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Food & Drink

The best rooftop bars: London 2023's finest sky-high sipping

Whether you're looking for fancy cocktails with exquisite views, or secret sky-high gems, here's our round-up of the best rooftops to drink at in the capital.

Joia, Battersea

Joia, Battersea

It’s all systems go at the slick new branch of European hotel chain Art'otel, which opened at Battersea Power Station in December. Whizzing diners up to the top of the complex, where 360-degree views of London and the turquoise waters of its rooftop pool can be enjoyed, is Joia, the new venture from Michelin-starred Portuguese chef Henrique Sá Pessoa. The restaurant promises to be a showcase of Henrique’s vibrant plates, while for drinks, there's punchy cocktails and their slushy-based equivalents, as well as a Portuguese-led wine list.

Read more ...
WHEN
Tuesday & Wednesday, 5pm - 12am; Thursday, 5pm - 1am; Friday & Saturday, 12pm - 3pm & 5pm - 1am
WHERE
15th Floor, 1 Electric Blvd, Nine Elms, London SW11 8BJ
Laurel's on the Roof, Shoreditch

Laurel's on the Roof, Shoreditch

Scale the Mondrian Shoreditch (by lift, of course) and you'll be rewarded with a dose of 70s Hollywood glamour. Sky-high bar Laurel's on the Roof is infused with old-school Californian inflections, from retro neon signs to rattan chandeliers. The menu is just as nostalgic: order a Malibu shrimp cocktail, if you will, or a Cobb salad. The drinks are more of the moment, with frozen spicy margaritas; Japanese Garibaldis muddled with yuzu; and a punchy sounding Wet Gibsons (Oxley Gin, Martini Ambrato and silverskin onion) among the offerings.

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WHEN
Monday - Saturday, 7am - 12am; Sunday 7am - 11pm
WHERE
45 Curtain Road, London EC2A 3PT
The Lucky Club, Camden

The Lucky Club, Camden

The sister site to The Lucky Club in Mayfair, this disheveled younger sibling has taken over the site of former legendary nightclub Proud. While the Mayfair original is known for its Asian small plates and lengthy martini menu, visitors to the Camden branch will be transported to Mexico via a menu of tacos, tostadas and seven different margaritas.

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WHEN
Monday - Thursday, 12pm - 11pm; Friday 12pm - 12am; Saturday 11am - 12pm; Sunday 11am - 10pm
WHERE
North Stables Yard, Camden Market, Chalk Farm Road, NW1 8AH
Willows, John Lewis Roof Garden

Willows, John Lewis Roof Garden

The rooftop bar atop John Lewis, now called Willows, has reopened for the summer season. Take a break from your summer shopping and find somewhere to perch on its soothing, natural-looking furnishings, and tuck into a summery menu or spritzes, classic cocktails, and seasonal food courtesy of Kitchen Ventures.

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WHEN
Monday - Saturday, 12pm - 10pm; Sunday, 12pm - 9pm
WHERE
300 Oxford Street, London W1C 1DX
Skylark Roof Garden, Little Venice

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 dark chocolate espresso martini, picante and frozen watermelon daiquiri. Food, meanwhile, is geared towards pan-Asian inspired small plates, including Vulcan pop shrimp; wild-caught tuna tartar tacos; and rickshaw kimchi chicken skewers.

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WHEN
Saturday & Sunday, 11am - 11pm
WHERE
10th Floor, 4 Kingdom Street, Paddington, London W2 6BD
London Bridge Rooftop

London Bridge Rooftop

Pandemic newcomer London Bridge Rooftop is where to head for fresh-air sipping without catching a chill - it's got all heaters blazing on chilly evenings. Look forward to celebratory cocktails, craft brews, Spanish-themed small plates (courtesy of the Ginger Pig with White Pearls) and DJ sets, as well as panoramic views of the higgledy-piggledy streets and train tracks below.

Read more ...
WHEN
Monday - Thursday, 4pm - 11pm; Friday 2pm - 12am; Saturday 12pm - 12am; Sunday 2pm - 10pm
WHERE
London Bridge Rooftop, 16 Wharf Road, Hoxton, London N1 7RW
Forza Wine, Peckham

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.

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WHEN
Sunday - Thursday 12pm - 12am; Friday & Saturday 12pm - 1am
WHERE
The Rooftop, 133a Rye Lane, Peckham, London SE15 4BQ
Pergola Paddington Central, Paddington

Pergola Paddington, Paddington

Party bar Pergola returns for 2023, transforming its Paddington site into a sky-high, palm-dotted drinking den. Lounge around on beachy furniture and sip into the evening while enjoying blushing sunset views.

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WHEN
Daily, 12pm - 11pm
WHERE
5 Kingdom Street, Paddington, London W2 6PY
Studio Frantzén, Harrods

Studio Frantzén, Harrods

For sky-high sipping with a helping of Swedish gastronomy, look to Harrods' rooftop bar and restaurant Studio Frantzén. The latest venture from acclaimed chef Björn Frantzén, its menu is a fusion of Nordic and Japanese flavours. The elegant trimmings of the restaurant's minimalist, Scandi-style dining room spill out onto a terrace where a range of Nordic cocktails can be enjoyed as well premium wines.

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WHEN
Monday - Saturday, 12pm - 11:30pm; Sunday, 12pm - 10:30pm
WHERE
87-135 Brompton Road, Knightsbridge Fifth Floor, Harrods, London SW1X 7XL
Jin Bo Law, Aldgate

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, on the 14th floor of Dorsett City Hotel 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?

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WHEN
Monday - Wednesday, 5pm - 11pm / Thursday - Sunday, 12pm - 11pm
WHERE
14th floor, 9 Dorsett City, Aldgate High Street, London EC3N 1AH
Queen of Hoxton, Shoreditch

Queen of Hoxton, Shoreditch

Shoreditch favourite the Queen of Hoxton has reopened with the theme of Little Barcelona. Not jetting off this summer? You can enjoy a mini holiday up here with Spanish-themed cocktails and food.

Read more ...
WHEN
Wednesday 4pm - 12am; Thursday & Friday 4pm - 2am; Saturday & Sunday 2pm - 2am
WHERE
1 Curtain Road, Shoreditch, London EC2A 3JX
The Lyric, Hammersmith

The Lyric, Hammersmith

The roof garden of the Lyric Theatre in Hammersmith is a great space for private hire. Here you can host events for up to 120 people, with catering available from the venue in canapé, buffet or barbecue form. You can also secure a smaller area if you’re looking to celebrate with friends, or simply pop up in the summer to bask in the sun, play garden games, and enjoy some casual food and drinks from the bar inside.

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WHEN
Monday - Saturday 12:00PM - 11:00PM
WHERE
Lyric Square, Hammersmith, London W6 0QL
Frank’s Cafe, Peckham

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 £8 a pop, and a small selection of beers and wines from around £5.

Read more ...
WHEN
Wednesday - Sunday, 11am - 11pm
WHERE
10th floor, multistorey car park, 95a Rye Lane, Peckham, London SE15 4ST
Chiringuito, Bethnal Green

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.

Read more ...
WHEN
Monday - Wednesday, 8am - 11pm; Thursday - Saturday, 8am - 12am; Sunday 8am - 11pm
WHERE
Museum Gardens, Cambridge Heath Road, Bethnal Green, London E2 9PA
Aqua Spirit, Soho

Aqua Kyoto, Soho

Serving up a stellar Japanese menu, this popular late-night spot – with sister sites in cosmopolitan cities like New York, Dubai and Hong Kong – is open all year round and hosts DJs most weekends.

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WHEN
Monday - Saturday, 12pm - 10pm; Sunday 12pm - 8pm
WHERE
240 Regent Street, Soho, London W1B 3BR
Lost in Brixton, Brixton

Lost in Brixton, Brixton

Set above Brixton Village in a space only recently 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 an app, Tablesnapper, and delivered to your table by a runner. We’ll raise a hibiscus margarita to that.

Read more ...
WHEN
Wednesday - Friday, 5pm - 11:30pm; Saturday 12pm - 11:30pm; Sunday 12pm - 8pm
WHERE
Brixton Village, Coldharbour Lane, London SW9 8PS
Bar Elba, Waterloo

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).

Read more ...
WHEN
Monday - Wednesday, 3pm - 12am; Friday, 3pm - 1am; Saturday, 12pm - 1am; - Sunday, 12pm - 12am
WHERE
Rooftop Mercury House, 109-117 Waterloo Road, Waterloo, London SE1 8UL
Coq d’Argent, Bank

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.

Read more ...
WHEN
Monday - Saturday, 12pm - 10pm
WHERE
1 Poultry, London EC2R 8EJ
Madison, St. Paul’s

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. Look forward to live music and sports screenings by way of entertainment.

Read more ...
WHEN
Daily, 12pm - 1am
WHERE
Rooftop Terrace One, New Change, London EC4M 9AF
Roof Park, Dalston

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. Open to over 21s only, 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.

Read more ...
WHEN
Wednesday & Thursday, 5pm - 10:30pm; Friday 12pm - 4am; Saturday 12pm - 12am; Sunday 2pm - 9:30pm
WHERE
The Print House, 18-22 Ashwin Street, Dalston, London E8 3DL
Culpeper Roof Garden, Spitalfields

The Culpeper Regen Roof, Spitalfields

At gastronomic wonder-pub the Culpeper, sustainability and regenerative agriculture continues to be a focus. Up on the Regen Roof, punters can look forward to cocktails, dishes and workshops all featuring veggies, herbs and pickles grown on site, so you can bite into a gherkin while looking at views of the Gherkin. What a novelty!

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WHEN
Monday - Thursday, 12pm - 12am; Friday & Saturday, 12pm - 1am; Sunday 12pm - 9pm
WHERE
40 Commercial Street, Spitalfields, London E1 6LP
The Exhibit, Balham

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.

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WHEN
Daily, hours vary
WHERE
12 Balham Station Road, Balham, London SW12 9SG
Netil360, London Fields

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. A programme of workshops usually runs throughout the summer and if a glass of rosé in the sun isn't relaxing enough, book into one of the rooftop's Finnish saunas to unwind while gazing over the streets below, before scrubbing yourself clean under a hot rainfall shower and cold waterfall experience. If we must!

Read more ...
WHEN
Sunday - Thursday, 12pm - 11:30pm; Friday & Saturday, 12pm - 12:30am
WHERE
1 Westgate Street, Hackney, London E8 3RL
Golden Bee, Shoreditch

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 was once used as a location on reality TV series Made in Chelsea.

Read more ...
WHEN
Wednesday - Sunday, from 5pm
WHERE
Singer Street, Shoreditch, London EC1V 9DD
Skylight at Tobacco Dock & Peckham

Skylight at Tobacco Dock & Peckham

Since launching in 2017, Skylight has made a name for itself as a rooftop destination offering more than just drinks and snacks. At both the original location in Wapping and little sibling in Peckham, revellers can enjoy multiple floors of bars, street food, live entertainment and DJ sets. In Wapping, there's a big emphasis on games, with croquet courts, a ping pong table and shuffle boarding available. Giant screens will show major sports matches in the summer too, while over in Peckham, visitors can book into weekend drag brunches.

Read more ...
WHEN
Thursday - Saturday, 12pm - 11pm; Sunday 12pm - 7pm
WHERE
Pennington Street car park entrance, Wapping, London E1W 2SF / Theatre Walk, 120 Peckham Hill Street, London SE15 5JT
Bussey Building, Peckham

Bussey Building, Peckham

A stone's throw from Frank’s in Peckham 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 houses a branch of Rooftop Film Club in the summer too; details of screenings available here.

Read more ...
WHEN
Monday - Friday, 5pm - 11pm; Saturday & Sunday, 12pm - 11pm
WHERE
133 Rye Lane, Peckham, London SE15 4ST
Roof East, Stratford

Roof East, Stratford

This rooftop on top of a car park is as much an adults’ playground as it is a bar. Glitter bowling, batting cages, darts, and crazy golf are just some of the highlights. For those who prefer to watch their entertainment, there's a cinema up here too. Cocktails, wine and craft beers are available from each of the bars dotted around the site, while street food comes courtesy of Cheeky Burger, Papi Chulo for Mexican, and Piddaji for Turkish Pide.

Read more ...
WHEN
Tuesday - Friday, 5pm - 11pm; Saturday & Sunday 12pm - 11pm
WHERE
Floors 7 & 8, Stratford multistorey car park, Great Eastern Way, Stratford, London E15 1XE
OXO Tower, Southbank

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.

Read more ...
WHEN
Daily, 12pm - 9:30pm
WHERE
Oxo Tower Wharf, Barge House Street, South Bank, London SE1 9PH
Abbey Tavern, Kentish Town

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.

Read more ...
WHEN
Sunday - Thursday, 12pm - 11pm; Friday & Saturday, 12pm - 1am
WHERE
124 Kentish Town Road, London NW1 9QB
The Prince of Wales, Brixton

The Prince of Wales, Brixton

This multi-floored bar, club and roof terrace is one of the best nights out south of the river – and it stays open until 3am. Here's to it returning in full force this summer, offering a chance to dance to plenty of soca, afrobeats and reggae.

Read more ...
WHEN
Sunday, Tuesday & Wednesday, 5pm - 12am; Friday & Saturday, 5pm - 3am
WHERE
467-469 Brixton Road, Brixton, London SW9 8HH
The Lock Tavern, Camden

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.

Read more ...
WHEN
Daily, 12pm - 10pm
WHERE
35 Chalk Farm Road, Camden, London NW1 8AJ
Faltering Fullback, Finsbury Park

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.

Read more ...
WHEN
Daily, 12pm - 11pm
WHERE
19 Perth Road, Finsbury Park, London N4 3HB
Share:

Bars

Pubs

Going out

Rooftop

Summer 2023

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