The City & Shoreditch

1. Angler

Best for: 🥂🍽🍸☕️

Nearest Tube: Moorgate – 3 mins 🚶🏻‍♂️or Liverpool Street – 5 mins 🚶‍♀️

Location: On top of the South Palace Hotel

View: Offices / City

Vibe: Elegant

Prosecco price: 🍾🍾🍾 (champers only)

Food available? Yes – Michelin star seafood 🦞

Booking available? Yes

Last visited /photos taken: 2018

Warm/dry weather only? No – retractable food

Rooftop review roundup: Beautiful hotel and equally beautiful terrace – dressed for winter when I went. Chilled and cosy. The resturant is next door and indoor.

Address: South Place Hotel, 3 South Place, EC2M 2AF

Website: Click here

Rooftop extra tip: If you like this rooftop then you might also like: Bookmarks in New York

2. Avairy

Best for: 🥂🍻🍷

Nearest tube: Moorgate – 5 mins 🚶‍♀️or Old Street – 7 mins

Location: On Finsbury Square Garden on top of the Montcalm Royal London Hotel

View: The City

Vibe: Gorgeous and classy

Prosecco price: 🍾🍾🍾

Food available? Yes

Booking available? Yes

Last visited /photos taken: 2019

Warm/dry weather only? No

Rooftop review roundup: Elegant gorgeous rooftop with stunning sunset summer view’s of the city. The resturant is enclosed with the bar but the terrace is open. In winter it’s transformed into a winter terrace – with igloos! (I have also visited at a summer bank holiday and be warned – get there early, the resturant is bright and airy and loads of room for lunch but if you fancy heading out for drinks on the terrace you could be queuing!)

Address: Montcalm Royal London House
22-25 Finsbury Square, EC2A 1DX

Website: Click here

Rooftop extra tip: If you like this rooftop then you might also like: Le Roof In Cannes

3. Birds of Smithfield

Best for: 🍽

Nearest tube: Farringdon – 6 mins 🚶‍♀️ or Barbican – 5 mins 🚶🏻‍♂️

Location: Opposite Smithfield Markets

View: City

Dress code: 👔 in the week more smart casual evenings and weekends

Vibe: City folk but evenings more fun

Prosecco price: 🍾🍾

Food available? Yes

Booking available? Yes

Last visited /photos taken: 2019

Warm/dry weather only? Yes – seasonal opening

Rooftop review roundup: Cute little rooftop with its own bar and on a lovely summers night make a great dinner date (and no relations to Smiths of Smithfield)

Address: 26 Smithfield, EC1A 9LB

Website: Click here

Rooftop extra tip: If you like this rooftop then you might also like: Coq du Argent (below)

4. Boundary Project

Best for: 🍸🥂🍽🍷🥃

Nearest tube & train: Shoreditch high street train – 2 mins 🚶🏻‍♂️ or Old Street Tube – 11 mins 🚶‍♀️

Location: On top of the Boundary Hotel

View: London sky line 🌇

Dress code: Smart casual 👕👗👚👔👖

Vibe: Chill & chic

Prosecco price: Just champers 🍾🍾🍾

Food available? Yes 👌

Booking available? Yes for resturant

Last visited /photos taken: 2018

Warm/dry weather only? No – all year round. Heaters and undercover resturant 👌

Rooftop review roundup: Love this place – it’s relaxing, yet super chic, amazing food and lovely staff.

Address: Entrance in Redchurch Street – 2-4 Boundary Street, E2 7dd

Website: Click here

Rooftop extra tip: If you like this rooftop then you might also like: Terrace Bar In Lisbon

5.CloudM

Best for: 👩‍💻👨🏻‍💻🥂☕️

Nearest tube: Tower Hill – 1 min 🚶🏻‍♂️

Location: Above Citizen M hotel

View: Now this is special – you have Tower Bridge,Tower of London, The Shard, The London Eye, The City and Savage Gardens rooftop! 😍

Vibe: City

Prosecco price: 🍾🍾🍾

Food available? Yes

Booking available? No

Smoking allowed? Yes

Last visited /photos taken: 2019

Warm/dry weather only? Yes for the terrace

Rooftop review roundup: Super cool hotel that’s ahead of the game in terms of customer service and experience. All are welcome on the roof – it’s so perfect for work meets and drinks. The outside part is limited but made up for the insta worthy inside as below!

Address: 40 Trinity Sq, EC3N 4DJ

Website: Click here

Rooftop extra tip: If you like this rooftop then you might also like: Jin Bo Law below!

6. Coq Du Argent

Best for: 🍽🥂🍹🥃

Nearest tube: Bank – mins 🚶‍♀️or Mansion House – 3 mins

Location: I always get lost but it’s a over a lot of offices, with its own elevator – worth getting lost for!

View: The city

Dress code: Smart Casual

Vibe: The resturant inside is fancy and mid week lunch was full of suits but the terrace was dressed more chilled.

Prosecco price: 🍾🍾🍾

Food available? Yes – French

Booking available? Yes

Last visited /photos taken: 2018

Warm/dry weather only? Partly

Rooftop review roundup: Classy gorgeous terrace. The resturant is enclosed and a favourite for city meetings and there’s a little covered heated terrace area too. Outside the rooftop is in a circle with a secret garden where the views of the city will take your breath away. And in the winter there are snug little huts for hire.

Address: No.1 Poultry, EC2R 8EJ

Website:Click here

Rooftop extra tip: If you like this rooftop then you might also like: Monarch in New York

7. The Culpeper: Rooftop Greenhouse

Best for: 🍸🍷🍽🍾

Nearest tube: Aldgate East – 3 mins 🚶🏻‍♂️🚶‍♀️

View: City in the distance & general london

Dress code: Chill 👚👖👕

Vibe: Chill

Prosecco price: 🍾🍾 (Just!)

Food available? Yes

Booking available? Yes – encouraged. In the winter they turn the greenhouse into private hire dining.

Last visited /photos taken: 2019

Warm/dry weather only? Yes though the greenhouse is small but warm and dry

Rooftop review roundup: They had a summer mission to grow 13 different varieties of cucumber 🥒 summer of 2018 – it really is a restaurant in a garden oasis. If you eat too you may well be eating vegetables from this rooftop garden. But what I like most about this rooftop is they keep the roof free from allowing standing so it’s never squishy and you get a seat! You can wing it on the day and see if there is space – they offer a fab service of buzzing you if a table becomes free but book to guarantee a spot. Food is great, views spectacular, service superb.

Address: 40 Commercial Street,
E1 6LP

Website: Click here

Rooftop extra tip: If you like this rooftop then you might also like: Rio Marvavilha In Lisbon

8. Jin Bo Law

Best for: 🍸🍹🥂🍷

Nearest Tube: Aldgate – 1 min 🚶🏻‍♂️🚶‍♀️

Location: 14th Floor of the Dorsett City Hotel

View: The city skyline 🏙 & The shard

Dress code: Smart casual but I’d dress it up 👗👠👔

Vibe: Swanky but chill

Prosecco price: No actual prosecco but sparking wine 🍾🍾🍾 (and some awesome cocktails)

Food available? Snacks only

Booking available? No

Last visited /photos taken: 2018

Warm/dry weather only? No the terrace area is a strip & limited (like Rumpus Rooms & 1 Leicester Sq) but the good thing means like the others it has a inside that you can be warm, dry and still enjoy the views.

Rooftop review roundup: A firm favourite for the wow factor. Fun and yet also chilled. Great tunes and just that place that makes you feel fabulous. And there’s even a cocktail called City Sky line 👌

Address: 14th Floor – Dorsett City Hotel, 9 Aldgate High St, EC3N 1AH

Website: Click here

Rooftop extra tip: If you like this rooftop then you might also like:The Top in New York

9. Madisons

Best for: 🥂🍸🍹🥃

Nearest tube: Mansion House – 2 mins 🚶🏻‍♂️ or St Paul’s – 2 mins walk or Bank tube – 5 mins 🚶🏻‍♂️🚶‍♀️

Location: On top of One New Change Shopping centre – you need to go into the Center and there’s usually a security guard to show you up.

View: St Pauls

Dress code: Smart casual – dressed up👗👠👔

Vibe: Swanky city boy vibe but fun

Prosecco price: 🍾🍾🍾 (sparking wine/ champers only – no prosecco)

Food available? Yes though the terrace is more for drinks and snacks due to seating (also an adjoining indoor restaurant with great views)

Booking needed? No

Warm/ dry weather only? Yes

Visited / Photos taken: 2015, 2016, 2018

Rooftop review: Probably one of the most famous London rooftops for its magnificent insta friendly view of St Paul’s and a fashionable rooftop for city types and tourists alike. (FYI The seating is limited so on a warm day you probably be standing & just to note you aren’t allowed walk down to the edge right by St Paul’s with drinks but the pics from the bar are pretty insta worthy)

Address: One New Change building – 8th floor, EC4M 9AF

(You have to go into the shopping centre to access the lift)

Website: Click here

Rooftop extra tip: If you like this rooftop then you might also like: Le Panorama In Cannes

10. Mercer Roof Terrace

Best for: 🍹🍸🍽

Nearest tube: Mansion House – 2 mins 🚶🏻‍♂️or Canon St – 5 mins 🚶‍♀️

Location: On top of the Vintry and Mercer Hotel

View: St Pauls & The Shard

Dress code: Smart Casual 👖👚👕👗👔

Vibe: Chille

Prosecco price: 🍾🍾🍾

Food available? Yes

Booking available? Yes

Last visited /photos taken: 2019

Warm/dry weather only? No

Rooftop review roundup: Gorgeous oasis of calm, fabulous views and even better cocktails 🍹lovely staff. In winter it becomes home to igloo’s making it a rather special destination all year round

Address: Vintry & Mercer Hotel
19 – 20 Garlick Hill, EC4V 2AU

Website: Click here

Rooftop extra tip: If you like this rooftop then you might also like: The Boundary (above)

11. No 3 Smiths of Smithfield

Best for: 🍾🥂🍽🍷

Nearest tube: Farringdon – 4 mins 🚶‍♀️ or Barbican – 5 mins🚶🏻‍♂️

Location: Opposite Smithfield Market

View: St Paul’s, the Shard, the city

Dress code: Smart casual👖👔👗👚👕

Vibe: Chilled to party downstairs!

Prosecco price: 🍾

Food available? Yes

Booking available? Yes

Last visited /photos taken: 2019

Warm/dry weather only? No – have heaters and retractable roof

Rooftop review roundup: Great fun, feels formal but actually great vibe and super friendly staff. Perfect for after work drinks. (Also has downstairs fun and resturant inside adjacent to the terrace and no relation to Birds of Smithfield)

Address: 67-77 Charterhouse St, EC1M 6HJ

Website: Click here

Rooftop extra tip: If you like this rooftop then you might also like: Angler (above)

12. Queen of Hoxton

Best for: 🍹👯‍♀️

Nearest tube: Liverpool St – 8 🚶‍♀️Old street – 9 mins 🚶🏻‍♂️Moorgate – 10 mins 🚶‍♀️

Location: Just down from NSPCC

View: Not much – office buildings but themed to make up for that!

Dress code: 👕👚👖👗

Vibe: Casual in the day, party at night

Prosecco price: 🍾🍾

Food available? Snacks

Booking available? No

Last visited /photos taken: 2019

Warm/dry weather only? Yes!

Rooftop review roundup: It’s a slight youth hostel student vibe and a LOT of stairs to climb but worth it and the walls on way up are all themed and changed so lots of insta opportunities. The rooftop is small, compact and cute! This is an unusual one in London as it always is changing so this is its current theme but will change again for Winter. So last Winter it was Moulin Rouge and had indoor cover, then we had Mexican (featured) and winter was Wizard of Oz. Weekends are rammed but worth it for the fun young vibe (Oh and they also have summer screenings 🎥)

Address: 1 Curtain Road, EC2A 3JX

Website: Click here

Rooftop extra tip: If you like this rooftop then you might also like: Bar Elba in London at Waterloo

13. Savage Gardens

(Formally Sky Lounge)

Best for: 🍷🍸🥂🍹🍺

Nearest tube: Tower Hill – 2 mins 🚶🏻‍♂️🚶‍♀️

Location: On top of the Double Tree Hilton

View: Tower of London & The shard

Dress code: Smart Casual 👗👚👖👠

Vibe: Relaxed, hotel guests, after work at times then at other self described as ‘London’s wildest Rooftop Bar’

Prosecco price: 🍾🍾🍾

Food available? Yes

Booking available? Yes 🙏 and lovely friendly on email

Last visited /photos taken: 2019

Warm/dry weather only? It has a retractable roof but the bar that has the same views is also gorgeous

Rooftop review roundup: Recently renovated rooftop – the terrace is bright and colourful (likeness to The Big Chill) and inside the bar that has sweeping views too is upmarket, swanky and swish. Feels transient and a mix of people being on a hotel but lovely staff and great cocktails!

Address: 12th Floor, Doubletree Hilton Hotel, 7 Pepys St, EC3N 4AF

Website: Click here

Rooftop extra tip: If you like this rooftop then you might also like: The Avairy (above)

14. Sushi Samba

Best for: 🍣 🥂🍹

Nearest Tube: Liverpool Street – 3 mins 🚶🏻‍♂️or Aldgate – 7 mins 🚶‍♀️

Location: On top of the Heron Tower sharing the building with Duck and Waffle

View: The city of London 🤩

Dress code: 👗👕👚👔👖 (dress up if no booking)

Vibe: Fun & cool

Prosecco price: 🍾🍾🍾

Food available: Yes – Sushi! 🤪

Booking available? Yes for the resturant – make sure you book in advance as it’s always popular. You can try your luck with the doorman – certainly for the bar.

Last visited /photos taken: 2018

Warm/ Dry weather only? No – whilst the resturant is floor to ceiling glass and indoors the bar is outside and open all year which is why it made the rooftop cut not an awesome alternative as it’s neighbour Duck and Waffle did!

Rooftop review roundup: On the 38th floor the views are sweeping over London, the resturant is bright airy and orange! Staff were brilliantly helpful and the sushi was incredible. Loved it for lunch – imagine stunning at night too. Having also been for dinner above at Duck and Waffle which is much more intimate. It’s not cheap though but worth it for a special occasion.

Address: Heron Tower 110 Bishops Gate, EC2N 4AY

Website: Click here

Rooftop extra tip: If you like this rooftop then you might also like: Duck and Waffle (an awesome alternative and in the same building!)

15. The Residence

Best for: 🥂

Nearest tube: Tower Hill – 1 min 🚶‍♀️

Location: On 6th floor of the Four Seasons – Tower Hill

View: Tower of London, Tower bridge & The Shard

Dress code: Smart Casual 👚👕👖👔👗 – Four Seasons is a Smart hotel which you have to walk through so you may want to be smart.

Vibe: Lazy summer days, suits after work, meetings and dates!

Prosecco price: 🍾🍾🍾

Food available? Snacks

Booking available? Yes

Smoking allowed? Yes

Last visited /photos taken: 2019

Warm/dry weather only? Yes and it’s only open in the summer and Thursday – Saturday’s late afternoon onwards and as a pop up summer 2029 … TBC if it’s returning

Rooftop review roundup: Called The Residence because it is! Actually where people book a very large swanky amazing apartment in the hotel – part of why it’s currently just a summer ‘pop up’ but hoping it will become a summer staple as the staff as super friendly, the views incredible, tunes are chilled and it’s all rather perfect.

Address: 10 Trinity Sq, EC3N 4AJ

Website: Click here