The Sunday Times - UK (2022-05-29)

24 May 29, 2022The Sunday Times

Travel

impressive vistas. On floor 37

its stylish industrial restaurant

has been awarded two AA

rosettes for European takes on

dishes such as Herefordshire

beef and rabbit tagine. Time

your visit to the 39th-floor

roof terrace and gin bar to

catch the last rays of the day

as they sink over the Thames,

South Bank and towering

buildings of the City.

Details

bokanlondon.co.uk

SABINE, CITY

The clock tower, statues and

dome of St Paul’s Cathedral

feel within touching distance

of this garden-themed rooftop

bar. On the seventh floor of

the Leonardo Royal Hotel,

Sabine opened last year and

remains less crowded than

nearby drinking spots. If

there are no vacant tables

on the outdoor terrace, the

floor-to-ceiling windows and

retractable roof of the interior

ensure that the cathedral is

always within sight, while

the foliage-draped

circular bar offers a

front-row vantage

point to watch

bartenders mixing up

smoking cocktails, left,

and frozen negronis.

Details sabinelondon.co.uk

ROOF EAST, STRATFORD

This former car park has

been repurposed as an adults’

playground. Watch classic

ROOFTOP BARS

IN LONDON

TOP

THE CULPEPER,

SPITALFIELDS

This East End boozer has been

around since 1884 and is still

a favourite with after-work

drinkers and weekend groups.

While the ground-floor pub

can bustle come 7pm, the

rooftop offers tranquillity.

Alongside a bar and

restaurant, the space is used

as an urban garden to harvest

herbs and garnishes, the fruits

ALTO BY SAN CARLO,

OXFORD STREET

Skip through Selfridges’

fragrance section to a lift that

zooms you to a slice of Sicily.

The rooftop restaurant and

bar is so pretty that it’s easy

to forgive the lack of views;

ceiling beams strung with faux

lemons and white blossoms,

shuttered windows and a

retractable roof create an

Italian oasis. Aperol spritzes

and bellini Venezianas grace

the drinks list, while an

extensive food menu covers

favourites from lobster ravioli

to beef ragu-filled arancini.

Details sancarlo.co.uk

FRANK’S CAFÉ, PECKHAM

At the top of a pink staircase in

a former car park, Frank’s Café

has become a summer stalwart

in south London. Opened in

2009 by the not-for-profit

organisation Bold Tendencies

as a sculpture exhibition and

café, the spot has returned

each year to showcase

different artists. This year the

theme is love, with works from

the Turner prizewinner Martin

Creed, and the artist and poet

Rhea Dillon’s first public

exhibition. Art aside, come for

the brunches and negronis

with a backdrop of the Shard

and City skyscrapers.

Details boldtendencies.com

of which are utilised in dishes

including beef koftas with mint

yoghurt and pickled chillies.

There are monthly workshops

on city gardening too.

Details theculpeper.com

BOKAN, CANARY WHARF

What the skyscrapers of

Canary Wharf lack in charm

they make up for in

unforgettable views. Bokan

has taken over floors 37 to 39

of the world’s tallest Novotel,

with some of the city’s most

of the day

he Thames,

wering

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med rooftop

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Detailssab

ROOF EAST

This former

been repur

playground

THE STANDARD LONDON

films from a giant deckchair

or flex your competitive

muscles with the batting

cages, archery targets, crazy

golf or lawn bowls. Groups

are catered for with brightly

coloured benches and food

trucks serving burgers and

Indian and Turkish street

food. Drinks such as Sunset

Sherbert — passion fruit,

vodka and prosecco —

promise a sugar rush.

Details roofeast.com

THE ROOFTOP AT THE

STANDARD, KING’S CROSS

The American hotel brand the

Standard’s first foray outside

the States is the takeover of

the brutalist former Camden

Town Hall Annex. In keeping

with the fun, 1970s theme of

the bedrooms, the Astroturf

rooftop, above left, has pink

banquettes and close-up

views of the red-brick spires

and gothic revival façade of

St Pancras station. Cocktails

on tap include Spicy Tommy’s

margaritas, with and there

are slushy Aperol spritzes for

warm days. The chef Peter

Sanchez-Iglesias of Decimo,

on the tenth floor, has lent a

hand to the bright-red food

truck, creating a menu of

Mexican-inspired bites.

Details standardhotels.com

Faith Strickland