At this point in the year, you’ve probably spent at least one evening on a London rooftop. The UK capital is filled with top-of-the-world terraces that show off the city from above, and recent heatwaves have provided even more reasons to head up and out. But as the season draws to a close, why not add something different to your rooftop repertoire – a champagne eco-wonderland, perhaps? Or how about a Berlin-style bolthole with DJs and creative cocktails?
We’ve sipped our way around London’s newest rooftops to find seven worth a try – read our edit below.
The Rooftop at The Standard, Kings Cross
Despite its name, The Standard is anything but. Sitting on the hotel’s 11th floor, The Rooftop is a lively, open-air space coated in acid green AstroTurf and speckled with neon chairs. It overlooks St Pancras station, meaning you’re watched by the magnificent clock face whilst tucking into Mexican-Spanish fare such as tacos, slushies, and margarita pitchers. Its new weekend brunch is replete with avocado-packed tacos and free-flowing cocktails (go for the rum punch – it’s wonderfully boozy without being too sweet), and a DJ curates a convivial atmosphere. Don’t want to leave? Look for the ‘High Standards’ room rate listed on the menu to bed down a few floors below.
The Standard Rooftop, Kings Cross. Credit: Tim Charles
Aerial Rooftop at The Broadcaster, White City
Look past its White City location – and bird’s eye view of Westfield – and you’ll be pleasantly surprised by The Broadcaster. There’s enough natural wood, pastel pink, and hanging plants to satiate even the most Millennial of crowds, and on a glorious day, a tuned-in DJ ensures it’s the place to be. Cocktails are summery and include a limoncello-infused frosé, wines come up in all colours – try the Greek orange – and small plates are mostly barbecue-inspired. Order a few to share (they’re not huge portions), including the fiery harissa aubergine, topped with a sprinkling of feta.
Aerial Rooftop at The Broadcaster, White City
Hotel AMANO, Covent Garden
One of the major appeals of Hotel AMANO – a boutique, Berlin-style bolthole that opened in May – is its rooftop bar. Perched on the 7th floor, the plant-dotted terrace is framed by postcard-style city views and soundtracked from Thursday to Sunday by an in-house DJ. A slim cocktail menu uses fresh, creative flavours; the fig caipiroska (vodka, fig liqueur and lime) is enticing, as is The Rooftop, a simple yet standout mix of vodka and champagne.
Hotel AMANO, Covent Garden. Credit: John Athimaritis
Madison, St Pauls
This one’s not technically new, but Madison has just renovated its terrace in partnership with Aperol. The result? An Italian-Ibizan playground with spectacular city views. Décor is boho and very Ibiza-chic, and – as you’d expect – Aperol is the order of the day; you can have it in spritz, colada or ‘aperum’ forms. Arrive at golden hour to snag the best sunset views, then slink off for a dinner of sashimi and dumplings at nearby The Ivy Asia.
Madison, St Pauls
One Hundred Shoreditch
LA cool comes to London at this frosé-hued bar. It’s on the top floor of the newly opened One Hundred Shoreditch hotel, and its pastel interiors are dripping with cacti, palm trees and ferns. Food and drink continue the rosy theme, from blushing devilled eggs to the signature watermelon spritz. Pass through the floor-to-ceiling glass doors to access the terrace, where, come sunset, the sky paints the East London skyline in the same peachy shades: delightful.
One Hundred Shoreditch
Wagtail, Holborn
Sprawled atop a 1920s building, the central talking point at Wagtail is the view. The Shard, St Pauls and the Fenchurch Building all rise around you like a pop-up map, and you can admire all three from a choice of two terraces on either side of the leafy central bar. Begin your evening with scallops and steak on the floor below, then slink upstairs for a few flavour-led cocktails, most of which utilise unusual ingredients such as stone fruit nectar and screwpine.
Wagtail, Holborn. Credit: Justin De Souza
The Conduit x Ruinart, Covent Garden
A members’ club focused on creating global good, The Conduit shares its passion for eco-minded luxury with France’s oldest champagne house, Ruinart. As such, they’ve teamed up to create a sustainable champagne wonderland on The Conduit’s sixth-floor terrace. Plants have been chosen for pollination, furniture is made from recycled materials, and Italian-inspired dishes utilise seasonal ingredients (think summery tagliatelle and herby chicken). Oh, and the champagne? Ice-cold and served alongside seasonal cicchetti.
The Conduit x Ruinart, Covent Garden
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