7 London rooftop bars for long summer nights

Chef Claude Bosi’s two-Michelin-star restaurant atop The Peninsula hotel is a well-oiled fine-dining machine, but did you know it also has a roof terrace where you can enjoy drinks overlooking the bustle of Hyde Park Corner? Signature aviation and motorsport-themed cocktails (in fact, you’ll see lots of rare memorabilia from both worlds adorning the walls and ceilings of the restaurant ­– the owner’s a fan) have a culinary edge with ingredients like burnt butter tequila and dill vodka. The bar snacks, it goes without saying, are not simply for show. 

Peckham institution Frank’s, which sits atop a repurposed multi-storey car park, has been attracting a young, fun crowd during the summer months since opening in 2009. Cocktails veer towards classic crowdpleasers, with nods to locality like a Negroni made with South London vermouth, and frozen options for the hotter days, while the food offer includes global plates like aubergine parmigiana, a chicken schnitzel sandwich and plantain with hot sauce for a lighter bite. Expect site-specific sculptures and permanent artworks on the roof by arts organisation Bold Tendencies, who run the space, and spectacular views of the London skyline. 

_{Photo courtesy Frank's Cafe}

Though distinctly London in its outlook, positioned on the rooftop of One New Change in the heart of the City, overlooking St Paul’s Cathedral, Madison is inspired by the dining culture of another great world city: New York. That means pasta alla vodka, numerous steaks, and mac and cheese on the dinner menu, while an extensive brunch menu, including a grilled half lobster, doesn’t hold back. Alongside the signature cocktails, there is also a ‘functional’ drinks list of non-alcoholic concoctions for those who want to party (or watch the World Cup) without the hangover.