The Sun Tavern — Restaurant in London

I’ve been here, if memory serves me right, about three times, and this review is based on those visits combined.

I’ve walked past this pub plenty of times, but I only ever pop in when I feel like I need a mental break or when I’m in a good mood. Every single time, I’ve ordered a half pint of Neck Oil and just found a random spot to sit, think, or relax.

The service is always calm and polite, and the staff have great manners. I always try to show the same respect back because it’s genuinely appreciated. I’ve never had a bad experience with the hospitality here. If you're after warm, friendly service, this is a great place to stop by.

The ground floor is a bit small, but I’ve never had trouble finding a seat. It’s never been too loud or crowded whenever I’ve visited. That might just be luck, especially since it’s on a busy road in Covent Garden. The interior is lovely too, clean, shiny, and really well-kept.

There’s also an upstairs floor that I think is used for functions. But honestly, why trek up two and a half flights of stairs when you can enjoy the cozy atmosphere downstairs? Plus, the toilets are more accessible near the main bar (not even sure if there are any upstairs! 😂). Still, it’s nice to know they have more space for busier days, with extra tables and even another bar up there.

Drink prices are pretty standard for Central London, around £6-£7+, which is expected in the area, so no complaints there. I haven't tried to food but what I've seen, it looks delicious and is presented very well.

If you want to smoke or vape, there’s a covered outdoor area in a little alley next to the pub. There aren’t any stools outside, but you can stand, sip your drink, and stay dry if it rains. It's actually great they’ve set that up, better than crowding the narrow, busy pavement out front.

All in all, it’s a great pub with friendly service, a chill vibe, and a convenient outdoor spot for smokers, even when it’s raining. Prices are fair for the area, and the atmosphere is always nice. I definitely recommend popping in, even just for a half, you probably won’t be...

Arrived at 7:15pm on Friday night. The downstairs was full due to a private party being held upstairs. All tables were full, with most people ordering food. This left one person serving very slowly behind the bar. It took almost 10 mins to order a beer. The TV in the pub was off, despite them advertising “all World Cup games shown live here”. A friend arrived at 7:35. He was served quicker, and asked one of the three pubescent bar staff to put the Brazil game on. They said they would …. 15 minutes later I asked one of the three surly staff, who was clearing glasses, to please put the football on - she said we would …. 10 minutes later I went to the bar and asked her again to put the football on. She said she would. I politely explained that her and her colleagues had been telling us for almost an hour that they’d put the football on, and it still hadn’t happened. She got all belligerent and asked me if I hadn’t noticed they were busy. Whilst arguing she reached for the TV remote and pushed three buttons - suddenly the football was on. It took her no more than 30 seconds. Her and her colleague continued arguing with me, with the other pimply-faced pint puller telling me “people come before the TV” implying that he was serving drinks and that took precedence. IT TOOK 30 SECONDS TO PUT THE TV IN!!! He obviously didn’t appreciate the irony in his ridiculous statement, given that it was a person he was talking to. A person who’d bought three pints and who just wanted to watch Brazil play football on the telly. They tried to keep arguing with me but by now I was more interested in watching the football that was finally on the telly, so I left the worst bartending trio in London to carry on doing the bare minimum work, counting the hours until they can clock off.

In their favour the food that was coming out looked good. The pies looked particularly good.

Avoid if you want friendly service, or to watch sport. If you just want a tasty pie served by a kid who couldn’t care less about their job,...

We had two rounds of drinks on a not excessively busy Saturday afternoon, each time truly rubbish service.

The first was tediously slow, not as in queue, there was none, as in the time it took to make the drinks. The staff member had evidently never poured a cask beer in their life. The Amstel came in a glass that had been used to pour half a pint of cider before they realised what they were doing - emptied, no rinse, start on the beer. The martini was pure fruit juice, no alcohol in sight, the wine was the wrong colour but I’m not sure the staff member even knew colours so I gave up trying to explain the issue.

We waited for a different member of staff to appear at the bar before ordering the second round - marginally better. The wine came out pink, the Amstel was almost a pint with a normal sized head, this person also clearly never poured a cask beer and had to phone someone to ask why the pump wasn’t working - reader she wasn’t even holding the class never mind angling it, there was going to be foam. The martini had seen some alcohol this time and came with the prosecco but looked terrible with split foam and no garnish. The prime downside of this interaction was that the staff member would keep wandering off mid order to serve food and go and get people from the upstairs bar so again service took ages.

Two rounds - two identical orders - two difference prices.

I presume this was new summer staff but I’d be choosing somewhere else to go for a decent drink if you’re going to pay...