Best Rooftop Bars in London
Sundown over the city skyline is best enjoyed with something cold to sip on. Head up when the sun goes down with LondonTown's guide to the best rooftop bars in London.
Enjoy a spectacular panorama of the City of London from this swanky cocktail bar.
Jin Bo Law
Jin Bo Law,
Dorsett City London, 9 Aldgate High Street London, EC3N 1AH
Bars
Dorsett City , 9 Aldgate High Street, London, EC3N 1AH
Tube: Aldgate Station
, Aldgate East Underground Station, Aldgate East Station, Tower Hill Station
Located on the 14th floor of the Dorsett City London, Jin Bo Law offers unrivalled views of the City of London and beyond. Guests seated on the outdoor terrace can enjoy a spectacular panorama featuring the neighbouring St Botolph without Aldgate as well as the Gherkin, Cheesegrater, Walkie Talkie and Tower of London, adding up to a marvellous display of both old and new. Inside, bold colours and modern artwork make up the interior while cocktails are the star of the show on the drinks menu. Expect to pay big bucks and be sure to dress suitably smart.
The Rooftop St.James has reopened as a year-round drinking destination.
2 Spring Gardens, London, SW1A 2TS
Tube: Charing Cross Station
, Piccadilly Circus Station, Leicester Square Station, Embankment Underground Station
The Trafalgar Hotel was treated to a major upgrade in 2017, reopening as The Trafalgar St. James, and as a result, the rooftop bar was also given a sleek new makeover. Newly named The Rooftop St. James, it has been transformed into a year-round rooftop hotspot, featuring a larger space, a Mediterranean style lounge, dining areas and a private glasshouse available to hire, with room to seat 14 people. Sip hot toddies next to the open fireplace and heaters in the winter or sample refreshing summer cocktails in the warmer months. Reservations are encouraged.
Take in the panoramic views of London's famous financial district.
Bokan
Bokan,
Novotel London Canary Wharf, 40 Marsh Wall London, E14 9TP
Modern European Cuisine
Novotel Canary Wharf, 40 Marsh Wall, London, E14 9TP
Tube: Canary Wharf Station
On the 37th, 38th and 39th floors of the Novotel in Canary Wharf, Bokan gives diners panoramic views of London's famous financial district. Aurelie Altemaire, formerly Head Chef at Michelin-starred L'Atelier de Joel Robuchon, has created a modern European menu with a distinctly British slant. Small dishes of Pugliese burrata served with Aurelie's signature homemade focaccia bread, and squid with ratatouille come before mains of Scottish salmon with wasabi green bean salad, slow-smoked Blythburgh pork belly, and Rhug Estate grass-fed lamb cutlets from the Josper Grill. Take the sleek glass-lined lift up to the 38th floor to sip on Docklands-inspired cocktails and enjoy bar bites of charcuterie and cheese or lobster rolls with triple cooked chips. Continue on up to the 39th floor to find London's highest gin collection, just the place for a nightcap while enjoying those far-reaching views over the City.
Instagrammable interiors and experimental cocktails high above central London.
B&H Garden Room
B&H Garden Room,
27-31 Charing Cross Road, 10th Floor Assembly Hotel London, WC2H 0LS
British Cuisine
27-31 Charing Cross Road, 10th Floor Assembly Hotel, London, WC2H 0LS
Tube: Leicester Square Station
, Piccadilly Circus Station, Charing Cross Station, Covent Garden Station
High up on the 10th floor of the Assembly Hotel the Garden Room , brought to you by Bourne & Hollingsworth, has vast floor to ceiling glass windows so that all 100 seats in the house offer spectacular views across central London. Iconic landmarks such as the London Eye, The Shard and Nelson's Column, can be easily spotted. A natural evolution from the much Instagrammed interiors of B&H Buildings in Clerkenwell, the Garden Room bar and restaurant has a similar look. Pared back, classic interiors come with whitewashed floors juxtaposed with Aztec-style prints, tapestries, wrapped suede and wrought iron edges. A menu of cod on braised puy lentils and slow cooked spiced lamb is served to diners sitting on wicker and rattan furniture, reupholstered with patterned fabrics. At the bar cocktail maestro, Jim Wrigley, has worked closely with executive chef, Anthony Horn, to create a range of mixed drinks that incorporate the same fresh herbs and spices used in the food. The whole room is filled with fully-grown trees, trailing creepers and leafy plants, bringing the outside in while window boxes surround the room with herbs and seasonal plants.
This rooftop venue brings a taste of Italy to London.
Selfridges, 400 Oxford Street, Marylebone, London, W1U 1AB
Tube: Bond Street Station
, Marble Arch Station
Dates: 27th April - 01st September 2018
In the rooftop garden on top of Selfridges the San Carlo Group, who run restaurants at Selfridges stores in Manchester and Birmingham, bring a slice of Italy to the rooftops of London. The garden, complete with overhead foliage and citrus trees, is host to 'alto by San Carlo', serving a day-to-night menu of pasta, risotto and seasonal Italian fare. Meat dishes made using Chianina beef from Tuscany and fish grilled in a Josper oven as well as fresh shellfish are the order of the day. Dine in the restaurant, where the retractable roof makes the best of the weather, or al fresco on the sun terrace. The terrace also has special residencies throughout the summer including The Peroni Ambra Terrace (15th May to 10th June) and the Veuve Clicquot Rose Garden from 17th June to 15th July which, rumour has it, will be showing all the on-court action from Wimbledon.
Open since summer 2018, the bar at the top of the Gherkin offers 360-degree panoramic views.
Helix and Iris
Helix and Iris,
The Gherkin, 30 St Mary Axe London, EC3A 8EP
British Cuisine
The Gherkin, 30 St Mary Axe, London, EC3A 8EP
Tube: Liverpool Street Station
, Aldgate Station, Aldgate East Underground Station
Previously London's highest private members' club, Searcys at The Gherkin relaunched as new restaurant and bar Helix and Iris in 2018, opening the space to the public for the very first time. Located on the 39th and 40th floors of the iconic Norman Foster-designed building, the striking space is now home to a sky-high contemporary restaurant and a champagne and cocktail bar. Helix, on the 39th floor, is an elegant spot that celebrates British produce, serving a contemporary menu that focuses on the best ingredients available in the British Isles. Upstairs, Iris is thought to be the only bar in London that boasts 360-degree views, and visitors can take in the whole of the city and its most famous buildings while also watching the planes fly past above - it's a breath-taking spot that should be experienced at least once by every Londoner. As well as the unrivalled views, guests can also enjoy a line-up of champagne, English sparkling wine and cocktails. The cocktail menu draws inspiration from the view with options including The Little White Bird, inspired by Kensington Gardens, and the Jack the Ripper, referencing Whitechapel's most famous former visitor. Taking its name from the Gherkin's structure itself, Helix and Iris is now one of London's most impressive and unique eating and drinking destinations.
The free-to-access Sky Garden occupying the top three floors the Walkie Talkie.
Sky Garden
Sky Garden,
20 Fenchurch Street London, EC3M 3BY
British Cuisine
20 Fenchurch Street, City, London, EC3M 3BY
Tube: Monument Station
, Bank Station, Cannon Street Station
The free-to-access Sky Garden occupies the top three floors of Rafael Vinoly's 37 storey, 525ft 20 Fenchurch Street (aka the Walkie Talkie) giving diners several different dining spaces and beautiful landscaped gardens at the top of one of London's landmark buildings. Visitors to the Sky Garden arrive by express lift at a beautiful landscaped garden at level 35 designed by award-winning landscape architects Gillespies and a bar serving champagne and canapes, a chic brasserie and viewing area at level 36 and a public terrace, seafood bar and grill restaurant and cafe at level 37. Book in at the Darwin Brasserie or Fenchurch Seafood Bar and Grill for food with a view.
Live music, DJ sets, street food and booze atop the Oxford Street John Lewis.
John Lewis Rooftop, 300 Oxford Street, London, W1A 1EX
Tube: Oxford Circus Station
, Bond Street Station
Dates: 19th April - 29th September 2019
The rooftop of the John Lewis department store, high up above Oxford Street, has been transformed once again for summer 2019, re-launching with Roof Fest. One of London's largest roof gardens, the space has been transformed into a festival-themed party space with a boho chic decor. For intimate drinking and dining, guests can book the boho, garden or cherry blossom den or the caravan stage while wooden benches and tables and an abundance of green space are available for everyone to enjoy. Food comes courtesy of Bong Bongs (formerly BBQ Dreamz) with a range of fresh Filipino dishes like crispy fragrant pork belly, grilled aubergine satay curry and adobo glazed chicken while cocktails include chilli margaritas, espresso martinis and a negroni fizz. Live music and DJ sets will run throughout summer along with performances from comedians, drag acts, dancers, contortionists and magicians.
Achingly hip bar on the 6th floor of a multi-story car park in Peckham.
Frank's Cafe
Peckham Rye Multistory Car Park,
95a Rye Lane London, SE15 4ST
Exhibitions
Peckham Rye Multistory Car Park, 95a Rye Lane, London, SE15 4ST
Tube: Denmark Hill Station
Dates: From 30th May 2019
On the 10th floor of the disused Peckham Multi-Story Car Park this summer you'll find parked cars replaced with drinkers enjoying cocktails and crab on toast at Frank's Cafe and Campari Bar. This temporary rooftop bar is back following years of success - it first opened in 2008 with over 30,000 people visiting in the three months it was open. Frank's is a winning combination of drinking, eating, art and one of the best views in London. It's part of the Bold Tendencies sculpture project initiated and run by Hannah Barry Gallery. The structure of the makeshift cafe / bar has been designed by Practice Architecture (Paloma Gormley - daughter of Antony Gormley - and Lettice Drake), and was set up by bartender Frank Boxer (who worked at the Anchor and Hope and set up the Italo Deli in Vauxhall) with chef Michael Davies. The result is a total transformation of a previously unlovely concrete car park - just add Campari cocktails.
An event space eight floors up at the top of a multi-storey car park in Stratford.
Roof East
Roof East,
Level 8 Stratford Multi-storey Car Park, Great Eastern Way London, E15 1XE
Bars
Level 8 Stratford Multi-storey Car Park, Great Eastern Way, Stratford, London, E15 1XE
Tube: Stratford Station
On top of a multi-storey car park in Stratford, Roof East is back for spring/summer 2019 with the Rooftop Film Club setting up the sky high cinema from May. Games, street food and three bars serving rum and raspberry cocktails create a rooftop playground for grown-ups. If you like competitive sports choose from VR foosball, Sluggers batting cages , Birdies Crazy Golf or Lane Games - including S liders Curling, De La Bowl and Puck Buddies. For something more chilled, Flow East Yoga leads Vinyasa Flow Yoga classes every week. Street food is by Eat Chay, serving North Indian inspired Kolkati and signature Kati Rolls, as well as The Burger Project run by the King of Pop-Ups, Jimmy Garcia. E ntrance is free, so grab a drink at one of three bars and enjoy t he views over east London - you can see all the way to the Olympic Park with the red, looping curls of the Orbit rising above it. A great spot for a sundowner.
A festival inspired rooftop pop-up with prosecco popsicles and espresso martinis on tap.
Fest Camden, Stables Market, Chalk Farm Road, London, NW1 8AH
Tube: Chalk Farm Station
Dates: 19th April - 28th September 2019
Taking inspiration from the likes of Woodstock and Glastonbury, FEST Camden transforms its rooftop into the Wonderfest Rooftop for a summer of festival-themed fun. With a verdant botanical canopy suspended from a wooden gazebo, an artificial grass lawn, countless colourful umbrellas and an Insta-friendly flower wall, it's a cheerful spot to spend a summer's day in London. Live acoustic performances take place throughout the day before the DJs take over in the evenings, and the Camden Rooftop Cinema Club sees films projected on a large open-air screen. Food comes in the form of a Mediterranean BBQ serving Greek souvlaki and kebabs along with superfood salads, mezze sharing plates, Wonderfest pizzas and vegan Walls ice cream while the playful booze offerings include prosecco popsicles with popping candy, espresso martinis on tap, and frozen bourbon slushies.
This large rooftop has urban lawn games, summer cocktails and sporting events on the big screen.
Skylight Rooftop
Skylight Rooftop,
Tobacco Dock, Wapping Lane London, E1W 2SF
Attractions for Kids
Tobacco Dock, Wapping Lane, London, E1W 2SF
Tube: Rotherhithe Overground Station
From 2nd May 2019, Skylight returns with urban lawn games, summer cocktails and major sporting events on the big screen on top of Tobacco Dock . The summer season also boasts a Hendricks Summer Solstice party, Opera at Skylight and a Dog Day. Set on the top three levels of a former car park in Wapping, the 600 capacity Skylight has multiple bars, indoor and outdoor seating areas, private gardens booths, and two street food stalls, all set against some of the finest views in the city - you can see The Shard , The Gherkin and the Walkie Talkie from here. Grab a seat on the upper level - featuring brand new day beds for 2019 - for prime views and extended sun rays before enjoying a spectacular show of yellows, oranges and pinks when the sun sets in the shadow of London's most famous buildings. Food wise, visitors can choose between burgers and souvlaki with Flip Side and Yiro taking over the kitchens and a new refreshing seasonal cocktail menu has been added alongside spritzes, pitchers, bubbly and wine. Book in for a game of croquet on the upper deck or, if the British weather isn't on your side, there are two playing areas inside.
Head to the rooftop of The Culpeper and you'll find a rooftop kitchen garden.
The Culpeper
The Culpeper,
40 Commercial Street London, E1 6LP
British Cuisine
40 Commercial Street, Spitalfields, London, E1 6LP
Tube: Aldgate East Station
, Aldgate East Underground Station, Aldgate Station
From the outset, when Nico Treguer, Gareth Roberts and Bash Redford began restoring The Culpeper pub in June 2014, they created a rooftop kitchen garden and installed growing beds were they grew their own vegetables, salad leaves and herbs for the kitchen. But in June 2015 the third phase of their restoration reveals the next step: the rooftop greenhouse, and bar where guests can enjoy signature cocktails, and food cooked on a bespoke grill designed by Mark Parr of the London Log Company. A simple menu serving cuts of meat from Ginger Pig butchers and salads from the garden is available throughout the day for lunch and dinner, while the greenhouse offers protection from the elements all year round. The rest of the Victorian pub has an industrial yet rustic feel and the food - "solid and dependable", according to Jay Rayner - changes depending on what's available. Diners can expect dishes such as grilled pork chop with chargrilled vegetables and mustard potatoes; beef, mushroom and new potato broth with a blue cheese salad; and roast vegetable, Israeli cous cous and hazelnut salad with mint yoghurt.
This multi-floor party venue is topped by a spectacular two-tiered roof terrace.
467-469 Brixton Road, Brixton, London, SW9 8HH
Tube: Brixton Station
Spread over several floors, the Prince of Wales Brixton is a pub meets club where the party crowds gather from Friday through to Sunday and throughout the week. Inside, a 1920s Art Deco dancehall welcomes world-class club DJs like Gilles Peterson and Norman Jay and live acts. The two-tier outdoor roof terraces, however, are the crowning glory. Playing host to evening sundowners and summer sessions, the space is one of the best places to catch the sunset in south London. Fuelling the party vibes, there are wood-fired pizzas, burgers and roasts on the food menu.
Best for sundown views over the Thames and the South Bank in the shadow of the Hayward.
Belvedere Road, South Bank, London, SE1 8XX
Tube: Waterloo Station
, Embankment Underground Station
Designed by the Eden Project and run by Company of Cooks, the Queen Elizabeth Hall Roof Garden is the place to be on a summer's evening for stunning sundown views over the Thames. On the roof of Queen Elizabeth Hall, next to the Hayward Gallery and in the shadow of A Room for London, the garden bar has the same appeal as New York's High Line - wild flowers, graffiti and a seat on the grass in the middle of the concrete brutalism of the Southbank Centre. Come for pre- or post-theatre drink, visit the Hayward's Alternative Guide to the Universe or just enjoy a Pimm's as the sun sets. It's what summer in London is all about.
London's highest bar, on the 52nd floor of The Shard.
Gong
Gong,
31 St Thomas Street London, SE1 90U
Bars
31 St Thomas Street, Bankside, London, SE1 90U
Tube: London Bridge Station
On level 52 of The Shard, Gong is London's highest bar. Part of the Shangri-La Hotel, the tallest hotel in Western Europe, Gong takes its name from 'dougong', an ancient Chinese structural element of interlocking wooden brackets that will be a component of the bar's interior. One of three wining and dining options within the Shangri-La, Gong is two floors above Ting, the hotel's signature restaurant and lounge on level 35, linked to the hotel's reception area on level 34 by a spectacular grand staircase sweeping across double length floor-to-ceiling windows. Added to these is Lang, an artisan deli on the ground floor which gets its name from the Chinese word for 'pathway'. Gong on level 52 is on the same floor as a 24-hour gym and London's highest infinity pool.
Stunning outdoor terrace overlooking Somerset House and the London Eye.
Radio Rooftop Bar
Radio Rooftop Bar,
ME London, 336-337 The Strand, Aldwych London, WC2R 1HA
Modern European Cuisine
ME , 336-337 The Strand, Aldwych, Covent Garden, London, WC2R 1HA
Tube: Temple Station
, Covent Garden Station
Located 10 floors above the Strand and Aldwych in the heart of Covent Garden, Radio is the stunning rooftop bar of the ME hotel designed by Foster and Partners, with an outdoor terrace giving "an almost voyeuristic sightline" (The Telegraph) into the Somerset House quadrangle and an end-on take on the London Eye. The views are staggering. Sun-drenched by day and a true hot spot by night, it's London's hippest bar-with-a-view. Sip on cocktails while surrounded by spectacular London scenery from Tower Hill to Battersea Power Station, including sights of the City, Tower Bridge, the Shard, Cheesegrater, Walkie Talkie, London Bridge, St. Paul's Cathedral, as well as Tate Modern, the whole of the South Bank (National Theatre, Southbank Centre) across the Thames, Houses of Parliament, Nelson on his column, and the theatre district of Covent Garden. Listen to the DJ spun tunes while soaking in the wonderful views, or unwind VIP-style in private cabanas and plush couches. The ME hotel is the first flagship hotel in which everything inside and out, from the shell of the building to the bathroom fittings, has been designed by Foster and Partners, and the rooftop Radio bar is its crowning glory.
All-day bar and cocktail lounge located atop the DoubleTree by Hilton.
Savage Garden
Savage Garden,
7 Pepys Street London, EC3N 4AF
Bars
7 Pepys Street, London, EC3N 4AF
Tube: Tower Hill Station
, Aldgate Station
A sky-high bar, 12 storeys above the City, and far removed from the corporate streets below, Savage Garden is an all-day bar and cocktail lounge, located atop the DoubleTree by Hilton - Tower of London. From your plush velvet seat you get 360-degree views over landmarks like The Shard, Tower of London, The Gherkin and St. Paul's Cathedral. Going with the theme of 'uncontrolled Savage Garden', the colour scheme assaults the senses with soft lavenders and rose pinks set off by burnt oranges. Outside, a large all-weather north facing terrace, available for private hire, is set-up for all seasons thanks to its retractable roof. So you can lunch al fresco and enjoy sundown cocktails in the summer or sip on hot toddies while watching the fireworks come autumn. A second south gin terrace is the perfect place to while away warmer days.
The huge roof terraces at this French eaterie make it a sought after alfresco spot.
Coq d'Argent
Coq d'Argent,
1 Poultry, Bank London, EC2R 8EJ
French Cuisine
1 Poultry, Bank, City, London, EC2R 8EJ
Tube: Bank Station
, Mansion House Station, Cannon Street Station, Monument Station, St. Paul's Station
The City of London does many things well, but green space is not one of them. So, when summer strikes the suits roll up their sleeves and head to Le Coq d'Argent. The huge roof terraces at this fabulous French eaterie atop No 1 Poultry makes it the most sought after alfresco spot on the square mile. The menus - an all-day brasserie menu, and a gourmet evening a la carte - are tailored to suit the City's distinctly conservative tastes. Dishes such as traditional Coq au Vin and Sea Bass fillet with ratatouille and shellfish are so scrumptious that they even distract from the fantastic views. It's suitably pricey and there is plenty of caviar for those seeking to impress either a date or client. Another advantage of the rooftop outdoor space is, post smoking ban, this is one place where you can happily puff away without having to loiter around the door downstairs.
Jason Atherton's City Social takes over the loftly Tower 42 spot vacated by Gary Rhodes.
City Social
City Social,
Tower 42, 25 Old Broad Street London, EC2N 1HT
British Cuisine
Tower 42, 25 Old Broad Street, City, London, EC2N 1HT
Tube: Liverpool Street Station
, Bank Station, Moorgate Station
Jason Atherton's City Social takes over the Tower 42 spot vacated by Gary Rhodes. Situated high up on the 24th floor of the famous tower, the restaurant offers fanatastic views of the Gherkin, the Cheesegrater and across the city. Head chef Paul Walsh (previously sous chef at Gordon Ramsay's Royal Hospital Road) has worked closely with Atherton to design the City Social menu showcasing the best of British ingredients. Interiors have a contemporary art deco look courtesy of Russell Sage Studios - all rosewood panelled boards, chrome and smoked glass, brass and mirror accents - centered around an open kitchen. The art deco theme is also felt in prohibition era cocktails served at the 85-seat bar and made with Scotch, gin and cognac to a menu by award winning mixologist Gareth Evans, and live jazz plays in the bar every Saturday afternoon from 12noon till 4pm. Jason Atherton is behind some of London's best restaurants with the Michelin-starred Pollen Street Social, Little Social across the street, Social Eating House in Soho, and Berner's Tavern at The London Edition, Ian Schrager's stylish Fitzrovia hotel. With City Social the chef, the first British cook to complete a stage at Spain's famous elBulli restaurant, proves there's still room for him to go up in the world.
Conran's conversion of a former Victorian warehouse in Shoreditch.
Boundary London
Boundary London,
2-4 Boundary Street, Shoreditch London, E2 7DD
New Hotels
2-4 Boundary Street, Shoreditch, Shoreditch, London, E2 7DD
Tube: Old Street Station
This Shoreditch project is the first from Terence Conran since he signed over his well known restaurants - Bluebird, Quaglino's and plenty more besides - to D & D. The creation of Boundary in 2008 converted a former Victorian warehouse into two restaurants (Boundary and Albion), twelve spacious hotel rooms and a rooftop bar, all stylishly done up. The rooftop garden, extended in 2013, is open every day until 11pm, has a weatherproof bar and dining area and includes a canopy of vines, wild herbs, two 100-year-old olive trees plus a humidor acquired in Cuba. Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, the morning menu from 10am until noon includes a selection of breakfast pastries, toast, jams, marmalade, fruit, granola, juices, smoothies and the like. Come evening, the Rooftop operates as a bar/bistro, with a sharing menu focusing on Mediterranean tapas and hors d'oeuvres, prawns, oysters, meats cooked on the grill en brochette, and their own version of the burger, the Boundary Pan Bagnat - a nicoise inspired sandwich with beet patty, goat cheese, roast vegetables and salad so you can enjoy a relaxed glass of wine or an exceptionally stiff Martini while looking out over the rooftops and spires of Shoreditch.
This Michelin-starred restaurant has views of London's iconic City skyline.
Angler
Angler,
South Place Hotel, 3 South Place London, EC2M 2AF
British Cuisine
South Place Hotel, 3 South Place, City, London, EC2M 2AF
Tube: Liverpool Street Station
, Moorgate Station
On the seventh floor of the stylish D&D South Place Hotel in East London, with views of London's iconic City skyline, the Michelin-starred Angler restaurant is a quintessentially British seafood restaurant overseen by Tony Fleming, previously executive chef at One Aldwych. The menu focuses on seafood and shellfish from across the British Isles and is complemented by a wine list of around 250 bins. In the far corner, the semi-private dining room for 14 commands spectacular views of City landmarks including the Gherkin and Tower 42. At the far end of the restaurant, Angler's west-facing terrace is a City hot spot, especially at sunset. In high summer there are BBQs and live DJs which create a good buzz. In the winter, heated parasols, hot toddies and cosy blankets keep guests warm. Weather dependent, it's always a good idea to call ahead to make sure the terrace is actually open.
Cocktails on the top floor of the former Dicken & Jones department store on Regent Street.
aqua spirit
aqua spirit,
5th Floor, 240 Regent Street (entrance 30 Argyll Street), 240 Regent Street, (entrance at 30 Argyll London, W1B 2EL
Bars
5th Floor, 240 Regent Street (entrance 30 Argyll Street), 240 Regent Street, (entrance at 30 Argyll, Soho, London, W1B 2EL
Tube: Oxford Circus Station
Part of the Aqua Restaurant Group, which also includes aqua nueva and aqua kyoto, aqua spirit is a stylish cocktail bar in central London. Situated on the fifth floor of the former Dickens and Jones department store off Regent Street with roof-terraces that provide impressive views across London, it's a great spot for pre- and post-dining drinking destination. The round bar is a centre of Japanese glamour, with a halo of hand-crafted charcoal - symbolic of Zen purity - and booth seating continues the theme with Japanese kimono silk backdrops. The bar's signature cocktails include the Rose & Li, which combines Veuve Clicquot Champagne with rose liqueur, lychee and flowering rose buds; the Nueva Cobbler, a combination of Tio Pepe sherry, fresh blackberries and raspberries, vanilla sugar and orange.
Bar, club and art collective, prides itself on being a youth club for the adults of the east side.
1-5 Curtain Road, Shoreditch, London, EC2A 3JX
Tube: Liverpool Street Station
East End bar, club and art collective the Queen of Hoxton has a wonderful rooftop garden complete with BBQ kitchen, bars, garden shed bathrooms, hanging gardens, astroturf faux grass and panoramic views over the city of London. It's also the venue for Rooftop Film Club screenings in the summer and an 8-metre high WigWamBam tipi with an open fire pit in the winter. Summer also brings Rooftop Summer Club, filled with workshops and activities from the sublime - tie-dying - to the ridiculous (yet serious) Tape Measure Challenge hosted by The House of Hot Breath. There's a monthly pop-up Astronomy club, Saturday morning holistic sessions with Fat Buddha Yoga, and urban knitting with Wool and The Gang. The roof terrace can hold up to 250 people, hosts Headphone Holiday silents discos and serves freshly made ginger beer and Pineapple-Aid to spike with your favourite spirit as well as refreshing cocktail slushies.
Free films, DJs and swing on the roof of the former Print House in Dalston.
18 Ashwin Street, London, E8 3DL
Tube: Highbury & Islington Station
On the roof of The Print House, a former factory for catalogues, crayons and pencils, sits Dalston Roof Park, an urban oasis four floors up over looking London's skyline where a £5 annual membership donation gets you free film screenings and music events plus pop up street food stalls for the whole summer. Special events include poetry nights, yoga sessions and music nights, or you can just pitch up for a fun night out with friends. Each new membership is a donation to the Bootstrap Charity, helping to provide affordable working spaces and enterprise support.
Enjoy views across the Thames while sipping on cocktails.
Rumpus Room
Rumpus Room,
Sea Containers London, 20 Upper Ground, Southbank London, SE1 9PD
Pan-Asian Cuisine
Sea Containers , 20 Upper Ground, Southbank, South Bank, London, SE1 9PD
Tube: Temple Station
Found within Mondrian London - also home to London's hottest new restaurant, Sea Containers - the Rumpus Room is a place to see and be seen. Inspired by 1920s socialites Bright Young Things, the bar revives the raucous era with late-night parties and spectacular views of London's skyline. Sup on champagne and cocktails while you take in the views - both of the river and the pretty young things are sure to be found propping up the bar.
This bar boasts one of the best views in town.
Oxo Tower Wharf, Barge House Street, South Bank, London, SE1 9PH
Tube: Temple Station
Boasting one of the best views in town, the Oxo Tower Bar is perfect for combining a spot of leisurely (if static) sightseeing with some classy drinking. The commanding panorama, which takes in the capital, rivals the views from the London Eye and is best experienced from the hours just preceding dusk till dark. There's a great cocktail menu which is well worth working your way through and a live jazz pianist on hand to keep the drinks flowing smoothly. Slick and sophisticated décor comprises sparkling blue neon lights embedded in a sloping, slatted ceiling with leather banquettes and cool slate tables. Elevated up on the 8th floor of the building, you have to get the lift up to the bar - the lift entrance is at the back of the tower. When you step out of the lift, make sure you take in the view immediately ahead if you. Looking out away from the river onto the residential streets of Southwark this isn't as spectacular as the grand, monument-filled view onto the river that you'll get when you step into the bar, but even so it's a unique "behind the scenes" aspect on one of London's most atmospheric locations. It's not cheap, but for a one-off treat well worth the hiked up prices. It does get busy but if there's a group of you can reserve tables in the bar although in many ways standing at the bar, tapping your foot to the jazz, and soaking up the view is a better way to enjoy the experience.
Panoramic views of London from one of Europe's largest public open air roof terraces.
Madison
Madison,
Rooftop Terrace, One New Change London, EC4M 9AB
Brasseries
Rooftop Terrace, One New Change, City, London, EC4M 9AB
Tube: St. Paul's Station
, Mansion House Station, Blackfriars Underground Station
Perched atop the iconic One New Change, Madison enjoys a unique vantage point above the city and offers spectacular views of some of London's most cherished landmarks including St Paul's Cathedral, the London Eye, Tate Modern and The Shard. As well as one of Europe's largest public open air roof terraces, Madison brings together a restaurant, rooftop terrace and an al fresco bar. The restaurant serves modern and classic European cuisine alongside high-end comfort food, with dishes such as slow cooked curried pork belly, tuna tataki a triple duck burger. The terrace bar and lounge, meanwhile, serve snacks such as truffle fries, buttermilk chicken and sautéed king prawns. Daytime drinking and social gatherings are also possible at Madison as the rooftop bar and views ally together to create a unique drinking experience. Glammed up guests and pumping music make it a place to see and be seen with the prices to match - a glass of wine will set you back between £6 and £10 while half a pint costs an eye-watering £4.50.
The Lyric's terrace has blossomed into a rather lovely roof garden.
Lyric Square, London, W6 0QL
Tube: Hammersmith Station
On the first floor of the excellent Lyric theatre in Hammersmith is an elevated oasis overlooking Lyric Square. The terrace has blossomed into a roof garden; a welcome addition to soften the Lyric's rather austere seventies concrete block exterior. Food comes from the Lyric Bar and Grill inside, a bespoke concept inspired by popular street food, the menu boasts grill-prepared plates inspired by the latest food trends. Wholesome veggie dishes, fresh fish and succulent cuts of meat are served alongside a selection of colourful salads and slaws. For theatre-goers looking for a quick snack there's an array of sharing platters and family-friendly bites from the bar.
Enjoy spectacular City views from this rooftop bar.
Aviary
Aviary,
The Montcalm Royal London House, 22-25 Finsbury Square London, EC2A 1DX
British Cuisine
The Montcalm Royal House, 22-25 Finsbury Square, London, EC2A 1DX
Tube: Old Street Station
, Moorgate Station
Up with the birds, on the tenth floor of The Montcalm Royal London House, you'll find Aviary, the hotel's rooftop restaurant run by the ETM Group - Tom and Ed Martin's company and the group behind The Botanist, The Well and The Hat and Tun. The group's first rooftop location, they have brought in Russell Sage Studio to design the 6,000 square foot restaurant which boasts a 2,000 square foot south-facing terrace with fabulous views of the City skyline. Private dining and small parties of up to 40 can be catered for at two suites on the floor below, each with its own terrace. One of two bars and restaurants run by the ETM Group at the hotel, you can head to Burdock below for drinks, bar food and craft ales.
Expect a desert-island feel and views of Waterloo at this hip rooftop bar.
Bar Elba
Bar Elba,
Rooftop, Mercury House, 109-117 Waterloo Road London, SE1 8UL
Bars
Rooftop, Mercury House, 109-117 Waterloo Road, London, SE1 8UL
Tube: Waterloo Station
, Southwark Station, Lambeth North Station
The first of its kind in the area, Bar Elba is a brand new rooftop cocktail bar in Waterloo. Presented by The Adventure Bar Group - the team behind the Adventure Bars in Covent Garden, Clapham Junction and Clapham High Street, The Escapologist in Seven Dials and the newly opened Tonight Josephine, located just below in the basement - the bar offers views across the city and Waterloo and takes inspiration from the Battle of Waterloo. Visitors can expect a desert-island feel based on the Mediterranean island of Elba that Napoleon was exiled to for 300 days. Sip on classic cocktails such as Aperol Spritz and Love Potion No.10 as well as a Frose (frozen Rose). There will also be sharing jugs, a 2-4-1 cocktail happy hour and burgers courtesy of Dip & Flip.
A buzzing late night bar in Hackney with a rooftop terrace.
NT's
NT's,
1 Westgate Street Fields London, E8 3RL
Bars
1 Westgate Street, Fields, London, E8 3RL
Tube: Bethnal Green Underground Station
A buzzing late night bar with a rooftop terrace, NT's is found within Netil House in the heart of Hackney. In the summer the tropical terrace is the place to go for an eclectic music programme, a mix of global house, disco, funk, soul and Brazilian. Connecting the dots between jazz, soul, hip hop, grime and beyond, live jazz night, 'Patterns', runs every Wednesday with an in-house band and special guest performances. As a daytime hideaway, plant based goodness by East London's Palm Greens is served throughout the week with an artisanal coffee menu, while Son's Of Slice serve up their New York style pizzas on weekends. An evening hotspot for cocktails to sip on over sunset, NT's brings in the night with live jazz, resident DJs and late night sets inside and spilling out onto the terrace.
Model Market's High Line rooftop bar offers elevated views over Lewisham.
196 Lewisham High Street, , London, SE13 6LS
Tube: New Cross Station (East London line closed. Bus service operates)
Dates: 03rd May - 07th September 2019
Street Feast re-launches Model Market this May for an entire summer of street food and partying in the former 1950s market with a rooftop bar. The market has six new traders for 2019 including Growlers, who bring a taste of Lisbon to Lewisham with bavette steak as a prego or on a bed of smoky piri piri fries; Phung Kay Vegan, offering a spin on staples like the char siu bao; Rastawaala, serving Kolkata kati rolls and special Bengali dishes; and Tucka Burger, cooking up stacked burgers with dry-aged beef and onion jam. James Cochran also makes his street food debut with Goat, where diners can tuck into jerk-spiced goat in coconut flatbreads. Further feasts include wood-fired Neapolitan pizza, spicy chicken wings, and frozen custard. Six bars offer everything from gin and tonics to festival-sized cocktails and a DJ line-up has been curated by Ben Ashman, who promised sun-soaked summer vibes.