Best Sunday roasts in the City of London

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What to expect

You can start with croquettes, arancini, halloumi or prawns with chilli, then move on to sausage and mash, chicken schnitzel or the hanging chicken kebab. The drinks list is broad enough to cover beer, wine and cocktails, and there are gluten-free choices for guests who need them. It is the kind of place where a meal can turn into a longer conversation without feeling rushed about what to order next.

Plan your visit

Choose this place when you want a meal that suits both drinking and dining, then pick a corner or a larger table depending on your group. If anyone has dietary needs, it is worth checking the menu in advance so everyone can order confidently once you arrive.

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What to expect

You can drop in for fish and chips, a Sunday roast with Yorkshire pudding, or a lighter plate such as sea bass. Drinks are pitched to the same straightforward brief, from a pint of Guinness to a simple midweek glass of wine. It works well for solo lunches, client meals, and easygoing catch-ups because the menu stays familiar and service is geared towards getting you settled quickly and looking after you properly.

Plan your visit

If the market view matters to you, ask for a table upstairs or by the window. The building has no step-free access and no accessible toilets, so it is worth checking that the layout suits everyone in your group before you go. It is also a good stop if you want lunch between meetings in the City.

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What to expect

You’ll find a menu built around pasta, seafood, salads and well-known Italian dishes, plus a few richer plates for a longer meal. The setting works well for business lunches, relaxed dinners and group bookings, and the wider building often adds live music to the experience. If you go for the buffet-style service, expect plenty of choice and a strong focus on seafood and cold cuts alongside the hot dishes. Join us for Cecconi's Feast every Sunday. You can choose from pasta and pizza, salads, Sunday roasts, lobsters, oysters and classic Italian desserts.

Plan your visit

If you’re choosing it for a special meal, give yourself time to look around The Ned before or after you eat, as the restaurant sits within one of the City’s grandest public interiors. If you want pasta or seafood as your main focus, check what accompaniments you’d like as sides may need to be added.

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What to expect

On the ground floor, people usually gather for pints, while upstairs is set up for food and longer sits. The kitchen leans into pub staples such as pork belly roast, fish and chips, pie and sausage and mash, with starter platters and bar snacks for sharing. On match days, the big screen brings football into the room, and the bar team are often praised for quick, helpful service.

Plan your visit

It works well for a quick pint after work or a full dinner upstairs. If you're coming for football, the downstairs bar tends to fill first, so head up if you want more space. The short menu makes it easy to choose a roast, pie or fish and chips without much fuss.

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What to expect

You can come here for a meal that moves easily between lunch, drinks and dinner. The menu mixes British and European dishes, with seafood, beef Wellington and other plates designed for sharing. On the bar side, there’s a solid line-up of cocktails, wine and spirits, so it works well when one person wants food and another wants to keep things to drinks. Sundays are built around the roast, with meat, potatoes, vegetables and gravy served in a format that suits a table of two or a larger group.

Plan your visit

If you’re coming with a group, choose a mix of small plates so everyone can try a bit of everything. For a first visit, the Sunday roast gives the clearest read on what the kitchen does well, while the bar works well if you’re staying on for drinks after lunch.

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What to expect

You’ll usually start with small plates such as anchovy olives or the haggis Scotch egg, then move on to game-led mains like ox tongue, rabbit pie or the Sunday roast platter with beef sirloin, lamb and rotisserie chicken. Duck fat potatoes and rich gravy come with the roast. The wine list leans to independent bottles, and the downstairs room works well for longer meals with a group.

Plan your visit

Choose it for seasonal game and British dishes that change with the day. It works well before a Barbican performance, so allow time for a proper meal rather than a quick stop. For groups, the roast and sharing-friendly plates make the format easy to plan around.

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What to expect

Come for pints and stay for a plate. The kitchen turns out beer-battered cod, chunky chips, pies and vegetarian options such as cauliflower pie and beef-and-mushroom Wellington. Staff are happy to talk through the beer list, which includes British craft, real ales and foreign bottles, and the upstairs room gives larger groups space to settle in. A pint of Five Points bitter or the house lager fits the food well.

Plan your visit

If you want a roast, go earlier in the day so you have the best chance of getting the full choice. The upstairs room works well for larger groups, while the ground floor suits a more casual drink. Ask the team for a beer recommendation if you want something beyond the usual pint.

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What to expect

Order a coffee, a cocktail or a glass of English sparkling wine, then settle in for plates such as fish & chips, roast chicken or a Lancashire Bomb Cheddar soufflé. Afternoon tea comes with a careful mix of cakes and savouries, and the bar team can talk you through whisky and seasonal drinks. Live music often runs in the background, and the service suits both a relaxed lunch and a longer evening.

Plan your visit

If you want a quieter meal, ask for a table away from larger groups when you arrive. The team is used to dietary requests, so afternoon tea and breakfast both work well for mixed needs. It also suits client lunches, with staff ready to guide you through the menu and drinks list.

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What to expect

Order classic cocktails, bourbon or rye, then add small plates or snacks if you want to stay a while. The bar also serves tea, coffee and soft drinks, so it works well for a daytime stop as much as an evening one. Service is polished and steady, and the layout gives you space to talk even when the room fills up around the music schedule. If you like a drink with a bit of activity around you, this is an easy place to settle in.

Plan your visit

Come here when you want a drink first and a performance second. It suits walk-ins, quick client meetings and longer catch-ups, and it helps to choose your spot with the stage in mind if you want to hear the music clearly while still talking comfortably.