London's best rooftop bars

This rooftop bar, nestled behind a hidden entrance in London Bridge, has an excellent menu of street food dishes, as well as house cocktails, beers and resident DJs playing live music well into the night.

This quintessential East London pub has a wonderful rooftop where vegetables and plants are grown for use in the food and drinks served here. The rooftop set lunch menu is a popular choice (veggie options available), especially when paired with a house cocktail topped with garnish grown in the vegetable patches a few steps away from your seat. In 2023, The Culpeper was the highest-ranking rooftop bar in the UK on Big 7 Travel's list.

In the heart of Brixton, atop The Department Store, you'll find Upstairs—a laid-back members club offering a range of tasty food and drinks. Originally created as a social haven for Squire & Partners architects, who designed the building, it quickly became a popular spot for friends, family, and the local community. Responding to high demand, Upstairs officially became a members club in November 2018 but non-members can also enjoy the Private Dining rooms, including a stunning space beneath a pretty glazed dome.

This London hotspot is perched on the 10th floor of the Montcalm Hotel between the City and Shoreditch and boasts excellent views of London’s epic skyline. Sit back and relax with a botanical cocktail in hand whilst the busy city carries on ticking below.

The refined Florattica draws inspiration from East London's textile industry heritage, with its ceiling covered by a lavish floral installation. The cocktails are based on homemade recipes and guide you on a sensory journey through the world of flowers, high above on the 11th floor in the Minories. Florattica's eye-catching interior is matched only by the urban panorama viewed through the floor-to-ceiling windows or from the outdoor terrace.

There are few places to go in Stratford that are quite as fun as Roof East. Here you'll find weekly quizzes, rooftop cinema nights, sky-high street food, and tropical cocktails all taking place on the roof of an East London car park.

Every year, Frank’s Café opens the doors to its rooftop as a nod to the upcoming summer. Swing by here for brunch, lunch or dinner with a menu that changes based on seasonality, or just enjoy a range of drinks in the afternoon sun.

From craft beers and cocktails to late-night DJs and mouthwatering burgers, Big Chill in King's Cross is the place to be for an epic day or night out in Central London. They often have a host of events taking place throughout the months too, so it's always worth checking their website for anything that catches your attention.

This stylish rooftop bar in central London is located high up on the roof of Treehouse London Hotel. You can expect a seasonal menu of tangy cocktails paired with an innovative food menu featuring dishes made using local produce. The heated wraparound terrace is ideal for unparalleled views of the London skyline.

Madison rooftop bar is a reputable bar in the heart of St.Paul's and the award-winning terrace offers spectacular wraparound views of London’s impressive skyline. People like to dress to impress on the weekends here but it's also a popular spot for after-work drinks on a warm summer's day.

Netil360 is situated in the hip London Fields area of East London. Their menu features a wide variety of local spirits and craft beers as well as dim sum and bao from the on-site Steam Kitchen. If you want something different to eat, you can put in an order for street food from local vendors who will deliver your order straight to the roof.

Queen of Hoxton is located in the colourful streets of trendy Shoreditch and is the ideal spot to enjoy rooftop cocktails accompanied by mouthwatering street food. The roof terrace here changes theme every season, which sees the decor, drinks, and food options all shift to complement this.

The Rooftop at The Standard can be found 11 floors up where there are panoramic views of London's skyline. See St Pancras Station from new heights and sit back and relax as the sun sets over the city in the distance. Don't forget to try their street food and spicy margaritas.

London's highest public garden sits 36 floors up in the iconic Walkie-Talkie building. The interiors are decked out with Instagrammable hanging foliage whilst the floor-to-ceiling windows offer some of the best views of the city.

This heated rooftop at the Boundary is open year-round for Mediterranean lunches in summer and Alpine-inspired fondue throughout winter. There's a huge variety of cocktails, wines and champagnes available, and you can choose to stay in one of their 17 bespoke rooms right in the heart of the action.

Golden Bee is a popular spot for after-work drinks and corporate events and parties. The rooftop has a retractable canopy which means it’s weatherproof year-round, and the 2-for-1 happy hour is worth swinging by for, as are the club nights on the weekend.

Bussey Rooftop Bar in Peckham welcomes visitors to party in a tropical rooftop oasis with 360-views of the city. Feast on Napoli-style pizza with a refreshing cocktail in hand with the cityscape as your backdrop.

You can see some of London’s most iconic landmarks from this chic rooftop bar. Sip on creative cocktails and Japanese spirits, or head along to one of their champagne parties if you fancy something a little more glam.

You'll find this quirky rooftop bar directly above where the first BBC programme was transmitted in 1922. Enjoy excellent views of the River Thames with a cocktail in hand, as well as delicious breakfast, lunch and dinner menus filled with seasonal, locally sourced dishes.

This quirky South West London rooftop is known for its live music scene, mostly featuring jazz and blues performances. There's also an impressive menu of fusion dishes and tropical cocktails made with alcohol sourced from local suppliers.

This rooftop cocktail and brunch bar in Paddington has fantastic views of Hyde Park, Notting Hill and the banks of Little Venice. It's known for being a popular spot for brunch, and there's a wide variety of international dishes and cocktails to enjoy here, too.

For creative cocktails, contemporary decor and 360-views of London, Savage Gardens is where it's at. Located on the 12th floor of DoubleTree by Hilton at Tower Hill, it's earned itself a reputation as one of the city’s most popular rooftop spots and it's easy to see why.

LSQ is located right in the hustle and bustle of the West End and is the ideal spot for some pre or post-theatre drinks and snacks. Signature cocktails and other premium drinks do hand in hand with the stunning views of the city skyline. A varied food menu is available as well.

The sun-soaked sky bar on the 7th floor of the Amano hotel has an adjoining roof terrace where you can watch the sunset over Covent Garden as the in-house DJ spins some records. You can choose from a wide range of alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks, along with tapas-style dishes to snack on.

This rooftop bar and restaurant on the 10th floor of the Assembly Hotel in the West End has 360-views of the city's iconic landmarks (see if you can spot the London Eye and The Shard). The menu is filled with the freshest pasta dishes, burrata, seafood and risotto options, as well as a top-notch tiramisu for dessert.

Twelve floors up on Southbank's Sea Containers, you'll find the 12th Knot rooftop bar with panoramic views of the surrounding Thames. There's live music every Wednesday and DJs spinning tunes from Thursday until Saturday.

This 14th-floor seafood restaurant boasts the longest oyster list in the whole of London made even better by incredible city views. There's a large outdoor terrace with sprawling views of London landmarks, as well as a marble raw bar and plenty of house cocktails.

Take a break from shopping for dinner or drinks at Selfridge's chic rooftop bar, Alto by San Carlo. It's worth a visit just for the incredible views of London rooftops and landmarks spanning miles. The theme has been Italian-inspired for the past few years and the menu is chock-a-block with seasonal dishes.

The Rooftop bar and terrace is part of One Hundred Shoreditch, a building that houses different restaurants and bars. This Palm-Springs-inspired spot feels like you've just escaped to California. The playfully charming spot boasts panoramic views across East London, nicely complemented by The Rooftop's brunch menu, which features twists on classics with a touch of California dreamin'.

A remnant of when this place was still home to the Forza Win Italian restaurant, Forza Wine is an award-winning rooftop bar in Peckham. Enjoy natural wines and cocktails while taking in the stunning views, and snack on a changing selection of small plates such as burrata, panzanella or harissa chicken. The bar was voted one of the Top 50 rooftop bars in Europe.

Wagtail is a sophisticated bar in the heart of The City, accommodating up to 120 guests across its heated and covered spaces. Enjoy 360° views of the city skyline while enjoying a glass of wine with one of the best backdrops dotted with London landmarks such as Tower Bridge, St. Paul's Cathedral, the Shard, the Gherkin, and the Walkie-Talkie. Make your way through the list of creative cocktails with some small plates on the side, like the whipped cod's roe or chicken karaage.

This chic Japanese izakaya rooftop bar is the place to go for epic skyline views and creative cocktails. The bar is decorated in a minimalist monochrome style, oozing class. The cocktail list is inventive, boasting drinks like the lychee rosé or barrel-aged old-fashioned with Yamazaki whisky. There's also a small plates menu to keep you satisfied while you're sipping away.

Aqua Nueva is one of Soho's premium bars with three terraces overlooking bustling Regent Street. You can enjoy their eclectic wine list, featuring both house whites and bottles of luxurious Dom Pérignon Rosé. Or, if you prefer cocktails, they've got all sorts, including a range of non-alcoholic options. The drinks are best paired with the bar snacks menu, with tasty options like wild mushroom croquettes, Iberian charcuterie selections, and pistachio churros served with lashings of dark chocolate sauce.

Bōkan in Canary Wharf offers breathtaking views from every corner. Whether you choose to unwind in the laid-back bar, hang on the roof terrace, or dine in the main contemporary restaurant, you'll get to savour city views while you chill. The menus showcase the best of British ingredients transformed into tasty European dishes, such as venison tartare.

The Broadcaster, part of Open House's collection of modern London social hubs, is a chic rooftop gastropub overlooking White City from atop the Television Centre. Spanning diverse areas, ideal for grand private functions or cosy meals alike, this dog- and kid-friendly establishment offers classic British dishes throughout the day, including weekend brunch choices. The food is accompanied by cocktails, wines, and other assorted beverages, as well as a varied event programme.

Flute, located atop the opulent five-star Broadwick Soho hotel, is a rooftop bar providing breath-taking views of the London skyline from its wraparound outdoor terrace. Inside, the bar boasts lavish decor, including animal-print upholstery, mirrored ceilings, and extravagant carpeting. Guests can enjoy a changing selection of imaginative cocktails crafted by skilled bartenders, complemented by various bar snacks.

ABar Rooftop is a sophisticated rooftop lounge bar with a terrace that offers fantastic panoramic views of the city. This refined spot in Mayfair is elegant and upmarket, serving distinct cocktails with an Asian influence in addition to fine wine and craft beers. Guests can also sample a curated menu of nibbles developed by star Korean-American chef Akira Back.