The best rooftop bars: London 2023's finest sky-high sipping

Joia, Battersea

It’s all systems go at the slick new branch of European hotel chain Art'otel, which opened at Battersea Power Station in December. Whizzing diners up to the top of the complex, where 360-degree views of London and the turquoise waters of its rooftop pool can be enjoyed, is Joia, the new venture from Michelin-starred Portuguese chef Henrique Sá Pessoa. The restaurant promises to be a showcase of Henrique’s vibrant plates, while for drinks, there's punchy cocktails and their slushy-based equivalents, as well as a Portuguese-led wine list.

Laurel's on the Roof, Shoreditch

Scale the Mondrian Shoreditch (by lift, of course) and you'll be rewarded with a dose of 70s Hollywood glamour. Sky-high bar Laurel's on the Roof is infused with old-school Californian inflections, from retro neon signs to rattan chandeliers. The menu is just as nostalgic: order a Malibu shrimp cocktail, if you will, or a Cobb salad. The drinks are more of the moment, with frozen spicy margaritas; Japanese Garibaldis muddled with yuzu; and a punchy sounding Wet Gibsons (Oxley Gin, Martini Ambrato and silverskin onion) among the offerings.

The Lucky Club, Camden

The sister site to The Lucky Club in Mayfair, this disheveled younger sibling has taken over the site of former legendary nightclub Proud. While the Mayfair original is known for its Asian small plates and lengthy martini menu, visitors to the Camden branch will be transported to Mexico via a menu of tacos, tostadas and seven different margaritas.

Willows, John Lewis Roof Garden

The rooftop bar atop John Lewis, now called Willows, has reopened for the summer season. Take a break from your summer shopping and find somewhere to perch on its soothing, natural-looking furnishings, and tuck into a summery menu or spritzes, classic cocktails, and seasonal food courtesy of Kitchen Ventures.

Skylark Roof Garden, Little Venice

Perched 10 floors up on the top of an office block, Skylark Roof Garden is a polished open space spruced up in minimalist style with a touch of greenery here and there. From its position above the canal banks of Little Venice, the garden boasts views of Notting Hill, The Shard, Hyde Park and the Royal Albert Hall – from where, if you arrive early in the day, you can hear the sounds of world-class orchestras warming up. In the evening, the soundtrack switches to the more prominent beats of DJ sets from the likes of Spencer Mac and Mercedes Benson, who play from sunset till closing time.

Skylark’s menu focuses on quality ingredients, with signature cocktails including a dark chocolate espresso martini, picante and frozen watermelon daiquiri. Food, meanwhile, is geared towards pan-Asian inspired small plates, including Vulcan pop shrimp; wild-caught tuna tartar tacos; and rickshaw kimchi chicken skewers.

London Bridge Rooftop

Pandemic newcomer London Bridge Rooftop is where to head for fresh-air sipping without catching a chill - it's got all heaters blazing on chilly evenings. Look forward to celebratory cocktails, craft brews, Spanish-themed small plates (courtesy of the Ginger Pig with White Pearls) and DJ sets, as well as panoramic views of the higgledy-piggledy streets and train tracks below.

Forza Wine, Peckham

Located a stone’s throw from Frank’s and the Bussey Building is Peckham’s most polished rooftop offering: wine and small-plates joint Forza Wine. A swift lift ride up to its breezy, open quarters and you’ll see why the venue is popular for work meetings, post-work tipples (do try an orange wine) and full-on dinners alike. The Italian-led menu boasts a ream of delicious, carefully thought-through small plates.

Pergola Paddington, Paddington

Party bar Pergola returns for 2023, transforming its Paddington site into a sky-high, palm-dotted drinking den. Lounge around on beachy furniture and sip into the evening while enjoying blushing sunset views.

Studio Frantzén, Harrods

For sky-high sipping with a helping of Swedish gastronomy, look to Harrods' rooftop bar and restaurant Studio Frantzén. The latest venture from acclaimed chef Björn Frantzén, its menu is a fusion of Nordic and Japanese flavours. The elegant trimmings of the restaurant's minimalist, Scandi-style dining room spill out onto a terrace where a range of Nordic cocktails can be enjoyed as well premium wines.

Jin Bo Law, Aldgate

Between the pineapple-themed decor, Asian-inspired cocktails and – if you time your visit right – the summer breeze, Jin Bo Law, on the 14th floor of Dorsett City Hotel in Aldgate, has the power to whisk you off to a holiday far, far away from the suited and booted streets below. Then again, with views of some of the city’s most important landmarks, who’d want to sip their sundowner anywhere other than London?

Queen of Hoxton, Shoreditch

Shoreditch favourite the Queen of Hoxton has reopened with the theme of Little Barcelona. Not jetting off this summer? You can enjoy a mini holiday up here with Spanish-themed cocktails and food.

The Lyric, Hammersmith

The roof garden of the Lyric Theatre in Hammersmith is a great space for private hire. Here you can host events for up to 120 people, with catering available from the venue in canapé, buffet or barbecue form. You can also secure a smaller area if you’re looking to celebrate with friends, or simply pop up in the summer to bask in the sun, play garden games, and enjoy some casual food and drinks from the bar inside.

Frank’s Café, Peckham

Summer wouldn’t be summer without a trip to Frank’s Café in Peckham. Even if you haven't been, chances are you’ve seen an Instagram post of its iconic pink stairwell, or a panoramic sunset shot of London’s skyline taken from its quarters. Located on top of a multi-storey carpark, a mere stone’s throw from Peckham Rye station, Frank’s is one of the largest public rooftop spaces in London and a visit is as much about hanging with the ‘in crowd’ as it is about the reasonably priced drinks: classic cocktails for around £8 a pop, and a small selection of beers and wines from around £5.

Chiringuito, Bethnal Green

Rooftop bar Chiringuito opened in 2018 on the site of a former toilet block in Bethnal Green. The bar – which is next to Bethnal Green tube station and overlooks the neighbouring Museum Gardens – serves up a menu inspired by Hispanic and Latin American flavours. Expect rooftop DJ sets on summer nights.

Aqua Kyoto, Soho

Serving up a stellar Japanese menu, this popular late-night spot – with sister sites in cosmopolitan cities like New York, Dubai and Hong Kong – is open all year round and hosts DJs most weekends.

Lost in Brixton, Brixton

Set above Brixton Village in a space only recently open to the public, Lost in Brixton has capacity for 440 guests and boasts a retractable roof to let the summer sun shine through. And if you think its foliage-wrapped wooden beams look familiar, chances are you’ve been to a branch of Pergola, the rooftop bar mini-chain operated by the same company.

Drinks-wise, the menu features beers from nearby Brixton Brewery and Latin American-inspired cocktails, including pear pisco sours and hibiscus margaritas. Even more exciting is the food: your pick of dishes from Brixton Village and Market Row’s top-notch restaurants, ordered through an app, Tablesnapper, and delivered to your table by a runner. We’ll raise a hibiscus margarita to that.

Bar Elba, Waterloo

Popular with the party crowd, this fun-loving rooftop bar offers communal tables and an extensive drinks list – including ‘big jug’ cocktails, potent smaller concoctions, and craft beers and wines. It’s the ideal spot for after-work drinks or weekend celebrations laced with a tipple (or three).

Coq d’Argent, Bank

Given its location – a stone’s throw from Bank station – it’s unsurprising that Coq d’Argent is popular with City slickers. Regardless of whether or not that’s your tribe, the bar – with its sprawling lawn, cocktails and French-inspired cuisine – is worth a look in if you’re in the area. The panoramic views from up top can be enjoyed whatever the weather, thanks to covered areas and outdoor heating.

Madison, St Paul’s

Madison is a buzzy sixth-floor bar and tapas restaurant which, thanks to its smattering of umbrellas and heaters, can be enjoyed all year round. Between its rooftop terraces, Madison has views of London’s skyline (in particular neighbouring St Paul’s Cathedral) well and truly covered. Take advantage of the sharing cocktails if you're looking to get the evening off to a lively start. Between the considered menu of non-alcoholic cocktails and smoothies, Madison ensures its teetotal guests are looked after, too. Look forward to live music and sports screenings by way of entertainment.

Roof Park, Dalston

This east London hangout began as a community allotment, but has since grown into a popular summer rooftop space that’s as much about the socialising as it is about the cocktails. Open to over 21s only, the roomy space is an inviting place to lounge on a summer’s evening, and if you become a ‘friend’ of the bar, you can help out with the garden and on-site events which include film screenings, talks and DJ sets.

The Culpeper Regen Roof, Spitalfields

At gastronomic wonder-pub the Culpeper, sustainability and regenerative agriculture continues to be a focus. Up on the Regen Roof, punters can look forward to cocktails, dishes and workshops all featuring veggies, herbs and pickles grown on site, so you can bite into a gherkin while looking at views of the Gherkin. What a novelty!

The Exhibit, Balham

Self-described as a youth club for adults, the Exhibit is arguably the coolest space in Balham, boasting film nights, speed-dating events and a hirable roof terrace – the Tiki Garden – with its own private bar that accommodates up to 120 people. If you live south south, it’s a trendy alternative to the yummy-mummy brunch spots Balham is better known for.

Netil360, London Fields

Once a members-only space, this quirky take on the typical rooftop bar is popular with hipsters and creatives looking for something a little more inspiring than your typical icy beverage. A programme of workshops usually runs throughout the summer and if a glass of rosé in the sun isn't relaxing enough, book into one of the rooftop's Finnish saunas to unwind while gazing over the streets below, before scrubbing yourself clean under a hot rainfall shower and cold waterfall experience. If we must!

Golden Bee, Shoreditch

Ideal for those looking to rent an entire rooftop for the night, this tucked-away spot in Shoreditch can cater for private groups of 10 to 40 people. Meanwhile, between its palm trees, happy hour two-for-one cocktails, buckets of beer and house wine for under £20, Golden Bee should have you feeling like you're on holiday. Popular with the glam crowd, the bar was once used as a location on reality TV series Made in Chelsea.

Skylight at Tobacco Dock & Peckham

Since launching in 2017, Skylight has made a name for itself as a rooftop destination offering more than just drinks and snacks. At both the original location in Wapping and little sibling in Peckham, revellers can enjoy multiple floors of bars, street food, live entertainment and DJ sets. In Wapping, there's a big emphasis on games, with croquet courts, a ping pong table and shuffle boarding available. Giant screens will show major sports matches in the summer too, while over in Peckham, visitors can book into weekend drag brunches.

Bussey Building, Peckham

A stone's throw from Frank’s in Peckham is the Bussey Building. More intimate a space than its vast competitor, the venue is a hidden gem for enjoying sky-high drinks south of the river. This year, food comes by way of Share a Slice, a pop-up pizza company with a good cause: for every pizza purchased, another is donated to someone in need. The Bussey Building houses a branch of Rooftop Film Club in the summer too; details of screenings available here.

Roof East, Stratford

This rooftop on top of a car park is as much an adults’ playground as it is a bar. Glitter bowling, batting cages, darts, and crazy golf are just some of the highlights. For those who prefer to watch their entertainment, there's a cinema up here too. Cocktails, wine and craft beers are available from each of the bars dotted around the site, while street food comes courtesy of Cheeky Burger, Papi Chulo for Mexican, and Piddaji for Turkish Pide.

OXO Tower, Southbank

A rooftop bar with exquisite views of central London, the bar terrace at OXO Tower is a lovely spot to watch the city sparkle from. Paulius Patumsis is the mixologist at the helm, serving up new and exotic flavours as well as old favourites.

Abbey Tavern, Kentish Town

Those looking for a laugh with their tipple should head to Abbey Tavern, a rooftop bar serving up comedy and open-mic nights as well as food and drink. It's a chilled-out pub decorated with fairy lights and bunting that attracts a local crowd.

The Prince of Wales, Brixton

This multi-floored bar, club and roof terrace is one of the best nights out south of the river – and it stays open until 3am. Here's to it returning in full force this summer, offering a chance to dance to plenty of soca, afrobeats and reggae.

The Lock Tavern, Camden

It’s usually all about the music at this famous spot perched on Camden Lock. Stars including Amy Winehouse have played here in the past and there’s ordinarily live music or DJs playing most nights of the week. Less talked about – but worth the trip alone in the summer – is its roof terrace, a spacious place to enjoy a drink overlooking the market. You’ll feel in the heart of it here.

Faltering Fullback, Finsbury Park

This picturesque pub is shrouded by creeping greenery which sprawls across the rooftop garden. Not one for the views – you’ll find yourselves practically hidden here – it’s a tucked-away spot with communal seating where you can enjoy a game of pool or relax feeling far away from the summer madness of the city.