London restaurants with the best views

What is it? Seasonal sharing menus on the terrace of a South Bank legend.

Why we love it: If you want to truly nail London in the summer, then Forza Wine’s spot at the National Theatre ticks all the boxes. Cocktails, natty wines and seasonal small plates from their self-proclaimed Italian-ish menu. A wraparound outdoor terrace with views of the South Bank. A spot at the top of a cultural institution, in a building loved by 1960s architecture pervs across the land. It’s a stunner - which means it gets busy. Obviously. Walks-in are available but book in advance and don’t risk it.

Time Out tip: Grab a gang of mates and go for their ‘whole menu’ option: one of everything, plus four of their viral Custardos (an affogato with a creme anglaise twist).

Address: National Theatre, South Bank, SE1 9PX.

Opening hours: Monday-Saturday, 12-11pm.

Expect to pay: Small plates £4-20; whole menu £146.

What is it? Unshowy opulence from the Michelin-starred chef.

Why we love it: Helmed by Michelin-starred chef Richard Corrigan - head honcho of Bentley’s Oyster Bar and Grill, and thrice winner of The Great British Menu - everything about The Portrait is a delight. Basically every London skyline landmark is visible at once from the bright, simple and airy restaurant space, and the menu is stonking, offering modern British delights with an emphasis on the light, fresh and seasonal. Think Dover sole with samphire or a bright, fresh primavera orecchiette in spring. Plus, with the National Portrait Gallery nestled below, you’ve got a whole afternoon out in one building.

Time Out tip: Their set menu, available Monday and Tuesday 12-3.30pm and Wednesday to Saturday 12-6pm, is a more wallet-friendly way to experience Corrigan’s clever cooking.

Address: 2 St. Martin’s Place, Covent Garden, WC2H 0HE.

Opening hours: Sunday-Tuesday 12-5.30pm; Wednesday-Saturday 12-10.30pm.

Expect to pay: Mains £24- 44; two course set lunch £35.

What is it? 40th floor views and 24/7 opening hours.

Why we love it: Whether you want your city vistas served with a side of brunch, a Sunday roast, or soaking up a night on the cocktails with some artery-taunting late night indulgences, all are available at Duck & Waffle. Open 24/7 on the 40th floor of the Heron Tower, wander around the glass-panelled dining room and gawp at the panorama as you chow down on their more-is-more menu. Their brunch items include a foie gras crème brûlée, while you can book-end your three-course roast with a lobster roll and a sticky toffee waffle. Neither their views nor their food are for the faint-hearted.

Time Out tip: Their eponymous dish - a slab of crispy duck leg confit nestled over two pillowy waffles and doused in devilishly spiced maple syrup - is a classic for a reason.

Address: 110 Bishopsgate, Bishopsgate, EC2N 4AY.

Opening hours: 24 hours a day, daily. It never shuts!

Expect to pay: Duck and waffle dish is £26, three course Sunday roast £55 per person.

What is it? Spanish-Mexican delights from the 10th floor of The Standard.

Why we love it: Perched at the top of King’s Cross’ trendy Standard hotel sits Decimo: a hipster-friendly Spanish-Mexican haunt where you can see the twinkling lights of the city and the iconic architecture of the St Pancras Renaissance Hotel as you tickle your tastebuds with tacos and tostadas. A semi-sharing ‘menu del dia’ suits the relaxed vibe of the restaurant, where margaritas and micheladas are served until 2am at weekends. Their ‘sobremesa’ late night weekend food menu, served after 10.30pm, is short but extremely useful in the small hours.

Time Out tip: The views are, wildly, the best from the lavs, where floor to ceiling glass windows offer a birds eye view of town.

Address: 10th Floor, 10 Argyle St, King’s Cross, WC1H 8EG.

Opening hours: Wednesday-Saturday 12-2.30pm; Tuesday-Wednesday 5pm-12am, Thursday 5pm-1am; Friday-Saturday 5pm-2am.

Expect to pay: Tacos from £8; menu del dia £30 per person.

What is it? Banging British grub with a river view.

Why we love it: The Swan might not tower over the Thames like some of its counterparts, but what it lacks in loftiness it more than makes up for in atmosphere. Bag a table near the window for perfect views of St Paul’s with a bustling walkway-adjacent vibe, and enjoy a top notch, seasonally changing menu of contemporary British gems. You can nab a two course River View menu for just under 30 quid which, when you consider its primetime location slap bang on the South Bank, is not half bad. There’s also a more classic pub bar menu too, but you might not be able to get a window seat.

Time Out tip: Literally attached to the Globe Theatre, take advantage of their £5 or £10 standing tickets for a bargain post-lunch culture fix.

Address: 21 New Globe Walk, Bankside, SE1 9DT.

Opening hours: Monday-Wednesday 11.30am-11pm, Thursday-Friday 11.30am-12am, Saturday 10am-12am, Sunday 10am-9pm.

Expect to pay: Restaurant mains from £21.50; two course set menu £29.50.

What is it? A high-end Chinese restaurant halfway up the Shard.

Why we love it: Serving Northern Chinese dishes from its 33rd floor perch up the Shard, Hutong boasts Old Beijing decor and regional delicacies with a side order of magnificent scenery. With floor-to-ceiling glass windows, if the views don’t make you feel a little giddy then their vast array of set menus might. There’s one for every (well, many) price points but naturally the big spender is their Skyline Dinner Experience, with a guaranteed window table and a welcome glass of champagne to help wash down your dim sum and other pricey delectables.

Time Out tip: Book a seat at their Shanghai Bar, where their cocktails have been designed according to zodiac sign-based flavour profiles.

Address: Level 33, 31 St Thomas St, London Bridge, SE1 9RY.

Opening hours: Daily 11am-1am.

Expect to pay: Flavours of Hutong tasting menu £39 per person; Skyline Experience menu £145 per person.

What is it? Pan-Asian fare from Gordon Ramsay at Europe’s tallest restaurant.

Why we love it: The second outpost of Gordon Ramsay’s swanky Asian eatery Lucky Cat, this Bishopsgate branch quite literally towers over its Mayfair sibling. 60 floors up, and reached via a vertigo-inducing lift that ascends at eight metres per second, the view is nothing short of sensational: a panoramic vista of the whole of London that’ll have you playing ‘spot the landmark’ with the sort of childlike glee rarely found in such a suit and tie-dominated establishment. While you’re gazing lovingly at the city, there’s also a comprehensive menu of small plates, robata grilled dishes, sushi and sashimi to keep you sated, plus plenty of cocktails to see you through ‘til their 3am weekend license. Just hold on to your stomach as the lift whizzes you back down.

Time Out tip: Roll the dice with their Lucky Cat negroni - a gamble of a drink, with six different gin, bitters and vermouth options to land on.

Address: 22 Bishopsgate, Liverpool Street, EC2N 4BQ.

Opening hours: Monday-Wednesday, 11.30am-1pm, Thursday-Saturday, 11.30am-3am, Sunday 11.30am-10pm.

Expect to pay: Express lunch menu £29 for two courses; ‘Explore’ menu £75 per person.

What is it? Modern British lunching with spectacular views across the Thames to St Paul’s Cathedral.

Why we love it: The dining room at Tate Modern is – despite being located in one of the world’s most popular galleries – something of a hidden secret. With a resplendent view of St Paul’s and a menu helmed by former St John chef Chris Gillard featuring seasonal dishes at fairly reasonable prices, however, it deserves shouting about. A confit duck leg here, a grilled hispi cabbage there, take a pootle around the Tate’s expansive rooms and then sit down for a tasteful meal as you congratulate yourself on a cultural day well spent.

Time Out tip: For a truly immersive experience, try their artist-inspired cocktails and mocktails, designed to celebrate the Tate’s current exhibitions.

Address: Bankside, SE1 9TG.

Opening hours: Monday-Sunday, 12-5pm; lunch served 12- 3pm.

What is it? A smorgasbord of seafood, with a river view.

Why we love it: With a dozen seafood restaurants to his name, this London outpost of beloved TV chef Rick Stein’s fishy empire benefits from sublime river views over its Thames-side location. The menu is a global tour of the sea, taken from Stein’s extensive travels and featuring standouts including Indonesian seafood curry, tronçon of turbot with hollandaise, or a starter of crab wakame. Ask for a window table to make the most of the beatific vistas, and crack open a bottle of something crisp and cold.

Time Out tip: To celebrate 50 years of Stein’s inaugural restaurant, you can nab a two-course set lunch menu for under 20 quid from Monday to Thursday.

Address: Tideway Yard, 125 Mortlake High St, Barnes, SW14 8SW.

Opening hours: Monday-Thursday, 12-3pm & 5-9pm; Friday 12-10pm, Saturday 9-11am and 12-10pm, Sunday 9-11am and 12-9pm.

Expect to pay: Mains £14-55; 50th anniversary set lunch menu £19.75.

What is it? A glitzy Brazilian-Japanese dazzler on the 38th and 39th floor.

Why we love it: Since its opening in 2012, the first London branch of the expensive New York import has become a destination restaurant for special-occasion eating. Partly, that’s due to its swanky menu of lobster ceviche, black cod and kobe beef, but the real ace up Sushisamba’s sleeve is its location. Shoot up the lightspeed lift of the Heron Tower and from the 38th and 39th floor, the city lights will be twinkling far below you. It’s not a restaurant for an average Tuesday, but for thrilling expense-account fusion food, fab cocktails, premium sakes and stunning views, it’s intoxicating.

Time Out tip: With a massive tree slap bang in the middle, soak up the summer sun and golden hour lighting on the terrace bar.

Address: Heron Tower, Bishopsgate, EC2N 4AY.

Opening hours: Daily 12pm - 1.30am.

Expect to pay: Small plates from £13; robata meat skewers from £25.

What is it? A 36th floor eatery near the top of the Walkie Talkie.

Why we love it: The Sky Garden - a three-story dome taking up the top space of the Walkie Talkie - might be the area’s most famous scenic spot, but don’t sleep on Darwin Brasserie: its in-house, 36th floor dining room. The menu offers the sort of accomplished dishes you find in high-end business hotels - a competent, crowd-pleasing selection of meat, fish and veg options with an extensive wine list - but do expect to pay through the nose for the privilege of admiring the cityscape. If you want a window seat, you’ll also need to upgrade for a £10 - £15 per person supplement.

Time Out tip: If you fancy a peep at the view whilst saving your pennies, the Sky Garden itself is free to access but often gets booked up far in advance.

Address: Level 36, Sky Garden Walk, City, EC3M 8AF.

Opening hours: Monday-Thursday 8.30am-10pm, Friday-Saturday 8.30am-10.30pm, Sunday 8.30am-9.30pm.

Expect to pay: Mains £24.50 - £59; two course set menu £54.50 per person.

What is it? 180 degree views at the Searcys-run restaurant.

Why we love it: High up on the 39th floor of The Gherkin, the dizzying vistas at Helix are truly a sight to behold. At night, London twinkles below like Gotham City; at golden hour, you’re in for a balmy treat. They’ve recently streamlined their offerings to a two or three course set menu of classic British fare, or an afternoon tea option - available with varying levels of booze and in a vegan variant. Otherwise, you can opt for a lighter bite and head up for drinks and bar snacks of tempura prawns, cured meats and more on Thursday to Saturday evenings. Their spirit roster is plentiful, with a rotating cast of seasonal cocktails to sup.

Time Out tip: Their afternoon tea might not be cheap, but if you order before 4.30pm you can keep stocking up with limitless sweet and savoury morsels.

Address: The Gherkin, 30 St Mary Axe, City, EC3A 8BF.

Opening hours: Tuesday-Wednesday 12.30-9pm, Thursday-Saturday 12.30-9.30pm.

Expect to pay: Snacks from £6.75; two course set menu £49 per person; afternoon tea from £55 per person.

What is it? Wow-inducing Thames views from the Royal Festival Hall.

Why we love it: A failsafe destination on the first floor of a London institution, Skylon’s dining room is the perfect spot for gazing dreamily over the South Bank and soaking in the hubbub. Come day or night it’s a feast for the eyes, while they’ve got plenty of options for your belly too. Roasts are roughly the price of a fancy gastropub, while you can enjoy everything from afternoon tea to classic British grills or a bottomless brunch before heading down for your culture fix.

Time Out tip: Their three course Festival of Britain menu, where you can opt for souffles or shepherd’s pies, salmon or soup, is a pretty reasonable £35 per person.

Address: Belvedere Road, Royal Festival Hall, South Bank, SE1 8XX.

Opening hours: Monday-Wednesday 12-11pm, Thursday 12-10pm, Friday 12pm-12am, Saturday 11.30am-10pm, Sunday 12-8pm.

Expect to pay: Mains from £18; roasts from £24.

What is it? Semi-casual and fine dining eateries in a bona fide London landmark.

Why we love it: With a plum vantage point to help you fully appreciate the splendour of St Paul’s across the Thames, and a glass frontage to make the most of the river views, the OXO Tower emanates a sense of occasion. Choose from their restaurant, brasserie or bar depending on the fanciness of said occasion (and the flushness of your bank balance at the time). The restaurant prides itself on seasonal British produce, with mains stretching up to a three-figure chateaubriand, while the brasserie is a little more relaxed with sharing options, Sunday roasts, and a live jazz band playing daily.

Time Out tip: The brasserie’s Bloody Mary is a special recipe featuring chipotle peppers, cold pressed tomatoes and slow roast garlic, and has been 15 years in the making.

Address: Barge House St, South Bank, SE1 9PH.

Opening hours: Sunday-Friday 12-9.30pm, Saturday 12-10pm.

Expect to pay: Brasserie mains £24-32; restaurant mains £25-110.

What is it? Jason Atherton’s high rise outpost.

Why we love it: Jason Atherton’s City Social hasn’t had the best year; in February 2025, it lost its Michelin star. But even without a thumbs up from the culinary gatekeepers, there’s plenty going for the swanky, 24th floor eatery - namely, its resplendent, wrap-around views of the metropolis, nestled halfway up Tower 42. During the week you may be overwhelmed by boozy business hordes, but if you can wrestle your way to one of the Social’s covetable booths then you’re onto a winner. The food is high-end modern British, with an emphasis on Josper-grilled meat. Or pull up a bar stool and work your way through their extensive cocktail menu as you peer over the London skyline and pretend to be Bond.

Time Out tip: For dessert, play the ‘ice cream game’: five different-yet-identical white balls of the cold stuff, with a challenge to guess the flavours.

Address: Tower 42, 25 Old Broad Street, City, EC2N 1HQ.

Opening hours: Monday-Friday 12pm - late, Saturday 4pm-late, Sunday 5-9.30pm.

Expect to pay: Starters from £20; mains from £38.

What is it? A Tower Bridge riverside resto, with added al fresco terrace.

Why we love it: Literally translated as ‘The Tower Bridge’, there’s no mistaking what this Thames-side eatery’s main selling point is: if you want to gawp at one of London’s most postcard-worthy landmarks, then there are few better vantage points from which to do it. Big bonus points come from its sizable outdoor terrace which, this summer, will turn into Pont Plage - a sandy enclave with deck chairs and spritzes galore. Their menu, too, is suitably French and suitable fishy, with a seafood platter crowning their list of offerings.

Time Out tip: Pont Plage will be dishing out complimentary Mirabeau spritzes throughout the summer between 5pm and 6pm on weekdays, and midday and 1pm on weekends - chin chin!

Address: 36D Shad Thames, Tower Bridge, SE1 2YE.

Opening hours: Monday-Saturday 12- 9pm, Sunday 12-8.30pm.

Expect to pay: Fishy mains from £34, two course set menu £35 per person.

What is it? A lesser-known gem overlooking Hyde Park’s gorgeous greenery.

Why we love it: If you’re looking for a somewhat under-the-radar restaurant with a view (well, as under the radar as a plush 10th floor fine dining establishment can be), then head to Min Jiang for stunning panoramas and equally impressive plates. Located ten floors up at the five-star Royal Garden Hotel, its long dining room is perfect for watching the streets below, but there’s some fine culinary substance alongside the show. Their wood-fired Beijing duck served two ways (with pancakes, and then in a multiple choice second serving) is quite possibly London’s best.

Time Out tip: Go en masse and order their whole duck - carved at the table, for maximum ceremony.

Address: 2-24 Kensington High St, Kensington, W8 4PT.

Opening hours: Daily 12-3pm & 6-10.30pm.

Expect to pay: Whole Beijing duck £98; rice and noodles around £20.

What is it? Sky Garden’s cloud-gazing flagship restaurant.

Why we love it: At the summit of the Walkie Talkie’s greenhouse on steroids sits Fenchurch - a high-end restaurant with the emphasis on high. Located 37 floors up, it’s helmed by Anguilla-born head chef Kerth Gumbs and gives the vibrant street food culture of the Caribbean a fancy fine-dining makeover: think cured jerk salmon, pan-seared sea bass with a saltfish creole pepper stew, or peppered Lumina lamb with gungo peas couscous. Add to that a stellar wine cellar and a sumptuous view over the city and there’s little not to love.

Time Out tip: If you’re more of a small plates fan, try their Bar Experience: a cocktail plus three tasty treats including beef tartare tacos and native oysters.

Address: Level 37, Sky Garden Walk, City, EC3M 8AF.

Opening hours: Monday-Thursday 8am-12pm, Friday 8am-1am, Saturday 9am-1am, Sunday 9am-12am.

Expect to pay: Mains £38-45; tasting menu £110 per person.