Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese in City of London, Westminster

We visited this place because of its history, as it is a pub that was frequented by Charles Dickens, as well as other literary celebrities. The atmosphere of the place is old London, the beers are good and so is the service. We found the food a little expensive, but my companions enjoyed the traditional kidney pudding and the fish anda chips.

Poor service, tons of items not available for lunch on a Sunday (no beef, limited chicken, no steak and kidney pie). Poor value for money considering the cost and fact that beyond the meats, the food on the plate was poor (tons of pickled cabbage, one potato per person, drowning in gravy, ready made yorkshire puddings, frozen veg etc..). Nice atmosphere but that's it.

Several basic items were unavailable on an already limited menu. Service very slow indeed. Food poor standard. Prices certainly not warranted. The venue could have a great atmosphere if it was run well.

Atrocious service. Run by kids who have only been working here for a matter of weeks and no clue whatsoever. Suggests management don't care.

One of the must see’s if you’re into old historical pubs! This pub dates back to the 1500’s but rebuilt around 1666 after the great fire of London. The entrance is down an alleyway which I did have to follow Google maps closely as you can easily miss it! Surprisingly very big inside but the ceilings are quite low down which I did bump my head once or twice! Lol. Reminders of the history are displayed with photos around the pub and it’s amazing how Charles Dickens, Mark Twain and Churchill use to stop here for a pint or two. Favourite part was downstairs in the cellar where there are seats and tables along with another bar, I believe the cellar is thought to have belonged to a 13th Century monastery which once occupied the site. Great choice of beers on draft too but (correct me if I’m wrong) you won’t find you’re Carling or Peroni here but Instead unique beers that could be local? Nice to try something different though! Love to come back again one day soon but for some food instead!

First time having a cask ale…so tasty! Really fun atmosphere too.

With the visit! So much charm and the place is full history!

The truly spectacular setting! We booked a table at the restaurant, but perhaps it is better to eat at the tables in the pub. Good but not great food. Unfortunately service at the restaurant was terrible. Excellent beer.

I don't know why people want to go to these places. In the name of character this is waste of time money and effort. The owners have not even cared to up keep the antique and vintage furniture and upholstery. Ask for coffee and they didn't have a straightforward answer... It seems some legends of the 17th century used to visit but that alone cannot be used as a selling proposition in 21st century. I will never visit that place again.

Really cool pub. The decor is fantastic!

Unfortunately, it's a Sam Smiths pub, so the drink choices aren't great. The pub is as you'd expect for its age and history, it's an interesting place with different rooms, and the staff were nice. But we wouldn't go back

Def a destination pub to visit when around Fleet street. Very atmospheric and parts unchanged for hundreds of years. A veritable rabbet warren inside due the expansion of the pub over the centuries. Not eaten there but the drinks ok. ( Sam Smith's ales ). Recommended

Great pub. It's full of history and definitely worth visiting in the winter months, especially. I would recommend it to anyone 👍

Quaint pub, very interesting to visit

Genuinely cool place. Go check it out. What ticked me off was the two-faced wait-staff who kept making rude comments to her coworker and muttering to herself while maintaining a pleasant demeanor around customers. Next time try to do it out of earshot. Gross. You know who you are… Food was decent. The drinks are top notch and the vibes are real. Cheers.

Wonderful atmosphere. Takes you back to 18th century London. There are plenty of tables available, so it's not overcast. The bartenders are super friendly.

An English pub from another age. We got a table close to he fire on a cold day outside and was brill.

Ole English pub just off strand. Traditional beer and ales. Quite dark in side but fun to be in.

Dropped by during a visit to London, a beautiful, warm pub with an atmosphere that's unique to such an historic location. Didn't have food but it looked amazing and the menu had a good selection. Staff were really friendly and made us feel very welcome, as did other's in the pub, including an American gentleman who suggested trying the bitter on tap, which was smooth and refreshing.

One of the oldest pubs in town. Rebuild in 1667 does it provide with old fashioned Charme. You can have a table in one of the rooms where you can find old Charles Dickens favourite seat or have a place in the cave like cellars. Drinks are good, food quite enjoyable. Must visit in London

🚇 Blackfriars 🍺 £5.00 Organic Lager ❤️ A unique historic London pub that you must visit at least once in your lifetime. . I often get asked which is my favourite pub? or what’s your top ten? and I can never choose because I have so many favourites for many different reasons. But one pub I would always recommend to visit is Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese as this pub experience is like no other. . As you approach the pub on busy Fleet Street it’s easy to miss it, when I first came here I walked past it a couple of times before I sussed out the entrance is in a small alley at the side. As you enter the pub it is a real attack on the senses, it’s dimly lit, the smell of the open fire and it’s confusing on where to go. The best option is to grab a beer from the first bar on the right as you enter and then go for a wander to discover the many different alcoves, bars, nooks and crannies. As you head further in to the pub and descend the steep staircases and peer in to the many seating areas and cellars it fills you full of wonder and excitement about what lies around the next corner. On this visit I sat in the bottom bar/cellar which was busy and as with all areas of the pub is very atmospheric. This is a Sam Smiths pub which only sells it’s own in house beers, wines and spirits, I had the Organic Lager which was ok but this is not somewhere I come to for the beer, that said there was a good selection on offer. There is also food available serving up British classics. I would recommend visiting during the week as this pub is hot on the tourist trail and you will often hear an American twang here and there and it’s also popular with day trippers. . As mentioned earlier, this is a must visit pub. This is a place to immerse yourself in to a piece of history and soak up the unique atmosphere. It’s easy to imagine what it was like drinking in a London pub two hundred years ago which not many other pubs can offer. . 📊 Information correct on visiting 06/11/21

🤮 unfortunately no atmosphere except if you like cake with cold meat inside or meat with cold egg inside.

Place was very busy, we stopped in for a pint and every table was taken. We found room at a long communal table and went up to order a beer. It is a cool spot with lots of little rooms, it feels like a maze or a cave, but it was too busy for my liking (and therefore very loud). We were not served, you have to go to the bar to order.

Very authentic pub with a wide variety of beers on tap. Traditional British food with several specialties such as fish & chips and meat pie with kidneys, which is excellent. For dessert, the sticky toffee pudding was very good. Local atmosphere. It is worth a visit.

Great atmosphere. One of the oldest pubs in London. But the food is the worst I ever had. Stone cold pork pie and scotch eggs. How hard is to warm them up before serving them? I felt like I was eating stuff out of Tesco bag.

Went to this place a few months ago with my friend from abroad (i.e. we were speaking a foreign language to each other). We went to the basement part of the pub, where we had drinks and some food. Out of the sudden the waiter brings food that we didn’t order and disappears very quickly so we put it on the side. Half an hour later the member of staff comes with a card terminal and tries to make us to pay for it. We refuse so the manager is being called. Another 10 years later the manager arrives and still tries to make excuses so that we would need to pay for this food as apparently accepted the food. Finally they just take this plate full of cold food away saying that next time we would need to pay for it. Sorry guys but there won’t be next time as we will never come back here! I have a feeling that they thought we were some ‘tourists’ who would be willing to pay for their mistakes. Don’t charge clients for your own mistakes. Pathetic.

Perfect pub for a cold winter evening, the interior is cosy and vintage, lot of nice rooms with fire places all around. Definitely one of my top pub in London !

Had to sit in the dark because we couldn't find a light switch and there were no other tables either downstairs or up

Old pub in London, the dishes are typical English so they might be difficult for some, but overall it's ok. What ruined everything was the service performed by a person who did not choose the right profession. Everything was saved by the very kind owner who understood the situation and reopened the kitchen on purpose and offered us a delicious apple pie. It's a shame that a pub with this history and fame has to have service that isn't up to par.

Vary rude Staff, asked us to leve if we wont order anything, not recommeneded

Dark, Dickensian pub (re)built in 1667... Many charming small rooms and nooks... If you like sunny, well lit places, this beautiful venue isn't for you... The classic pub food is delicious, but they always seem understaffed: each of our 3 visits featured one server covering most tables. As a result, expect long wait times. The food, experience, and Samuel Smith's on draft (draught) is well worth it. Reservations for dining are highly recommended.

Amazing old pub, Sam Smith's beers. Labyrinth of tap rooms and cellars, very atmospheric. Built 1650s. Drawback was the fire billowed smoke into the main taproom - probably needed unblocking. Very friendly staff and well kept beer!

Wonderful traditional British pub with a great variety of beers and other drinks.

A pub that you have to visit if you’re in the City.

Food was crazy good. Service was even better. If I lived in London i would be there weekly. Definitely a great stop for any tourists looking for real London food.

350 plus year old pub, reasonable prices, old worldly atmosphere

Worth a visit to see just how cramped, worn-out and dark a place can be and still attract lots of customers. Historic I guess. Friendly barman. Inside it was winter 1750 and smelt of the open fire. Oitside it was a sunny autumn day.

Hello this may be the oldest pub in London but the staff seem to be on their first day today. Service was rubbish and all our order was mixed up wrong and the waitress arrived downstairs without cutlery and condiments twice. She seemed surprised we might need cutlery. There were no napkins. The lads behind the bar are polite but listen to your order without writing it down then go to the till. You pay then and they already put a service charge on. The order then arrives all wrong and it took us an hour to be told there was no haloumi fries. The tables are uncleared for a long time. The ladies toilets were disgusting, unclean, litter bins overflowing and no soap. I mentioned no soap at the bar and an hour later there was still no soap. We had to ask for our refund and also for our service charge returned.

The Classic olde British pub. Go down to the basement for a hand pulled pint. A bit bummed there wasn’t an old Englishman behind the bar. Looks like their food menu had improved side our last visit 7 years ago!

Worth a look being the oldest pub but lacks all atmosphere of a real English pub probably due to it obviously being aimed at tourists, in fact I think I was the only English customer in there, could be so much better if there was actual locals in it to create the atmosphere, beer was average and my opinion would be it would benefit from a more traditional menu in keeping with the old English pub theme rather than trying to be modern-ish, it makes for a confusing vibe at best. Such a shame if what you want is to see the oldest pub by all means pay a visit but if you want to visit a traditional old English pub there is far better ones with a real pub atmosphere all over the city.

This pub is amazing for historic value and lovely food. Everyone should pop along.

Seriously the worst sirloin steak I have ever had, it was full of cartilage and so chewy it was barely edible (and I had it cooked medium rare). The steak was served with half a tomato and some watercress with no dressing. And the pepper gravy along with the sauces came out almost 15 minutes after the steak had come out because we weren’t asked what sauce we wanted which meant I had to ensure the most bland meal whilst waiting. The serving bread was also stale and the glass I was given was full of dried white dishwasher fluid. As for the staff, they clearly didn’t want to be there and every time we politely asked for something they said ‘HUH’ and gave us an odd look. It’s a shame because it’s a beautiful old historical pub and I used to drink here back in the day. If you’re gonna go, have a drink but I wouldn’t recommend eating here unless you want to pay for overpriced bland food served by staff who don’t give a shit.

A dingy hole, in the best possible way!

Wow! Wow! Wow! I love places like this! Delicious food tastes the best in such an atmosphere! It's worth coming here to eat and drink excellent beer!

Love the pub, but the food is terrible

While I found being inside this historic pub to be fascinating, I was left wanting much more of an experience due to the abysmal service. Worth stopping in to say you did it.

You must try these beers 🍻 and the crisps. The service and place is very nice.

This place is only worth the visit to explore the building- a maze of rooms and nooks, multiple bars and a dining area. It's a Sam Smith pub so limited in drinks choices. I asked for a Sauvignon Blanc and was told they only had 'bog standard white' which ended up being Chenin Blanc 😂 what a way to sell your product. Service at the bar was perfunctory.

Good food, but the service was the worst we’ve ever had, to the point of being comical. First we had to point to the menu to show the server what we wanted to order because the server didn’t know what was on the menu. We had to ask for forks to eat our meal. Then spoons for pudding. Then a manager asked us to leave the dining room before we received the bill.

This is a lovely pub but is suffering from it's popularity. When I turned up there were only 2 bar staff and only one bar open and a queue of 10 people for drinks. I got my drinks and flu d a large square table for friends to join us in room across corridor which wasn't set up for food. Next thing I know is that the room was being closed for food so we had to move out and couldn't find suitable space nobody got more drinks and we left. Recommend seeing unit but not so sure about staying unless service improves.

Wow! What great service and amazing food! Absolutely will come back when we’re in the area!

London oldest pub, and full of historic decor. The food is great here, and I recommend this as the number one destination for anyone visiting London and wanting to see a taste of historic London and a real old timey British pub vibe

We sat at the counter bench as it was busy... We lined up at the counter. They said we can't serve you food unless you have a table number.. there's no table number at the bench... So other people assisted us and said to use thrir table number. Put in our order. It took 43 minutes to arrive... One order of french fries.... Stone cold... Just very bad service and eventually they just gave us our money back and we left. The place is very dirty and the bathrooms smell like urinal beyond. There was our worst experience in London . One thing I would never go back.

Very friendly staff! Very good Sidra!

The year written on the signboard is not preceded by the common "est" but "rebuilt" (I don't know why I think it is quite handsome), and the year is "1667". One year after the Great Fire of London in 1666, it turned out to be Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese was actually founded earlier (the official data is 1538!). In any case, it is certain that YOCC is the most famous bar in London and one of the few old bars that has been operating since the 17th century. It has been in Fleet Street since the 17th century. The building at its current location is still registered as a historic building. What’s interesting is that its gate is not on the street. Instead, you have to turn into an alley and enter through the wooden door below after seeing a stylish hanging sign. What you see after entering the door is a dark (yellow) wood and Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese's signature for hundreds of years, a space with a bit of mystery and warmth. If I were to describe it as a movie scene, it would probably be like part of a Harry Potter movie. There are some dark rooms in some buildings in dark alleys, which are very atmospheric. In addition to its antiquity and atmosphere, Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese is also most famous for its association with many well-known literati over the past few hundred years. Charles Dickens, Yeats, Mark Twain, etc. have all visited, and it has also appeared in many restaurants over the past few hundred years. In literary works or publications (such as Dickens's A Tale of Two Cities), the store description states that there are many spaces in the store where writers used to sit or like to sit. For example, the Chop Room I was assigned this time was where Dickens often sat. Room. The random order of Steak and Kidney Pudding may be okay depending on how strong and exciting the taste is, but it is in line with what Dickens said is "a good plain meal with good wine" (except that I paired it with beer), and the whole meal gives people a warm feeling. It has a smooth taste and goes very well with the atmosphere or beer. As for the beer... There are seven or eight bottles of wine provided by Samuel Smith, the oldest brewery in North Yorkshire. There are seven or eight bottles on the wine list. Drink I bought two or three of them, and they tasted so good that I really wanted to try them all if I could... From all aspects, it will be one of the must-visit pubs in London. I recommend you to check it out. Ps. Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese is extremely popular. On weekdays, shortly after five o'clock in the evening, there will be a somewhat troublesome situation where a bunch of people have to queue up. Those who are interested in visiting must pay attention to their arrangements.

Great place, keeps going down and down and down… so cool!!! Really awesome atmosphere

The food is okay, not necessarily spectacular.Prices are high for what you get just under £125 for one starter, two mains and an average bottle of wine. 12.5% service charge is added as a matter of course but the staff need training on how to wait tables and make diners feel like guests rather than just a source of income. No sooner have you finished your meal and the bill is presented. No sooner have you paid your bill and a waitress immediately asks you to leave your table so they can serve someone else. An evening ruined by the attitude of the waiting staff. Having been, I would not go back and would not recommend that anyone else does either.

Beer on form, went upstairs for the first time, shame the bar was shut, a few yanks were in, but was nice to be back as always.

So much history in this one property. Worth the trip just for that but the fish & chips and rarebit were great. Leave room for the sticky toffee pudding!

Fantastic Historic Great Selection of classic Beers

Great old pub going back to great fire of London

One of my old favourites when guests are visiting. We’ve been coming to this pub since the days of old Fleet Street in the late 80’s (with journalists from that era) I don’t know what’s happened to its food service but it’s not the pub it was - it’s become expensive, sloppy and not great for eating in. Whoever owns it, please pay attention and employ staff who know how to do food service. It’s a great atmosphere but taking the **** of food customers - I was actually embarrassed by the crazy bad service - Balsamic vinegar for malt vinegar (third time asking) over 30 mins for drinks at the table, no water until we begged for some after the 30 mins, no clue on the menu, not great food for the price. Come on?!

A friend recommended this place but I think he should have his head examined. We had a reservation but when we showed up nobody was there to receive us so we waited a long while. The servers were totally inept in taking our orders and serving our food. We had to send the drinks and food back due to their errors. The head waiter did his best to make things right but after waiting way too long for our drinks and food to be served we left. Don't come here unless you want to be disappointed.

Surprisingly less touristy than I'd have expected. Tucked away a bit. Had a great deal for a cheese platter. The beer selection was pretty average for London, nothing special but the vibes were worth the journey.

This centuries old tavern is a warren of intimate drinking spots. It is atmospheric. The food and range of beverages was pretty good too. There is more than one "cheese." I recommend the original on Fleet Street for the full ambience.

This was one of my favorite meals in London. Yes, the food was truly exceptional but even greater was the feeling of going back in time and feeling like you were a part of history. The servers were great. If you are a Dickens fan or just love old Pubs this is DEFINITELY A MUST DO. Reservations are recommended but not necessary.

As an American visiting London, this is the first pub I went to with actual beer, their pale ale and stout were really good.

Best pub in the area, despite being a Samuel Smiths with tasteless pints, the atmosphere and historic surroundings make up for it

Really incredible building with a few different within the same premise spread out across a few floors. Not a cheese place! 😅

Really old pub, very low celling and stairwells which adds the atmosphere. Stepping back in time this place has a lot to offer, downstairs is worth a visit and got can feel the history of the place. It's a Samuel Smith pub and only servers thier drinks.

nice ambience, friendly staff but really underwhelming and overpriced food.

First visit to the Cheese for several years, glad to see that it remains like a time capsule, unchanged and ungentrified. Classic central London pub.

The most characteristic pub in London

This old pub has waited 355 years but I finally showed up. To think of the people through the ages who have had a pint here. If you didn't know the history you would probably give a miss. I enjoy dark historical pubs with a bit of flavour.

Very poor service and disorganised, sent several different places to order food only to be told after searching for 20 minutes (back at the original place we asked) that the kitchen had closed 5 minutes before! The manager was rude and didn't seem to understand why it was a problem! Ruined a nice evening and I took my group to another venue. Tourist trap.

Da sitzt man nun in einem wirklichen alten Traditionspub in London. In tollen uralten Räumlichkeiten und kann kaum die Speisekarte lesen, weil es doch arg dunkel ist. Nun ja, passt ja vielleicht irgendwie zum Ambiente. Ist schon gut, wenn man vorher im Internet mal auf die Karte gesehen hat, dann vergeht einem nicht gleich der Appetit wenn man die Preise sieht. Das Essen ist soweit ok, aber keine Offenbarung und steht in keinem Verhältnis zur Preisgestaltung, allerdings ist das Bier lecker. Das Bedienungspersonal ist nicht besonders aufmerksam. Vielleicht sehen die einen ja auch gar nicht im Halbdunkel? Wer also Wert darauf legt in einer Gaststätte zu speisen die schon verschiedene Schriftsteller aufgesucht haben, bitte, ein Blick lohnt sich immer, aber das Preis-Leistungs-Verhältnis lässt arg zu Wünschen übrig!!

Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese is a pub located at 145 Fleet Street, in Wine Office Court, City of London. Rebuilt shortly after the Great Fire of 1666, the pub is known for its literary associations, with its regulars including Charles Dickens, G. K. Chesterton and Mark Twain. One evening I decided to go out to eat and have a beer. I must say that I have tried better pubs even if in general it earns a good rating. Some rooms are a little dismal but that's probably intentional.

Tourist attraction with overpriced pints and not the most welcoming stuff.

Small portions, expensive dishes and very slow service, not recommended.

The ambience is fantastic, but as other reviews have stated, service is quite slow. If you are very proactive with the wait staff, it should be okay. The mushroom crumpet, steak & ale pud, and sticky toffee pudding were all good.

Really old pub restaurant. We just turned up without a booking and were directed upstairs where there was plenty of seating. The waitress upstairs was really friendly and helped make our visit a memorable one. The food was great and really enjoyable.

Very old pub with 2 underground floors.

If you’re from America and think your country has some old spots, wait until you visit this pub in London, originally built in 1667! Actually, the original structure predates that, but it was rebuilt after the Great Fire of London, and it’s been standing strong for 355 years. This place has been frequented by notable figures like Mark Twain and others. I highly recommend visiting—it’s truly amazing. Whether it’s a weekday or a chill Friday, this pub has an atmosphere that’s hard to put into words. Sitting in the cellar with a beer, surrounded by centuries of history, is a surreal experience. You can really take it all in and imagine what life must have been like back then. It’s an absolute must-visit on your next trip to London!

An amazing step back in time. The pub looks tiny from the outside, but inside, it's like a labyrinth. There's a lot to explore here. I wish this was my local.

A wonderful pub with a rich history. As with most pubs, there are too many tourists these days, but on an off season weekday afternoon, it's easy to find a table. Beers aren't great, but it's the atmosphere that's the main attraction.

Cavernous old pub. Real fireplace is a nice touch. Did not eat, just in for a couple pints of cask bitter. If you’re only having pints they send you three flights down to the cellar - that’s why only 3 stars. Bartender was chatty and a nice kid. Dingy old haunt good for a pint if you don’t mind the narrow hallway walk to the basement . No idea about food, but in this neighborhood it probably would not be my first choice, but you would likely survive an order of chips and would not be banished to the cellar.

food isn’t good but its made up by the atmosphere and ambiance of the pub and its drinks

place is huge seems to be bars all over 😂

Really, really like this place, good beer, good music.

Nice and old-fashioned place. Absolutely worth visiting

Famous old London pub Lots of tourists

Everything you expect from the Oldest pub in London.

We expected more. It was a bit empty and the atmosphere wasn't there (Thursday afternoon). Service is virtually non-existent, as you pay at the counter and take the drinks with you. Scotch Egg (number 1!) was very tasty, but a bit overpriced.

Worth going for the history and a drink. Take the time to walk around. Do not order food!! Has no flavor at all and made me feel ill. I’d rather eat at Pret.

It’s surprising this place has a 4.5 because the service is the worst I have experienced in my time in London. The staff have this attitude where they don’t seem to care you are there from the moment you step in and wouldn’t care if you leave. The beer was also one of the worst I’ve had in my lifetime. Come by and enjoy the history if you want but I wouldn’t recommend sticking around for food or drinks.

Fish and chips was stale and a friend of mine got sick. Service was poor, not a single sign of sympathy from the people over the counter who ignored us inspite of us saying hello several times , one of the waitresses at our table wasn’t very friendly either. It’s a Shame because the place is very nice. Fish of the day was excellent but could be served with chips or smth, expensive place for the quality of the food.

When I think of a British pub, this is it

Horribly kept beer, i.e. infected. Place looked like the priority was for easy clean rather than atmosphere. Had all the hallmarks of a tourist trap that doesn't care, because people will show up anyways. Avoid like the plague.

An absolute must for pub enthusiasts. You can feel this history. We had a couple of pints and heard the stories about Polly the parrot. Brilliant pub stop

Wow....what a very old pub, absolutely fabulous inside, you can actually feel it's age....the barmaid we spoke with said the place had a presence (literally)....it's a sam smiths pub and the prices are very reasonable for central London....pay a visit and have a drink in the cellar bar 👻👻