16 Best central London rooftop bars and restaurants

 

1 Between the Bridges, South Bank

The alfresco entertainment spot and bar is back for yet another season, packed programme of events includes drag brunches, family raves, live music and craft fairs. RuPaul Drag Race UK season two winner Lawrence Chaney or the Eurovision Special on May 13. Along side the alfresco bar and views of the London Eye and South Bank’s glory, street food vendors are aplenty and include Made of Dough, BBQ Dept, and Chickn Sours. 

Address: The Queen’s Walk, South Bank SE1

Website: betweenthebridges.co.uk

2 Coq d’Argent’s Maison Mirabeau terrace, City

City hotspot and French restaurant with a view, Coq d’Argent’s summer terrace is a French Rivera inspired escape. Quaff rose cocktails and dine on the likes of spatchcock, loup de mer and chargrilled mackerel while looking across the capital these summer months. 

Address: No.1 Poultry, City, EC2R 8EJ

Website: coqdargent.co.uk

3 Marquess of Anglesey’s rooftop bar, Covent Garden

The Youngs pub reopened following an extensive makeover that included the addition of a rooftop bar. It comes with a retractable roof, and is ready for dinner reservations as well as just a couple of pints or a cocktail or two – a great place to have up your sleeve for a pre or post-West End show drink.

Address: 39 Bow Street, Covent Garden, WC2E 7AU

Website: themarquess.co.uk

4 Sparrow Italia Rooftop, Mayfair

An intimate rooftop terrace with space for 20 people, Sparrow Italia’s Sparrow Nest serves up views across the city, with a hefty dose of glamour. It also plates up decadent Italian fare and flamboyant cocktails. Having only opened its doors in October 2022, the destination venue and clubby restaurant has already welcomed the likes of Alicia Keys, Serena Williams and Cameron Diaz.

Address: 1-3 Avery Row, Mayfair W1K 4AJ

Website: sparrowitalia.com

5 Bloom by Four Seasons at Ten Trinity Square

Four Seasons Hotel London at Ten Trinity Square has launched its botanical pop up rooftop lounge Bloom, in partnership with lux florist Wild at Heart. Boasting stunning views of  iconic London’s landmarks including Tower Bridge, The Shard, the Tower of London and River Thames, Bloom comes with a floral installation made from live flora and foliage that celebrates King Charels III and Queen Camilla. There’s sun loungers, and exclusive VIP area and a picnic available filled with finger sandwiches and pastries.

Address: 10 Trinity Square, Tower Bridge EC3N 4AJ

Website: fourseasons.com

6 Florattica Rooftop, Aldgate

Perched atop of The Minories in east London, this botanical oasis is secreted away from east London’s riff raff, but a short stroll away from the ongoings of Liverpool Street. Compact and with a north eastern facing terrace this is a rooftop bar for cocktails and light Japanese and Asian-inspired bites, or an indulgent weekend brunch.

Address: 11-15 Minories, Aldgate EC3N 1AX

Website: floratticalondon.co.uk

7 Fenchurch Restaurant at Sky Garden, City

Found 37 floors up at the iconic Sky Garden, dinner at Fenchurch Restaurant is a feast for the eyes and stomach, and one of the ultimate ‘London’ experiences. As you watch the sun set across St Paul’s, the Thames and over the city, dine on a British tasting menu peppered with Caribbean flavours and influences and a little bit of theatre, created by Head Chef Kerth Gumbs. Dishes are both comforting and refined and come with a superb wine pairing (or cocktail pairing) if you want to splurge.

Address: Level 37, 1 Sky Garden Walk, Fenchurch Building, EC3M 8AF

Website: skygarden.london

8 Alto by San Carlo

Found atop of Oxford Street’s most prestigious department stores, Alto by San Carlo, is an alfresco dining spot and an escape from the hubbub below. The enchanting foliage-laden little Italy comes with a fully retractable roof and the kitchen serves up traditional Italian trattoria-style fare. Find it via the express lift on the ground floor amongst the fragrence section. 

Address: Selfridges, 400 Oxford Street W1X 7TA

Website: sancarlo.co.uk

9 The Standard Rooftop, King’s Cross

Eleven floors up and with views across King’s Cross, the Standard London’s rooftop bar is a good, sunny time. Open every day until it closes for the season, you’ll fine live DJ sets, cocktails on tap, and Taiwanese-inspired street food from BUNS serving snacky bits like shrimp crackers, bao buns and yakatori chicken meatballs. Look out for the return of Sunday High which brings DJs, collective and performers with it.

Address: 10 Argyle Street, King’s Cross WC1H 8EG

Website: standardhotels.com

10 Radio Rooftop Bar, ME London, Strand

Dress fresh for this one, as people head here to be seen. A rooftop bar open for all-day dining, Radio Rooftop has views from the early morning through to the wee hours. Here, you can cast your eye over the Shard, the London Eye, and St Pauls, and the Thames too. Come here for a cocktail or two, brunch, lunch or breakfast.

Address: 336-337 Strand WC2R 1HA

Website: radiorooftop.com

11 Madison, St Pauls

Best described as marmite, Madison, on top of New Change is an acquired taste. The venue’s large outdoor terrace has one of the best views of St Pauls around, and often comes with a DJ playing loud and intense house music, even on a Tuesday. If you don’t want to talk, its a great place to watch everyone pose in front of the cathedral from. There’s an indoor dining room too, that has great views of the city as well.

Address: Rooftop Terrace One, New Change, EC4M 9AF

Website: madisonlondon.net

12 Trafalgar St. James, St James’s

A restaurant with a compact outside space that offers up one of the most, impressive views of old school London, the rooftop at Trafalgar St James looks over its world-famous eponymous square. Expect refined cocktails and wines as well as superb European dishes. Atop of a very swish hotel, so dress sharp for this one too, and book ahead to make sure you get a spot outside.

Address: 7th Floor, 2 Spring Gardens, St. James’s SW1A 2TS

Website: trafalgarstjames.com

13 Bar Elba, Waterloo

This vast rooftop across from Waterloo Station – reached by climbing one heck of a flight of stairs – added a new mezzanine year, boosting its capacity from from 375 people to 600 people and bolstering its panoramic views across London. The vibrant rooftop bar, which takes Napoleon’s hedonistic exile to the Mediterranean island of Elba as its inspiration, is ideal for long evenings of cocktails, with pop-up music, food and drink events.

Address: Mercury House Rooftop, 109-117 Waterloo Road SE1 8UL

Website: bar-elba.co.uk

14 The Dorchester Rooftop, Mayfair

The exclusive alfresco space makes the most of the longer days and sunsets across Hyde Park with culinary pop-ups and summer take overs. This summer season, the balmy French coast comes to the central London hotel bringing you St Tropez vibes and a Mediterranean menu to boot. Fear not, there’s heaters and blankets when the weather doesn’t feel particularly balmy.

Address: 53 Park Lane, Mayfair W1K 1QA

Website: dorchestercollection.com

15 Aviary, City

Aviary has one of the top rooftop drinking spots in the City, with its famous igloos for those looking to indulge in a food and drinks deal, and uncovered lounge areas with a more relaxed session. Aviary’s extensive food menus offer the likes of chorizo and sweetcorn croquettes, steak tartare, oysters and a plant-based roast ironbark pumpkin and wild rice ‘Wellington’, or you could just accompany the cracking views of the City skyline with a botanical cocktail or two.

Address: 10th Floor Montcalm, 22-25 Finsbury Square EC2A 1DX

Website: aviarylondon.com

16 The Mercer Terrace at Vintry & Mercer, the City

Boutique hotel Vintry & Mercer has a lovely terrace with views of London’s dramatic skyline, from the dome of St Paul’s Cathedral to the glass tip of The Shard. Dine alfresco or enjoy a drink at the bar, which has floor-to-ceiling windows to make the most of the city lights. The menu celebrates the best of modern British cooking, showcasing meat and fish from the British Isles, cooked over the charcoal oven.

Address: 19-20 Garlick Hill EC4V 2AU

Website vintryandmercer.com

17 14 Hills, City

14 Hills’ rooftop restaurant boasts 360 degree views across London and tables set among lush flowers and trees. As botanical and lovely as the restaurant is, it’s indoors. So if you want to smell the fresh air, pick up something from the 14 Hills deli menu which you can take to the garden up top. 

Address: 14th floor, 120 Fenchurch Street EC3M 5BA

Website: 14hills.co.uk

18 SUSHISAMBA, City & Covent Garden

SUSHISAMBA offers a unique blend of Japanese, Brazilian and Peruvian cuisine, music and design. Located on the 38th and 39th floors of the Heron Tower, it has one of the highest outdoor dining terraces in Europe that comes with a 360-degree view of the City – it’s a good place to impress out-of-towners with. The Covent Garden location is far less suit-y and way more florally than its City sibling and has a lovely terrace overlooking Covent Garden’s comings and goings.

Address: 110 Bishopsgate EC2N 4AY; 35 The Market, WC2E 8RF

Website: sushisamba.com

19 Sabine, St Pauls

Named after the bird whose migratory travel is influenced by the seasons, Sabine is a seventh-floor botanical rooftop bar with two outside terraces. One comes with a retractable roof for all-weather drinking and dining, and both overlook St Paul’s Cathedral. The verdant venue, full of hanging plants and lush greenery, also offers up cocktails in stylish glassware, as well as seasonally changing bar bites, sharing plates and leisurely weekend lunches.

Address: 7th Floor, Leonardo Royal Hotel London St Paul’s, 10 Godliman Street EC4V 5AJ

Website: sabinelondon.co.uk

20 Angler at South Place Hotel, Moorgate

Michelin-starred restaurant Angler, located at South Place Hotel, not only serves up some of the best seafood in London but also has a lovely, elegant outdoor terrace on the 7th floor. South Place Hotel also likes to transform its Secret Garden for summer, creating a floral suntrap with waterfalls, palm trees and creeping vines, that welcomes guests on a first-come, first-serve basis.

Address: 3 South Place, Moorgate EC2M 2AF

Website: southplacehotel.com; anglerrestaurant.com