Fun in the sun means taking things al fresco and, ideally, up on the roof. It is, after all, warmer that much closer to the sun.
Perhaps not, but at least the view tends to be better. Whereas once rooftops to dine on where reasonably few and far between, now near enough every flat spot with a building beneath it is game for cocktail hour.
Below is a non-exhaustive list of our favourite rooftop bars, listed in no particular order. Helicopter landing pads have never been so out of style.
Location: Wilton Place, SW1X 7RL
The Berkeley Rooftop
Can’t make it to the Maybourne Riviera this summer? Save your private jet fare to Nice and take to the skies instead at Knightsbridge, where the poolside bar at the Berkeley hotel exists. It’s small but perfectly formed, and as such one of the best spots in London, with 360-degree views over Hyde Park all the way to the Wembley Arch, and south to Battersea Power Station. This year, the theme is “Capri in the City” — lots of ice-cold spritzes and marinated octopus.
London Bridge Rooftop Bar
Location: Colechurch House, Bridge Walk, SE1 2SX
London Bridge Rooftop Bar
London Bridge Rooftop Bar/Facebook
One of the capital’s most popular rooftop bars for after-work drinks is right next to London Bridge station, overlooking the Shard. London Bridge Rooftop Bar, which is predominantly open-air, runs a happy hour on selected cocktails on weekdays – if you can get there on time. At the weekend, they run a bottomless brunch and ‘spritz Sundays’, when you can get an Aperol and more for just £8 between 12pm and 4pm.
Location: 1 Poultry, EC2R 8EJ
Coq d’Argent rooftop garden
Green spaces in the City of London are as rare as branches of Poundstretcher, but a notable exception is the rooftop lawn of this restaurant which takes up the postmodern prow of No 1 Poultry, jutting towards the Bank of England and Royal Exchange, seven floors below. Half a dozen gin and tonics are categorised by flavour (“fruity”, “citrusy”, “herbal” et al), there are another dozen in-house creations, plus the bartenders will mix together pretty much any classic cosmo or collins, martini or margarita. There’s a comprehensive, 37-page international wine list, too, and don’t forget to eat something from the bar menu of French-accented finger food before negotiating the elevator back down to street level: prawns and mayo, sausages in red wine sauce, charcuterie and cornichons.
Location: 1 Willow Street, EC2A 4BH
Llama Inn rooftop bar
Daniel Hambury/Stella Pictures Ltd
Perched above the Hoxton in Shoreditch, on the seventh floor, is Llama Inn, a New York import serving modern Peruvian food. It is an outstanding restaurant. On the terrace, pisco sours, snacks, and plenty of sunshine, weather willing, thanks to its south-facing position. There are lighter dishes to match the rose and cocktails: lamb empanadas, leeks with gazpacho, cod and yuca cream and sugar snap peas, and chicken skewers with shiso and aji verde.
Location: 9th Floor, 100 Liverpool Street, EC2M 2AT
Los Mochis rooftop
The latest branch of Los Mochis is situated in Liverpool Street and boasts an al fresco space rising high above Broadgate Circle. It is enormous, 3,000 sq ft, with a landscape of views from St Paul’s Cathedral to the London Eye. On the menu, Los Mochis’ Mexican-Japanese food — plenty of tacos — and a vast selection of tequila and mezcal. It is a party. Enjoy the 3am licence.
Location: 100 Shoreditch High Street, E1 6JQ
One Hundred Shoreditch
If you’re looking for a rooftop bar with panoramic views across East London, One Hundred Shoreditch is for you. Above one of Shoreditch’s most popular hotels is a rooftop designed for “sundowners”. Until midnight, drinkers might enjoy a space full of succulents and cacti, a pink colour scheme, and spritzes ahoy. There’s also a concise menu of tacos and snacks such as garlic prawns and fried chicken.
Location: 14th Floor, South Bank, 40 Blackfriars Road, SE1 8NY
Seabird, the jaunty seafood palace above the Hoxton in Southwark, is to become Casa Seabird from late May, shifting emphasis towards Ibizan summers. And so, city views with Mediterranean-inspired food, and refreshing tequila-based drinks from maker Casamigos. To the soundtrack of resident DJs — Thursday to Saturday — guests will be able to sit on a terrace full of tropical plants and drink frozen palomitas and truffle mezcal negronis and eat sea trout ceviche and salt cod croquetas.
Location: 25 White Post Lane, E9 5EN
The outdoor terrace at Lord Napier Star is perfect for those wanting a pub feel in the sky. Now restored, the graffiti covered boozer, most famous for its “Shithouse to Penthouse” tag, is still crumbling outside but all shiny and new inside. The rooftop is one for pints galore and cheap margs.
Location: 40 Commercial Street, E1 6LP
Little tops a pint in the sun: the Culpeper’s rooftop is built for it. Ever popular, the garden vibe here is made by the produce growing around the tables, much of which is harvested for the pub’s restaurant two floors below — though a well-priced set lunch is on up here. The rooftop opened this Monday, and while bright sparks will book, space is kept for thirsty walk-ins wanting a beer from the regularly changing pumps on the ground floor.
Location: 7th-10th Floor Multi Storey Car Park, 95A Rye Lane, SE15 4ST
Out of all the Peckham rooftops repurposed for pale ale at sundown, two outshine their siblings. Frank’s, if you believe the stories, invented negronis, rooftops and Peckham itself. The views are ace, its drinks are decent and while its a basic affair it has this strange pulling power: you may well lose unintended hours to Frank’s. Sometimes that’s just how it goes.
Location: 14th floor, 9 Aldgate High Street, EC3N 1AH
Sometimes nothing matters but the skyline. Attached to Aldgate’s Dorsett City Hotel, Jin Bo Law sits 14 floors up, with views out over Tower Bridge, the Shard, the Gherkin, the Walkie Talkie, the Cheesegrater and all the other totemic towers of capitalism with silly nicknames. The yellow-and-brass chic, as well as its Japanese-leaning cocktail list, draws a fun-loving, scrubbed-up set who don’t mind flashing the cash: more than a few bottles are in the £000s, but luckily glasses of wine are poured from £11.
Location: 1 Westgate Street, E8 3RL
Netil 360 is one of London’s most popular spots for al fresco drinking. Situated right at the heart of Hackney, it’s a no-fuss, no-frills hideaway. The indoor constituent of the bar appears to be made largely of chipboard and the drinks menu touts largely local breweries and distilleries: beer comes courtesy of Truman’s and Five Points, among others, while East London Liquor Company provides the spirits.
Location: The Rooftop, 133A Rye Ln, SE15 4BQ
Forza Wine
Forza Win was the modern and fun Italian restaurant where the pasta is beautiful and where custard coffees were born. First Peckham, then Camberwell, it was a wonderful restaurant but closed not long back. Forza Wine, the offshoot bar and small plates operation, remains. It is an aperitivo haven and a place for fritto misto, tomatoes flush with garlic and olive oil, fine salumi, and bream with pickled fennel.
The Rooftop at The Standard
Location: 10 Argyle St, London, 8NP
Tim Charles
The Standard is one of London’s coolest hotels and, while its rooftop isn’t as fortified or expansive as some, it remains a place for good cocktails and a hit with celebs. Visit any day and there will be people drinking champagne, admiring from all angles a happy stretch of north London. There are landmarks aplenty, too, not least the St Pancras clocktower over the road. The bar makes for a place to watch the hustle and bustle with a Manhattan. There’s a faintly New York vibe. Just ignore the astroturf.
Location: 2-4 Boundary St, E2 7DD
In Shoreditch, at the Boundary Hotel, is a rooftop terrace and glass orangery with panoramic views across the City and East London. Come spring and summer, the space is billed as a “Mediterranean oasis,” with olive trees, seasonal plants and flowers. In the kitchen is head chef Roberto Branca, who grills meats and fish over charcoal and serves them with salads. Here is a destination where rose is poured generously and cocktails pack a punch.