14 Hills rooftop
(Summer pop up only in covid TBC if it will return – though you can visit the gardens for free and they have a beautiful restaurant below)
Best for: 🍽🥗🧆🥘🥂🍴
Nearest tube: Monument 🚶5 mins
Location: On top of a business boss building
View: All of London – the shard, the gerkin, Sky Gardens even St Paul’s round the corner
Dress code: 👡👒👚🧣🧥
Vibe: Elegant summer sereneness
Prosecco price: 🍾🍾🍾
Food available? Yes
Booking available? Yes
Smoking allowed? No
Last visited /photos taken: 2021
Warm/dry weather only? Yes
Rooftop review roundup: This insta famous foliage fabulous restaurant wasn’t waiting for indoor dining to reopen. In stead they have expanded. Got a license for the rooftop above and set up a pop up rooftop for the summer. 🙌👏 Food is as fabulous as you’d expect from this brand, service impeccable and views to accompany you. One note is, this is a rooftop usually for the businesses in the building. As such part of the licence means you can’t freely walk round or indeed get as great a pic as these views cry out for. But as an alternative to cooking at home, its not too shabby! Summer champagne city lunching and dining ahead! For my full review click here.
Address: 15th Floor, 120 Fenchurch Street, EC3M 5BA
Website: Click here
Rooftop extra tip: If you like this then definitely check out Coq du Argent
100 Shoreditch
Best for: 🍹🥂🍽
Nearest tube: Liverpool St 🚶🏻♂️13 mins (or overground closer from Shoreditch High Street station)
Location: At the hotel named the same
View: Shoreditch
Vibe: Fun & friendly
Prosecco price: 🍾🍾
Food available? Yes
Booking available? Yes
Smoking allowed? No
Last visited /photos taken: 2022
Warm/dry weather only? No
Rooftop review roundup: Replacing the rooftop previously occupied by the Ace Hotel this is a welcomed change of owners. Great vibe and view and cocktails to match (even one called rooftop!) this has a soho house feel without the membership! The only downside is they don’t open till 5pm.
Address: 100 Shoreditch, E1 6JQ
Website: Click here
Rooftop extra tip: If you like this rooftop then you might like Pantechnicon in Knightsbridge
Laurel’s On the Rooftop (formally Altitude)
Best for: 🏊🏿♀️☕️🫖🥓🥚🥐🥑
Nearest tube: Old street
Location: On top of the Mondrian Shoreditch hotel
View: local area
Dress code: 👙🩱🥼
Vibe: 1970’s pool party
Prosecco price: 🍾🍾🍾
Food available? Yes
Booking available? Yes
Smoking allowed? No
Last visited /photos taken: 2021
Warm/dry weather only? Yes
Rooftop review roundup: This was only for dedicated rooftopers – as until 2022 access this rooftop you either need to be a member or stay over night at the hotel and even then the pool was only yours for breakfast until midday to enjoy. But it has changed hands and how is open to all! (Well no kids past 12pm) so we can all enjoy a bit of LA glamour in London.
Address: 45 Curtain Road, WC2A 3PT
Website: Click here
Rooftop extra tip: If you can make friends with a Soho House member or better still be one then there’s more London rooftop pools to check out!
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
Aviary
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
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: Smiths of Smithfield
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
Cloud M
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
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
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
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
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
Last Visited / Photos taken: 2018, 2020
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
Maya
Best for: 🇲🇽 🐠
Nearest tube: Old street 🚶♀️6 mins
Location: On top of the Hoxton Hotel
View: City
Dress code: 👖👕👠👚
Vibe: Mexico City
Prosecco price: 🍾🍾 but you’ll want a tequila cocktail!
Food available? Yes – Mexican
Booking available? Yes
Smoking allowed? No
Last visited /photos taken: 2021
Warm/dry weather only? No
Rooftop review roundup: What a Mexican oasis – summer vibes, great tequila and food! Friendly staff and able to adapt to the weather. A great new addition to the rooftop bar and restaurant scene with a very discreet entrance that you wouldn’t know you could just miss this jem .
Address: 1 Willow Street, EC2A 4BH
Website: Click here
Rooftop extra tip: If you like this rooftop bar then you might love Pocket Square
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)
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)
Pocket Square Skyline Bar & Terrace
Best for: 🥂🥗
Nearest tube: Aldgate 🚶🏻♂️8 mins
Location: On top of the Hyatt place hotel
View: City – not wow ones but great to have different London ones!
Dress code: 👖👕👠👚
Vibe: Chill
Prosecco price: 🍾🍾🍾
Food available? Yes
Booking available? Yes
Smoking allowed? Yes
Last visited /photos taken: 2021
Warm/dry weather only? No
Rooftop review roundup: This is where the city meets east. New in 2021 this rooftop bar offers snacks that are thoughtfully paired with cocktails. With an indoor bar that spills on to the rooftop terrace this is a welcome addition to this area even if it doesn’t bring the wow views – its definitely brings a different perspective.
Address: 45 Whitechapel Road, E1
Website: Click here
Rooftop extra tip: If you like this rooftop then you might like to try 12th Knot on Southbank
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
Sabine
Best for: 🍸🍹🥂
Nearest tube: Blackfriars/ St Pauls 🚶♀️7 mins
Location: On top of the Leonard Hotel
View: St Paul’s (and the shard)
Dress code: 👚👔👗👖👠🩴
Vibe: Floral feast of fun and fabulousness
Prosecco price: 🍾🍾🍾
Food available? Yes best bar nibbles
Booking available? Yes essential!
Smoking allowed? No
Last visited /photos taken: 2021
Warm/dry weather only? No – there are areas including the main bar that are inside, parts of the terrace have roofs if needed.
Rooftop review roundup: What a treat this rooftop is. Brand spanking new and a welcome addition to the rooftop scene. We have only had the marvellous of Madisons owning this St Pauls view and boujee vibe but Sabine is a serious contender to steal our hearts and Instagram feed. The food was fantastic, staff and service so attentive and fun, vibe on point and the view… well even in the rain and wind it was fabulous! For my full review click here.
Address: 10 Godilman Street, EC4V 5AJ
Website: Click here
Rooftop extra tip: If you love this place then you might like Mercer rooftop (above)
Savage Garden
(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: Self described as ‘London’s wildest Rooftop Bar’ certainly one the places to be seen. By day has a more chilled cocktail and summer day vibe.
Prosecco price: 🍾🍾🍾
Food available? Yes
Booking available? Yes 🙏 and lovely friendly on email
Last visited /photos taken: 2021
Warm/dry weather only? It has a retractable roof but the bar that has the same views is also gorgeous
Rooftop review roundup: Renovated a few years ago the terrace is bright and colourful and constantly adjusting its look. Inside the bar has sweeping views that when you walk through too gives you that wow moment. Clientele is transient with a mix of hotel guests and 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)
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!)
Skyline
Best for: 🥂🍹🍕🍜
Nearest tube: Tower Hill 🚶♀️1 min
Location: 7th floor – On top of Tower Suites of the Blue Orchid Hotel
View: One of the best spots for Tower Hill and the Shard
Dress code: 👗👠👖
Vibe: Boujee
Prosecco price: 🍾🍾🍾
Food available? 🍕
Booking available? Yes
Smoking allowed? Yes
Last visited /photos taken: 2021
Warm/dry weather only? Yes
Rooftop review roundup: this new rooftop just arrived to rival some of the best known rooftops in town. Don’t be fooled by the lift entrance and feeling like you are in the wrong place. This has been a rooftop for residents… till now. Now it’s had a facelift and is finding its feet and is set to be fabulous fun! Weekend vibe is boujee ibiza with DJs, bouncers and all the views for an Insta feed. It even has a photo flower arch. Evenings get hot and sweaty! The week days however are more chill. Food is available and booking is a must. This new roofto of the best known rooftop in London.
Address: 100 Minories, EC3N 1JY
Website: Click here
Rooftop extra tip: If you like this then you’ll love the views at Jin Bo Law
The Residence – (Currently closed)
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
Rooftop extra tip: If you like this rooftop then you might also like: Jin Bo Law (above)
Wagtail
Best for: 🥂🍸🍹🍾🍷
Nearest tube: Monument 🚶2 mins
Location: On the corner facing London Bridge in the old House of Frazer building
View: Epic – this is London’s only 360 rooftop bar covering all the landmarks
Vibe: Boujee with a massive B!
Prosecco price: 🍾🍾🍾
Food available? Snacks
Booking available? Yes but it’s steep
Smoking allowed? Yes
Last visited /photos taken: 2022
Warm/dry weather only? No
Rooftop review roundup: This is a rooftop bar dreams were made of. Beautifully designed, a boujee vibe but with the views to match. Tunes and terrific staff and even a terrace below with sofas perfect for a lazy champagne day.
Address: 68 King William Street, EC4N 7HR
Website: Click here
Rooftop extra tip: If you like this rooftop then you might like Sabine with views of St Pauls