facebooktwitterpinterest
mobil menu

Rules Restaurant

  1. London
  2. London British
  3. London Bars

Reviews, get directions and contact details for Rules Restaurant

Rules Restaurant

About

Established in 1798, Rules is the oldest restaurant in London. We serve the best in traditional & seasonal British food including classic game dishes.

Story

Located in the heart of lively, fashionable Covent Garden, close to the Royal Opera House and numerous theatres, Rules is London’s oldest restaurant. Rules has an excellent reputation for fine British food, delightful décor and impeccable service.

Specialising in seasonal and game cooking,

Rules has one of the best cocktail bars in London and there are also two beautiful and historical private dining rooms ideal for up to 25 guests

Address: 35 Maiden Lane , London WC2E 7LB, XGL, GB
Phone: 020 7836 5314
ku.oc.selur@ofni
State: XGL
City: London
Zip Code: WC2E 7LB

opening times

Monday: 12:00-23:30
Tuesday: 12:00-23:30
Wednesday: 12:00-23:30
Thursday: 12:00-23:30
Friday: 12:00-23:30
Saturday: 12:00-23:30
Sunday: 12:00-22:30

Update Info

related searches: rules restaurant menu, rules restaurant downton abbey, rules restaurant dress code, rules restaurant james bond, rules restaurant history, restaurant rules, rules restaurant review, reservation rules restaurant
Similar places near
Mason's Cafe Bar Mason's Cafe Bar 40 meters Went there for lunch with friends before going on to theatre. Went in around 12.30 Fo...
The Oystermen Seafood Bar & Kitchen The Oystermen Seafood Bar & Kitchen 58 meters Super tasty food and very welcoming staff. Very recommend this place moreover all ...
Cora Pearl Cora Pearl 60 meters Visited in March 2020. Amazing cute restaurant with excellent food and wine list. Wen...
The Ivy Market Grill The Ivy Market Grill 78 meters Joined friends here for dinner. Our first time in London. They explained they are a b...
Frog By Adam Handling Frog By Adam Handling 83 meters Wonderful dining experience by former Masterchef finalist. The Michelin 1* menu is qu...
Scotch Steak Houses Scotch Steak Houses 95 meters Decent decent improbe your steak though
Adventure Bar Adventure Bar 99 meters Dom was fantastic, one of the best bar staff I’ve ever come across! He deserves a pay...
Battersea Pie Battersea Pie 116 meters Great for a quick eat. Middle of Christmas time so we were expecting it to be really ...
Cocktail Baby Cocktail Baby 134 meters
The Round House The Round House 166 meters Always good entertainment on offer here. Venue is lovely too
Joe Allen Joe Allen 168 meters Visited on 1st March with my husband and our 2 children 12 & 14 years. Received a...
The White Swan The White Swan 172 meters The food was great. The server was scared of a table of eight. She was very nice and ...
Simpson's in the Strand Simpson's in the Strand 177 meters Surprisingly tasty food, which unfortunately my pictures don’t do justice. Haven’t be...
Dirty Martini Dirty Martini 184 meters
Savoy Grill Savoy Grill 187 meters We decided to walk in without a reservation or dressing up, but the staff was still v...
Kaspar's Seafood Bar and Grill Kaspar's Seafood Bar and Grill 189 meters Went there with the family to celebrate a special occasion. Didn't disappointed at al...
Steak & Co Steak & Co 197 meters
Strand Carvery Restaurant Strand Carvery Restaurant 198 meters Had a fantastic stay at the strand with my family, staff are friendly and attentive. ...
Reviews
Rules, the oldest restaurant in London, nestled in the heart of Covent Garden, provides a quintessentially British dining experience. Stepping inside feels like entering a piece of history, with its unique decor that celebrates British heritage—playful touches include portraits of crowned heads, detailed hunting scenes, and classic antique paintings. The comfortable banquettes enhance the cozy, inviting atmosphere, making it easy to settle in for an enjoyable meal. The menu offers a variety of traditional British dishes, all perfectly executed with an authentic touch that’s hard to find elsewhere. Their wine selection, though concise, is thoughtfully curated and pairs beautifully with the cuisine. The service is exceptional, with staff that are not only attentive but add a personal touch, making each visit feel special. We return every year, and each time, Rules consistently provides a memorable experience. It’s truly a pleasure to revisit such a timeless establishment.
Coming across Rules by chance, we were attracted by its claim to be “the oldest restaurant in London”. Whether or not that is true, it is certainly has an unusual décor related in part at least to the nearby theatrical establishments. Although the steak and kidney offerings did call, I opted for pheasant which was perfectly cooked while my companion had the duck or Mallard!. Along with our cocktails, they proved a perfect combination. She started with the onion and cider soup which was much enjoyed. I omitted the starter so I had room for the apple crumble, a substantial and flavoursome offering; I would have liked more custard though. The service was prompt and friendly, the atmosphere restrained but pleasant and overall, as I would expect at these prices but all too often do not get, the meal was a pleasure.
Fantastic decor with lots of atmosphere. Food : Starter disappointing dressed Crab & Onion Soup Main: Cod with a mussel curried sauce was excellent & monk fish was good but slightly over cooked but still enjoyable. We didn't have desert as we were full. Service was good and friendly.
Dining at The Rules on Maiden Lane was an unforgettable experience. From the moment of arrival, the atmosphere was warm and welcoming, combining historic charm with modern sophistication. The staff was attentive and knowledgeable, ensuring every detail was perfect. The menu showcased the best of British cuisine, with a focus on seasonal and locally sourced ingredients. Every dish was exquisite, with the venison standing out as particularly tender, flavorful, and expertly presented. The wine list was extensive and thoughtfully curated, offering perfect pairings for each course. The ambiance, with its beautiful decor and rich sense of history, added to the special evening. The Rules is more than just a restaurant; it's an experience that truly captures the essence of London's dining scene. Highly recommended for anyone seeking a top-tier culinary adventure.
Lovely old school restaurent with a lot of history and character. We had the in season grouse and venison shin. The cocktails were insane: strong and flavorsome. The other dishes were great to. Staff were knowledgeable and welcoming. Steady pace to service and courses. Not rushed or slow. Great timing. We ate early, more of a late lunch at 5pm as we had a show to go to. Not sure how this would change at other times.
We came to Rules before seeing a show on the West End. The restaurant was very accommodating with our schedule, and were able to get us through the full meal in 90 minutes. Our waiter was very kind and informative. We ordered the rabbit and lamb chop, and were happy with the quality and quantity of food. The rabbit was the clear winner, but the entire meal was great. The restaurant was beautiful, and it felt like we stepped back in time while dining there. If you have time, please consider going up to the bar on the 1st floor after dinner. There is a lovely terrace just beyond the bar, which would have been delightful on this perfect summer evening. Overall, we were happy with our evening, and would definitely return.
Historic perfection in London’s Covent Garden! We enjoyed a wonderful pre-theatre dinner here and felt taken back in time with the beautiful decor, thoughtful menu, and top-notch service. Would recommend trying one of the many wild game entree options, along with saving room for dessert as well. Looking forward to returning again someday!
Our booking this time was around lunchtime at Rules and it was nice as not so busy. As usual we started off upstairs in the cocktail bar before being whisked downstairs for our meal, I persuaded my friend to have the steak and kidney pudding as she said it’s been years since she had one. Well, I said, this would be the best place to indulge in one. She wasn’t disappointed and neither were we with our lamb. We only needed one course with veg side dishes and that left us full and contented. Looking forward to another visit before Christmas.
This was an Old English Restaurant. Had a wonderful wait staff, very knowledgeable and helpful. Not being familiar with English food, I went out of my normal. I had Potted Shrimp with toast for an appetizer, Beef and Kidney Pie as my entree, along with a Stilton and Walnut Salad. Everything was wonderful, and I surprised myself by how much I enjoyed everything. The real GEM was having a Guinness in a COLD Silver tankard. A very memorable occasion.
Have to visit the oldest restaurant in London if you visiting. It carries that historical feeling being there and appreciating the stories those walls have heard. The leg of rabbit and the steak and kidney pie were amazing. There was no room for appetizers during that visit. The rabbit was tender and had no gaminess at all. It was like a leg of tender chicken. The winner was the steak and kidney pie though. Excellent crust and flavor. Paired with some mustard for a kick is the way. The courgettes with tomatoes was a surprise hit and I encourage that to be included in any order. The cocktails were well done and I would visit again. The sticky toffee pudding was a bit burnt but not bad. The vanilla ice cream on the side helped. This was the first crumble I have had in London and it was pretty good. 2024.07.03
Comment on this business

Rules Restaurant map

to add Rules Restaurant map to your website;



Copyright 2025 | All rights reserved.

You can use our top contact for adding and editing your business's contact details.
0.0204 Loaded in seconds

We use cookies

We use cookies and other tracking technologies to improve your browsing experience on our website, to show you personalized content and targeted ads, to analyze our website traffic, and to understand where our visitors are coming from. Privacy Policy