A sandwich shop that’s been quietly serving Marylebone since Queen Victoria was still on the throne doesn’t need flashy marketing. Paul Rothe & Son, a fourth-generation family-run delicatessen hidden on Marylebone Lane, has turned century-old German-deli roots into a modern-day pilgrimage spot for soup and sandwiches.
Founded: 1900 ·
Generation: Fourth ·
TripAdvisor Rating: 4.8 / 5 (121 reviews) ·
Instagram Followers: 15K ·
Location: Marylebone, London
Quick snapshot
- Opened on 2 August 1900 (Speciality & Fine Food Fair industry trade publication)
- Fourth-generation family ownership (The Shopkeepers business directory)
- Rated 4.8/5 on TripAdvisor from 121 reviews (TripAdvisor user review platform)
- Exact halal certification status
- Detailed daily opening hours
- Complete price list
- 1900: Founded as a German delicatessen (Spitalfields Life London history blog)
- 1930s: Founder’s son delivered rye loaves by bicycle (Speciality & Fine Food Fair industry trade publication)
- Recent: Became a social media sensation in Marylebone (Spitalfields Life London history blog)
- Continued evolution from grocery to deli to sandwich destination
- Growing online following may drive further menu expansion
Six key facts that define Paul Rothe & Son, one pattern: a family-run business that started as a grocery and never stopped adapting to what Londoners actually want to eat.
| Label | Value |
|---|---|
| Established | 1900 |
| Founder | Paul Rothe |
| Current Generation | Fourth |
| Average Rating | 4.8/5 |
| Instagram Followers | 15K |
| Location | Marylebone, London |
These six data points trace a single trajectory: survival through adaptation.
What type of business is Paul Rothe & Son?
Walk into 35 Marylebone Lane and you’ll find a compact shop that refuses to pick a lane: it’s a grocery, a deli, a sandwich counter, and a hot soup stop all at once. The business is classified as a delicatessen, but regulars know it’s more of a lunchtime institution. According to The Infatuation London food guide, it’s widely described as one of London’s oldest sandwich shops.
What products does Paul Rothe & Son offer?
- Freshly made sandwiches (egg mayo with anchovies, pastrami with Swiss cheese and gherkins — customer favourites per The Infatuation London food guide)
- Hot soup, especially praised by reviewers as a “pilgrimage spot” according to Dining Out substack newsletter
- House-made cheeses including Liptauer and Kummelkase, as noted by Spitalfields Life London history blog
- A broad selection of preserves and jam
- Retail grocery items, a remnant of its original trade
How is Paul Rothe & Son classified as a business?
The shop sits at the intersection of three categories: it’s a family-run delicatessen by tradition, a lunch counter by practical evolution, and a local grocery by heritage. The Marylebone Village local business association lists it as a food-and-drink destination, reflecting how the business shifted from retail grocery toward lunchtime food service as parking restrictions and office-worker patterns reshaped the neighbourhood.
The implication: Paul Rothe & Son succeeded because it refused to be just one thing. When the local shopping base declined, it leaned into what Marylebone’s office workers actually needed — a quick, quality lunch from people who’d been doing it for decades.
The shop’s hybrid identity means no single menu category gets a full restaurant-sized kitchen. The small seating area (around 32 seats) and limited prep space mean customers should expect focused quality rather than sprawling choice.
What is the history of Paul Rothe & Son?
Paul Rothe & Son opened on 2 August 1900 at 35 Marylebone Lane, according to the Speciality & Fine Food Fair industry trade publication. The founder, Paul Rothe, arrived in London from Germany at the turn of the century chasing better prospects, and what he built became a family dynasty that has outlasted two world wars, the rise of supermarkets, and the transformation of Marylebone itself.
When was Paul Rothe & Son founded?
- 2 August 1900 — exact founding date recorded by the Marylebone Village local business association
- Originally a German delicatessen trading mainly imported food, per Spitalfields Life London history blog
- By the 1930s, the founder’s son was delivering rye loaves around London by bicycle, as documented by the Speciality & Fine Food Fair industry trade publication
How has the business evolved over four generations?
The shop originally had a larger retail area but later added tables and chairs for around 32 customers, according to Spitalfields Life London history blog. The shift from grocery to deli wasn’t planned — it was a response to changing Marylebone. As Speciality & Fine Food Fair industry trade publication reports, parking restrictions and the decline of local residential shopping pushed the business toward the office-worker lunch trade. The family adapted by making sandwiches and soup the main draw while keeping the grocery shelves stocked for regulars.
The pattern: every generation faced a market shift, and every generation adapted without losing the German-deli DNA. The shop retains its original character, as noted by Foresyte Travel travel write-up, and still makes traditional items like Liptauer cheese.
In a London where rent pressures kill independent shops within a decade, four generations at the same address is not quaint — it’s a structural anomaly. The family’s willingness to pivot from retail to food service is the difference between survival and disappearance.
What are customers saying about Paul Rothe & Son?
Customer reviews paint the picture of a place that doesn’t need to try hard. The numbers back it up: 121 TripAdvisor reviews average 4.8 out of 5, according to TripAdvisor user review platform. On Instagram, the shop has built a following of 15,000, largely through posts that blend daily menu shots with seasonal greetings — a “Merry Christmas” caption from the Rothes themselves.
What is the TripAdvisor rating for Paul Rothe & Son?
- 4.8 / 5 from 121 reviews on TripAdvisor user review platform
- Consistent praise for family ownership and the same-site operation since 1900
- Some reviewers compare it to an authentic New York deli, per TripAdvisor user review platform
What do customers praise about the sandwiches?
Reviewers from The Infatuation London food guide highlight the egg mayo with anchovies and the pastrami with Swiss cheese and gherkins. A Dining Out substack newsletter profile calls the shop a “pilgrimage spot” for soup and sandwiches in Marylebone. The consistency across reviews — from casual diners to professional food writers — suggests the quality is reliable, not occasional.
What this means: in a city where sandwich shops open and close by the month, Paul Rothe & Son has turned repetition into reputation. Customers don’t rave about novelty; they rave about knowing exactly what they’ll get.
“A London version of an authentic New York deli”
— TripAdvisor reviewer, cited on TripAdvisor user review platform
“It’s a pilgrimage spot for soup and sandwiches in Marylebone”
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instagram.com, tripadvisor.com, paul-rothe-son.menueat.net, 1dish4theroad.com, faktarommet.net
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Paul Rothe & Son halal?
The shop does not publicly advertise halal certification. The exact status is unclear based on available information. Customers with specific dietary requirements should contact the shop directly.
Does Paul Rothe & Son offer gluten-free options?
The menu does not explicitly label gluten-free items in available public listings. Given the emphasis on traditional bread-based sandwiches, options may be limited. It’s best to ask in person or call ahead.
What is the best sandwich at Paul Rothe & Son?
Frequently praised choices include egg mayo with anchovies and pastrami with Swiss cheese and gherkins, according to The Infatuation London food guide. The shop also makes traditional German-style items like Liptauer cheese sandwiches.
Where is Paul Rothe & Son located?
The shop is at 35 Marylebone Lane, London, in the Marylebone Village area. Marylebone Village local business association lists it as a local food-and-drink destination.
What are the opening hours of Paul Rothe & Son?
Exact daily opening hours are not consistently published across sources. Typical London deli hours apply — weekday lunch trade focused. Check the shop’s Instagram or call before visiting.
Does Paul Rothe & Son offer takeaway?
Yes. The shop is primarily a lunch counter with a small seating area (about 32 seats). Takeaway is a natural part of the operation given its origins as a grocery and its current sandwich focus.
What is the price range at Paul Rothe & Son?
Exact prices are not publicly listed. As a Marylebone independent deli with a strong reputation, expect prices in line with central London sandwich shops — moderate for the area, with value coming from quality ingredients and portion size rather than low prices.
Harry Thompson is Senior Reporter at PublicReport, covering breaking UK news and political stories across the country.