Alfresco | Bon Vivant Concierge Service

When the sun is shining London comes to life, and alfresco restaurants and bars become a huge attraction. Emyr Thomas shares his tips on the best rooftop bars in London, so that you’re ready when the sun finally does shine through.

Aqua London

Aqua consists of two restaurants at the top of the former Dickens & Jones department store on Regent Street, with over 250 seats in total. Aqua Nueva serves contemporary Spanish food while Aqua Kyoto features Japanese cuisine.

Both restaurants have a large and impressive roof terrace, both of which are deservedly popular destination in the summer months and offer two of the best rooftop bars in London.

Sanctum Soho

The Sanctum Soho is an edgy but glamorous boutique hotel in Soho. The rooftop garden has a 24-hour residents’ bar complete with open-air hot tub, ideal for some hedonistic fun. Along with the adjoining indoor bar, the roof terrace makes a great event space. There are even two bedrooms on the same floor for those who can’t make it to the lift.

Rooftop at the Boundary, Shoreditch

One of the latest venture from Prescott & Conran, the rooftop restaurant at The Boundary, a 48-seat grill, has 360° views of London and includes a designer garden, a large bar, an open fireplace and luxury blankets for the chilly evenings. The Rooftop at the Boundary is one of the best rooftop bars in London.

Kensington Roof Gardens

Located one hundred feet above Kensington High Street in central London, The Roof Gardens and Babylon restaurant are truly spectacular. There are three themed gardens, with over 70 full size trees, a flowing stream stocked with fish and the resident flamingos.

Vista at The Trafalgar Hotel

The revamped rooftop at The Trafalgar Hotel, which has recently doubled in size, is right by Trafalgar Square and has some of the best alfresco views of London’s landmarks and statues, with Nelson’s Column almost at eye level.

The rooftop bar serves a selection of tapas plates, salads and sharing platters. Reservations can be made up to seven days in advance for a minimum number of six, but a £5 cover charge and minimum spend applies. With such a central location and views of iconic landmarks, this is one of of the best rooftop bars in London.

Century

Century is a private members’ club in the heart of Soho, with access via a discreet doorway on Shaftesbury Avenue, which has recently had a full refurbishment and re-design.

The top floor has a lovely and intimate terrace area, which unfortunately is for members only, but membership is reasonable and the club has some good spaces to work and play all year round.

Coq d’Argent

Situated in the heart of the Square Mile, Coq d’Argent has an outdoor terrace and a large and rather beautiful garden terrace, with great views of some of London’s most well known landmarks, including St Paul’s Cathedral.

The restaurant serves modern French cuisine while the brasserie and terrace serve a lighter menu with more of a modern European hint. Get there early during the week and be prepared to queue for the glass lift as it’s a very popular destination with City workers, or visit for a more relaxed Sunday lunch on the weekend.

As well as having one of the best rooftop bars in London, Coq d’Argent is also one of the best alfresco restaurants in London.

The Driver

The Driver is a mix of gastropub-style restaurant, members’ bar and rooftop terrace in King’s Cross, with a dining room that turns into a dance floor and a licence until 4am on the weekends. The rooftop terrace will be used for BBQs in the summer and can be hired for private events during the week.

The Soho Sky Terrace

The Courthouse Doubletree Hotel just off Regent Street has recently opened its 5th floor roof terrace, offering cocktails, afternoon tea from 3pm to 5pm daily, ‘BBQ favourites’ and light snacks. The Soho Sky Terrace is open to the public from 3pm to 10:30pm Tuesday to Saturday from late April until September.

Queen of Hoxton

Based in Shoreditch in the East End, the Queen of Hoxton is a haven for music fans, clubbers and art lovers. The rooftop bar has just emerged from a refurbishment and now resembles a suburban garden with decking, Astroturf and patio furniture, complete with a rum shack, a large BBQ area and panoramic views over London.

Paradise by way of Kensal Green

Paradise is a mix of gastropub, restaurant, cabaret venue and karaoke room with a rustic chic design and welcoming and cosy vibe in Kensal Green in West London. The intimate roof terrace is a perfect spot to spend the afternoon or for a sundowner cocktail after a lingering lunch in the restaurant.

Shoreditch House

Shoreditch House is a private members’ club, part of the Soho House Group, on the top three floors and roof of a renovated warehouse in Shoreditch, East London.

The rooftop bar, kitchen and lounge has recently been extended with the addition of the Garden and Lazy Lawn, but the highlight is still the 16 metre outdoor heated swimming pool.

The rooftop area is strictly for members only, but you can also check in to one of the 26 guest bedrooms to receive your temporary membership card and have full use of one of the best rooftop bars in London.

If you liked this top 10 feature to the best rooftop bars in London, why not read our guide to the most romantic restaurants in London, the best cocktail bars in London or the best alfresco restaurants in London?

Here are Bon Vivant‘s suggestions for the best alfresco restaurants in London – updated Summer 2012.

River Café, Hammersmith

Widely regarded as London’s best Italian restaurant with great pedigree in the kitchen that has produced many successful alumni and imitations, the River Café, with its minimalist, sleek design and light colour scheme that blend effortlessly with the riverside setting, creates an unforgettable dining experience.

The large terrace makes the River Cafe an excellent alfresco dining option in West London, and one of the best alfresco restaurants in London.

Cecconi’s, Mayfair

Serving fine Italian food from the morning until the early hours, Cecconi’s is a perfect spot for all day dining in the sun, with a few sought after tables lining the street on the corner of Saville Row and Burlington Gardens.

You can sit at one of the best alfresco restaurants in London watching the world pass you by in London’s most glamorous postcode.

The Modern Pantry, Clerkenwell

Anna Hansen’s acclaimed Clerkenwell restaurant The Modern Pantry has a large terrace on a beautiful square in Clerkenwell. Tables are available on a first come, first served basis, but it’s really worth the wait as this is one of the best alfresco restaurants in London.

Dean Street Townhouse, Soho

Dean Street Townhouse serves classic British cuisine from first thing in the morning until the early hours. Whilst the interiors are dark, cosy and seductive, the small but perfectly formed terrace is a delight in the warm weather, with the added benefit of being right in the heart of Soho.

Odette’s, Primrose Hill, NW1

Odette’s has been a Primrose Hill institution for decades, but is now under the reign of Bryn Williams, winner of the Great British Menu television series.

The mood is dark and seductive in the downstairs restaurant and the tables that open out on to the streets of Primrose Hill are ideal for an alfresco lunch and one of Best Alfresco Restaurants in London.

The Ledbury, Notting Hill

The Ledbury, with its Notting Hill location and neighbourhood restaurant feel, had been quietly making its mark on London’s dining scene until its second Michelin star catapulted it into the mainstream earlier this year.

As expected, Brett Graham’s cooking is now in huge demand, but as the terrace does not accept reservations, it’s a great way to skip the long wait list and try one of London’s best restaurants whilst enjoying the sun. The terrace makes The Ledbury one of the best Alfresco Restaurants in London

Scott’s, Mayfair

Scott’s is glamorous, exciting and makes a great night out, specialising in seafood and shellfish. Scott’s is located on Mount Street, one of the beautiful streets in London, and with a small selection of tables lining the street outside, it is easy to see why Scott’s is one of London’s most popular restaurants.

If you can’t get a table on the terrace or inside in the main restaurant, you may be lucky to get a seat at the oyster bar.

Bentley’s Oyster Bar & Grill, West End

Bentley’s terrace holds up to 24 people, surrounded by glass panels to allow views up and down Swallow Street. They host events on the Terrace including Cigar evenings and they plan to set up some mini tennis courts in time for Wimbledon.

The Albion, Islington

The Albion is a traditional English country pub in the heart of London, with the main attraction being its garden. The French windows in the restaurant area open onto a terrace of over 450 sq metres, which can seat over 120 people for dining and drinking surrounded by herb beds, fruit trees and an original Georgian walled garden.

In the summer months, the outdoor barbeque is a real draw, as well as the whole roast suckling pig for 10 to share, making this one of the Best Alfresco Restaurants in London

Caravan, Clerkenwell

Known for its brunch menu and excellent coffee, Caravan is a relaxed and effortlessly cool restaurant on Exmouth Market in Clerkenwell. If you can’t secure one of the tables outside, the open windows and doors will make you feel like you’re outside, even when you’re not.

The Engineer, Primrose Hill

A Primrose Hill institution, although now under new management. Despite the ample dining space, the bar area is on the small side, but there is respite in the form of a back garden, which is an ideal spot for long summer lunches at one of the Best Alfresco Restaurants in London.

Tom’s Terrace at Somerset House

The River Terrace Cafe at Somerset House has been taken over by Tom Aikens for the summer, with an informal menu, including mini burgers and triple cooked chips, to accompany the evening drinks and splendid views of the Thames.

Tom’s Terrace is only open during the summer month, so please always check that it is open.

Rooftop at the Boundary, Shoreditch

One of the latest venture from Prescott & Conran, the rooftop restaurant at the boundary, a 48-seat grill, has 360° views of London and includes a designer garden, a large bar, an open fireplace and luxury blankets for the chillier evenings.

Le Pont de La Tour, Tower Bridge

Le Pont de la Tour has a beautiful riverside setting from which to enjoy its modern French menu, with a focus on seafood, and vast wine list. The outside terrace is very popular in the summer as it has a superb view of Tower Bridge.

The Gun, Docklands

With a beautiful riverside setting and a large decked terrace to embrace the British summer, The Gun is one of the best dining experience in the Docklands offering a great British pub menu. In the summer, be sure to visit A Grelha at The Gun, an al fresco Portuguese BBQ of fresh fish and meats on the decked terrace.

Bleeding Heart, Clerkenwell

With a rustic look to match its location and history, the Bleeding Heart offers traditional French fare in a welcoming and intimate setting, but the real attraction in the summer is the large terrace, which brings a bit of Paris to the streets of Farringdon.

If you liked this top 10 feature, why not read our guide to the best brunch in London, the best cocktail bars in London or the best gastropubs in London?

Tag Archives: Alfresco

The Best Rooftop Bars in London

The Best Alfresco Restaurants in London