Cocktail sipping in the great outdoors is one of the biggest joys of the warmer weather season. There is nothing better than rolling up your sleeves, kicking back and relaxing whilst enjoying a refreshing drink or two with good company amidst a picturesque outdoor setting, wouldn’t you agree?
With temperatures set to soar over the next few days, we wanted to share our shortlist of the hottest rooftops and riverside destinations to soak up the sun and make the most of this mini-heatwave.
NEW OPENING: Savage Garden, Tower Hill
Opening in June, take a walk on the dark side this summer with a visit to Savage Garden – a new dramatic sky-high destination bar opening in the City. Enter a decadent and twisted world, 12 storeys above, and far removed from the corporate streets of the city below. A bar where the botanical becomes brutal, the atmosphere is unapologetically untamed, and the cocktail serves savage.
This all-day bar and cocktail lounge, located atop the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel London – Tower of London, boasts stunning 360-degree vistas that take in some of the capital’s most iconic landmarks including The Shard, Tower of London, The Gherkin and St. Paul’s Cathedral, but it’s much, much more than just a great view.
Aviary, Finsbury Square
London’s hottest rooftop destination, Aviary, ten floors above Finsbury Square, offers breath-taking views of the capital’s iconic skyline, sensational cocktails and internationally renowned DJs.
Stylish sofas, retro chairs and standard lamps – not to mention its feature marble outdoor bar – bring the feel of a fashionable living space out into the open with the City skyline as your wallpaper!
Plenty of heat lamps and fire pits will keep you warm and toasty when temperatures drop and as the mercury rises, the south facing spot is perfect for soaking up some sun with a cocktail, chilled glass of wine or frosty beer.
Sky Garden, Fenchurch Street
Located 155 metres up, the spectacular Sky Garden offers a gourmet, garden oasis operated by renowned caterer rhubarb and show-stopping views across the capital and far beyond. Spread across floors 35, 36 and 37, the destination restaurants include Darwin Brasserie and fine dining Fenchurch.
Live music plays out Wednesday-Saturday at destination bar, Sky Pod. Doors open from 7pm on weekdays and 9:30pm on Saturdays. Sky Pod Bar offers the best views from Sky Garden with creative cocktails, fabulous bar snacks and sharing boards – so with a drink in hand enjoy the long summer nights in style.
Dine Waterside at The Summerhouse, Maida Vale
Idyllically situated on the beautiful banks of Little Venice, The Summerhouse offers superlative waterside dining and a tranquil escape from the hustle and bustle of the capital. Come the summer months, the picturesque restaurant rolls back its windows to leave only leafy partitions standing between diners and the bobbing barges beside them. Decked with light oak floors, whitewashed walls, blue and white striped furnishings and a scattering of seaside artefacts – expect a chic waterside ambiance, whatever the weather.
Kick-back Canal-side at The Waterway, 54 Formosa Street
Boasting one of the largest outdoor spaces in the capital, The Waterway’s fully heated terrace on Regent’s Canal provides the perfect spot for al-fresco drinking and dining, come rain or shine. Kick back with a refreshing craft beer and feast on barbecued delights from the outside kitchen or pull up a pew in the Lower Garden, available for exclusive hire, and soak up the sun in the leafy surroundings.
