When the sun is shining, Londoners love nothing more than to head to the nearest rooftop bar. From Peckham car parks to five-star hotels, here’s our roundup of the best rooftop bars in London.
Highlights
When it comes to rooftop bars in London, there’s never been so many to choose from. New ones are popping up all the time, both on new developments or carved out of little spaces in the city. Anywhere Londoners can soak up some precious sun with a drink in hand is like gold in this city.
One of our favourite rooftop bars in London is Franks in Peckham. Perched 10 floors up on the top of Peckham’s multi-story Frank’s has some of the best views across London, and with crazy art installations and street food grub, which you’ll need to sober up before you make it back down all those stairs, Frank’s really does have it all.
Amidst the concrete jungle of Dalston is an escape from the masses. Dalston Roof Park is a music venue, a roof garden where you could be doing anything from raving to yoga to laughing at comedy on the plushly turfed lawn filled with flowers and palm trees. As well as street food, cider brand Sassy will be in charge of the cocktail bar so you know the good times will be flowing all summer long. There is no lift however, so be prepared mentally and physically for those stairs.
The Culpeper definitely doesn’t have your average pub garden. Oh no, their rooftop garden comes complete with a greenhouse, herb and veg garden, and with a custom-built wood-fired grill you can expect some absolutely bangin’ food! With views to the Gherkin and Heron Tower, this one is a real hidden gem so keep it on the down low.
Fancy catching a film, playing a round of crazy golf or stretching out with some yoga? Well you can do it all at Roof East. Yes the Stratford rooftop is jam-packed with street food, bevvies and activities, including VR foosball and batting cages,,,,,,not to mention the mega views over the Olympic Park.
The open-air Opera Terrace balcony takes prime position right in the heart of Covent Garden at SUSHISAMBA, which sits atop the Grade II listed Market Building. With its tranquil garden that takes inspo from Japan, Brazil and Peru, the space definitely ticks those insta boxes, and with a new breakfast menu to go alongside their all-day dining and strong cocktail offering, it’s a bit of a sweet spot. From the scallop ceviche with lychee, crispy cherry and strawberry puree to the pork belly with butterscotch miso to the Brazilian Churrasco Rio Grande of ribeye, chorizo and aged picanha you can expect colourful, bold and exotic dishes that are beautifully presented and easily devoured. New on the cocktails front are the Cherry Blossom Negroni made with Bombay Sapphire Gin, Martini Rubino & Martini Bitter and the Piña Colada Old Fashioned with Bacardi Quatro and Carta Negra rums. Sounds like a party to us. Now everybody, “If you like pina coladas, and getting caught in the rain…”
Inspired by the beach bars of Spain and nestled on the corner of Bethnal Green’s iconic Museum Gardens (ok not a beach but not bad for what used to be a public toilet block), this relaxed Spanish bar and restaurant is open for your morning cortado until your late-night, Latin-inspired tapas. You can trust Chiringuito to take care of you all day long.
Frank’s is probably the only reason half of us head southhhhh of the river in the summer. Perched 10 floors up on the top of Peckham’s multi-story Frank’s has some of the best views across London, and with crazy art installations and street food grub, which you’ll need to sober up before you make it back down all those stairs, Frank’s really does have it all.
Opening for the first time this year, Art Yard Bar & Kitchen’s summer terrace is ideal for escaping the hustle of Southwark. The summer terrace sits on the side of the Bankside Hotel and allows you to enjoy Hambledon wines, cocktails and nibbles whilst taking in the view across the river to St Paul’s. A great one to have up your sleeve for the summer.
Amidst the concrete jungle of Dalston is an escape from the masses. Dalston Roof Park is a music venue, a roof garden where you could be doing anything from raving to yoga to laughing at comedy on the plushly turfed lawn filled with flowers and palm trees. As well as street food, cider brand Sassy will be in charge of the cocktail bar so you know the good times will be flowing all summer long. There is no lift however, so be prepared mentally and physically for those stairs.
The casual counterpart to J Sheekey is J Sheeky Atlantic Bar and it’s right next door on St Martins Lane. With an open kitchen and horseshoe-shaped bar, you can dine watching the action unfold before you. However, it’s alfresco terrace is a sun trap and it’s where you wanna be on those warm summer nights. J Sheekey is known for its fish and the summer lobster menu is amazing; with five dishes to get through it’s ideal to share between two. The lobster poke tostadas with peppered pineapple are insane, super fresh and spicy, as is the Thai spiced lobster salad. The star of the show though has to be the lobster po’ boy with sriracha relish, which we just couldn’t get enough of. A whole lotta lobster, sat outside in the sun watching the world go by, that’s WINNING.
A rooftop orangery? Oh yes, Boundary’s heated rooftop is filled with citrus and mimosa trees. As well as serving up a rather fancy all-day menu, Boundary have more casual seating for those looking to lounge around with a cocktail and with some bloody good views of the city after dark, it’s not just a place to watch the sun go down.
The Culpeper definitely doesn’t have your average pub garden. Oh no, their rooftop garden comes complete with a greenhouse, herb and veg garden, and with a custom-built wood-fired grill you can expect some absolutely bangin’ food! With views to the Gherkin and Heron Tower, this one is a real hidden gem so keep it on the down low.
Netil 360 is our fave East London hangouts in the summer and it’s not just because they have a rooftop dog… Oh no, this place has some bangin’ views, hot tubs and will keep the party going all night long. With morning yoga, a cafe and bookable work desks, it’s pretty much a one stop shop.
If you’re after something fancy Coq D’Argent is the one. The leafy gardens with proper lawns and perfectly pruned plants (we said it was fancy) is a big hit with city workers, and with a huge list of bubbly and a cigar menu, we’re not surprised. But hit it up at the weekend, and the place is likely to be dead quiet, unlike most rooftop bars…
For those who say the theatres are boring, have clearly never been to the Lyric in Hammersmith. Perched on top of the theatre in West London, you’ll find a roof garden with cocktails, music and tasty grub. Filled with greenery and slightly more swishy than your pub garden, this is the perfect place for date night.
There’s only one place to be when the sun comes out in Brixton and that’s up on the terrace at The Prince of Wales. It’s so much more than a rooftop bar though; the musical programme is always knockout, with the likes of Norman Jay, Gilles Peterson, Horse Meat Disco and Brixton Boogaloo throwing parties across the summer.
Perched on the 10th floor on the ME hotel on The Strand, Radio Rooftop Bar shines in all it’s glory. The cocktail bar oozes money and you best take some dollar with you too, but with views across the river, DJ’s and a pretty spesh brunch menu, it’s the perfect weekend hangout.
Queen of Hoxton always goes the extra mile when it comes to their rooftop and that’s why we keep on going back. Not only is it the original home of Rooftop Film Club but they love a theme – it’s had everything from Cuban cabanas to fairytale wigwams to psychedelic tie-dye. And best of all, they throw on some heaters, warm up some booze and keep it open during the winter, so you can get high all year long.
We’ve spent many summer evenings on The Lock Tavern’s roof terrace. With BBQs, DJs and damn fine beer there’s not much not to like, and if you can’t squeeze on the roof terrace there’s a huge beer garden downstairs – so everyone’s a winner really.
Sitting proud on top of the old Dickins & Jones department store on Regent Street, Aqua Spirit is the perfect spot to escape the madness of Oxford Street. This place is on the fancy side of things and if you want a seat get there early – like after lunch early, but once you’re up there it’s so worth it!
Yes, Frank’s isn’t the only hip rooftop bar in Peckham, Bussey Building is the original and also home to Rooftop Film Club. With laid-back vibes, good food, lots of booze and bloody great views, you could easily drink the night away here, but remember there’s a f**k load of stairs to get back down to earth… like seriously loads, but on the plus side you won’t have to worry about missing the gym!
Perched 10 floors up, on the top of the Montcalm Royal London House you’ll find Aviary. The pretty swish rooftop bar doesn’t just have bangin’ bars across London, but serves cocktails in sharing pineapples and even has an undercover restaurant for when British summertime really kicks in – or you just fancy some grub.
Big Chill Kings Cross is bringing you Miami vibes with cocktails like the Frozen Pina Colada, the Frozen Strawberry Daiquiri and the Frozen Miami Vice, which is a mind-blowing combo of both, and with DJs, palm trees, an outdoor disco ball and a flamingo feature wall, this rooftop will be instagrammable no doubt.
Market Hall Victoria has popped a bar on its roof, where you’ll be able to eat and drink all day long. The bar is stocked with British beers and summer spritz cocktails, and you can tuck into food from the Hall’s traders, including ice cream from Soft Serve Society, up there too.
Skylight is back for another winter with the rooftop ice rink, ice hockey shooting, igloos, and huts to cosy up in. There’ll be a load of seasonal cocktails to sip on in between skates plus mulled wine, street food and those epic city views.
Pergola Paddington is back for another summer and it’s bringing the Balearic vibes. The roof on the top deck is coming off as is part of it downstairs, so you can catch those rays, and there’ll be day beds and DJs galore. Babek Brothers, Honi Poké, An Choi (a new trader from the Salvation in Noodles team) and Smash Patty (a new burger concept from Patty & Bun) will be keeping you fed and two huge bars will be keeping you watered with wine, beer and tap cocktails, with 2-for-1 during Sundowner Hours. If you’re out west, this is where the al fresco action is at.
