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Rooftop bars in London have this enigmatic allure that makes us flock them. Their beautiful location is a fantastic vantage point to take in the mesmerising view of the London skyline. Dining at a rooftop bar comes with an array of different experiences that will make you feel like you are dining with the Gods. Some rooftop bars in London go the extra mile by proving patrons with live music, gourmet-quality food and much more. Here are the best rooftop bars in London you can indulge in –
1) Sky Pod Bar
Sky Pod Bar is one of the exceptional rooftop bars in London. Located in a 35-storied skyscraper, it provides a stunning view of the city of London. On a nice chilly night, it’s warm ambience gives an astounding vibe to the crowd. It serves customers with authentic food and music.
Signature drink: Their impressive selection of sweet cocktails.
Unique features: It features in Tripadvisor’s list of 9 Bars With The Best Views In London
Location: Sky Garden, 1 Sky Garden Walk, London EC3M 8AF, United Kingdom
Transport: London Fenchurch Street train station
Nearby attractions
- The Monument to the Great Fire of London
- American Golf
Opening hours
- Monday – Friday 7 am to 12 am
- Saturday 8 am to 2 am
- Sunday 8 am to 1 am
Phone number: +44 333 772 0020
2) Golden Bee
The Golden Bee is a platform with a mirror-ceilinged bar. Expect a great DJ that will help you set the right vibe. They also have a fascinating cocktail menu. It is one of the Best Rooftop Bars in Shoreditch and gives you an amazing vibe with great music and friendly staff.
Signature drink: You can’t go wrong with their lengthy cocktail menu.
Unique features It has a retractable canopy
Location: Singer St, London EC1V 9DD
Transport: Old Street Station
Nearby attractions
- Charles Square
- LSO St Lukes
Opening hours
- Tuesday – Wednesday 5 pm to 12 am
- Thursday 5 pm to 2 am
- Friday – Saturday 5 pm to 3 am
Phone number : +44 20 7253 1110
3) The Rooftop St.James
The Rooftop St. James bar situated in Spring Gardens, is one of the most popular rooftop bars in London. The hallmark of this bar is that it offers you a reasonable rate for food and wine. This Trafalgar’s Smart Rooftop also offers private hires. The venue has the potential to give you the best rooftop bar experience in London.
Signature dish: Tuna Tartare
Unique features: For premier occasions try ROOM – a glass box with space for 14.
Location: 7th Floor, 2 Spring Gardens, St. James’s, London SW1A 2TS, United Kingdom
Transport: Trafalgar Square (Stop T) train station
Nearby attractions
- Trafalgar Square
- The National Gallery
Opening hours
- Wednesday – Thursday 5 pm to 12 am
- Friday 12 pm to 1 am
- Saturday – Sunday 12 pm to 9 pm
Phone number : +44 20 7870 2904
4) Aviary Rooftop Restaurant and Terrace Bar
Aviary is a bird theme venue. They cook food in their coal-ovens which brings a different taste to food. You will feel the earthy-taste in a pleasant manner which makes the food better. It also has spacious areas. So you should visit this rooftop bar Shoreditch holds.
Signature drink : Its botanical cocktails.
Unique features : During winter, you can tuck into the beautiful and cosy rooftop igloos
Location : Royal London House, 10th Floor Montcalm, 22-25 Finsbury Square, London EC2A 1DX, United Kingdom
Transport : Moorgate subway station
Nearby attractions
- Theatre Delicatessen
- Finsbury Circus Garden
Opening hours
- Monday – Friday 6.30 am to 12 am
- Saturday 7 am to 12 am
- Sunday 8 am to 11 pm
Phone number : +44 20 3873 4060
5) Bar Elba
Bar Elba is located in Waterloo Road, London. It is one of the coolest rooftop bars in Southbank. The rooftop Bar Elba is named after the Mediterranean island where Napoleon was exiled. But apart from the motto ‘liberté, egalité, rosé’, there is not that much real connection to Napoleon or the Mediterranean.
Signature drink: Sex On The Elban Beach
Unique features: Happy hours between 4 pm – 6 pm from Sunday to Wednesday.
Location: Rooftop Mercury House, 109-117 Waterloo Rd, Bishop’s, London SE1 8UL, United Kingdom
Transport: London Waterloo train station
Nearby attractions
- Banksy Tunnel
- Waterloo Millennium Green
Opening hours
- Monday – Wednesday 4 pm to 12 am
- Thursday – Saturday 4 pm to 1 am
- Sunday 4 pm to 12 am
Phone number : +44 20 3892 8166
6) 12th Knot
12th Knot is the nearest rooftop bar from the infamous London bridge. It is a fancy hotspot with a great selection of cocktails. It provides you with brilliant mixologists to create these fine cocktails and serves you with proper managing staff. It is a plush place, and your experience here will definitely be an unforgettable one.
Signature drink : Its mix of American and British cocktails
Unique features : It has live music every Wednesday
Location : 20 Upper Ground, South Bank, London SE1 9PD, United Kingdom
Transport : Blackfriars train station
Nearby attractions
- Bernie Spain Gardens
Opening hours
- Tuesday – Wednesday 5 pm to 1 am
- Thursday – Friday 5 pm to 2 am
- Saturday 5 pm to 12 am
Phone number : +44 20 3747 1063
7) The Sky Bar, London
This modern vibe venue is serving as the St Pauls rooftop bar in Godliman Street. Sky bar holds a spectacular view of the entire city of London. It is always packed with a line up of events. Expect well-crafted drinks, delicious food and amazing service. It is one of London’s best rooftop bars.
Signature drink :Mojito
Unique features : A great place for after parties
Location : 7, 10 Godliman St, London EC4V 5AJ, United Kingdom
Transport : Blackfriars train station
Nearby attractions
- Two Temple Place
- Bank of England Museum
Phone number : +44 20 7074 1000
8) Radio Rooftop Bar
Highly panoramic views from the Radio Rooftop Bar. The Radio Rooftop Bar is an iconic venue in Strand, London. It serves you with the best food with an impressive service. They create their food with the finest Japanese ingredients and also keep a good selection of drinks.
Signature drink : They have a budding partnership with Bombay Sapphire and Patrón Tequila, so expect some smooth cocktails.
Unique features : You have a brilliant panoramic view of, among other things, Houses of Parliament, Big Ben, Tower Bridge, South Bank, The Shard, London Bridge, Tate Modern, Somerset House, London Eye, St. Paul’s Cathedral and the theatre district of Covent Garden.
Location : 336-337 Strand, London WC2R 1HA, United Kingdom
Transport : Temple subway station
Nearby attractions
- Somerset House
- Novello Theatre
Opening hours
- Monday – Wednesday 7 am to 1 am
- Thursday – Friday 7 am to 2 am
- Saturday 7 am to 2 am
- Sunday 7 am to 12 am
Phone number :+44 20 7395 3440
9) Aqua Spirit
This is a spectacular bar with an open-air rooftop. A chilled atmosphere in terms of a rooftop bar where you can have drinks in the sun along with some light snacks. In spite of their enormous menu, every dish is an absolute home run.
Signature drink: Their selection of signature Japanese and Spanish cocktails
Unique features : It has 2 indoor restaurants
Location : 5th, 240 Regent St, Soho, London W1B 3BR, United Kingdom
Transport : Oxford Circus Underground Station
Nearby attractions
- The London Palladium
- ISKCON Temple London
Opening hours
- Monday – Saturday 12 pm to 1 am
- Sunday 12 pm to 8 pm
Phone number : +44 20 7478 0540
10) Netil360
A relaxed, simple and chilled rooftop bar, Netil360 is situated at Hackney, London. It has plenty of space within the place for customers to let loose. It provides customers with amazing music and serves the best dishes from their extensive menu. They offer a great variety of cocktails and beers.
Signature drink : Aperol Spritz
Unique features: Unlike most establishments, Netil360 does not take bookings
Location: 1 Westgate St, Hackney, London E8 3RL, United Kingdom
Transport: London Fields train station
Nearby attractions
- The Viktor Wynd Museum of Curiosities, Fine Art & UnNatural History
- London Fields Lido
Opening hours
- Thursday 5 pm to 11.30 pm
- Friday 5 pm to 12.30 am
- Saturday 2 pm to 2:30 am
11) H10 Waterloo Sky Bar
A perfect setup for a relaxed drinking experience, H10 always ensures that you get your privacy on this 8th-floor rooftop bar. You can watch the London skyline and other notable landmarks from up here. It has a classy decor with modern furniture which makes it look full of grandeur. They will serve you quality drinks along with some light snacks.
Signature drink: Their wide range of cocktails
Unique features: A superb view of many of the famous landmarks like the London Eye.
Location: 284-302 Waterloo Rd, London SE1 8RQ
Transport: Lambeth North subway station
Nearby attractions
- Waterloo Millennium Green
- Young Vic Theatre
Opening hours: Monday – Sunday open daily
Phone number: +44 20 7928 4062
12) Upper 5th Shoreditch
Upper 5th Shoreditch is a classy rooftop bar, where you can have your drinks in the sun. It can be a date or a hang-out with your friends. Relax with some light food and snacks. Upper 5th Shoreditch has witnessed many popular DJs on special nights.
Signature drink: Bellini
Unique features: On weekends, some of London’s most popular DJs raise the atmosphere to a whole new level.
Location: Courthouse Hotel Shoreditch, 335-337 Old St, London EC1V 9LL, United Kingdom
Transport: Hoxton train station
Nearby attractions
- Hackney City Farm
- Colours Hoxton
Opening hours : Monday – Sunday 3 pm to 11 pm
Phone number : +44 20 3310 5536
13) Savage Garden
Savage Garden is a big rooftop terrace with a fine cocktail lounge. This rooftop bar is on the 12th Floor and has an indoor lounge which is modern and cosy. This is a nice place to hang out with your friends. Witness a great night with amazing drinks like their signature cocktails and champagnes.
Signature drink : Signatures cocktails like ‘Wild Poison’ and ‘Evil Eye’
Unique features : It offers an amazing 360-degree view of the London skyline.
Location : 7 Pepys Street | Hilton DoubleTree Tower of London, London EC3N 4AF, England
Transport : London Fenchurch train station
Nearby attractions
- Sky Garden
- The London Wall Walk
Opening hours
- Monday – Saturday 12 pm to 2 am
- Sunday 12 pm to 1 am
Phone number : +44 20 7709 1043
14) Madison
This Rooftop Restaurant Bar is inspired by the Manhattan cocktail menu. It specialises in contemporary classics with unusual twists in their drinks. The food is well prepared by highly skilled chefs. So cherish your day by looking at the beautiful city of London from this incomparable vantage point.
Signature drink : Manhattan inspired cocktail menu
Unique features : Holds both a restaurant and a rooftop bar.
Location : Rooftop Terrace One, New Change, London EC4M 9AF, United Kingdom
Transport : St Paul’s subway station
Nearby attractions
- Guildhall
- London Mithraeum
Opening hours
- Monday – Saturday 12 pm to 12 am
- Sunday 12 pm to 9.30 pm
Phone number : +44 20 3693 5160
15) Roof East
The Roof East Rooftop Bar is situated in Stratford, which is a multi-storey park. It is popular for its Friday nights where you get to play mini-golf, lawn ball and even watch movies. The Roof East is created for you to enjoy, so sip your drink and just unwind on the roof.
Signature drink : It has a refreshing range of cocktails
Unique features: You get to play games like lawn Bowls, House of Foos, and a VR mix of traditional football and foosball.
Location: 7 & 8 Stratford Multi-Storey Car Park, Great Eastern Rd, London E15 1BB, United Kingdom
Transport: Stratford train station
Nearby attractions
- Stratford Park
- Stratford East Picturehouse
Opening hours: Reopening in Spring 2020
Phone number: +44 7436 253180
FAQs
1. What are some popular rooftop bars in London for students?
Rooftop St James, The Rooftop at The Trafalgar, and The Rooftop at The Strand are some of the most popular rooftop bars in London for students.
2. What are the typical prices for drinks at rooftop bars in London?
Drink prices at London rooftop bars vary but typically run from £8-£15 for a cocktail and £4-£6 for a beer or glass of wine.
3. Are there any rooftop bars in London with student discounts?
Some rooftop bars in London offer student discounts, however, it’s better to verify with the particular bar you want to visit.
4. Are there any rooftop bars in London with a dress code?
Some London rooftop bars, such as smart casual wear, may have a dress code. There may be different themes for different nights based on the occasion so checking the website page or the social media account of the bar may give you information on the same.
5. Are rooftop bars in London open year-round or just during the summer?
Some rooftop bars in London are open all year, while others are only available during the summer. It’s best to verify with the specific venue you want to attend.
