As the largest metropolis in the United Kingdom, London is the country’s economic, transportation and cultural center. Also, tourists can enjoy many fancy restaurants and one of the best London rooftop bars.
Because of its history, art, and politics, the city is a popular tourist destination for its wide variety of shops, museums, art galleries, restaurants, sports centers, and many other landmarks.
London’s founding was around 43 CE when the Roman armies occupied Britain under Emperor Claudius. They made a settlement called Londinium, north of the marshy valley of the River Thames. The first definite mention of the city comes in 60 CE by the historian Tacitus.
London is initially made up of two ancient cities, the City of London and the City of Westminster. Both ancient cities had significant power in world politics, business, and finance.
London is famous for more ancient buildings, such as the Palace of Westminster, Trafalgar Square, the Tower of London, the London Eye, Art Galleries, and Big Ben.
Besides that, London is not only the most famous but also one of the most dynamic cities in the world. There is plenty of stuff to see, and you will definitely need one or more visits to have a complete experience.
The residents in London are multicultural and are composed of different regions, countries, and nationalities that use more than 300 languages.
About the weather, London does experience four separate seasons, but, as we all know, light showers and cloudy skies are prevalent throughout all year. Anyway, don’t let it stop you from visiting.
While you are visiting London, an important question is where to drink, eat and relax in the evenings. London has interesting food, mostly standard European, pasta, pies, meat, good cheese, and, of course, the famous full English Breakfast. For a drink, have fun with a London gin and get the full experience of this city.
We are here to present the best London rooftop bars and help you to enjoy your stay in the rainy, romantic, and beautiful city.
My Top 3 Picks Of The Best London Rooftop Bars
| Restaurant | Top Dish | Our Rating |
| OXO Tower Restaurant | Tonka Cheesecake | 4.5/5 |
| Garden Rooftop | Spaghetti Carbonara | 5/5 |
| LSQ Rooftop | English breakfast | 5/5 |
The 8 Best London Rooftop Bars
OXO Tower Restaurant, Bar, and Brasserie
Barge House St., London SE1 9PH, United Kingdom // +442078033888
OXO is a modern bar with a garden terrace and panoramic skyline views serving globally influenced brasserie. There is live music at night, which is perfect for a night out. On the other hand, their restaurant offers excellent food for dinner or lunch.
We came for the cocktails but stayed for the view. We had a lovely couple of cocktails here on a sunny Sunday. The view, the flavors in the drinks, the drink choice, and the service were impressive.
I highly recommend their tasting menu, which has to be booked in advance. It contains many different courses, ideal for lunch for two.
There is the Dorset crab salad, with crushed avocado, daikon wasabi mayo, seaweed roll, and crab ketchup, paired with Harvey Nichols, English Sparkling, and Brut. After that comes the slow-roasted pork belly with chestnut puree, pickled quince, black pudding, and red wine vinaigrette. The wine choices here are Rapaura Springs, Pinot Noir, Rohe, Marlborough, or New Zealand.
The following dishes are the Monkfish, shellfish scented risotto, broad beans and girolles, and the dry-aged beef fillet, with truffle gel, oyster mushrooms, and red wine sauce. This dish is also paired with wine, and my choice is always red wine.
The dessert was the Tonka cheesecake with chocolate, mango sorbet, and coffee and truffles. This is the perfect ending for your lunch and a unique gastronomic experience.
I couldn’t imagine going to London without trying their London dry gin. However, a simply refreshing gin and tonic is enough to make your day. Overall, an excellent place with great service; a London rooftop bar you must visit!
The Rooftop
7th Floor, 2 Spring Gardens, St. James’s, London SW1A 2TS, United Kingdom // +442078702904
Located in the Trafalgar Hotel, this bright London rooftop bar offers cocktails and Nelson’s Column views, plus private hire for your events. They have great hospitality and fast service, ready to answer all your question and fulfill your requests.
The food menu is truly unique. Alongside general options to suit all diets, the menu pushes the boundaries of vegetarian and vegan cuisine. I would highly recommend the watermelon sashimi dish, which is a unique sensory experience and a transformative balance of flavors. I also loved the chicken skewers. The texture and tenderness were well executed.
For dessert, I tried a gluten-free chocolate and tiramisu slice and pistachio praline. For me, that was entirely enough to end my meal with something sweet and tasty.
This may not be a proper restaurant for foodies but it is a very stylish bar with a small but adequate food selection. However, the meals are small but delicious and perfectly decorated.
The look is modern and stylish, with the kitchen in the middle, a bar at one end, and a cordoned-off party/group area at the other end.
Their “Black Forest” cocktail with Cîroc Red Berry, Belsazar Rosé, Prosecco, and Cherry Syrup is beyond everyone’s expectations, and the “Maple Kiss” with Pisco, and Hibiscus Infused Curaçao, Red Wine, Maple Spice, and Orange Blossom is the perfect heartwarming cocktail for winter. Check it out!
LSQ Rooftop – Leicester Square
1 Leicester Square, London WC2H 7NA, United Kingdom // +442039534222
This rooftop bar in London is a lovely gem of a place that is nice and quiet and very chilled, considering it’s in one of the busiest squares in the city. The staff was amiable and attentive, and the decor was nicely done, yet not overstated. Lovely views of the London skyline, including the London Rye, Big Ben, the Houses of Parliament, etc., are visible here.
The views from the rooftop are undoubtedly exceptional, and the setting is stunning and perfect for spending time with friends and having a drink.
In the breakfast menu, all six dishes include coffee of your choice, hot chocolate, tea, fresh juice, and a homemade healthy smoothie selection of seasonal fruits, a selection of cereal, Scottish smoked salmon, yogurts, preserves, plus jam and spreads.
The full English breakfast with two eggs (cooked your way) is served with bacon, sausage, black pudding, mushroom, tomato, and baked beans and is amazingly tasty.
There is a wide choice of starters such as a charcuterie board, Greek salad, fried calamari, chicken wings in Korean style, vegetarian board, hummus, pine nuts, pita bread, and many more selections suitable for a London rooftop bar.
The white duck ragu over paccheri pasta shape is the perfect choice for lunch and is exceptionally delicious. You can find it in their ala carte menu.
There is also a wide choice of desserts, wine, and cocktails, and absolutely everything is fantastic and worth trying.
Sabine Rooftop Bar
Unit 7, 10 Godliman St., London EC4V 5AJ, United Kingdom
Sabines represents the typical sophisticated and is one of the best London rooftop bars with a modern vibe, spectacular views, and a regular lineup of events. The staff is kind and well-mannered. They are approachable and helpful. However, booking a reservation is definitely preferable, as they will ask for one. And don’t forget to check their dress code before.
Only expect a few food choices, just some sliders and light bites, but after all, this is a bar, not a restaurant.
Baked focaccia tin with beetroot and thyme oil, asparagus bocarones, mac n cheese bon bons, smoked salmon, burrata, and more bites are available to pair with your drinks.
The drinks are strong; believe me, you will not need more than two. The Cherry Spritz cocktail with Sangue Morlacco Cherry Liqueur, Soda Water, and Pommery Brut Champagne was perfectly mixed by the bartender and carefully decorated. Simply amazing!
London Bridge Rooftop Bar
Colechurch House, Rooftop, Bridge Walk, London SE1 2SX, United Kingdom // +442035760674
We have been in quite a few rooftop bars in London and abroad, but this one is by far one of the best. The view of the Shard is impressive, especially at night, and it is also a huge rooftop, meaning that if you go to the other side, you can have a view of the London eye. The tables are charming, and many areas are perfect for taking pictures.
It is not an ideal place for food, though, because of the limited menu. The drinks are fantastic, well-prepared, and politely delivered to your table. Very important is that you must get prepared for the climb, as there’s no elevator.
Patatas Bravas (fried cubed potatoes) with a spicy tomato sauce and aioli are absolutely delicious and well-priced. For lunch, I recommend The Smash Burger with two smash patties with American cheese, aioli, ketchup, and mustard, served on a sesame seed bun.
mocktailsThe beverage menu is extensive, starting from soft drinks, cocktails, mocktails, white, red, and sparkling wine, ciders, beer, and other spirits. From all London rooftop bars, this is my favorite place for a night out and having fun!
Queen Elizabeth Hall Roof Garden
Southbank Centre, Belvedere Rd, London SE1 8XX, United Kingdom
The Queen Elizabeth Hall Roof Garden is an attractive little roof garden space overlooking the Thames and Southbank area. There is a coffee bar to grab a drink and a light snack. The staff is always pleasant, knowledgeable, and ready to answer all your questions. There are many tables and benches around the gardens, which is perfect for a summer after-work drink!
The coffee bar offers housemade made coffee, homemade pastries, cocktails inspired by the garden, and specialty gins from across these shores, from the sandy beaches of the Isles of Scilly up to the medieval city of Stirling in Scotland.
Just to mention, this place is closed in the winter, but you have three other seasons to enjoy.
There is flatbread pizza on the menu, cheese plates, and sometimes also a grill, a lot of spirits, wonderful mulled wine, afternoon English tea, and many more items. It is cozy, informal, and relaxed for everyone who loves London rooftop bars.
Garden Rooftop
31 Charing Cross Rd., London WC2H 0LS, United Kingdom // +442039534319
You can find magnificent views over the city in this modern 10th-floor restaurant filled with live plants. The view is especially lovely during the late afternoon and night; very picturesque. This is absolutely one of the favorite London rooftop bars among the locals!
The staff is more than accommodating, the drinks are perfect, and the food is delicious. The view is absolutely incredible as well as their hospitality. Give this place a chance because it is a beautiful spot for a cocktail at the bar or a meal with friends.
On their menu, you can find delicious (mostly Italian) dishes made carefully with love. The classic Bruschetta, fried calamari, Sicilian rice balls, Noocellara olives, hummus, and burrata, are some of the starters on the menu.
You can never go wrong with the classic Carbonara or Spaghetti Bolognese for the main dish. Both are delicious and freshly made, and you get a portion worth the price.
The menu is extensive, and for seafood lovers, there is an excellent sea bass fillet served with fresh asparagus and aubergines and linguine pasta with fresh crabs served in the crab shell.
For a sweet treat, do not hesitate to try the homemade tiramisu, the profiteroles, or their homemade traditional carrot cake.
After your meal, make yourself comfortable with a glass of Limoncello or Amaretto at this unique and one of the most famous London rooftop bars.
Sky Garden
1 Sky Garden Walk, London EC3M 8AF, United Kingdom //+443337720020
The highest terrace amongst all London rooftop bars. This is a fantastic spot, but you should book the free tickets online, as it is a very efficient system. The 360° views are fabulous and well laid out in a tiered style to make the most of the planting. Various priced food options are available. Well worth a visit and save the ridiculous entrance fee to the Shard with the same view.
I don’t have words to describe the stunning views of the London skyline and some of the most emblematic skyscrapers, and there is also a French restaurant on the top with outstanding food and service.
At the Fenchurch restaurant, you will get a fine dining experience starting with the a la carte and five-course or seven-course menus for tasting. With an impressive wine list, juicy cocktails, and sweet desserts, there is something for everyone.
For a starter, try out the unique 38-month-aged Parmesan risotto with Iberico ham hock, burnt kale dressing, and fresh truffle, or the warm autumn salad with British mozzarella, fennel relish, and quinoa dukkah.
For the main dish, we tried the Stuffed Cornish red-legged chicken, mushroom purée, tarragon emulsion, and honey truffle. It was delicious, and I am sure the others will taste the same.
The five-course dining menu is designed to be enjoyed by the whole table; every dish is carefully selected and paired with the right wine.
For a beginning, there is beef tartare, oyster, gherkin, egg yolk jam, and English mustard paired with Leah Pinot Noir from 2018. After, there is 38-month-aged Parmesan risotto, Iberico ham hock, and burnt kale dressing.
The following courses are stuffed turbot, brassicas, whipped whey with champagne sauce, and the Lake District sirloin, baba ghanoush, watercress, and short glazed rib, all of them paired with French red wine.
Last, but not least, here is the beautiful dessert; Fenchurch chocolate bar, salted almond, and buttermilk ice cream. A real treat for your soul!
If you are a vegetarian, don’t worry! There is also a vegetarian-tasting menu as an option.
Final Thoughts On The 8 Best London Rooftop Bars
From the above writing, you should perceive that there are plenty of options to enjoy your nightlife and the best London rooftop bars. From fine dining to exclusive cocktails, there is something for everyone. The good side is you are in a position to read this article and make your plan before you go there.
Whether you are a morning or night person or prefer the sunrise view, most of these rooftop bars are open all day long. Enjoy the magnificent view of the Palace of Westminster, Trafalgar Square, the Tower of London, the London Eye, Art Galleries, and Big Ben.
Threat yourself with a fine dining experience, modern European cuisine, a massive English breakfast, London gin, or simply a cup of English tea; you will not go wrong! For you, we chose eight of the best rooftop bars, and we guarantee you a good time.
Overall, London is a wonderful city with a beautiful vibe, classy people, good culture, and a lot of options to satisfy your hunger. London will never disappoint you!
Visiting other destinations in the UK? Check out our other delicious guide:
Igor Jovanovski is an aspiring digital nomad, travel blogger and graphic designer who really loves food. He also has a creative side, and he works as a freelance graphic designer in his spare time. He has traveled across Europe quite a few times since he was young and recently started his mission to visit every country in the world! Igor’s favorite thing about traveling is the way he gets to know new people, food, places and cultures.
This exciting experience helps him create his own stories and make memories that will last forever