The Swan Tavern, EC3 — Restaurant in London

My City go to. Hybrid up in town. Staff friendly and efficient, usually professionally serving in order, despite efforts of the inevitable odd exception overkeen / pushy one (it is the City with serious money makers!); despite a small downstairs bar area also often catering for large groups outside in the passageway. Shame Labour didn't ban smoking in public areas as, without space indoors at times, often coerced outside down or upwind from darth vader vapers (they actually make that sound!)

Always feel comfortable having the odd pint solo, minding my own business. Safe place. My friend says staff (esp iro women) in pubs are paid to be friendly & provide good customer service. But one particular barlady (I commended to Fullers) went above and beyond by displaying genuine kindness & empathy a while back when I was struggling after a tough weekend with anxiety / mild depression (divorce, Covid and poorly parents (ongoing) from early 2020 to early 2022 has had lasting impact). She said she wanted me to have a lovely day (by buying me a pint, without a 2nd thought). It brings me cheer ever since to return & see her (and fellow staff,...

A traditional treasure London alley pub with superb, undercover, alley drinking, classic frontage and the smallest bar I can remember. The ground floor bar is narrower than the alley, behind the bar is one person wide. Excellent preserved heritage character with elegant Edwardian features. Decoratively detailed ceiling paper, exposed vintage services and a professional charm of an old city pub. There's a steep curved staircase to the hidden upstairs room with velvet, tied back curtains over large windows from which to drink and overlook the busy city street. There's a second bar upstairs and a pleasant, uncrowded feel to a busy pub, get here early to jam a ground floor spot. Polite, organised service and a relaxed vibe throughout makes this...

I really enjoyed coming here. This is a really tiny put that is kind of hard to find if you don't know about it. I must have passed by it a million times, but if my friend had not told me it was across from the GAP, I wouldn't have found it. The pub itself is very small, but if it is a nice day outside it is lovely to just stand outside of it. It sits on a dead end street so there is no foot traffic albeit the pub is off a main road. Most people here work in the City and I think I was the only woman there apart from the bar staff. I would go back. The beer is good, and the atmosphere is less hectic than Leadenhall Market...