12 of the best rooftop bars launched this summer

As summer gets into full swing, we take a look at some of the best rooftop bars to launch in the capital, whether it’s for sipping on Champagne, getting that Glastonbury feeling or travelling back in time to 1960’s Côte d’Azur…

The Residence at the Four Seasons Hotel

This month, the Four Seasons Hotel London at Ten Trinity Square will open a rooftop bar situated on the terrace of one of its private residences.

Head Bartender of the hotel’s Rotunda bar, Harry Nikolaou, has designed a menu of seasonal cocktails, created especially for The Residence.

Cocktails are set to include The Mexican, a twist on the classic margarita, featuring mango and agave; The Colada, a pared back Pina colada combining rum, coconut water, pineapple, lime and spices; and Harry’s signature Trinity Negroni from Rotunda while the wine list will offer a selection by Cloudy Bay.

Bar snacks will include dim sum, creative sushi rolls, and salads.

Nikolaou said: “We will be taking the bar up to the skies for guests to enjoy drinks and bar snacks whilst admiring some of the best views in London. We can’t wait for guests to experience more of this incredible building and its unique location from our rooftop this summer.”

The Residence at the Four Seasons will be open throughout the summer.

The Lillet Terrace at Oxo Tower

Photo: Oxo Tower

Lillet l’Apéritif has collaborated with Oxo Tower Bar to offer a floral terrace.

Featuring a photo wall, swing and an array of flowers, the drinks list includes a Lillet Rosé Spritz combining Lillet Rosé, elderflower cordial and premium tonic and a French Negroni with Lillet Blanc and a dash of SASSY Cidre Poiré.

The Lillet Terrace will be open until 18 August.

Cambridge Distillery at Angler

Photo credit: James Bedford

Located on the roof of South Place Hotel, Michelin-starred restaurant Angler has launched a rooftop summer bar in collaboration with award-winning gin producers Cambridge Distillery.

Bringing Cambridge countryside charm to the capital with flowers and foliage, Angler offers a quintessentially British terrace serving gin-based cocktails.

Alongside a signature Cambridge Dry Gin and tonic, the cocktail menu includes serves such as a thyme and sage sour made with Cambridge Dry Gin, thyme, sage, lime, Green Chartreuse and egg white; and the Cambridge Collins consisting of Cambridge Dry Gin, Kamm & Sons, ginger-ale, Aperol and blackcurrant.

Strawberry Fields at The Aviary

To celebrate the launch of British summertime, this rooftop bar in the City of London’s Finsbury Square is launching Strawberry Fields Terraces with a Gin Summer Drinks Menu by Martin Miller.

Strawberry themed, the terrace is set to be adorned with a scarlet-hued floral installation and a garden swing.

Martin Miller’s summer menu will include his signature Strawberry Fields G&T consisting of Martin Miller’s Gin, Fever Tree Tonic, strawberries and a twist of black pepper.

Skylight Rooftop Bar

Famous for its panoramic views of London’s skyline, Skylight is offering guests the opportunity to participate in unique urban lawn games while enjoying new seasonal cocktails as part of an extensive bar selection.

The rooftop bar will also feature day beds and garden booths for lounging.

Piper-Heidsieck at Selfridges

As featured on Wine List Confidential earlier this month, Champagne house Piper-Heidsieck is offering guests the chance to sample exclusive serves in an extravagant garden on the Selfridges rooftop.

Located on the terrace of Selfridges’s rooftop restaurant, Alto by San Carlo, guests will have the opportunity to enjoy views over London.

Chosen for its rich, bold texture and intense flavours, Piper-Heidsieck’s gastronomic champagne, Rosé Sauvage, will be paired with Alto by San Carlo’s fine Italian cuisine, alongside a selection of the Champagne house’s award-winning offerings.

The terrace of Alto San Carlo will be transformed into a verdant garden where guests can choose between sofas on the terrace or private huts while a large outdoor screen will show the Wimbledon matches.

Founded in 1785 and with past devotees of the Champagne house said to include Marilyn Monroe, Piper-Hedsieck’s Régis Camus has been elected “Sparkling Winemaker of the Year” eight times since the beginning of the century by the International Wine Challenge jury.

The Piper-Heidsieck Champagne Garden will be open for the duration of the summer.

The Culpepper

Known for employing a different theme each summer for their rooftop bar, The Culpepper has returned to its roots this year with a rustic, pared back design.

The team said: “We’re refocusing our lens and looking at the things that made our rooftop garden so special in the first place.”

Rather brilliantly, the pub has also paired this with a focus on English wine.

The bar menu is set to include a selection of bottles from Davenport Vineyards, who grow and produce their wine in Kent and East Sussex, and Tillingham, a natural and biodynamic wine producer based in East Sussex with a Pétillant Naturel available in place of Champagne for the duration of the summer period.

Grapevines have been planted around the rooftop to complement the refurbished wine list while many of the rooftop’s plants are edible and will be used by the kitchen.

The Orrery

This French restaurant in Marylebone has joined forces with Moët & Chandon and L’Artisan Parfumeur to launch a Provence style summer rooftop terrace.

The bar team have created a trio of cocktails to complement scents from L’Artisan Parfumeur including ‘Un été en Carmargue’, consisting of Sipsmith gin, Moët & Chandon champagne and bergamot zest, inspired by the scent ‘Chant de Camargue’; ‘Narcisse’, made with 16 year Lagavulin whisky, Cointreau, and Moët & Chandon champagne, reflecting the tones of ‘Mont de Narcisse’; and the ‘Provence Cooler’, with Belvedere Vodka, Crème de Mure, lavender and Moët & Chandon champagne.

The Orrery will offer a selection of small plates inspired by Southern European cuisine with a menu featuring chilled tomato gazpacho; buffalo mozzarella served alongside poached pear and truffle honey; and desserts such as an elderflower panna cotta decorated with fresh strawberry and the celebrated Moët & Chandon rosé jelly.

Guests can take a seat on linen-covered couches amongst a grove of aromatic lavender, rosemary and olive trees reminiscent of the French Riviera while limited edition carefully crafted scent balls from L’Artisan Parfumeur will decorate the space, providing notes of lavender, hay, rosemary, tomato leaf and basil.

Au Soleil at Le Meridien, Piccadilly

Mirabeau en Provence has partnered with Le Meridien in Piccadilly to launch the Au Soleil terrace this summer.

Bringing 1960’s Côte d’Azur to the heart of London, the balcony has been decorated with Panama hats, retro beach umbrellas and floral backdrops.

The exclusive summer menu will offer a selection of Mirabeau’s wines, Frosé popsicles, and the new Prêt-à-Porter cans which recently won the Drinks Business sustainable packaging award.

A choice of Mediterranean-inspired small plates will be available featuring a Niçoise salad, ratatouille and savoury Pissaladière tart with caramelised onions, anchovies and fresh herbs.

A full lunch and dinner menu will be available to order on the balcony from the hotel’s Terrace On Piccadilly restaurant inside, offering classic brasserie style dishes that champion British produce.

Guests can also participate in wine tastings taking place on 24 June, 9 July and 13 August with tickets allocated on a first come first served basis.

San Miguel at Somerset House

Somerset House has launched its summer terrace in partnership with San Miguel serving a selection of chilled beers and a choice of Spanish-inspired bar snacks.

Situated on the banks of the Thames and offering guests views over the river, the terrace features soft furnishings and benches, summer florals and an outdoor swing.

A tapas menu includes bites such as padrón peppers; choricitos al vino; albondigas with romesco sauce; and stone baked flatbreads topped with Spanish ingredients such as Chorizo, manchego, rocket, Tetilla, Piquillo pepper and chilli. Sharing boards showcasing cheese and charcuterie are also available.

Roof Fest at John Lewis

Photo: John Lewis

John Lewis have launched Roof Fest high above the bustle of Oxford Street.

With a festival theme, guests can enjoy live music and performances, watch a film at Sunset Cinema, participate in face-painting or choose from a range of treatments including a massage.

Guests have the opportunity to book a Glastonbury-style ‘den’ in advance and can choose between ‘The Garden Den,’ ‘The Cherry Bloom Den’ and ‘The Boho Den’.

A menu from Bong Bong’s Manila Canteen offers Filipino-inspired dishes such as a crispy and fragrant pork belly with pickled papaya salad and a Filipino lechon dipping sauce; grilled aubergine satay curry; a peanut and coconut milk curry with garden peas, roasted peanuts, fresh pineapple, spring onion, coriander and lime; and Ginataang Tahong with steamed fresh mussels in a spiced ginger coconut broth.

A cocktail list includes ‘Summer of Love’ consisting of Beefeater Gin, elderflower, lemon, cucumber and Fentimans Soda; ‘Roof Fest London’ made with Havana 3 year old rum, banana liquor, passion fruit and mint; and a ‘Negroni Fizz’ with Beefeater 24 Gin, Belsazar Red, Mondino Amaro and Fentimans Herbal Tonic.

Roof Fest will be open until 29 September and the full line up of events can be found here.

The Nyetimber English Garden at The Bluebird

Finally, for those who are not a fan of heights but still want to feel like a bird, The Nyetimber English Garden terrace has launched at Bluebird Chelsea in partnership with Nyetimber.

A floral archway leads guests onto the Bluebird’s terrace as they make their way to The Nyetimber Birdcage entwined with an abundance of florals and featuring a round table with banquet seating.

A dedicated Nyetimber menu showcases a choice of six sparkling wines from the estate including their signature Classic Cuvee Multi-Vintage; Rosé Multi-Vintage and England’s first Prestigue Cuvee, Nyetimber 1086, while bar snacks feature Bluebird classics such as truffle fries with parmesan and sea salt; halloumi fritter with spiced ketchup; or buttermilk fried chicken with lime and fermented chilli mayonnaise.

Guests can also enjoy the Bluebird’s traditional afternoon cream tea, accompanied by a glass of Nyetimber and a selection of sandwiches such as smoked salmon and cream cheese or egg, mustard cress and truffle while a three-tier stand includes passionfruit curd macaroon, banoffee chocolate cup, lemon meringue pie, coffee mocha choux bun and Bluebird’s signature scones with clotted cream and homemade strawberry jam.