London's rooftop spaces are open for an alfresco season like no other. Here's where you can dine outside and get a great view at the same time.
Aqua Kyoto
Where: 5th Floor 240 Regent Street Entrance 30 Argyll St, W1F 7EB, London W1B 3BR
Tucked away from the shoppers down on pavement level on Regent’s Street, this W1 oasis was always a hard place to get a table at, but now it’s open for reservations for the first time. Sushi and spritzes out in the sun are a hard-to-beat combo.
Check Instagram for the latest info: @aquakyotolondon
Aviary
Where: Royal London House, 10th Floor Montcalm, 22-25 Finsbury Square, London EC2A 1DX
With views over Finsbury Square, this City rooftop spot is perenially popular. And if you’re after some real social distancing, then make a booking for one of their igloos, which are available year-round. Packages include cocktails on arrival and mac ‘n’ cheese croquettes to soak up the booze.
Check Instagram for the latest info: @aviaryldn
Bar Elba
Where: Rooftop, Mercury House, 109-117 Waterloo Road, London, SE1 8UL
With a range of burgers by Happy Patty and Insta-friendly views over to the London Eye, it's not surprising that this Waterloo rooftop spot's developed a loyal fanbase. Our advice - grab one of those burgers, sort yourself out with an unlimited booze package and just go with the flow. .
Check Instagram for the latest info: @bar_elba
Big Chill
Where: 257-259 Pentonville Road, London, N1 9NL
Food at this King's Cross rooftop bar is courtesy of residency Chuck Burger. They also do a very popular weekend bottomless brunch and the cocktail list has a distinct summer vibe with spritz sharers and rum punches, Expect DJs at the weekends.
Check Instagram for the latest info: @bigchillbar
Bisushima
Where: 8 St Martin's Place, London WC2N 4JH
This new sushi spot barely had the chance to open its doors in 2020. But now, with two huge roof terraces and amazing views over Trafalgar Square are going to make it quite the rooftop hotspot.
Check Instagram for the latest info: @bisushima
Boundary
Where: 2-4 Boundary St, Hackney, London E2 7DD
The rooftop space here is beautifully done - with flower-strewn trellises which by night are illuminated with thousands of fairy lights. Order a charcuterie platter, get the G&Ts in and settle down for fun in Shoreditch.
Check Instagram for the latest info: @boundaryldn
Bussey Rooftop Bar
Where: Fifth Floor Roof, Unit B, Bussey Building, 133 Rye Lane, London SE15 4ST
'Bigger, brighter and contact-free' are the buzzwords at this Peckham space. The food is from feelgood guys Share a Slice (every one you buy means one is donated to someone in need).
Check Instagram for the latest info: @busseyrooftopbar
CLF Art Lounge
Where: 4a Station Way, Peckham, London SE15 4RX
The Hennessy rooftop bar at this Peckham bar and lounge features live music sessions at the weekends from August and, handily, is weatherproof for the British summer. The food is traditional Caribbean - they do excellent Dominican-style fried chicken - and the cocktails are strong.
Reopens 14 April
Check Instagram for the latest info: @theclfartlounge.
The Culpeper
Where: 40 Commercial St, Spitalfields, London E1 6LP
The rooftop space in this City pub has a handy canopy covering it for the start of spring - they unveil the space to the elements later in the year. It's bookings-only for diners, with tables for walk-ins and drinking space outside the pub too.
Check Instagram for the latest info: @theculpeper.
Forzawine
Where: The Rooftop, 133 Rye Ln, Peckham, London SE15 4BQ
Forzawine’s have the highest rooftop space in South London. Food is a range of snacks and small plates and we're keen to try the milk soft serve with salted butterscotch and toasted almonds. There’s a strong emphasis on Italian wines, with forays into Austria and France.
Check Instagram for the latest info: @forzawine.
Kitchen at Holmes
Where: 108 Baker St, Marylebone, London W1U 6LJ
This roof terrace overlooking Baker Street is a well kept secret. Once you've nabbed a space here, enjoy dishes like cuttlefish croquettes, lamb koftas and sharing charcuterie boards along with plenty of cocktails.
Check Instagram for the latest info: @kitchenatholmes
Jin Bo Law
Where: 14th floor Dorsett City, 9 Aldgate High Street, London EC3N 1AH
High on the 14th floor of the Dorsett City Hotel, this bar has properly jaw-dropping views over the City of London. It’s all about drinks here - there’s a teeny snacks list - so choose from an interesting cocktail list or they also do a wide selection of whiskies too. For the summer they're doing a series of White parties on Sundays with Moet.
Check Instagram for the latest info: @jinbolaw_skybar.
Lost in Brixton
Where: Brixton Village, Coldharbour Ln, SW9 8PS
This hidden rooftop space above Brixton has a retractable roof, DJs and plenty of space. Best of all, you can use their app to get food sent up to your rooftop table from some of the traders below like Fish, Wings & Tings and Okan. Cocktails are all about a Latin American vibe.
Check Instagram for the latest info: @lostbrixton.
Madera and Nest at Treehouse London
Where: 14-15 Langham Pl, Marylebone, London W1B 2QS
This is a two-for-one. On the fifteenth floor, you’ll find Madera - a Mexican restaurant and bar with a terrace perfect for enjoying tacos and more on. But head upstairs and there’s another bar, The Nest, which also does weekend brunches.
Reopens 17 May
Check Instagram for the latest info: @maderalondon.
Mercer Roof Terrace
Where: Vintry & Mercer, 19-20 Garlick Hill, EC4V 2AU
This London rooftop space boasts quite the City view, taking in everything from The Shard to St Paul's. With an ex Nobu/Zuma chef in charge, the food here is all about the best meat and fish from the British Isles. Cocktails feature their own house-infused spirits and there's a good value set lunch deal here too.
Check Instagram for the latest info: @vintryandmercer.
Netil 360
Where: 1 Westgate St, Hackney, London E8 3RL
If you're not the most organised person, then the good news is that you can't book ahead for this marvellous rooftop, it's a first-come, first-served affair. Drinks-wise, there’s a strong leaning towards local beer and liquor.
Check Instagram for the latest info: @netil360.
Pantechnicon
Where: 19 Motcomb Street, London, SW1X 8LB
The roof garden space at the top of this new Nordic/Japanese space in Belgravia is quite beautiful. South facing and with most of it protected from the elements, it's a great place to people spot and enjoy a Nordic brunch.
Check Instagram for the latest info: @_pantechnicon
Queen of Hoxton rooftop
Where: 1 Curtain Road, London, EC2A 3JX
This East London rooftop is a perennially popular spot, so get in fast if the weather forecast is good. Expect Moet slushies, burgers and more with bottomless brunches returning in the summer.
Check Instagram for the latest info: @queenofhoxtonldn.
Radio Rooftop
Where: 336-337 Strand, London WC2R 1HA
Up on the 10th floor of ME London, you’ll find this chichi rooftop lounge with views across central London including a sliver of the Thames. It’s an all day affair, so particularly good for impressing clients at business breakfasts, or ordering one of their double magnums of rosé for sundowners.
Check Instagram for the latest info: @radiorooftoplondon.
Sabine
Where: 10 Godliman St, London EC4V 5AJ
Perched on top of the Leonardo hotel in the heart of the City, the upcoming Sabine rooftop bar and restaurant has one huge USP - its amazing views over St Paul's. There are two outside terraces and one has a handy retractable roof for dealing with the British weather. (Opens 20 May 2021)
Check Instagram for the latest info: @sabine_rooftopbar
Savage Garden
Where: DoubleTree by Hilton Tower of London, 7 Pepys Street, London, EC3N 4AF
This city space has not one but two rooftop terraces giving 360-degree views over London. Expect jaw dropping cocktail concotions, with sharing platters the big draw along with their injectable doughnuts.
Reopens 15 April
Check Instagram for the latest info: @savagegardenldn.
Seabird
Where: 14th Floor, 40 Blackfriars Rd, South Bank, London SE1 8NY
If it wasn’t for the London backdrop, this rooftop terrace looks like a little slice of Miami in the sky. They have some particularly tropical drinks on offer - tequila cocktail in a ceramic toucan, anyone?. And, if you’re into your seafood, London’s longest oyster list is waiting for you to plough through.
Check Instagram for the latest info: @seabirdlondon.
Skylight
Where: Pennington St. Car Park entrance, Wapping, London E1W 2SF
If you fancy really relaxing on a rooftop then this space at Tobacco Dock is billed as London's biggest, Covid-secure outside venue. The activities (croquet, petanque etc) aren't available to start (they return in May), but the good news is that it's all table service now.
Check Instagram for the latest info: @skylight_london.
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