A SoulMap™ London journey by Penna a Spillo
🗺️📍Follow my SoulMap™ and discover London like a local
🍽️ Category: London Restaurants
🍸 The most exclusive rooftops for a dinner with a view
If you’re looking for a place to eat in London with a spectacular view, these are my personal suggestions.
They are top restaurants in the sense of “excellent”, in my own personal ranking, but also top in the literal sense of “on the top”, because they are physically located high above the city, offering stunning views.
Having dinner, or simply a drink, on the top floor of a skyscraper, on a rooftop, offers something extra: it completely changes your perspective. And, in fact, this trend seems to be spreading all over the world.
Of course, food and interior design matter, but the main feature here is the city seen from above, which creates a cool factor that goes far beyond any other element.
Disclaimer:
The restaurants listed here reflect my personal taste and direct experience.
Of course, they are not necessarily “the best”, but simply places that struck me for their atmosphere, quality, or character.
As an editorial choice, I do not engage in advertising collaborations or sponsorships: none of the venues mentioned has any partnership or agreement with me.
🍣 1. SushiSamba (Heron Tower): Fusion Dining on the 38th Floor
Sushi Samba is located on the 38th and 39th floors of the Heron Tower, right in the heart of the City.
To get there, you take a spectacular, fully transparent external elevator that shoots you up to the 38th floor in a matter of seconds.
The atmosphere is truly impressive; you can have a look at the official website.
Lights, music, and interior design are perfectly balanced (orange clearly dominates).
Huge floor-to-ceiling windows on both sides offer a 360-degree view over London; the view of Norman Foster’s skyscraper, known by Londoners as The Gherkin, just a few meters away and seen from above (the Heron Tower is taller), is particularly striking.
Outside: a terrace with a central bar and a large tree completely covered in orange fairy lights, very atmospheric. At that height, the feeling of being outdoors is always exciting.
Inside: the bar and the main dining room, which is not particularly large (perhaps that’s why it’s so hard to get a table).
Upstairs, connected by a modern staircase partly orange and partly transparent, there is another bar, always extremely crowded.
Design elements are scattered everywhere and constantly catch the eye.
The cuisine is excellent: a mix of Japanese, Brazilian, and Peruvian influences.
Each dish is carefully prepared down to the smallest detail and is also beautiful to look at.
📍Address: Heron Tower, City of London, London EC2N 4AY, United Kingdom
🍷 2. Oxo Tower Restaurant: Theatrical Views Over the Thames
AIn this case, the strategic element is the location.
The restaurant is on the top floor of the Oxo Tower on South Bank, on the southern side of the Thames, not far from the London Eye and Tate Modern.
In other words, it sits directly opposite the north bank of the river, with a view stretching from Big Ben to St Paul’s Cathedral, and everything in between.
Access is via an elevator at street level, in a rather anonymous area, something that enhances the surprise once you reach the top.
Here too, the windows go from floor to ceiling.
The clever (and very successful) trick is to keep the interior quite dark, lit with evocative blue lighting, while the outside sparkles with the city’s thousands of lights (maybe cutting a steak could be a little tricky).
This contrast makes the monuments on the opposite side of the river stand out dramatically, almost like a scale model set on a stage.
The theatrical effect is very suggestive and the visual impact is guaranteed.
The décor is modern and quite minimalist.
The bar counter is also a pleasant place to stop, usually quite lively, while waiting for your table.
The cuisine is international, designed to suit a wide range of tastes.
📍Address: Barge House St, London SE1 9PH, United Kingdom
🌆 3. Aqua Shard: Breathtaking Views from the 31st Floor
PSpeaking of London restaurants with a view, perhaps the best view in the city is the one enjoyed through the floor-to-ceiling windows of Aqua Shard.
Located on the 31st floor of The Shard, Aqua Shard offers a breathtaking view over the city and serves modern British cuisine in an elegant and theatrical setting, ideal for a panoramic lunch or a sunset dinner.
The entrance is particularly impressive, with a double-height space that provides a stunning 360-degree view of all of London.
What really stands out here is undoubtedly the view, truly spectacular, especially from sunset onwards.
When booking, try to ask for a table near the window.
📍L’indirizzo: Level 31, The Shard, 31 St Thomas St, London SE1 9RY, Regno Unito
🇪🇸 4. Aqua Nueva: A Sophisticated West End Rooftop
Aqua Nueva is also very atmospheric, a rooftop right in the centre of London, on Regent Street.
With its panoramic terrace overlooking the rooftops of Regent Street and a refined design that blends contemporary style with Spanish influences, Aqua Nueva offers a sophisticated dining experience in the heart of the West End.
The view here is slightly different, as the restaurant is not inside a City skyscraper but on the top floor of a Mayfair building, complete with a terrace.
The view is therefore over the streets of central London, seen from a very evocative perspective.
The terrace is beautiful, so my advice is to go when the weather allows you to sit outside.
The cuisine here is Spanish and of excellent quality.
Next to Aqua Nueva, on the same floor, you’ll also find Aqua Kyoto, a renowned Japanese restaurant.
📍Address: 30 Argyll St, London W1B 3BR, United Kingdom
Did you enjoy exploring London’s restaurants with a view with me?
🗺️ Follow my SoulMap™ and discover London like a local
This is my SoulMap™ (not a tourist map, but a method to discover the city through emotions, light, and hidden details).
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👉Discover more
- for more cool restaurants in London, read also:
- 3 Cool Restaurants in London: Decimo at The Standard, SushiSamba Covent Garden, Coya
- For information about London markets, you can download my FREE GUIDE TO LONDON MARKETS.
- If you’d like a practical, pocket-sized guide to take with you on your trip and discover London “as a Londoner”, have a look at my book “Alessandra in London”.
- And don’t forget to subscribe to the monthly Penna a Spillo Newsletter for all the latest news on events, exhibitions, unusual places in London and beyond.
