A bank holiday weekend isn’t quite complete if you can’t pair a drink with some pretty intoxicating views of the city โ and seeing that we’ve got three (yes really!) during the month of May, there’s no better time to go and explore London’s extensive array of them. Luckily for us, our beloved capital is full to the brim with rooftop spots where you can enjoy a pint or cocktail while surveying the city’s skyscrapers. Here’s our rundown of 38 of the best rooftop bars in London to drink at this weekend โ we’ll cheers to that.
Table Of Contents
Best rooftop bars in Central London
1. Savage Garden, City
This glossy rooftop bar opened in 2018, twelve floors above the Hilton DoubleTree hotel in Tower Hill, and offers views of Tower Bridge from their fine terrace. Expect ‘savagely Portuguese’ wines, top-flight nibbles and a price point to match at Savage Garden โ you are in the City after all darling.
๐You’ll find Savage Garden on the 12th Floor of the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel London, 7 Pepys Street, EC3N 4AF.
๐ Nearest station is Tower Hill.ย
2. One New Change at Madisons, St. Paul’s
Soaring above the stylish shopping centre is this terrace bar, which makes its way onto our rooftop bars roundup by virtue of Madison’s, the adjoining restaurant and bar. The ace in the hole at One New Change is so obvious that we really don’t need to say it. Do we? (Hint: check the photo background for a clue).
๐You’ll find One New Change at Rooftop Terrace One, St Paulโs, EC4M 9AF.
๐ Nearest stations are St Paul’s and Mansion House.
3. Coq D’Argent, Bank
Immaculately manicured lawns, cute hedges, wisteria draped across the terraces...the next addition to this roundup of rooftop bars in London makes a serious claim to be the most beautiful of them all. Feast on views of the City of London as you feast on their delicious food at Coq D’Argent, hot off the grill.
๐You’ll find Coq D’Argent at 1 Poultry, EC2R 8EJ.
๐ Nearest station is Bank.
4. Aviary, Finsbury Square
A vast expanse of comfy sofas make this an attractive option any time of day. However, Aviary comes into its own when the sun goes down and the lights of the London go on, and the warm summer breeze makes those sofas look suspiciously like beds… Their Summer igloos are pretty nifty, too.
๐You’ll find Aviary at Montcalm Royal London House, 22-25 Finsbury Square, EC2A 1DX.
๐ Nearest station is Moorgate.
5. Alto by San Carlo at Selfridges, Oxford Street
Never one to be outdone, Selfridges hosts a well-regarded rooftop restaurant, with a lovely al fresco bar area called Alto right on the corner of the building. There’s even a retractable roof for days when the British summer lets us down. Let’s hope 2023 doesn’t so you can enjoy the views of Soho and Central London.
๐You’ll find Alto at 400 Oxford Street, W1A 1AB.
๐ Nearest station is Bond Street.ย
6. Radio Rooftop, Strand
This radio won’t play the latest beats, but it will bring you cocktails, nibbles, and incredibleย views of Somerset House and the river… for a hefty per-person minimum spend. Booking was essential even before the COVID-19 pandemic, so you can rest assured it’s extremely necessary now at Radio Rooftop.
๐You’ll find Radio Rooftop at ME London, 336-337 Strand, WC2R 1HA.
๐ Nearest station is Temple.
7. The Rooftop, Trafalgar Square
We were never going to declare any of these champion of rooftop bars, so we’d usually be irked by a place anointing itself ‘The Rooftop‘. But when it overlooks Trafalgar Square and looks stunning at night, we’re prepared to forgive this one.
๐You’ll find The Rooftop on theย 7th Floor, 2 Spring Gardens, St. James’s, SW1A 2TS.
๐ Nearest station is Charing Cross.ย
8. The Rooftop, Leicester Square
Also billed as ‘The Rooftop‘, this swanky spot sits above the Hippodrome Casino smack dab in the middle of Leicester Square, so if you’d like to sup libations in the beating heart of the West End, here’s your chance.
๐You’ll find The Rooftop at Cranbourn Street, Leicester Square, WC2H 7JH.
๐ Nearest station is Leicester Square.
9. Sabine, St. Paul’s
Sabine will put you tantalisingly close to the iconic St Paul’s Cathedral, and we’re extremely excited to pop down for a visit. Perched on the seventh floor of the Leonardo Royal Hotel, Sabineโsย retractable roof will unfurl on summer days to catch the sunlight glinting off the dome of St. Paulโs. Not that the interior views are to be sniffed at, mind you: hanging baskets and artfully draped plants provide a botanical interior accented by wood and tiles.
๐You’ll find Sabine at 10 Godliman Street, EC4V 5AJ.
๐ Nearest station is St. Paulโs.ย
10. Garden Rooftop, Leicester Square
Plant-lovers with a penchant for cocktails should make this the first spot on their list. Billed as a ‘Living Bar’, the Garden Rooftop takes plenty of inspiration from the natural world for their cocktails, even going so far as inviting you to hand-pick herbs and botanicals that the Garden Rooftop’s bartenders will then use to infuse and garnish your cocktails.
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๐ Nearest stationย isย Leicester Square.
11. Willows On The Roof, Oxford Street
Up above the John Lewis department store, a stone’s throw from Oxford Circus, sits the bucolic Willows On The Roof.ย Kitchen Venturesย will take over the food side of things here, and there will be a whole range of delicious cocktails for a whole range of occasions.ย
๐You’ll find Willows On The Roof atย John Lewis, 300 Oxford Street, W1C 1DX.
๐ Nearest Station is Oxford Circus.ย
12. Florattica, Aldgate
At Florattica guests can take advantage of both indoor and outdoor spaces, with inside seating that flows out to an expansive, covered outdoor terrace.ย Theyโve given careful thought at Florattica to making sure that guests can enjoy the view in complete luxury.ย And what a view it is, stretching across iconic London landmarks from St. Paulโs, to Canary Wharf, and the Thames. Thatโs if you can tear your eyes from the barโs impressive interiors, with eye-catching ceilings adorned with floral installations inspired by East Londonโs textile industry and silk woven floral patterns from the 17th century.
๐You’ll find Florattica at Level 11, Canopy by Hilton London City, 11-15 Minories, London, EC3N 1AX.
๐ Nearest Station is Aldgate.
Best rooftop bars in North London
13. The Standard Rooftop, King’s Cross St. Pancras
Situated on the 11th floor of The Standard hotel, above Decimoย restaurant, The Standard Rooftopย aims to bring ‘the vibe of New Yorkโs iconic rooftop bars to London’. While you may not get to bump heads with the Empire State Building as you look out, you will get a beautiful view of our iconic city, including a pretty spectacular backdrop of the cityโs famous St Pancras Clock Tower.
๐You’ll find The Standard Rooftop at 10 Argyle Street, Kingโs Cross, WC1H 8EG.
๐ Nearest station is Kingโs Cross St Pancras.
14. Near & Far, Camden
Taking the Palm Springs concept to the next level, the Camden offshoot of Near & Far is set over four floors and includes a gorgeous covered roof terrace with views over the famous Camden Market.ย The whole venue is filled with pastel colours, hot pink lighting, palm trees and cacti, and there’s a banging cocktail list to boot too.
๐You’ll find Near & Far at 48 Chalk Farm Rd, Chalk Farm, NW1 8AJ.
๐ Nearest stations are Camden Town and Chalk Farm.
Best rooftop bars in East London
15. Roof East, Stratford
An expansive space in Stratford, Roof East’s playground for adults offers exactly that: lawn bowls, baseball batting cages, karaoke and crazy golf are all popping up there this summer, along with q whole array of delicious street food to gorge yourself silly on. Theyโve also partnered with Choose Love this year, allowing guests to make optional donations or purchase a special cocktail that raises money for refugees, as if you needed another reason to visit.
๐You’llย find Roof East at Stratford Multi-Storey Car Park, Great Eastern Way, E15 1XE.
๐ Nearest station is Stratford.ย
16. Netil360, Hackney
Charmingly rustic, and all the more popular for it, this is one of East London’s favourite rooftop bars, offering panoramic views of Shoreditch, Aldgate and beyond. A great list of craft beers (from East London to boot) adds to the laidback atmosphere of Netil 360, which also boasts a cafe, gallery, and a workspace too โ after work pint anyone?
๐You’ll findย Netil 360 at 1 Westgate Street, E8 3RL.
๐ Nearest station is London Fields.ย
17. KRAFT, Dalston
Situated right in the heart of Dalston on the bustling Kingsland High Street, this hidden gem offers breathtaking views of London’s stunning cityscape. Imagine yourself enjoying freshly-brewed beer, indulging in gin and tonics, and savouring Summery cocktails while surrounded by swaying palm trees, bamboo, and a vibrant atmosphere. You can do all this and more at KRAFT, and let’s not forget the live DJs spinning tunes that will keep you movin’ and groovin’ until sunset! Check out their Instagram here.
๐You’ll find KRAFT at Kingsland Locke, 130a Kingsland High Street, Dalston, London, E8 2LQ.
๐ Nearest station is Dalston Kingsland.ย
18. Skylight, Wapping
Officially the only addition on this roundup of the best rooftop bars in London to offer a croquet course, Skylight sits above Tobacco Dock, and it also opens during the Winter season with an adorable rooftop ice rink. There’s also another Skylight south of the river too in Peckham.
๐You’ll find Skylight at Pennington Street, London, E1W 2SF.
๐ Nearest station is Shadwell.ย
19. The Boundary, Shoreditch
Mediterranean vibes abound in Summer at the rooftop bar of swanky Shoreditch hotel The Boundary. The rosรฉย will beย chilled, so fingers crossed the weather will be warm, although if it isn’t head to the basement where a new brasserie and bar are opening soon.ย (See the best restaurants in Shoreditchย for even more dining inspo.)
๐You’ll find The Boundary at 2-4 Redchurch Street, E2 7DD.
๐ Nearest station is Shoreditch High Street.
20. Jin Bo Law, Aldgate
Asian-inspired cocktails are the order of the day at this swanky Aldgate hangout, atop the Dorsett Hotel. They’ll also throw views of London’s skyscrapers into the bargain, courtesy of the14th-floor roof terrace at Jin Bo Law. We’ll cheers to that.
๐You’ll findย Dorsett City Hotel, 9 Aldgate High Street,ย EC3N 1AH.
๐ Nearest station is Aldgate East.
21. Queen of Hoxton, Shoreditch
Queen of Hoxton, everyoneโs favourite Shoreditch rooftop bar, usually delivers the goods with their summer and winter pop-ups. Previously themes have included the ‘Wizard of Oz‘, Mexican female wrestling, and a dystopian Las Vegas โ plans for this year are still under wraps, but they are planning an ‘immersive experience where your imagination can run wild‘. Sounds good to us!
๐You’ll find the Queen of Hoxton at 1 Curtain Road, EC2A 3JX.
๐ Nearest station is Liverpool Street, Old Street or Shoreditch High Street.ย
22. The Culpeper, Aldgate
Part bar, part urban garden, you won’t find many rooftop bars like this in London. Especially ones with panoramicย views of the City. The roof terrace of lovely East London boozer The Culpeper is an utterly charming collision of modern and rustic. Bonus points if you can find the bar’s giant light-up cucumber.
๐You’ll find The Culpeper at 40 Commercial Street, E1 6LP.
๐ Nearest station is Aldgate East.
23. SUSHISAMBA, Liverpool Street
Rooftop bars in London don’t come much higher than this. Spanning the 38th and 39th floors of the Salesforce Tower, the Japanese-Brazilian fusion restaurant SUSHISAMBA serves cocktails with dramatic views of the city skyline and beyond. Imagine the Insta-appeal of their foliage-filled sister restaurant and bar in Covent Garden, and you’ll have some idea of what this London rooftop bar is like.
24. Bokan, Canary Wharf
Got a real head for heights? This Canary Wharf rooftop bar is perched way up high on the 39th floor, and also offer a specialist gin bar, daybeds and Sunday jazz sessions. They’ve also got a high-end restaurant and another bar at Bokan too.
๐You’ll find Bokan at 40 Marsh Wall, E14 9TP.
๐ Nearest station is Canary Wharf.ย
25. Pergola on the Wharf, Canary Wharf
The next arrival from London’s fab Pergola group sees them perched off the ground (at least, enough to sneak in as a rooftop bar) at Crossrail Place Roof Garden. Taking over the space that used to be street food hub Giant Robot, this foliage-filled street food and cocktail hub is billed as a ‘botanical waterside Eden‘ – more than enough to pique our interest!
๐You’ll find Pergola on the Wharf atย Crossrail Place, E14 5AR.
๐ Nearest stations are Canary Wharf and Poplar.
Best rooftop bars in South London
26. Bar Elba, Waterloo
A wonderful themed offering amongst these London rooftop bars, Bar Elba is the companionย bar of the ultra-glam Tonight Josephine. Honouring Napoleon’s exile on his party isle of Elba, you won’t need 600 mates and a horse to enjoy this place. Unless, you know, you want to. They also have a bangin’ bottomless brunch here too.
๐You’ll find Bar Elba at 109-117 Waterloo Road, SE1 8UL.
๐ Nearest station is Waterloo.
27. Prince of Wales, Brixton
A multi-storey pub-meets-club, the Prince of Wales rooftop bar in Brixton offers a rum shack, live musicย and DJ sets across a terrific two-tier terrace. Bounce and get down to hot beats at one of South London’s best rooftop bars with a pint in hand this summer.
๐You’ll find the Prince of Wales at 467-469 Brixton Road, SW9 8HH.
๐ Nearest station is Brixton.
28. Bussey Rooftop Bar, Peckham
Peckham really is blessed with some of the best rooftop bars in London, and this one sits across the Overground tracks from the famous Frank’s Cafe. Whilst the views at the Bussey Rooftop Bar are special, don’t let them distract you from your mission: sampling the best frozen fruity cocktails south of the river.
๐You’ll find theย Bussey Rooftop Bar at Roof B, Bussey Building, 133 Rye Lane, SE15 4ST.
๐ย Nearest station is Peckham Rye.
29. Lost In Brixton, Brixton
The most recent venture from the team behind The Prince, Pergola Paddingtonย and Pergola Olympia, this hidden space had never been seen or used by the public before its opening in 2019. You’ll access Lost In Brixton via a secret staircase in a corner of the market. At the top of the stairs youโll discover a 440 capacity venue decked out with jungle greenery and a Brit-friendly retractable roof, and with a strong emphasis on tropical cocktails.
๐You’ll find Lost In Brixton at Brixton Village, SW9 8PS.
๐ Nearest station is Brixton.
30. Forza Wine, Peckham
There are only two words you need to know about Forza Wine, my friends: frozen Negronis. The ‘taller sibling’ of Peckham Italian joint Forza Win, Forza Wine sits on yet another Peckham rooftop (add on Frank’s Cafe and the Bussey Building up for an epic local rooftop bar crawl), and pairs their grown-up slushies with a menu of rustic Italian indulgence.
๐You’ll find Forza Wine at 133 Rye Lane, SE15 4ST.
๐ Nearest station is Peckham Rye.
31. Seabird, Southwark
Cue Nelly Furtado’s ‘I’m Like A Bird‘, because this dreamy rooftop bar will make you feel like soaring. As a restaurant, it boasts London’s largest oyster menu, but simply visiting Seabird for drinks is an excellent decision โ just sip on a biodynamic and natural wineย and relax amongst the lush Mediterranean decor…
๐You’ll find Seabird at 40 Blackfriars Road, SE1 8PB.
๐ Nearest station is Southwark.ย
32. London Bridge Rooftop, London Bridge
No real style points for the name, but a plum spot between the Thames and The Shard is plenty good enough for us! Transformed with fairy lights and lush foliage, the London Bridge Rooftop is an excellent spot to catch up with friends over burgers and pints.
๐You’ll find London Bridge Rooftop at Colechurch House, Tooley Street, SE1 2SS.
๐ Nearest station is London Bridge.
33. Frank’s Cafe, Peckham
A classic amongst London rooftop bars. Frank’s Cafe has served Campari-based cocktails and outstanding cooking for years now, and it’s only been enhanced by theย creation of Peckham Levels. The drinks here face a fight for supremacy with theย lush views, and the insanely Instagrammable bubblegum pink stairs. Usually opening around the middle of May, their winning mix of Negronis and art installations are back with a vengeance.
๐You’ll find Frank’s Cafe on the Top Floor of 95A Rye Lane, SE15 4ST.
๐ Nearest station is Peckham Rye.
34. 12th Knot, South Bank
Not content with one world-class cocktail bar on the ground floor, the Sea Containers hotel has another on the rooftop called 12th Knot. A narrow outdoor terrace offers iconic views across the river, and yet the interior is almost as mouthwatering as the London skyline. The perfect spot to celebrate any special occasion we say.
๐You’ll find 12th knot at 20 Upper Ground, South Bank, London SE1 9PD.
๐ Nearest station is Southwark or Blackfriars.ย ย
35. Queen Elizabeth Hall Roof Garden, Southbank
Neatly located in the middle of the Southbank, this is a slice of the countryside on a central London rooftop. Wildflowers, allotments, and lawns cover the whole space, as you’d expect from the team who also created Cornwall’s Eden Project. The bar brings the drinks, all you need to bring is a sunny disposition when you’re visiting the Queen Elizabeth Hall Roof Garden.
๐You’ll find the Queen Elizabeth Hall Roof Garden at the Southbank Centre, Belvedere Road, Lambeth, SE1 8XX.
๐ Nearest station is Waterloo.
Best rooftop bars in West London
36. Pergola Paddington, Paddington
Taking a cue from picturesque tropical coasts, Pergola Paddington is elegantly draped in foliage and (hopefully) drenched in sun. The fully alfresco upper deck is a bustling place, thrumming to the sounds of cocktail bars and street food vendors hard at work. This Summer they’ve also had a Mexican-inspired takeover โ designed to look like the beaches of the Yucatรกn.
๐You’ll find Pergola Paddington at 5 Kingdom Street, W2 6PY.
๐ Nearest station is Paddington.
37. Skylark Roof Garden, Little Venice
A new arrival in summer 2019, Skylark Roof Garden is back for their fourth summer season. Cocktails such as the White Chocolate Martini made it a firm favourite, and the return of their lavish day beds will allow for sunshine reclining. Plus, views of Notting Hill, Hyde Park, and Regents Park provide the cherry on top of this sundae.
๐You’ll find Skylark Roof Garden at 4 Kingdom Street, W2 6BD.
๐ Nearest stations are Royal Oak and Paddington.
38. Lyric Bar and Grill, Hammersmith
If you’re the kind of person who’d like to combine your love of theatre with your zest for rooftop bars, this is the place for you. It’s the restaurant and roof garden of the Lyric Hammersmith, so you’ll get the full package of dinner, drinks, and a show here. Now that sounds like a fine evening to us.
๐You’ll find the Lyric Bar and Grill at The Lyric Centre, King Street, Hammersmith, W6 0QL.
๐ Nearest station is Hammersmith.
So there you have it โ a roundup of the best rooftop bars in London. So when the sun is beaming this bank holiday weekend (well hopefully), why not grab your mates, dates or colleagues and get the pints on in? Cheers!
Also published on Medium.