From July 5 to 15, 2018, breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea and dinner menus created by award-winning chefs Robin Gill (The Dairy), Lee Wescott (The Typing Room) and Pascal Aussignac (Club Gascon) will be served alongside spectacular views of the Thames and London landmarks including St Paul’s Cathedral and The Shard.
Tickets start at $65 (£50) per person and are selling out fast.
But you needn’t risk spilling your aperitif onto gawkers below to enjoy elevated eating in the British capital. There are plenty of more comfortable indoor options.
We take the measure of the best — and most thrilling — “uppity” eateries in London.
Helix and Iris
The public will soon be able to dine at the top of one of London’s favorite buildings.
Courtesy Searcys at the Gherkin
Helix Restaurant and Iris Bar, on levels 39 and 40 of the Norman Foster-designed Gherkin building — a much-loved star of the London skyline — open to the public for the first time on July 13, having previously only been available for exclusive hire and private events.
Helix’s executive chef Daniel Loftin is behind a menu featuring seasonal British produce such as Dorset crab, Rhug Estate Welsh lamb and English green asparagus.
Iris Bar, which offers spectacular 360-degree views over the City, will unveil a new London-inspired cocktail list, including the Jack the Ripper — with Mediterranean herbs vodka, beet juice, tomato, lemon and Worcester sauce — a dark local twist on the Bloody Mary.
Oblix at the Shard
Stunning dinner-time views from London’s tallest building.
Courtesy Richard Southal/Ilona Zielinska
Diners are treated to panoramic views of the cityscape — staggering at sunset, but eminently Instagrammable all day long. Try Oblix’s late-night menu: three courses and a complimentary cocktail can be enjoyed for £39 per person ($51).
Where to find it: Oblix, 32/F, The Shard, 31 St. Thomas St., London SE1 9RY; +44 (0)20 7268 6700
Duck and Waffle
Duck and Waffle offers delicious food and views 24/7.
Courtesy Duck and Waffle
Duck and Waffle’s signature dish will cost you £16 ($21) from the breakfast menu, but two eggs any style comes in at £8 ($10.50) — comparable to many less glamorous brunch spots in the capital.
Where to find it: 110 Bishopsgate, London EC2N 4AY; +44 (0)20 3640 7310
Galvin at Windows
Admire the greenery of Hyde Park from the luxurious surroundings of Galvin at Windows.
Courtesy Galvin at Windows
More classical in style than some of the city”s newer high-rise eateries, visitors are still treated to stunning aerial views of London’s Hyde Park.
Where to find it: Galvin at Windows, 28/F, 22 Park Lane, London W1K 1BE; +44 (0)20 7208 4021
OXO Tower Restaurant
Dine with a view of St Paul’s and the Thames at OXO, on London’s Southbank.
Courtesy OXO Tower Restaurants/Harvey Nichols
As one of London’s older rooftop restaurants, OXO is at a much lower altitude than its City counterparts. Don’t let that put you off — this lower vantage point allows diners to watch the boats drift by on the Thames and enjoy a stunning view of St Paul’s Cathedral — and is more palatable for those with a fear of heights.
Why not try OXO’s “Not Afternoon Tea,” a scone-free affair in which Champagne is traded for cocktails and desserts are modeled after ice cream vans. Alternatively, it’s the perfect brunch spot — while away your Sunday morning looking out over the Thames.
Where to find it: Oxo Tower Wharf, Bargehouse Street, South Bank, London SE1 9PH; +44 (0) 20 7021 1686
Fenchurch Restaurant
Fenchurch Restaurant offers panoramic views of London below.
Courtesy Sky Garden
Where to find it: Sky Garden, 1 Sky Garden Walk, London EC3M 8AF; +44 (0) 333 772 0020
Boundary Rooftop
Shoreditch’s Boundary rooftop is the perfect spot to while away a summer’s evening.
Courtesy Boundary
Cosy and inviting even in winter, the heated roof offers 360-degree views of the City skyscrapers and East London’s skyline. Food is served sizzling from the Robata Grill and cocktails are available into the early hours of the morning.
Where to find it: 2-4 Boundary Street, Shoreditch, London E2 7DD; +44 (0) 20 7729 1051
Selfridges
Catch it while you can: alto by San Carlo is the Selfridges pop-up for the 2018 season.
Courtesy alto by San Carlo
Where to find it: Selfridges, 400 Oxford Street, London W1A 1AB; +44 (0) 20 7318 3287
Aqua Nueva
Sample stunning Spanish fine dining at Aqua Nueva, then sit back and admire this vista.
Courtesy Aqua Nueva
Somewhere between a trendy evening hotspot and a fine-dining restaurant, Aqua Nueva is as perfect for after-work summer cocktails as it is for a luxury evening meal.
Where to find it: 5th floor, 240 Regent Street (Entrance 30 Argyll Street), London W1B 3BR; +44 (0) 20 7478 0540
Coq d’Argent
Admire London’s eastern cluster of skyscrapers from Coq d’Argent’s manicured lawn.
Courtesy Thomas Alexander/Coq d’Argent
The high-quality menu includes baked lobster and Australian sirloin steak. But beware, you’ll be surrounded by suits as this is bankers’ territory.
Where to find it: No. 1 Poultry, London EC2R 8EJ; +44 (0) 20 7395 5000
Radio rooftop bar
Survey the city skyline from the 10th floor of the ME Hotel on The Strand.
Courtesy Chris Orange
Where to find it: ME London, 336-337 Strand, London WC2R 1HA; +44 (0) 20 7395 3440
Qin Xie is a London-based freelance journalist and trained chef.
Francesca Street is a London-based journalist, writing features with a focus on travel, arts and culture.
This article was previously published in 2013. It was reformatted and republished in 2018.
