Best Rooftop Bars, Terraces & Pop-Ups in London Open Up For Summer

Rooftop bars, sunny terraces and warm weather pop-ups are an ephemeral joy, and now is the time they start to open up for the summer season. Here’s when some of London’s best rooftop bars, terraces and pop-up venues are opening up for beers in the sun.

This guide will be updated as venues announce reopening dates.

1 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

2 OXO Tower Restaurant’s terrace takeover

Cloudy Bay Wine has taken over the OXO Tower Restaurant with a six-course tasting menu paired with Cloudy Bay wine, naturally. Amongst all the botanical loveliness currently dressing the terrace, feast on the likes of slow-cooked pork belly, halibut and clam chowder and dry-aged beef fillet, while quaffing some of New Zealand’s finest drops.

Address: Cloudy Bay Summer Terrace, OXO Tower Restaurant, Barge House Street, South Bank SE1 9PH

Website: oxotowerrestaurant.com

3 Marquess of Anglesey’s rooftop bar, Covent Garden

The Youngs pub has reopened following an extensive makeover that includes 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 The Roof Terrace at Sloane Club, Chelsea

Whispering Angel has taken over The Roof Terrace at The Sloane Club so diners can quaff crisp glasses of blush rose while tucking into the decadent British-Asian menu that features the likes of the messy lemongrass chicken burger with spicy Asian slaw; seafood and basil risotto with Devon crab, tiger prawns and squid. There’s also a new set menu to try with the likes of burrata and heritage tomatoes; wild mushroom and Somerset brie tart and roasted hazelnut chocolate sphere on the menu.

Address: 60 Lower Sloane Street, Chelsea SW1W 8BP

Website: sloaneplace.com

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

City hotspot and French restaurant with a view, Coq d’Argent launches its summer terrace this July, in partnership with Maison Mirabeau, the award-winning rosé wine and gin brand. A central French Riviera 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

6 Walthamstow-On-Sea at Big Penny Social

Launching Tuesday, July 18, London’s biggest beer barn will bring the British seaside to the capital with a beach pop up for summer. It comes with deck chairs, beach side huts, soft  serve ice cream and Tasty UK fish and chips and prepped for day parties, DJs, kids play sessions and dating events. So slap on some sunscreen and find your flip flops and head to London’s party beach.

Address: 1 Priestley Way, Walthamstow, E17 6AL

Website: bigpennysocial.co.uk

7 Lanique Street Bar at Bourne & Hollingsworth, Fitzrovia

Cocktail haunt Bourne & Hollingsworth has opened up a street bar for summer. In partnership with Lanique Spirit of Rose the intimate outdoor bar brings a little bit seaside charm to central London, with its scalloped umbrellas and seascape backdrop. Head here for refreshing crisp libations, or to try the bar’s signature drink, A Rose a Day, Oysters Away; Lanique Spirit of Rose with gin, nectarine liqueur and Bonanto Aperitivo topped with prosecco, alongside a scoop of homemade pomegranate and rose sorbet served in a handpicked oyster shell.

Address: 28 Rathbone Place, Fitzrovia W1T 1JF

Website: bandhbar.com

8 Woolwich Works Beach Bar, Woolwich

Bringing the seaside vibes to east London, Woolwich Work’s beach bar, Rumpypumpy, returns for the summer complete with sand and deckchairs, for chilled sunny-time vibes. Serving rum cocktails, mocktails and beers on tap, the bar will also have pop up food stalls and live music on selected evenings. Also look out for 2-for-1 cocktails, 4pm to 6.30pm.

Dates: From June 28

Time: 12pm-9.30pm

Tickets: Free, unticketed

Address: Woolwich Works, 11 No. 1 Street, Woolwich SE18 6HD

Website: woolwich.works

 

9 Nobu Hotel London Shoreditch Bar & Terrace

Serving up signature Nobu dishes, small plates and sushi, as well as sublime cocktails, ideal for sunny days, this new bar and terrace – latest edition to the Nobu empire  – opens up just in time for summer. It comes with a sunken garden terrace, Japanese art and slick new interiors, as well as Nobu favourite dishes – creamy crab rolls, lobster tempura caviar rolls and shrimp tempura truffle tonkatsu rolls.

Address: Nobu Hotel London Shoreditch, 10-50 Willow Street, EC2A 4BH

Website: london-shoreditch.nobuhotels.com

10 Five Points Courtyard, Hackney

Five Points Brewery has reopened its relaxed Mare Street courtyard, not far from Broadway Market. While you sink ice-cold pints or sip on cocktails from Dalston’s Pamela bar, you can tuck into food from open-fire nose-to-tail specialists From The Ashes (ex-temper crew)and Middle-Eastern taco experts anoosh – both vendors serving plenty of choice for meat-eaters and vegetarians.

Address: 61 Mare Street, Hackney E8 4RG

Website: fivepointsbrewing.co.uk

11 Feels Like June’s Minuty Summer Terrace, Canary Wharf

Found in Tribe Hotel in Wood Wharf, this cheerful West Coast-inspired restaurant has launched its rosé terrace for the summer. In addition to blush wine, there’s a summery cocktail menu (rhubarb cosmo, anyone?), robata grilled meats along with all-day dining and brunch menus boasting the likes of mac and cheese, rice bowls, steaks and burgers as well as a selection of small bites from the restaurant’s taco bar. Look out for the resident DJ playing tunes to keep the summery vibes going into the night.

Address: 15 Water Street, Canary Wharf E14 9QG

Website: feelslikejune.com

12 Between the Bridges, South Bank

The alfresco entertainment spot and bar returns for yet another season at the end of April. The 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

13 Kings House, Chelsea

Arrive for a boozy slushy or cocktail hour, on each night from 5pm-7pm, and stay for the laidback vibes in the pub’s new 96-cover garden. Once launched, the alfresco drinking spot will host bottomless brunches as well as a string of events starting in spring and carrying through to summer. 

Address: 541 King’s Road, Chelsea SW6 2EB

Website: kingshousechelsea.co.uk

14 T.T Liquor, Shoreditch

The east London rooftop launches its summer roof terrace cocktails from its new spring spritz menu. Quaff the likes of the blue-hued drink-to-forget-me-not – a blue curacao riff on a paloma, the white vermouth-based Santorini spritz or a bourbon and grapefruit bitters, while you soak up east London’s glory from the comfort of the rooftop that comes with greenery, awnings, wind covers and heaters.

Address: 17B Kingsland Road, London E2 8AA

Website: ttliquor.co.uk

15 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. Look out for Sunday High sessions taking place weekly into August.

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

Website: standardhotels.com

16 The Bussey Building, Peckham

The huge roof terrace of the Bussey Building in Peckham, the scene of many a party, Rooftop Film Club, and even the odd yoga class is always buzzing with something. There’s plenty of seating, pretty floral pergolas, sundowner cocktails, pizza and one of south London’s best views. Both covered and uncovered areas are available to book, kids are welcome up until 5pm, and dogs on leads can join in the fun too.

Address: Bussey Building, 133 Rye Lane, Peckham SE15 4ST

Website: busseyrooftopbar.com

17 Frank’s Cafe, Peckham

Housed in a multi-storey car park and with no frills aesthetics, the summer ephemeral delight that is Frank’s Café serves up cocktails, brunch, lunch and dinner and killer views across Peckham and London. A place where people travel to, Frank’s Café gets pretty busy and the bar queue is usually huge.

Address: 10th floor, Peckham multi-storey car park, 95a Rye Lane SE15 4ST

Website: frankscafe.org.uk

18 Somerset House Terrace Bar with San Miguel

Opening just in time for the Easter bank holiday, the Somerset House Terrace Bar with San Miguel returns to the Strand for the fourth time in time for the Easter bank holiday. There’s ice-cold beer and a tapas menu designed by celebrity Spanish chef Omar Allibhoy with meaty, cheesy sharing boards as well as all the usual Spanish-style picky bits and traditional stone baked flatbreads. Also look out for live music, hands on workshops and other fun, participatory events. On until October.

Address: Strand, WC2R 1LA

Website: somersethouse.org.uk

19 The Lucky Club, Camden

Celebrating its Easter bank holiday reopening, The Lucky Club Camden will serve free bubbles to the first 100 guests booked in for the Easter weekend. The heated rooftop will also be supplying goodie bags, and a non-stop happy hour throughout the four-day holiday. The cocktail list has been updated and new additions include frozen daiquiris, and the food menu has also had a revamp as well. Mexican street food is still on offer, but dishes now included loaded burritos, battered halloumi with Mexican slaw and chipotle mayo and the dirty vegan deep fried artichoke.

Address: North Stables Yard, Camden Market, Chalk Farm Road, NW1 8AH

Website: theluckyclub.com

20 Roof East, Stratford

East London’s carpark playground reopens for the summer season this month. Sluggers, Birdies Crazy Golf, archery game Arrows and disco lawn bowls Glitter Bowls will also all reopen, as will Rooftop Film Club, which always has excellent programming. The rooftop bar’s food trucks reopen as well as do its five bars so you can have a sundowner while overlooking Olympic Park and London beyond.

Address: 7 & 8 Stratford Multi Storey Car Park, Great Eastern Road, Stratford E15 1XE

Website: roofeast.com