London’s rooftops are serving up skyline views, sunset cocktails and elevated dining experiences as the capital heads into summer, writes Chris Johnson.
As summer settles over the capital, London rises. In a city long celebrated for both its exceptional restaurants and its rooftop bars, the finest addresses now bring the two together effortlessly. The result is a distinct kind of London luxury: dining that feels elevated in every sense. From Michelin-starred tasting menus suspended above the City to elegant terraces overlooking Covent Garden, from Japanese rooftops framed by St Paul’s Cathedral to Portuguese feasts beside Battersea Power Station, the city has perfected the art of the table with a view.
At the very top, quite literally, sits Restaurant Gordon Ramsay High, perched on level 60 of 22 Bishopsgate. It is the highest restaurant in London and has a dining room designed entirely around theatre: just 12 seats arranged around an intimate chef’s table, with floor-to-ceiling glass revealing the full sweep of the skyline. From here, Tower Bridge, St Paul’s Cathedral and the silver curve of the Thames feel almost close enough to touch, while The Shard, The Gherkin and the ‘Walkie-Talkie’ shrink into the vast geometry of the city below. Led by Gordon Ramsay’s executive head chef James Goodyear, the drama of precision cooking unfolds through a menu built around seasonality and finesse. Dishes could include delicate Cornish crab tartlets and lobster ravioli with langoustine and yuzu, perfectly cooked John Dory with white asparagus and seaweed emulsion, and twice-baked Brie de Meaux soufflé – rich, fragrant and finished with truffle and hazelnut.
Old-School Glamour
Just a stone’s throw away, the newly refurbished Upper 5th at the Courthouse Hotel Shoreditch brings a more relaxed, contemporary take on rooftop dining. Perched atop the Grade II-listed Edwardian Baroque building that once housed the Old Street Magistrates’ Court, the rooftop bar pairs its historic setting with sweeping views across Central London’s skyline. Candlelit tables, elegant furnishings and thoughtfully designed interiors create an atmosphere that feels polished yet inviting, equally suited to long summer evenings beneath the open sky or intimate winter gatherings above the city streets. As the sun dips behind London’s rooftops, expertly crafted cocktails arrive with effortless flair, adding to the sense that Upper 5th is less about formality and more about lingering over the view long after dusk has settled.
Across town in Belgravia, Brooklands by Claude Bosi at The Peninsula London offers a different kind of altitude, one built on old world glamour. Named after the historic British racetrack, the rooftop restaurant is inspired by aviation and motorsport. Yet the real focus is the view: from the rooftop, Hyde Park stretches out below, while Buckingham Palace and the rooftops of Belgravia unfold towards the wider London skyline. It feels less like dining in the city and more like hovering elegantly above it. Claude Bosi’s two Michelin stars are felt in every detail. His menus celebrate exceptional British produce interpreted through classical French techniques. Think Cornish squid with artichoke and koji rice; Arctic char with yellow pepper miso beurre blanc; and Yorkshire rhubarb with cardamom.
For those who like their dining with a side of culture, Bar Cicoria by Angela Hartnett at the Royal Opera House offers one of the most elegant terraces in Covent Garden. Michelin-starred chef Hartnett brings the spirit of Turin to the fifth floor, where the rooftop space looks out across the Piazza and the surrounding rooftops of the West End. The cooking is warm, confident and deeply Italian, rooted in Emilia-Romagna and designed for long lunches and pre performance dinners alike. Spiced duck cappelletti; crab linguini with lemon and chilli; and a magnificent rib-eye on the bone for sharing sit alongside perfect cicchetti and a tiramisù that reminds you why classics endure.
Nearby, Skylon at the Royal Festival Hall continues to define South Bank dining. With vast windows stretching across the Thames, few restaurants capture London’s riverside drama so beautifully. Named after the iconic Festival of Britain structure, it retains a certain mid-century glamour, particularly around the striking Grand Central Bar. The menu champions modern British classics, from elegant brunches to one of the city’s most dependable Sunday roasts, while cocktails arrive against a backdrop of passing boats, the London Eye and the rhythm of the South Bank below.
Loud & Celebratory
For pure skyline spectacle, few addresses rival SUSHISAMBA. High on the 38th and 39th floors of Heron Tower, the journey begins with the famous glass lifts and only gets more dramatic from there. The restaurant’s blend of Japanese, Brazilian and Peruvian influences matches the energy of the room itself: glamorous, loud and celebratory. Signature dishes include crispy yellowtail taquitos; tuna seviche with red yuzu leche de tigre; and robata black cod, while the outdoor terraces remain among the highest in Europe.
A little further west, Radio Rooftop at ME London delivers a fashionable kind of glamour. Overlooking the Strand and the rooftops of central London, it combines skyline views with a strong cocktail culture and Asian-inspired dining. Black cod in citrus miso; Japanese wagyu with wasabi; lamb cutlets with miso anti-cucho; and tiger prawn tempura make this as much a dining destination as a drinks address.
At The OWO, Kioku by Endo brings Japanese artistry to one of the city’s grandest rooftops. Endo Kazutoshi’s restaurant looks across
Whitehall with panoramic views stretching towards Westminster, but the real focus is on the plate. King crab chawanmushi; wagyu with spring vegetables and some of London’s finest sushi create a deeply special menu.
Finally, south of the river, JOIA at art’otel Battersea Power Station offers one of the city’s most exciting new rooftops. Created by two Michelin-starred Portuguese chef Henrique Sá Pessoa, and overlooking the towers of Battersea Power Station, JOIA serves dishes full of Mediterranean confidence: seabass ceviche with green gazpacho; arrow de marisco with lobster and mussels; fillet of beef with bone marrow jus; and a moreish Basque cheesecake. The rooftop bar adds cocktails and sunset views, making it one of London’s strongest summer reservations.
In a city obsessed with dining, perhaps the best table is simply the highest one.
