*Updated for 2016*
Summer in London is one of those wonderful things – a rare glimpse of the sun and everybody gets alfresco fever! The parks are full, the shorts are on and every pub garden is packed. The Resident has put together a list of 38 of the best rooftop bars and outdoor terraces for late afternoons spent eating, drinking and relaxing outdoors. Just make sure you grab your spot early…
WEST CENTRAL LONDON
1The Roof Gardens, Kensington
Since its opening in 1938, The Roof Gardens has been a London landmark. The three gardens span 1.5 acres – there’s the Spanish Garden, the Tudor Garden and the English Woodland, each distinct and spectacular in its own way. In these gardens, which are home to ducks, fish and even flamingos, it is easy to forget the busy streets just 100 ft below. Over summer there is a whole array of events happening – jazz on Tuesdays, BBQs on Friday and Saturday nights and magicians and roasts on Sundays, just to name a few. Entrance to the gardens is free of charge, but it’s usually best to call ahead to make sure they haven’t been booked out for a wedding or event.
99 Kensington High Street, London W8 5SA; virginlimitededition.com
Kensington Roof Garden’s Spanish Garden
2Tom’s Terrace, Somerset House
With a choice between a restaurant and a more relaxed deli-style café, this terrace at Somerset House is in a great spot for summer evening drinks. Relax with some food and drink and watch the river and the general comings and goings of London. On a sunny day this spot is an absolute gem. Of course there’s always something to have a look at inside Somerset House too.
Somerset House, Strand, London WC2R 1LA; tomskitchen.co.uk
Tom’s Terrace at Somerset House
3Serpentine Bar and Kitchen, Hyde Park
When the sun comes out, Londoners take to the parks. The Serpentine Bar and Kitchen is in the middle of Hyde Park, right next to the Serpentine Lake and the views are spectacular. Not only does it offer clear views the swans and boats, but it is also a great spot for people watching – picnic makers, roller bladers and dog walkers alike. There’s a Gin Bar, great cocktails a hot dog BBQ, a wood fire pizza oven and a whole range of British classics to tuck into.
Serpentine Road, Hyde Park, London W2 2UH; benugo.com
Serpentine Bar & Kitchen’s waterside terrace
4The Ivy Chelsea Garden, Chelsea
The Ivy Chelsea opened last summer and became a firm sunny favourite: Now, the new terrace has also been unveiled at the new Ivy Brasserie on High Street Kensington, so you’re spoilt for choice. The beautifully decorated terrace and orangery is as stylish as a garden could get, and being part of The Ivy family, you’re in safe hands when it comes to food and drink. Cocktails and an all-day British menu are available in the alfresco space, which is adorned with fountains, climbing ivy and beautiful antique furniture abound, this the kind of place you will want to spend several hours.
197 King’s Road, Chelsea, London SW3 5EQ; theivychelseagarden.com
The Ivy Chelsea’s garden
5 The Terrace at Jumeirah Lowndes Hotel, Belgravia
The Terrace at Jumeirah Lowndes Hotel is open from the end of April until the end of summer offering diners delicious bar snacks, healthy smoothies, cocktails and a hefty wine list. Enjoy meat and seafood grilled on the barbecue, along with a wide array of salads, sandwiches, burgers and pizzas. Previously named one of London’s top three alfresco restaurants, The Terrace had an award-winning year in 2012 with head chef Martin Gabler named runner-up at the British BBQ Championships in June.
21 Lowndes St, London SW1X 9ES; lowndesbarandkitchen.co.uk
The Terrace at Jumeirah Lowndes Hotel
6Vermouth on the Roof, Ham Yard Hotel
Ham Yard Hotel’s roof top pop-up bar is back serving vermouth-based cocktails using handcrafted mixers from the garden, which is full of blooming meadow flowers and ancient olive trees. Take inspiration from the traditional Italian aperitivo culture and gather your friends for drinks over a selection of antipasti. Enjoy home-made recipes such as Ham Yard citrus-ade and rooftop Jasmine sugar and discover modern vermouth incarnations such as Regal Rogue, a native vermouth from Australia and Belsazar, a handcrafted vermouth from Germany. There will also be experts like Sipsmith Master Distiller, Jared Brown, leading vermouth master classes. Running from Tuesday 26 July until Sunday 4 September 2016 (excluding Mondays). Tickets cost £15pp for a two hour session including antipasti buffet.
One Ham Yard, Soho W1D 7DT; designmynight.com; vermouthontheroof@hamyardhotel.com
Enjoy Vermouth on the Roof at Ham Yard Hotel’s roof terrace
7Yashin Ocean House terrace, South Kensington
Housed on Old Brompton Road in South Kensington, modern Japanese restaurant Yashin Ocean House has opened its terrace for the summer months. Guests can now enjoy Yashin’s inventive head-to-tail, sharing menu alfresco, together with a refreshing range of sparkling sakes and signature cocktails.
117-119 Old Brompton Road, London SW7 3RN; yashinocean.com
Yashin Ocean House terrace
8Orrery, Marylebone
This luxury French restaurant reopened last June following refurbishments on the interiors – think vintage mirrors, mahogany wood and leather upholstery. The rooftop terrace hasn’t been forgotten: diners can now expect a quaint Provençal garden with a tailored alfresco menu and wine list.
55 Marylebone High Street, London W1U 5RB; orrery-restaurant.co.uk
Orrery Terrace, Marylebone
9Boulestin, Green Park
If French cuisine and a bit of fresh air is the order of the day, you really can’t go past Boulestin’s hidden courtyard without stopping in. Opening again soon as the weather warms up, this elegant courtyard is a great place to catch a bit of R&R and a fine-dining experience just moments away from St James’s Street. In terms of food, think seasonal menus featuring French dishes like gratin and confit duck accompanied by an excellent wine list.
5 Saint James’s Street, London SW1A 1EF; boulestin.com
Boulestin’s terrace
10Le Meridien Piccadilly’s French Riviera
Le Meridien Piccadilly has partnered with its sister hotel Le Meirdien Nice to create a French Riviera pop-up bar inspired by the 70s. The Terrace Grill & Bar will host three months of Summer Soirees on the terrace, which has been decked out with a promenade lined with parasols, palm trees and deck chairs. One of the only outdoor spaces on Piccadilly, there’s even a traditional village square complete with petanque, plus cocktails like the French Riviera Mojito. Enjoy the delicious antipasti created by Le Meridien Piccadilly’s Executive Chef Daniel Ayton in collaboration with Le Meirdien Nice’s Eric Brujan. Open 7 days a week from 12noon-10.30pm until 20 September 2016.
21 Piccadilly W1J 0BH; 020 7734 8000; lemeridienpiccadilly.co.uk
Summer Soirees at Le Meridien Piccadilly
SOUTH LONDON
11Frank’s Cafe, Peckham
Frank’s Café is the hottest spot south of the river come summer. Open from 19 May 2016 until September, it the country’s coolest multi-storey car park with cocktails (make it a Negroni or Aperol Spritz) and excellent sharing plates like buffalo chicken wings with blue cheese crème fraiche and smoked paprika and parmesan-roasted corn on the cob. Enjoy the Bold Tendencies installations on the way up to the top floor and buy two rounds at once – the whole of Shoreditch tends to descend on this place so the bar queue is usually huge.
10th floor, Peckham multi-storey car park, 95a Rye Lane, Peckham SE15 4ST; frankscafe.org.uk
Frank’s Cafe, Peckham (photo by Oskar Proctor)
12Street Feast at Hawker House
Street Feast has been keeping the population of East London fed and watered for a few years now with Dinorama in Shoreditch and Dalston Yard. The opening of the Model Market at Lewisham sent south east Londoners into raptures, and then along came Hawker House. Originally opened as a warehouse venue to get us through the dark, dreary winter months, in 2016 it expanded into the great outdoors, and is now home to a huge courtyard festival of food and craft beer that those in striking distance of Canada Water station on the Overground or Jubilee. Sadly August Bank Holiday weekend is the outdoor area’s swansong as activities retreat back indoors, but you can still enjoy the alfresco vibes at Dinorama, Dalston Yard and the Model Market.
A photo posted by Street Feast (@streetfeastldn) on
Aug 24, 2016 at 3:33am PDT
13The Bloom Gin Terrace at Oxo
Bloom Gin and the OXO Tower Restaurant, Bar and Brasserie have teamed up to create The Bloom Gin Terrace @ OXO. Eight floors up at the OXO Tower, the terrace serves a bespoke menu of six cocktails (all £13) inspired by English country gardens and created by OXO star’s mixologist Sophie Bratt. Choose from the likes of the Honey Pot, a combination of BLOOM Gin with lavender honey and bee pollen, and the Day Dreamer, a twist on the classic Collins, shaken with lemon juice and chamomile tea syrup. Open until Saturday 21 August 2016.
Barge House Street, South Bank SE1 9PH; harveynichols.com (to book a table call 020 7803 3888)
The Bloom Gin Terrace at OXO
14Terrazza on the Thames, Rotherhithe
Terrazza on the Thames is an exclusive riverside pop-up on the private terrace at Columbia Restaurant in Rotherhithe. With its own bar and kitchen and a stunning view of the Canary Wharf skyline, this pop-up features authentic Venetian food from Terrazza.
Docklands Riverside, 265 Rotherhithe Street SE16 5HW; columbiarestaurant.co.uk
Kick back at Terrazza on the Thames
15Plymouth Gin Dock, Rivington Greenwich
Where better to create a nautical-themed outdoor terrace than Maritime Greenwich? Plymouth Gin has teamed up with Rivington Greenwich to do just that – the Plymouth Gin Dock is open from now until 18 September 2016. A series of specially created gin cocktails, inspired by the rich maritime heritage of Greenwich, await guests visiting the Plymouth Gin Dock. From 4pm to 7pm each day, the ‘Pennant Flag’ – historically used by naval ships when in harbour to signal an invitation to others to gather and enjoy gin on their ship – will be hoisted to signify the start of the Plymouth ‘Hour’, with Gin and Tonics for £5.
Bookings are subject to availability and can be made online at rivingtongreenwich.co.uk
Plymouth Gin Dock, The Rivington Greenwich
16Brew, Putney
All-day breakfast, wood fired pizzas after 5pm, an outdoor cinema on Wednesday nights and a top notch wine list to boot – Brew in Putney has been open since last November and is shaping up as a summer go-to. As the fourth Brew café in south west London, the Putney location is the first to open in the evenings and has a lovely outdoor terrace area – currently it’s sheltered by a retractable roof and has a heating system to keep you warm while it’s still a little chilly, but come summer the roof will be back and the terrace soaking up the sun. Sit outside for an early morning juice, a late Bloody Mary-fueled brunch, afternoon coffee and cake, or an evening of wine and pizza.
162-164 Lower Richmond Road, Putney SW15 1LY; brew-cafe.com
Brew’s pretty terrace
17 The Rumpus Room, South Bank
Located in the Mondrian Hotel and inspired by the Bright Young Things – a group of high-energy bohemian socialites who partied their way through 1920’s London’s bars and newspapers – the Rumpus Room is decked to the nines, and has a dazzling view of London. Relax on the balcony, and sip champagne all evening…
20 Upper Ground, South Bank SE1 9PD; morganshotelgroup.com
The Rumpus Room’s balcony
18Source, Battersea
Named after London’s natural spring on which the restaurant sits, Source is located right next to the Thames and boasts a wrap-around terrace overlooking the river, where you can soak up the sun and enjoy what the kitchen has to offer. The menu has a focus on the seasonal and the simple, with tempting dishes for brunch, lunch and dinner. Their wine list is well picked too – an essential for riverside dining.
Ransomes Dock Restaurant, 35-37 Parkgate Road, Battersea SW11 4NP; sourcebattersea.com
The waterside terrace at Source, Battersea
19The Lido Café, Herne Hill
The Lido Café in Brockwell Park is one of our favourite spots in south London when the sun is out. A good-sized terrace faces the swimmers and the park’s leafy trees beyond, transporting you away from London and into a more rural environment. Modern-British food is served all-day, making this a great spot for breakfast, lunch or dinner.
Dulwich Road, Brockwell Lido, Herne Hill SE24 0PA; thelidocafe.co.uk
The Lido Cafe
20Craft London, Greenwich Peninsula
Stevie Parle opened the acclaimed Dock Kitchen in Ladbroke Grove six years ago, added Rotorino in Hackney last year and now he has crossed the river, putting Greenwich Peninsula on the culinary map with his new café, restaurant and bar, Craft London. ‘It’s an amazing building and a wonderful space,’ he says. ‘I particularly love the light here and we have a fabulous view of the river and the O2 from the third floor bar. There are great new places in Peckham and Bermondsey and London Bridge and now we are putting Greenwich Peninsula on the map too,’ says Stevie.
Craft London, Peninsula Square, Greenwich Peninsula SE10 0SQ; 020 8465 5910; craft-london.co.uk
View of our roof terrace from across the way at our neighbour, The Hub. Unsurprisingly it’s proving popular tonight!
A photo posted by Craft London (@craftldn) on
May 26, 2016 at 10:11am PDT
21The Sail Loft, Greenwich
Peaceful waterside dining is a pretty rare find in London, but you’ll find it at The Sail Loft in Greenwich. This new Fuller’s pub serves up a brilliant brunch, with the likes of black pudding hash with fried hen’s egg, plus roasted field mushroom, spinach, butternut squash and sourdough on the menu. If the weather turns, head indoors where you can still enjoy a view of the Thames from the floor-to-ceiling glass windows.
11 Victoria Parade Greenwich SE10 9FR; 020 8222 9310; sailloftgreenwich.co.uk
The Sail Loft is a lovely riverside pub
EAST LONDON
22The Water Poet, Shoreditch
We’re not the only ones to think that The Water Poet’s beer garden is among the best in London, and with ivy-covered walls, weathered benches and a buzzing atmosphere it’s easy to see why. And we haven’t even mentioned the menu and drinks list yet! This quirky pub has something for everyone – just make sure you don’t get lost wandering through all their many rooms trying to find the deck.
9-11 Folgate Street, London E1 6BX; waterpoet.co.uk
The Water Poet’s garden
23Boundary Rooftop, Shoreditch
The Boundary rooftop combines grape producing vines and wild herbs to create a rooftop garden space that is open all year thanks to the weatherproof pergola and open fire. In terms of eating, you can expect Mediterranean hors d’oeuvres, bar snacks and steaks off the grill. When the weather’s good there may be a wait on tables, and it doesn’t take bookings on small tables so either get together a group and plan ahead or expect to join the well-dressed queue of punters. The views over the roofs of Shoreditch are worth it, though.
2-4 Boundary Street, London E2 7DD; theboundary.co.uk
Boundary’s Rooftop
24The Culpeper, Spitalfields
Having grown most of its own herbs and vegetables on the roof for some time now, Culpeper is no stranger to making the most of its urban environment. This summer its team will be opening their rooftop garden to the public and it is set to be a great spot. Already an excellent place for the list of natural wines and the menu offerings, such as pancetta with snails, wild garlic and Jerusalem artichokes, the fact that you will soon be able to eat and drink these things in a garden above the city only makes things better.
40 Commercial Street, London E1 6LP; theculpeper.com
A photo posted by The Culpeper (@theculpeper) on
Jul 19, 2016 at 4:02am PDT
25Dishoom, Shoreditch
The ever popular Dishoom, modelled off an old Irani café in Bombay, has a great verandah area perfect for sunlight, reading a book off the shelves or working your way through the delicious menu. The retractable walls and roof make this area a safe bet all year round and in any weather, but this place is popular so get in early – we suggest going for breakfast, the bacon naans are a favourite.
7 Boundary Street, London E2 7JE; dishoom.com
The veranda at Dishoom, Shoreditch,
26Angler, Moorgate
Michelin-starred restaurant Angler, in the South Place Hotel not only serves up some of the best seafood in London but also has a lovely, elegant outdoor terrace. Rattan chairs and green shrubs create a Provençal style in the middle of the city, so with a setting like that, it only seems right to crack into the rosé.
South Place Hotel, 3 South Place, London EC2M 2AF; anglerrestaurant.com
Angler’s terrace
27Coq d’Argent, Bank
One of the most infamous rooftops in the City, Coq d’Argent’s covered and heated terrace takes many guises throughout the year, from winter wonderland with fur rugs and mugs of steaming cider to sun trap, where icy cocktails cool wound-up workers.
No.1 Poultry, London EC2R 8EJ; coqdargent.co.uk
Coq d’Argent’s rooftop terrace
28Dalston Roof Park, Dalston
Described as an ‘urban utopian oasis’ with views of the London skyline, this multifaceted project will re-open on the 1 May. Membership for the season is £5, which grants you unlimited entry into the Roof Park’s events – film screenings, music, street food and more. Its Facebook page will keep you up to date with what it’s got planned.
The Print House, 18-22 Ashwin Street, London E8 3DL; bootstrapcompany.co.uk
Dalston Roof Park
29Gancia Summer Terrace at Boisdale Canary Wharf
Iconic British restaurant Boisdale of Canary Wharf has launched a brand new alfresco terrace – the Gancia Summer Terrace. Gancia of Italy produce some of the finest Italian sparkling wines available and pride themselves on being the first ever sparkling wine brand to come out of Italy in 1865. Riding the wave of the current Prosecco boom, the Gancia terrace will provide guests with the perfect place to wind down in the lengthy evenings over looking the inconic city landscape.
Cabot Place, Canary Wharf E14 4QT; boisdale.co.uk
The Gancia Terrace at Boisdale
WEST LONDON
30Pergola on the Roof, Television Centre
Pergola on the Roof, west London’s new rooftop dining experience, is set 170-feet-high up, underneath a beautiful canopy of evergreen ivy, wisteria and bougainvillea, set against white washed walls. Designed as a vision of the Mediterranean, it’s a piece of sunny European escapism serving up delicious rotisserie chicken, pork belly to ribs, scallops, veal and mackerel courtesy of pop-ups by Rabbit, Salt Yard, Patty & Bun and Lecoq. The central bar stocks an array of rose, whites, reds, bubbles, ciders, beers and cocktails, plus there’s a roaming drinks trolley should you find a trip to the bar too bothersome! Open until Sunday 29 August 2016.
Multi-Storey Car Park, Television Centre, Wood Lane W12 7RJ; pergolaontheroof.co.uk
The very pretty Pergola On The Roof
31Dock Kitchen, Kensal Green
An old Victorian Wharf building in the Portobello Dock complex was converted into this restaurant as part of an urban regeneration project, and the results are one of the best restaurants in the area. The views out over Grand Union canal are a great accompaniment to this globe-spanning menu, featuring Sri Lankan, Indian, Korean and British cuisine.
Portobello Docks, 342-344 Ladbroke Grove, London W10 5BU; dockkitchen.co.uk
Dock Kitchen’s summery terrace
32No 197 Chiswick Fire Station, Chiswick
No 197 Chiswick Fire Station is a destination bar that pays homage to the history and community at the centre of the building, and a bar that aims to feel like a home to the locals. They’ve re-imagined the space entirely (the historic building had previously been an All Bar One) and focused on the community aspect of integrity and openness. ‘There was a little courtyard space at the back that was underused and just posed as a smoking solution, and the building previously cut off two thirds of the way down so we created an open kitchen for a sense of honesty and theatre, but it also means that when you walk in you can see from front to back and your eye is drawn to the courtyard,’ says Mel Marriott, Managing Director of the Darwin & Wallace pub group.
197 Chiswick High Road W4 2DR; 020 3857 4669; no197chiswickfirestation.com
Chiswick Fire Station gorgeous rear courtyard
NORTH LONDON/THE CITY
33Santa Monica at SkyLounge
SkyLounge’s summer residency, Santa Monica at SkyLounge, offers a taste of laid-back Santa
Monica living. The outdoor roof terrace, situated atop of the DoubleTree by Hilton London – Tower of London and overlooking some of London’s most iconic landmarks like The Gherkin, Tower of London and The Shard – has been transformed into a chic beachside bar. Sip on frozen margaritas and bespoke cocktails, inspired by Santa Monica and created with Casco Viejo tequila and Champagne Lanson. Tropical Pineapple Mimosas and a fresh fruit Sangria will also be served alongside Californian wines and beers, as well as and healthy dishes like Salmon Maki Rolls, Fish Tacos and Roasted Cauliflower Tostadas. Open Tuesday to Saturday from 4pm until midnight until 30 September 2016.
7 Pepys Street EC3N 4AF; doubletree3.hilton.com
Santa Monica at SkyLounge
34Proud, Camden
Boasting an impressive list of past performers, including Jessie J, Calvin Harris and The Kooks to name a few, Proud in Camden is something of an icon. Last year, it launched the Secret Garden Bar – a haven of cocktails, Mediterranean tastes, live music and a whole lot of fun above the busy Camden Market. The walls of the Secret Garden are covered floor-to-ceiling in vibrant plants, just the spot to work your way through a list of exciting cocktails. There is always something happening at Proud, be it a live band, a club night or a jazz singer, so check out the website to find out what’s coming up.
The Horse Hospital, The Stables Market, Camden Market, Chalk Farm Road NW1 8AH; proudcamden.com
The Secret Garden-style terrace at Proud Camden opened last year
35The Castle, Islington
This gastro-pub offers a great menu and drinks list to be enjoyed on its spacious rooft terrace – an excellent place to catch some rays on a sunny day in the centre of busy Islington. The specials menu changes daily and it has a pub quiz on Tuesdays, which is only £1 entry.
54 Pentonville Road, Islington N1 9HF; geronimo-inns.co.uk
The Castle, Islington
36The Modern Pantry, Clerkenwell
This Clerkenwell staple has something for just about any time of the day – a healthy breakfast, a decadent brunch, lunch with friends, afternoon tea, dinner, or a bite to eat after the theatre. The outdoor area seats 32 people and is a great place to watch the world go by.
47-48 Saint John’s Square, Clerkenwell EC1V 4JJ; themodernpantry.co.uk
The Modern Pantry’s courtyard
37Big Chill House, King’s Cross
Kitsch and colourful furniture decks out this rooftop bar, which claims to bring a taste of Shoreditch to King’s Cross. Atop a Victorian pub with a quirky interior, this rooftop bar is an excellent place for an elevated drink. The menu ranges from craft beer, cider and wine to cocktails like the Big Tea Party – Absolut, Beefeater, El Jimador, Appleton white, Triple sec, apple juice, lemon juice, bitters and blackcurrant jam. It does food, too, and brunch for the morning after.
257-259 Pentonville Road, King’s Cross N1 9NL; wearebigchill.com
The Big Chill’s rooftop
38The Aperol Spritz Terrrazza at Bird of Smithfield
Italy’s favourite aperitif, the Aperol Spritz, goes hand in hand with summer, which is why we’re very pleased to hear of the new Aperol Spritz Terrazza at Bird of Smithfield. The rooftop bar will be open six days a week, from Monday to Saturday, until 31 August 2016. Inspired by the Terrazza Aperol in Milan, the rooftop at Bird of Smithfield is a great place to meet colleagues for after-work drinks this summer. The bar also features a GIF photobooth, where guests can strike a pose and share their summertime moments. The Aperol Spritz Terrrazza will also play host to the Aperol Spritz Socials, a series of inspiring talks with London’s hottest influencers.
Bird of Smithfield, 26 Smithfield EC1A 9LB; aperolspritzsocials.com
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