Sweetings, described as the City of London's oldest restaurant, is being paid homage to ahead of the Toast the City Awards this October. The establishment, which began as John S. Sweetings, Fish and Oyster Merchant in 1830, has been located in the Albert Buildings on Queen Victoria Street since 1889.
The restaurant maintains many of its original Victorian features, including dark wood interiors and an imposing bar. Its menu focuses on fish dishes such as Dover sole, halibut, turbot, skate, and plaice, alongside lobster, crab, and oysters. Sweetings also serves Black Velvet, a mixture of Guinness and champagne, in silver tankards.
Sweetings operates solely for weekday lunches and does not accept reservations. Other long-standing City establishments mentioned include the Quality Chop House, while Simpson's Tavern, which closed during the Covid-19 pandemic, has been reborn as Cloth Cornhill.