The sun is shining; the drinks are flowing… then where better to go on a date than to one of London’s amazing rooftop bars? We don’t know why it is, but that chilled glass of vino tastes so much better on a rooftop than on the ground floor (weird, eh?). Luckily for us, London has plenty of great rooftops to enjoy.
Here are Lovestruck.com’s top five favourites:
Big Chill House
This large Victorian pub in the heart of London’s King’s Cross has a maze of different floors and rooms and a fab roof terrace perched at the top of the building. Designed by architect Lucy Tauber, the space includes brightly coloured chairs, French-style wooden tables, two shed-like bars and pots of plants and herbs. This is a great place to come for Bloody Mary’s and a knees-up any time of the day. And if you can bag a couple of sun loungers, even better….
Vista at the Trafalgar Hotel
A bit too touristy for some, Trafalgar Square might not seem like a good destination when you’re after romance but Vista is worth making the extra effort to push through those crowds. With a stylish outdoor lounge area with views of Big Ben on one side and Nelson’s Column on another, this is a great London haven to hide out in with your date. Arrive early if you want to sit down because it gets pretty rammed on sunny days.
Babylon at The Roof Gardens
Owned by Sir Richard Branson, this venue takes the phrase ‘rooftop’ to a new level. Surrounded by one and half acres of woodland, Tudor and Spanish-style gardens and even flamingos and a fleet of resident ducks, this venue most definitely has the ‘wow’ factor. The food and drinks come with mixed reviews and a hefty price tag but this is definitely the place to go for a memorable date. Remember to call ahead because sometimes the venue is close for private events.
Coq D’Argent
Widely acknowledged as one of London’s best rooftop venues, Coq D’Argent is set on the roof of No.1 Poultry in the City, overlooking St Paul’s Cathedral, Mansion House, Monument and the Bank of England. Designed by an award-winning garden architect, the venue is packed full of suited and booted types during the week but at the weekends it is surprisingly serene. Be sure to try the signature cocktail – a Swedish Flower Martini; Karlsson’s Gold vodka with basil, lavender and almond. Mmm!
Sanctum Soho Hotel
Situated on the fifth floor of the Soho Sanctum Hotel, this rooftop garden has a 24-hour residents’ bar complete with open-air hot tub. The perfect place to escape the hustle and bustle of Soho, this venue is an oasis of calm during the daytime, with comfy sofas, soothing music and a whole menu of drinks on offer. Popular with the party people at night, it even has two bedrooms on the same floor for those who can’t make it to the lift!
Love a rooftop bar date? Have we missed one of your favourites? Tell us @lovestruck
Tweet
