Dining
The 6 Best Rooftop Brunches in London
The best rooftop brunches in London, ranked by view, food and how reliably the terrace stays open when the weather turns.
In short: our top picks are Wagtail, City of London, Aviary, Finsbury Square and Aqua Shard, London Bridge. 6 places in total, chosen on merit, with the full reasoning below.
A rooftop brunch in London is really a bet on the weather with a good backup plan. The best venues have covered terraces or retractable roofs so a passing shower does not end the afternoon, and the food holds up on its own even when the view is just grey cloud. Book a terrace table specifically if the view is the point, since plenty of these rooftops also have indoor dining rooms that get handed out first. Weekend slots for the best window seats go within days of release in summer, so book as soon as you settle on a date.
| Place | Area | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Wagtail, City of London | City of London | ££££ |
| Aviary, Finsbury Square | Finsbury Square | £££ |
| Aqua Shard, London Bridge | London Bridge | ££££ |
| Kaso Rooftop Bar and Kitchen, Shoreditch | Shoreditch | £££ |
| Aqua Kyoto, Soho | Soho | £££ |
| Savage Garden, Tower Hill | Tower Hill | £££ |
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Editor’s choice
Wagtail, City of London
Why we pick itWagtail's ninth floor dining room and tenth floor terrace look out over Tower Bridge, St Paul's and the Shard together, and its weekend brunch runs contemporary British dishes rather than a generic buffet spread.
Worth knowingThe view does the heavy lifting, and a standard reservation does not guarantee a table with one; ask for the terrace specifically, and expect less in winter.
Two floor rooftop restaurant with 360 degree City views
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Aviary, Finsbury Square
Why we pick itAviary's Birdsong Brunch adds live entertainment and DJs to sharing seafood and dessert towers, served on a terrace ten floors above Finsbury Square with skyline views in most directions.
Tenth floor rooftop restaurant with a weekend Birdsong Brunch
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Aqua Shard, London Bridge
Why we pick itWeekend brunch here runs from 10.30am to 3.30pm with a la carte British dishes rather than a set bottomless menu, and the 31st floor position gives it a view no other rooftop brunch in the city can match.
Fine dining restaurant on the 31st floor of the Shard
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Kaso Rooftop Bar and Kitchen, Shoreditch
Why we pick itSet on top of One Hundred Shoreditch, Kaso runs an Eastern Mediterranean weekend brunch of sharing plates and botanical cocktails, with the terrace looking out over the Shoreditch rooftops rather than the usual City skyline shot.
Hotel rooftop with an Eastern Mediterranean weekend brunch
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Aqua Kyoto, Soho
Why we pick itAqua Kyoto's Saturday and Sunday brunch opens with sharing starters and unlimited sushi before a choice of main, served on a fifth floor terrace just off Oxford Circus.
Fifth floor Japanese restaurant and rooftop terrace
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Savage Garden, Tower Hill
Why we pick itSavage Garden's Saturday brunch pairs a waffle and cocktail menu with a live DJ, twelve floors up at the DoubleTree by Hilton near Tower of London, with the Thames and Tower Bridge both in view.
Twelfth floor hotel rooftop bar with a Saturday waffle brunch
Before you book
A rooftop bottomless brunch in London typically runs from £45 to £75 per person for around ninety minutes of food and drink, with a la carte rooftop brunches like Aqua Shard’s costing more but without a time limit. Book two to three weeks ahead for a summer weekend, and ask for the terrace specifically when you reserve.
Common questions
What are the top picks in this guide?
Wagtail, City of London is our editor's choice: Wagtail's ninth floor dining room and tenth floor terrace look out over Tower Bridge, St Paul's and the Shard together, and its weekend brunch runs contemporary British dishes rather than a generic buffet spread. Wagtail, City of London, Aviary, Finsbury Square and Aqua Shard, London Bridge lead the guide, with 6 places in total, all chosen on merit.
How does Lamplit London choose its recommendations?
Every place is chosen on merit, after first-hand visits where possible, with no pay-for-placement. Read our full method at https://www.lamplitlondon.com/how-we-choose/.
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