Dining
The 5 Best Rooftop Restaurants in London
Dinner with a skyline: the London rooftop restaurants where the view earns its place on the bill.
In short: our top picks are Aqua Shard, Oblix and Coq dArgent. 4 places in total, chosen on merit, with the full reasoning below.
A rooftop restaurant has to earn its view, because too many coast on it. The best in London match the skyline with cooking worth the trip and a room you would happily sit in at ground level. These are the ones where the height is a bonus, not the whole act.
| Place | Area | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Aqua Shard | London Bridge | ££££ |
| Oblix | London Bridge | ££££ |
| Coq dArgent | Bank | £££ |
| 14 Stories | City of London | £££ |
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Editor’s choice
Aqua Shard
Why we pick itModern British cooking on level 31 of The Shard; the three-storey atrium is the view.
Worth knowingThe cooking does not match the setting and portions read small for the price; without a window table booked well ahead, the point of coming is lost.
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Oblix
Why we pick itA grill and rotisserie high in The Shard; live music and one of the best terraces in town.
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Coq dArgent
Why we pick itA rooftop garden above the Bank junction; long a City favourite for warm-evening dinners.
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14 Stories
Why we pick itA plant-filled room with wraparound City views; polished cooking and a real sense of occasion.
No longer open
These appeared in earlier versions of this guide. We have left them here, marked, because readers still search for them.
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Searcys at the Gherkin Closed
Permanently closed in early January 2026. Searcys still operates its other London venues.
Dining at the top of the Gherkin; the dome and the skyline do a lot of the work, beautifully.
Before you book
Book a table near golden hour and check the forecast, as most have an indoor plan but the terrace is the point. Ask for the view side when you reserve. And dress a touch warmer than you think; London rooftops turn cool the moment the sun drops.
Common questions
What are the best rooftop restaurants in London?
Aqua Shard is our editor's choice: Modern British cooking on level 31 of The Shard; the three-storey atrium is the view. Aqua Shard, Oblix and Coq dArgent lead the guide, with 4 places in total, all chosen on merit.
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