Discover our insiders guide to Ian Fleming's favourite London haunts and discover the inspiration behind Britain's favourite spy.

Rules

Commonly cited as the oldest restaurant in London, Rules in Covent Garden has been serving customers since 1798 when it was founded by Thomas Rule and still specialises in traditional British food including classic game, oysters, pies and puddings. In over 200 years, spanning the reigns of nine monarchs, it has been owned by only three families and throughout its long history the tables have been crowded with writers, artists, lawyers, journalists and actors - seen on the walls all around the dining rooms – captured in literally hundreds of drawings, paintings and cartoons. Guests have include everyone from Charles Dickens, Laurence Olivier to Clark Gable and Charlie Chaplin. Frequented by Fleming, it also formed the backdrop to one of the pivotal scenes in Spectre. 

Scott's

Among the oldest restaurants in London, Scott’s was opened as an oyster warehouse - at 18-20 Coventry Street in Piccadilly Circus - in 1851, but it quickly evolved into a sought-after hotspot, moving to its current site in 1967. Established as one of the most fashionable and glamorous restaurants in town, Scott’s has welcomed film stars, politicians and writers through the decades. Ian Fleming was often seen at Scott's in the 50s and 60s and it was also reportedly here that he discovered the dry martini 'shaken not stirred'. In Ian Fleming's novels, 007 is also a regular at Scott's of Mayfair. 

Duke's Bar

This refined, well-appointed bar off the lobby of Duke’s Hotel in Mayfair was a frequent haunt of Fleming’s during the 1950s and ‘60s. It was here, legend has it, that the author was inspired to choose a medium dry martini (“shaken not stirred”, of course) as Bond’s signature drink. Those in the know still come here for the notoriuosly strong martinis, shaken and served tableside by one of the white-jacketed waiters. One for the purists and a must-visit for Martini fans, this most discreet of drinking dens is old school to the core and where the martini cocktail became a legend. Pictured. 

The Savoy Grill

The Savoy has a long association with James Bond and his creator. Fleming was one of many authors who regularly visited The Savoy and the American Bar was one of Fleming’s favourite haunts and mentioned in several of his books. The longest surviving of all London's other 'American Bars' (popular in the late 19th and early 20th Centuries), it is also one of the most iconic cocktail bars in the world and has a venerable 125 year history. Fleming was  also a regular diner at the Savoy Grill. With hundreds of years’ worth of Hollywood glamour, designer Russell Sage took inspiration from the restaurant’s heyday and restored the original 1920’s Art Deco features along with reinstating the original seating plan. Dine on a menu inspired by classic British and French dishes of old, from Gordon Ramsey. 

Wiltons

Taking its first incarnation as a stall selling oysters, shrimps and cockles in 1742, it could be argued that Wiltons is the oldest restaurant in london. Founded by George William Wilton, it soon grew to become a fishmonger shop in 1805 with a sit-in oyster room near Trafalgar Square. However it wasn’t until 1840 that the first Wiltons seafood restaurant opened in St James’ Ryder Street. It has been in Jermyn Street since 1984. Wiltons has consistently enjoyed a reputation as the epitome of fine British dining in London and synonymous for the immaculately prepared finest oysters, wild fish and game, which Fleming also often ordered to be delivered to his Victoria Square home.

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Where to eat & drink like James Bond