London is a fantastic city for outdoor drinking. Furthermore, the city has a fantastic selection of rooftop bars, many of which offer exhilarating views over the capital. If you’re looking to enhance your night out, get off the pavement and head up into one of these rooftop bars to enjoy the views.
We’ve put together a list of London’s best rooftop bars below. Whether you’re entertaining clients, heading out on a date or just meeting friends for a drink, we have a rooftop bar for you.
Radio Rooftop Bar at the ME Hotel
If you’re looking for a sophisticated, cool rooftop bar, this is your spot.
Situated just off The Strand, The Radio Rooftop Bar has amazing views of London that include Tower Bridge, Southbank, London Eye and the Houses of Parliament.
The terrace resembles an Ibiza chill out lounge with comfortable furnishings, fire heaters and smooth house beats in the background. It’s a premium bar for a premium experience. However, it can be hard to access. The bar operates on a walk in basis and is subject to maximum capacity. Obviously, on a Thursday or Friday night during the Summer, you might want to have a backup plan just in case you’re turned away.
Madison
If you’re after a post-work drink and want to mingle with the city crowd, Madison Bar on top of One New Change is a great option. Reasonably easy to gain entry to if you arrive early, Madison offers impressive views of St Paul’s and the city. A glass lift inside One New Change takes you up to the top floor and once you’re up there, you’ll have the choice of enjoying a cocktail in the sun or kicking back on the sofas inside the bar.
Sushisamba
If you really want to make an impact and you’re not afraid of heights, check out Sushisamba bar at the Heron Tower. A two minute walk from Liverpool St Station, Sushisamba’s rooftop bar is 38 storeys above the city. The location is the highest outdoor dining terrace in Europe and naturally offers unbelievable views of the city. Be warned – this bar has a dress code, drinks are pricey and some patrons have complained about inferior customer service. However, if you can get past these issues you won’t be disappointed.
The Skylounge at the DoubleTree Hilton
The Skylounge is perhaps more under the radar than some of the other rooftop bars we have listed, however that doesn’t stop it reaching maximum capacity on a warm summer’s evening.
Situated on the 12th floor of the DoubleTree by Hilton near Fenchurch Street Station, this bar also offers fantastic views of London. What’s great about this rooftop bar are the contrasting views of new city buildings on one side of the terrace and older London attractions such as Tower Bridge on the other side.
Outdoor tables are available on a first come first serve basis, so arrive early. As well as enjoying the views, why not the stay the night at this Hilton hotel for free? It’s possible with this credit card.
Aqua Spirit
If you’ve just spent the day shopping on Oxford Street and you’re in the mood for a post-shopping rooftop cocktail, head to Aqua Spirit.
Part of the Aqua Restaurant Group that also has restaurants in Beijing and Hong Kong, the London restaurant and bar is situated on the fifth floor of the old Dickins and Jones department store off Regent Street.
They don’t take reservations for the terraces – entrance is on a first come, first served basis. While the cocktails here have a good reputation, the service doesn’t, so don’t expect to be served quickly.
