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Slideshow
Top 10 London summer bars and restaurants
When the mercury starts to rise what could be better than sipping your choice of beverage while overlooking the city’s skyline, or hidden within a garden oasis?
Many of these top London locations boast terraces with stunning views across the city, as well as a world class menu and celebrity spot status.
So make the most of London’s summer sun at one of these summer venues, as chosen by Quintessentially spirit’s managing director, Fabrice Limon, all of which incidentally stock Quintessentially vodka.
Scroll through to see which London venues made the cut….
Chiltern Firehouse
The Chiltern Firehouse was opened this year by Andrew Balazs, the man who brought The Mercer to New York and Chateau Marmont to Hollywood. Housed in an old fire station in Marylebone complete with terrace, the Chiltern Firehouse is currently the hottest ticket in town with none other than Elton John known to have dined there just this week. Its kitchen team is made up of Nuno Mendes who has moved in from Viajante in Bethnal Green, and has worked with the likes of Wolfgang Puck, and Dale Osborne who joins from Heston Blumenthal’s Dinner.
Barts
Barts was opened five years ago and was London’s first ‘speakeasy’ style bar, explained Fabrice, located on the prestigious Sloane Avenue. It is the brainchild of Duncan Stirling and Charlie Gilkes, the dynamic duo that own the Inception Group.
Roof Gardens
Located one hundred feet above Kensington High Street in central London, The Roof Gardens and Babylon Restaurant are truly spectacular. There are three themed gardens sprawling over 1.5 acres including fully grown oaks and fruit trees, growing in just 1.5m of soil, and a flowing stream stocked with fish and wildlife.
Hush
Frequently considered to be one of the best outdoor dining spaces in London, this beautiful courtyard comes alive during the summer months and was picked by Fabrice as one of London’s top spots to enjoy an a la carte menu with full table service, secluded in a hidden oasis in the heart of town.
5 Herford Street
Located in the middle of Mayfair, 5 Hertford Street was opened in 2012 by Robin Birley, son of Mark Birley who founded Annabels club. But don’t expect to just turn up to this swanky venue, as it is a strictly private members club only.
OXO Tower terrace
The rooftop OXO Tower Restaurant, Brasserie and Bar has proved a dazzling success since opening in 1996. The formal restaurant, more relaxed brasserie and cocktail bar all boast stunning views across the Thames to Charing Cross and the City of London.
Oblix
The brainchild of international restaurateur Rainer Becker (Roka, Zuma, etc), Oblix creates an immediate frisson as mesmerised diners survey the capital, laid out below like a three-dimensional Google Earth map.
Goat
This three-floor former pub has been transformed into a relaxed restaurant on the ground floor named DINE, and a stylish cocktail bar and lounge upstairs named DRINK. The name is a nod to the 350-year-old pub that occupied the building before previously. With stripped back the interior and original features of the building the new owners have tried to preserve the integrity and beauty of the famous old site. The feel of the venue is vintage and industrial, with touches of glamour.
Dock Kitchen
Located in a converted Victorian Wharf building as part of an urban regeneration project by Derwent London (also responsible for the Tea Building in Shoreditch), The Dock Kitchen overlooks the Grand Union Canal in Ladbroke Grove, West London. Its chef runs an experimental kitchen always adapting the menu and trying new things depending on what is in season, what far flung place he or another of the chefs have visited, or what new ingredient they have come across abroad or at home.
Bird of Smithfield
Spread over five floors, this Georgian town house is the realisation of a dream fostered by Steven Collins, Alan Bird and Georgia Muir. Alan Bird of Ivy legacy, brings the British classics into the modern day with an emphasis on freshness and reinterpretation.