8 Best Rooftop Bars In London
Tower Bridge, Big Ben, London’s eye – all sights that are icons of London. Most people have seen them on cards or TV shows and come all the way to London so as to take a peek of these memorable pictures. Wouldn’t it be nice to have a drink in a comfy fresh place while contemplating all of London’s miracles? Yes it would, and many bar owners have obviously asked themselves the same question long ago. That’s why there are plenty of amiable rooftop bars offering a marvelous view over the stunning landmarks and the charming ordinaries of London town. Read about the most appealing (in no particular order):
1. Frank’s Cafe
Perfect for: Watching the sun set.
Price: £6-£8 for a meal; £5-£8 for a drink.
Started out as a rather unpresentable bar in place of a former parking space, Fran’s Café is still a place to have drinks after a casual Thursday, but also a well-known venue for those who want to visit an unusual bar combining art exhibitions, a loose crowd chatting over drinks and a beautiful view of the sunset.
The food there is not that much praised, nor are the cocktails, but the mood Frank’s brings out and the immense part of London it looks over are more than enough to classify it as a place to love.
Address: Level 10, Peckham Multi-Storey Car Park, 95a Rye Lane, SE15
2. Aqua Spirit
Perfect for: A well-executed drink.
Price: £11-£15 for a drink.
This rooftop bar differs from others like it because it seems to highlight on service, quality of drinks and original atmosphere – not only on the fact that it has a terrace. All of Aqua’s visitors have left convinced in the surprisingly well combined flavors in the Japanese-inspired cocktails.
The interior of the bar matches their Asian taste and stands for the unconventional nature of the rooftop venue. The drinks may appear a little pricey, but we can subsist that fact with regard to their quality.
Adress: 5th Floor, 30 Argyll Street, W1B
3. Dalston Roof Park
Perfect for: A hipster company or a night with live music.
Price: £4-£12 for a drink.
Yes, Park is the right name. With its grass floor, white picket fences, plants and furniture looking like it’s been collected on many yard sales, Dalston Roof Park is a combination between a suburban
yard, a 50’s tiny summer park and an underground-on-the-roof nightclub. Why a nightclub? Because there are at least 3 parties a week with special guests – DJs and various other performers.
Keep in mind that you’ll be asked to pay a £5 membership fee to enter the bar – it is considered to be a ‘secret club’. There drinks are not something more complicated than beer and wine in a plastic cup, but it is definitely worth seeing Dalston Roof Park for its hipstery cute look.
Adress: Print House, 18 Ashwin St., E8
4. Sushisamba bar
Perfect for: an unconventional and memorable meal.
Price: Around £40 for a meal, around £15 for a drink.
Exactly what it sounds like. Sushisamba is a chain of restaurants which represent a fusion of Japanese, Brazilian and Peruvian culture. The food in Sushisamba is renowned in many parts of the world and without doubt is the supplement to the breath-taking view which makes this venue a top listed one.
A wide range of meals, drinks (traditional, unconventional, known and never-heard-of) combined with a magnificent interior leave Sushisamba’s visitors more than impressed. Not to mention the view… The price is a bit higher than the normal, but after all – it is justified.
Adress: Floors 38 & 39, 110 Bishopsgate, EC2.
5. Radio Rooftop bar
Perfect for: A 360 degree view of London.
Price: £8-£25 for a drink, £5-£13 for appetizers.
Here it is all about the view. I know that’s the point of all rooftop bars, but Radio rooftop is just centred around the idea of gazing into the magic of London at its fullest and seizing every tiny part of what is to be seen.
Also it is definitely worth mentioning that Radio Rooftop Bar takes care of its customers with elegantly prepared drinks and appetizers, as well as with a tastefully blended interior. The venue is an insignia for London and choosing to visit it is a wise decision – just be careful when; if possible – book a table, because queues are the nightmare of this bar and sadly they’re not a rarity.
Address: ME London, 336-337 The Strand, WC2.
6. Boundary Rooftop
Perfect for: A romantic dinner.
Price: £5-£12 for a drink, £10-£20 for a meal.
Boundary Rooftop is an exquisitely designed bar/restaurant which offers an extensive list of meals and wines. It is just what you seek in a rooftop restaurant – cute yet elegant tables, stunning panoramic view of London, kind service and calming atmosphere. Really, a perfect place to take out your loved one for a memorable dinner.
Address: 2-4 Boundary Street, E2
7. The Bloom Gin Rooftop Bar at Vista
Perfect for: Taking a picture with the view.
Price: £12-£13 for a drink.
A hotel bar at the top of Trafalgar, Vista is a bar with the perfect view over London’s most targeted destinations for tourists. It is a must for those wanting to capture their visit to London with a remarkable photo. It also attracts many sponsors – every summer the theme of the bar is the name of a different alcohol brand.
What is unfortunate about it though is that cocktails there are far from what you would expect at a bar sponsored by alcohol brands…But even if the drinks are not satisfying it’s worth drinking a badly made-up margarita just to take a selfie at the Vista.
Address: The Trafalgar, Trafalgar Square, WC2.
8. Queen of Hoxton
Perfect for: A cool night with friends.
Price: Around £8 for a cocktail, £17-£65 for a bottle of wine.
DJs in the weekends, movie nights, fringe theatre, theme nights – everything you seek in a club. I am having a hard time saying what Queen of Hoxton is mainly about, since it features a lot of things frankly…but none of them particularly brilliant.
Queen of Hoxton is considered to be one of the best bars where you can enjoy the great view, but it’s classified as such as a whole – nice music, nice atmosphere, the drinks and service is okay and of course you could spend quite some time staring out the railing. It is worth a visit.
Address: 1 Curtain Rd, EC2
There certainly are a lot more rooftop bars and if none of the above seems to suit you, you can search for them too. But in this rating are probably the most liked ones – just to make your choice among them all a bit easier.
