10 of the best rooftop restaurants - Europe
The Food and Travel team has taken to the clouds to find the UK’s top roof spaces, where high-reaching food comes with a side-serving of sunshine, stellar views and good vibes
Bokan Docklands, London
Escape to the top floor of 40 Marsh Wall, where the bustle of Canary Wharf below will be replaced by soulful strains from a live jazz band playing long into the night. Sip a Hendrick’s and jasmine tea from London’s highest gin bar while enjoying 360-degree views from a day bed, before ordering up fresh plates from head chef Aurélie Altemaire.
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STAND-OUT DISH: Portland crab with apple jelly
Aviary Moorgate, London
Perched atop the exclusive Montcalm Royal London House Hotel, this modern British restaurant boasts one of the biggest roof spaces in the capital. After work, it buzzes with local tech entrepreneurs sipping spritzes before heading inside, where menus focus on top-notch British ingredients such as Lindisfarne rock oysters.
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STAND-OUT DISH: Hanger steak with truffle gravy
20 Stories Manchester
A Michelin star in 2002 was just the beginning for chef Aiden Byrne, who has stints at Danesfield House and Pied à Terre under his apron. Now heading up the kitchen at Manchester’s highest restaurant, which towers nearly 100m above Spinningfields, the menu reflects his trademark flair for presentation and obsession with provenance. Ingredients are sourced within 50 miles of the city.
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STAND-OUT DISH: Pork, black pudding purée and red pepper
Pergola Paddington, London
One of London’s largest roof spaces, Pergola is capable of hosting up to 850, and is packed with pop-ups from London’s top restaurants. Look out for Patty & Bun (for burgers), Canard (for duck served every which way), Mam (for Vietnamese) and DF/Mexico (for tacos and tequila). Booking is recommended.
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STAND-OUT DISH: Patty & Bun’s ‘Jose Jose’ chilli burger
Issho Leeds
Follow Leeds’ most glamorous residents to Issho, a glossy
Japanese restaurant and cocktail bar that tops the sparkling
new Victoria Gate development. Think smoky sharing plates
charred to perfection on the robata grill, maki rolls from the
sushi counter and an unbeatable selection of whiskies, best
enjoyed on the sun-trap terrace.
Travel Details
STAND-OUT DISH: Prawn and salmon gyoza
Bambalan Bristol
Vibrant murals, cool music and a wide selection of craft beers keep the good times flowing at this all-day restaurant in Colston Tower. Join local creatives over scrambled eggs with feta and za’atar for brunch, or hold out for the flatbread pizza topped with succulent rotisserie chicken.
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STAND-OUT DISH: Halloumi skewer with hazelnut dukkah
The Lighterman King's Cross, London
Like property prices, alfresco drinking spots in London are at a premium, which explains why The Lighterman’s wraparound terrace has barely been empty since it launched in 2016. A stone’s throw from King’s Cross station and with views over the Regent’s Canal, it is a favourite with workers from the nearby Google offices, who flock here to peruse the enormous wine list. Menus reflect the decor: modern and laid-back. Think solid pub grub with European influences, such as pea and mint croquettes.
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STAND-OUT DISH: Mushroom and spinach tart with broccoli
RSC Stratford-Upon-Avon
After the Royal Shakespeare Company has fed your
imagination, head to the third floor of the theatre and allow
it to sate your appetite. Posters for plays line the walls, while
during the day post-matinée actors can be found tucking
into comfort classics like chicken supreme with pancetta
and arguing the merits of the Alexander Technique. Book
a balcony table to enjoy the well-priced pre-theatre menu
alongside sweeping views of the Avon.
Travel Details
STAND-OUT DISH: Pot-roast collar of pork with apple purée
The Boundary Shoreditch, London
This fragrant fifth-floor orangery designed by Sir Terence Conran and Peter Prescott oozes class. Typically packed with sophisticated City cats sipping rosé beneath a canopy of citrus trees, in summer the seasonally changing menu seeks to transport diners to the Mediterranean.
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STAND-OUT DISH: Charcuterie board, for sharing
Coq D'Argent City of London
Sip on a 1920s-inspired cocktail as you stroll around this terrace’s neatly manicured lawns and you could almost forget you’re in London – if it weren’t for the curvaceous apex of St Paul’s Cathedral poised practically within touching distance. Head chef Damien Rigollet’s CV reads like a roll call of London’s finest French restaurants and his experience shows through in his respect for ingredients and the expert execution of dishes like Burgundian snails in garlic butter. The wine list here is one of the finest in The City. It majors in large-format bottles, so set your Out of Office, grab a few friends and enjoy the first strains of British summer looking out over town.
Travel Details
STAND-OUT DISH: Braised rabbit leg grand-mère
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