London's best rooftop drinking
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By Zoe Kamen
Updated: Tue Apr 17 2012 -
Let Time Out steer you upwards towards the finest places in London for enjoying cocktails in the clouds
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Aqua Nueva & Aqua Kyoto
5th floor, 240 Regent St, W1B 3BR (7478 0540/ www.aqua-london.com). Oxford Circus tube. noon-1am Mon-Sat, brunch noon-4pm Sun (weather permitting).
Visiting the terrace bars at either of the Aqua restaurants feels like walking into a set for a music video with a London skyline. The two ritzy roof terraces serve up exotic cocktails (from £9.50) to a well-groomed clientele. Kyoto's terrace bar has an extensive saké list too. Read more
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Boundary Rooftop
2-4 Boundary Street, London, E2 7DD (7729 1051/www.theboundary.co.uk/rooftop) Old Street tube/rail or Shoreditch High Street tube. Open Apr-Sept noon-sundown daily. Food served Apr-Sept noon-3pm, 5.30-sundown daily (weather permitting).
This unsurprisingly popular spot is perched atop the Terence Conran-designed Boundary Project. Diners can choose from grills and lighter snacks from the deli downstairs. The drinks list includes Meantime Wheat and Meteor pilsner beers, pitchers of house-designed cocktails and more than a dozen wines offered by the glass, half-bottle and bottle. Read more
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Brera at Lyric Hammersmith
Lyric Hammersmith, 2 King St, W6 0QL (8741 6853/ www.cafebrera.com). Hammersmith tube. 9.30am-8pm Mon-Sat (no shows), 9.30am-9.30pm (during shows); open Sun during shows.
The Lyric Hammersmith has put a lot of effort into its roof garden. The large terrace overlooking hectic King Street is a haven of planters, foliage and comfy seating. Italian pizza chain Brera runs the café and bar, creating an alfresco continental flavour. Read more
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Proud Camden
Stables Market, Chalk Farm Rd, NW1 8AH (7482 3867/ www.proudcamden.com). Camden Town tube. 11am-1am daily.
This gallery, bar and club is the epitome of Camden style. Its large roof terrace is ideal for supping cocktails and observing both the art and the art crowd. Read more
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Queen Elizabeth Roof Garden Bar & Café
Queen Elizabeth Hall, Southbank Centre, Belvedere Rd, SE1 8XX (7921 0758/ www.companyofcooks.com). Waterloo tube/rail. 10am-10.30pm daily.
Planted as part of the Festival of Britain, with guidance from the Eden Project, and volunteers from St Mungo’s Charity, this rooftop has incredible views across the river. In addition to the Astroturf now familiar at the Southbank, there is a real lawn, large planters of vegetables and a wildflower ‘meadow’. The café is run by caterer Company of Cooks, so expect the same pastries and savoury snacks as the other Southbank kiosks, though there is a special English Garden cocktail – gin, lemonade, oranges and elderflower (£6.50). Read more
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Queen of Hoxton
1 Curtain Rd, EC2A 3JX (7422 0958/ www.thequeenofhoxton.co.uk). Shoreditch High Street rail or Liverpool Street tube/rail. Noon-midnight Mon-Sat (from 20 April).
The downstairs bit of this grungy bar and club is better suited to nocturnal drinking, but walk up to the expansive rooftop to find deckchairs, wrought-iron furniture and and benches filled with a sun-seeking crowd from the Shoreditch brigade. The ramshackle 'rum shack' serves bottled Beck's or Swedish Briska cider as well as mojitos. Read more
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Sky Lounge Tower of London
Mint Hotel, 7 Pepys St, EC3N 4AF (7709 1043/www.minthotel.com). Tower Hill tube. 10.30am-midnight daily.
The view from the 12th floor roof terrace of this freshly-minted hotel takes in both the ancient majesty of the Tower of London and the Shard, the newest structure to pierce the motley London skyline. The view on the terrace is somewhat less diverse. The ubiquitous City uniform of grey jackets populate the tables, which are spaced out, no doubt, to allow sensitive talk of financial affairs. The drinks prices reflect the locale. Bottles of generic beer start at £6 and cocktails start at £10.50. Read more
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Vista
The Trafalgar, 2 Spring Gdns, SW1A 2TS (7870 2900). Noon-1am daily.
Perched on the top of the Trafalgar Hotel in Trafalgar Square, this smartened up bar has impressive views – Nelson's Column spears the skyline, plus there's the London Eye and Big Ben. The drinks are tailored for tourists and expense accounts, with cocktails more than a tenner. Read more
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11 comments
I wonder if the Dalston Rooftop Park has been left out due to its "not strictly comercial venue" status, but it sure is my local favourite!!
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hah, wow thanks for that Dennis!
time for drink
The photo at the top is Aqua...
@Hudson - the very top right hand photo is Aqua mate, lovely rooftop terraces, 2 of them in total
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Good but small selection, there's a photo at the top of the feature of a roof top terrace that looks great, but no details for where or which bar it is.
Will you tell me please Time Out?
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