The best London rooftop bars: 2021's finest sky-high sipping

Lost in Brixton, Brixton

Set above Brixton Village in a space never before open to the public, Lost in Brixton has capacity for 440 guests and boasts a retractable roof to let the summer sun shine through. And if you think its foliage-wrapped wooden beams look familiar, chances are you’ve been to a branch of Pergola, the rooftop bar mini-chain operated by the same company.

Drinks-wise, the menu features beers from nearby Brixton Brewery and Latin American-inspired cocktails, including pear pisco sours and hibiscus margaritas. Even more exciting is the food: your pick of dishes from Brixton Village and Market Row’s top-notch restaurants, ordered through a new app, Tablesnapper, and delivered to your table by a runner. We’ll raise a hibiscus margarita to that.

Willows, John Lewis Roof Garden

The rooftop bar atop John Lewis has finally reopened for the summer season – and in exciting new hands. Taken over by the team behind vast east London venue Night Tales, the bar has been renamed Willows, and now boasts soothing, natural-looking furnishings to complement its new image. Head on up for a menu of fresh, summery cocktails and Giz 'n' Green pizza pies.

Skylark Roof Garden, Little Venice

Perched 10 floors up on the top of an office block, Skylark Roof Garden is a polished open space spruced up in minimalist style with a touch of greenery here and there. From its position above the canal banks of Little Venice, the garden boasts views of Notting Hill, The Shard, Hyde Park and the Royal Albert Hall – from where, if you arrive early in the day, you can hear the sounds of world-class orchestras warming up. In the evening, the soundtrack switches to the more prominent beats of DJ sets from the likes of Spencer Mac and Mercedes Benson, who play from sunset till closing time.

Skylark’s menu focuses on quality ingredients, with signature cocktails including a white chocolate martini, mezcal mule and hibiscus daiquiri. Food, meanwhile, comes either in the form of light-but-luxe small plates such as gin-cured salmon gravlax with fresh citrus cucumber, or handmade pizzas. Here’s to sipping (and nibbling) in suave style.

London Bridge Rooftop

London Bridge Rooftop officially launched last December only to close almost immediately as the city was plunged into Tier 3 and then another national lockdown. Four months on and the new rooftop bar has launched a second time with all heaters blazing. Look forward to celebratory cocktails, craft brews, Ginger Pig burgers and DJ sets as well as panoramic views of the higgledy-piggledy streets and train tracks below.

Forza Wine, Peckham

Located a stone’s throw from Frank’s and the Bussey Building is Peckham’s most polished rooftop offering: wine and small-plates joint Forza Wine. A swift lift ride up to its breezy, open quarters and you’ll see why the venue is popular for work meetings, post-work tipples (do try an orange wine) and full-on dinners alike. The Italian-led menu boasts a ream of delicious, carefully thought-through small plates.

Pergola Paddington Central, Paddington

Pergola Paddington offers revellers one of the largest and prettiest rooftop bar settings in London. To drink, look forward to an extensive gin cocktail menu and most probably some frozen specials too (last year, there was frozen rosé on tap). Food-wise, the bar welcomes a mix of new and returning vendors this year, including barbecue connoisseurs Salt Shed and burger maestros Filth and Co. Niji Kitchen will be serving up their fresh Japanese delights, while guests can also take a trip to the deep south by tucking into Thunderbird's southern fried chicken.

Jin Bo Law, Aldgate

Between the pineapple-themed decor, Asian-inspired cocktails and – if you time your visit right – the summer breeze, Jin Bo Law in Aldgate has the power to whisk you off to a holiday far, far away from the suited and booted streets below. Then again, with views of some of the city’s most important landmarks, who’d want to sip their sundowner anywhere other than London?

Queen of Hoxton, Shoreditch

Rooftop favourite the Queen of Hoxton returns for summer. No theme has been announced yet, but expect bright colours, beer tables and open, airy spaces.

Frank’s Café, Peckham

Summer wouldn’t be summer without a trip to Frank’s Café in Peckham. Even if you haven't been, chances are you’ve seen an Instagram post of its iconic pink stairwell, or a panoramic sunset shot of London’s skyline taken from its quarters. Located on top of a multi-storey carpark, a mere stone’s throw from Peckham Rye station, Frank’s is one of the largest public rooftop spaces in London and a visit is as much about hanging with the ‘in crowd’ as it is about the reasonably priced drinks: classic cocktails for around £7 a pop, and a small selection of beers and wines from around £4.50.

A reopening date for 2021 is yet to be announced, but watch this space...

Chiringuito, Bethnal Green

Rooftop bar Chiringuito opened in 2018 on the site of a former toilet block in Bethnal Green. The bar – which is next to Bethnal Green tube station and overlooks the neighbouring Museum Gardens – serves up a menu inspired by Hispanic and Latin American flavours. Expect rooftop DJ sets on summer nights.

Aqua Spirit, Soho

Known for being less about the views and more about the booze, this popular late-night date spot is open all year round and hosts DJs every weekend (Covid restrictions depending).

Bar Elba, Waterloo

Popular with the party crowd, this fun-loving rooftop bar offers communal tables and an extensive drinks list – including ‘big jug’ cocktails, potent smaller concoctions, and craft beers and wines. It’s the ideal spot for after-work drinks or weekend celebrations laced with a tipple (or three).

Coq d’Argent, Bank

Given its location – a stone’s throw from Bank station – it’s unsurprising that Coq d’Argent is popular with City slickers. Regardless of whether or not that’s your tribe, the bar – with its sprawling lawn, cocktails and French-inspired cuisine – is worth a look in if you’re in the area. The panoramic views from up top can be enjoyed whatever the weather, thanks to covered areas and outdoor heating.

Madison, St Paul’s

Madison is a buzzy sixth-floor bar and tapas restaurant which, thanks to its smattering of umbrellas and heaters, can be enjoyed all year round. Between its rooftop terraces, Madison has views of London’s skyline (in particular neighbouring St Paul’s Cathedral) well and truly covered. Take advantage of the sharing cocktails if you're looking to get the evening off to a lively start. Between the considered menu of non-alcoholic cocktails and smoothies, Madison ensures its teetotal guests are looked after, too.

Roof Park, Dalston

This east London hangout began as a community allotment, but has since grown into a popular summer rooftop space that’s as much about the socialising as it is about the cocktails. The roomy space is an inviting place to lounge on a summer’s evening, and if you become a ‘friend’ of the bar, you can help out with the garden and on-site events which include film screenings, talks and DJ sets.

The no booking policy makes Roof Park a great option for last-minute plans.

Culpeper Roof Garden, Spitalfields

At the Culpeper Roof Garden, punters can look forward to cocktails, dishes and workshops all featuring pickles grown on site, so you can bite into a gherkin while looking at views of the Gherkin. What a novelty!

The Exhibit, Balham

Self-described as a youth club for adults, the Exhibit is arguably the coolest space in Balham, boasting film nights, speed-dating events and a hirable roof terrace – the Tiki Garden – with its own private bar that accommodates up to 120 people. If you live south south, it’s a trendy alternative to the yummy-mummy brunch spots Balham is better known for.

Netil360, London Fields

Once a members-only space, this quirky take on the typical rooftop bar is popular with hipsters and creatives looking for something a little more inspiring than your typical icy beverage. Group activities for 2021 are yet to be announced, but the six Finnish saunas have been installed, each complete with a 'hot rainfall shower', cold water experience and fire pit seating area. If we must!

Golden Bee, Shoreditch

Ideal for those looking to rent an entire rooftop for the night, this tucked-away spot in Shoreditch can cater for private groups of 10 to 40 people. Meanwhile, between its palm trees, happy hour two-for-one cocktails, buckets of beer and house wine for under £20, Golden Bee should have you feeling like you're on holiday. Popular with the glam crowd, the bar has been used as a location on TV series Made in Chelsea.

Skylight at Tobacco Dock, Wapping

Since launching in 2017, Skylight has made a name for itself as a rooftop destination offering more than just drinks and snacks. Here, revellers can enjoy three floors of bars, street food, live entertainment and DJ sets. From 1 May, a rotation of street food trucks from the KERB portfolio will be serving up their specialties by the canal every Saturday. Then from 21 May, look forward also to lawn sports including croquet and pétanque. And from 21 June, the venue will also host to screenings of the Euros and live comedy nights.

Bussey Building, Peckham

Back in Peckham, a stone's throw from Frank’s is the Bussey Building. More intimate a space than its vast competitor, the venue is a hidden gem for enjoying sky-high drinks south of the river. This year, food comes by way of Share a Slice, a pop-up pizza company with a good cause: for every pizza purchased, another is donated to someone in need. The Bussey Building usually houses a branch of Rooftop Film Club in the summer too, but plans for screenings in 2021 are yet to be announced.

Roof East, Stratford

Following in the footsteps of Frank’s Café in Peckham, this rooftop on top of a car park is as much an adults’ playground as it is a bar. A new addition to the giddy roster of games this year is East London Bowls Club. Punters can party the weekend away then nurse sore heads at the venue's rooftop yoga class on Sunday mornings. This year, food comes by way of East Side Pizza, Cheeky Burger and kati rolls' specialists Kolkati, while cocktails, wine and craft beers are available from each of the bars dotted around the site.

OXO Tower, Southbank

A rooftop bar with exquisite views of central London, the bar terrace at OXO Tower is a lovely spot to watch the city sparkle from. Paulius Patumsis is the mixologist at the helm, serving up new and exotic flavours as well as old favourites.

Abbey Tavern, Kentish Town

Those looking for a laugh with their tipple should head to Abbey Tavern, a rooftop bar serving up comedy and open-mic nights as well as food and drink. It's a chilled-out pub decorated with fairy lights and bunting that attracts a local crowd.

The Loft, Wimbledon

Despite having its own name, this south London boozer belongs to the Alexandra pub below. It’s an unpretentious spot with a burger menu, colourful tables, a decent selection of beers and sheltered areas to duck into on rainy days.

The Prince of Wales, Brixton

Back in the times BC (Before Covid), if you walked past the PoW in the evening, you would have seen a sizeable queue outside. That’s because this multi-floored bar, club and roof terrace is one of the best nights out south of the river. Between the new social-distancing measures, compulsory advanced booking and limited capacity, the queues are likely to be shorter than before, but rest assured there will be plenty going on up there, including a chance to dance to plenty of soca, afrobeats and reggae.

The Lock Tavern, Camden

It’s usually all about the music at this famous spot perched on Camden Lock. Stars including Amy Winehouse have played here in the past and there’s ordinarily live music or DJs playing most nights of the week. Less talked about – but worth the trip alone in the summer – is its roof terrace, a spacious place to enjoy a drink overlooking the market. You’ll feel in the heart of it here.

Faltering Fullback, Finsbury Park

This picturesque pub is shrouded by creeping greenery which sprawls across the rooftop garden. Not one for the views – you’ll find yourselves practically hidden here – it’s a tucked-away spot with communal seating where you can enjoy a game of pool or relax feeling far away from the summer madness of the city.