Restaurants - Quiet London: Food and Drink - page 27

Rules Restaurant

Rules Restaurant
35 Maiden Lane, Covent Garden WC2E 7LB 020 7836 5314

www.rules.co.uk
Open Monday-Saturday 12-11.30pm, Sunday 12-10.30pm, closed Christmas Day
and Boxing Day Tube Covent Garden, Leicester Square Bus 1, 168, 176, 188, 243
The ground-floor wheelchair access is good but the toilets are on the first floor

Rules first opened its doors in 1798 as an oyster bar, making it the oldest restaurant
in London. The entire building has a tangible sense of history and many famous
people have dined here, including Charles Dickens, Laurence Olivier, Charlie Chap-
lin, Ava Gardner and a few currently serving politicians. Edward VII used to arrive
with a friend by a secret entrance and it is no wonder he appreciated coming here.
The listed building is sumptuously decorated, with hunting trophies, antique prints,
silver cutlery and red wax candles on starched white linen. Specialising in classic