & Oysters
Short History: Opened by fishmonger John Scott as an oyster warehouse on Coventry Street, Scott’s grew into one of London’s most glamorous dining destinations before moving to Mayfair in 1967. It is famously where Ian Fleming reportedly discovered the ‘shaken, not stirred’ martini.
Address: 20 Mount Street, Mayfair, London W1K 2HE
Telephone: +44 (0)20 7495 7309
Website: www.scotts-mayfair.com
5. Quality Chop House (Est. 1869)
Location: Farringdon / Clerkenwell | Specialty: Modern British & Steaks
Short History: Founded as a Victorian ‘Progressive Working Class Dining House,’ it retains its original Grade II-listed wooden pews and tiled layout. While maintaining its historic 19th-century aesthetic, the kitchen now serves acclaimed modern British cuisine.
Address: 88–94 Farringdon Road, Clerkenwell, London EC1R 3EA
Telephone: +44 (0)20 7278 1452
Website: www.thequalitychophouse.com
6. Sweetings (Est. 1889)
Location: City of London | Specialty: Seafood & Traditional Desserts
Short History: A legendary lunchtime-only institution in London’s financial district. Sweetings has served generations of city workers fresh fish, potted shrimps, and classic puddings in a unique time-capsule setting featuring pewter tankards and original counter seating.
Address: 39 Queen Victoria Street, City of London, London EC4N 4SA
Telephone: +44 (0)20 7248 3062
Website: www.sweetingsrestaurant.com
7. L’Escargot (Est. 1896)
Location: Soho | Specialty: Classic French Cuisine
Short History: London’s oldest French restaurant, originally opened by Georges Gaudin under the name Le Bienvenue. It was the first venue in the United Kingdom to serve snails (escargots) and quickly became a celebrated haunt for Soho’s bohemian and artistic circles. It has always attracted a literary and arty crowd including Francis Bacon, Lucien Freud, David Hockney, Agatha Christie and D H Lawrence. Menu changes seasonally under Head Chef James Tyrrell.
Address: 48 Greek Street, Soho, London W1D 4EF
Telephone: +44 (0)20 7439 7474
Website: www.lescargot.co.uk
8. Bentley’s Oyster Bar & Grill (Est. 1916)
Location: Mayfair | Specialty: Oysters & Grill Specialties
Short History: Founded during WWI by Bill Bentley, who transported oysters directly from his family’s oyster beds in Essex to Regent Street. Today, under renowned Chef Richard Corrigan, it continues to operate as one of the West End’s premier seafood and oyster venues.
Address: 11–15 Swallow Street, Mayfair, London W1B 4DG
Telephone: +44 (0)20 7734 4756
Website: www.bentleys.org
9. Quo Vadis (Est. 1926)
Location: Soho | Specialty: Seasonal British Fine Dining
Short History: Opened by Peppino Leoni on Dean Street set in an historic building that had previously been the home of Karl Marx. Named after a movie advertisement across the street, it remains a popular Soho culinary and social institution under Chef Jeremy Lee.
Address: 26–29 Dean Street, Soho, London W1D 3LL
Telephone: +44 (0)20 7437 9585
Website: www.quovadissoho.co.uk
10. Veeraswamy (Est. 1926)
Location: Mayfair | Specialty: Fine Dining Regional Indian
Short History: The oldest surviving Indian restaurant in the UK. Founded by Edward Palmer—a retired British Indian Army officer and great-grandson of an Indian Mughal princess—it introduced high-end Indian gastronomy to London and still holds a Michelin star today.
Address: Victory House, 99–101 Regent Street, Mayfair, London W1B 4RS
Telephone: +44 (0)20 7734 1401