Seabird, the 14th floor rooftop restaurant and bar at The Hoxton Southwark has an incredible outdoor terrace with epic London views plus a beautiful indoor dining room and bar – it’s a pretty special spot. Joshua Boissy and Krystof Zizka (the team behind NYC’s Maison Premiere) have created London’s largest oyster menu alongside a menu of dishes with Spanish and Portuguese influences. As well as a super selection of shellfish, the tuna belly crudo with gordal olives, tomato consommé, basil, and sherry is a winner, and the octopus roll with sobrasada aioli, creamy crab croquettes and the whole John Dory topped with a zingy salsa verde are also must-orders.
FRANK'S CAFE
Rye Lane, London SE15 4ST, United Kingdom
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, crazy art installations and street food grub, which you’ll need to sober up before you make it back down all those pink stairs, Frank’s really does have it all.
CULPEPER
40 Commercial St, London E1 6LP, United Kingdom
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.
ROOF EAST
45a Broadway, London E15 1XD, United Kingdom
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 curling and batting cages not to mention the mega views over the Olympic Park.
DALSTON ROOF PARK
18 Ashwin St, London E8 3DL, United Kingdom
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, the cocktail bar is always in full force 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.
BOUNDARY
2-4 BOUNDARY STREET, SHOREDITCH, LONDON E2 7DD
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.
NETIL 360
1 Westgate Street, London, London Borough of Hackney E8 3RL, United Kingdom
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.
COQ D'ARGENT
1 Poultry, London EC2R 8EJ, United Kingdom
If you’re after a fancy rooftop 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 – with a French-inspired restaurant menu that includes caviar, lobster, and chateaubriand and a bar menu with plenty of bubbly, whisky and a cigar list, we’re not surprised. But hit it up at the weekend and the place is likely to be dead quiet, unlike most rooftop bars.
THE PRINCE OF WALES
467- 469 Brixton Road, Brixton, London SW9 8HH, United Kingdom
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.
RADIO ROOFTOP BAR
ME London, 336-337 Strand, London WC2R 1HA, United Kingdom
Perched on the 10th floor on the ME hotel on The Strand, Radio Rooftop Bar shines in all its 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
1 Curtain Rd, London EC2A 3JX, United Kingdom
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.
BUSSEY BUILDING ROOFTOP BAR
BUSSEY BUILDING, 133 RYE LANE, PECKHAM, SE15 4ST
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!
AVIARY
22-25 Finsbury Square, London EC2A 1DX, United Kingdom
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’ views 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 KING'S CROSS
257-259 Pentonville Rd, London N1 9NL, UK
Big Chill Kings Cross is bringing you summer vibes with cocktails, locally brewed beers, grub from Chuck Burgers and with DJs, palm trees and an outdoor disco ball, this rooftop will be instagrammable no doubt.
LOST
Brixton Village, Coldharbour Lane, London, SW9 8PS
LOST is the rooftop bar that is hidden on top of Brixton Village from the team behind Pergola Paddington and Pergola Olympia. You will find a Latin American-inspired cocktail menu featuring a 16-strong spritz collection, and fresh beer from neighbours Brixton Brewery. Lost in Brixton also provides food from the traders inside Brixton Village and Market Row, like Franco Manca, Fish Wings & Tings, Jalisco and Thunderbird Fried Chicken. Using the Tablesnapper app you order from the village and have your food delivered to the rooftop terrace, meaning you have all the choice and none of the hassle, and we like that.
CHIRINGUITO
Chiringuito - Bethnal Green, London, UK
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.
LYRIC
Kings Mall Shopping Centre, One Lyric Square, King St, London W6 0QL
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.
THE LOCK TAVERN
35 Chalk Farm Road, London, London Borough of Camden NW1 8AJ, United Kingdom
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.
AQUA SPIRIT
240 Regent Street, London W1B 3BR, UK
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!
FORZA WINE
The Rooftop, 133A Rye Ln, Peckham, London SE15 4BQ, UK
OPENING HOURS
- Monday: 12:00 PM – 12:00 AM
- Tuesday: 12:00 PM – 12:00 AM
- Wednesday: 12:00 PM – 12:00 AM
- Thursday: 12:00 PM – 12:00 AM
- Friday: 12:00 PM – 1:00 AM
- Saturday: 12:00 PM – 1:00 AM
- Sunday: 12:00 PM – 12:00 AM
The Forza Win has gone back to the roof with Forza Wine. The spot, on top of a renovated space on Rye Lane (complete with some epic views over Peckham) serves up an Italian menu with dishes like sausage and fontina toasties for lunch and a plate of sardines and grilled veal stuffed with fior di latte in the evening. There are plenty of drinks to go with the food, including wine, beers and frozen negronis, and there’s even a lift so you don’t have to worry about trying to make it down the stairs when you’re smashed – anyone’s who’s made the climb up and down to Frank’s will appreciate this.
SKYLIGHT
Skylight is back for another summer with three bars pouring beers, wines, spirits, and seasonal cocktails, and street from Hikari and State Side. There are bookable tables up on the roof and of course, epic city views too.
