Upstairs At Rules

Historic Charm Meets Exceptional Cocktails

Rules Restaurant, nestled in the heart of Covent Garden, is a time machine to an era of British culinary opulence, serving as London's oldest dining establishment since 1798. Walking through its atmospheric interiors is like leafing through sepia-tinted pages of history— the walls adorned with vintage artworks and sumptuous carpeting engender a deep sense of nostalgia. I was immediately struck by the Eddie Tuckett-designed decor, which plunged me into the Edwardian era's heart—a space where King Edward VII and his famed mistress met discreetly. It's not just about the ambiance; the exceptional food matches the luminary silhouettes gliding past its corridors. My selection, the Dover sole, delivered succulent, melt-in-your-mouth goodness, while my partner found solace in the expertly crafted wild game fare that Rules fetches from the English countryside.

An ascent to Brian Silva's cocktail bar, perched discreetly on the third floor, feels akin to obtaining an Oliver Twist-esque golden ticket—each tipple prepared with artisanal flair. Keith Richards himself could learn a thing or two about intoxicating moments here: Brian’s Bloody Mary is the tomato elixir imbued with smoky depths I hadn’t expected, and his Negroni is a tightrope walker’s balance ride between boozy and aromatic elegance. The service at the bar might prompt some puckishness, displaying a London-ish blend of eagerness and aloofness. Still, it retains enough warmth to encase customers, disarming any premeditated stone-heart prejudice. It’s not a place you simply visit; it’s somewhere to linger, pondering over a reverberant dram while the ghosts of Dickens persistently hover close by. Rules stands formidable and intemporal, a testament to this great city's historic and gastronomic heart. — Nigel Gourmet