Everyone knows the best way to beat the heat in London is to scramble to your nearest rooftop restaurant and order something chilled, frosted or served over ice. And in that spirit, we bring you our list of the very best rooftops in London, from Riviera-inspired restaurants to secret sun traps sitting above the city.

Café Mission, Shoreditch 

Above the buzz of Shoreditch’s Fashion Street, Café Mission’s rooftop is a serene little sun trap with serious style credentials. Created by Mission (Europe’s biggest movement studio, next door), the terrace is equal parts bohemian hideaway and beach escape, perched atop a historic warehouse and shaded by a canopy of fringed parasols – the ideal setting for lingering brunches or golden hour drinks. The menu balances Japanese finesse with brunchable flair: shakshuka spiced with smoked chilli is a highlight, as is the grilled shokupan sando. You’ll leave feeling like you’ve discovered Shoreditch’s secret side.

7-9 Fashion Street, E1 6PX; mission-e1.com

Boundary, Shoreditch

If you can’t make it to the Med this summer, Boundary Rooftop is the next best thing. Its lush garden terrace is dotted with century-old olive trees, climbing flowers and a breezy glass orangery that opens to the elements on sun-drenched days. The new charcoal-fired menu offers Mediterranean flavours, from grilled octopus and chorizo skewers to pistachio arancini and salt-aged T-bone steak made for sharing. Our advice: order a chilled glass of rosé and settle in for a long lunch. And get the chocolate and hazelnut tart. Trust us.

2-4 Boundary Street, E2 7DD; boundary.london

Sushisamba, the City

There’s no shortage of skyscrapers in the City. But there is a shortage of sculptural orange trees, aside from the one at the centre of Sushisamba’s new open-air terrace on top of the Heron Tower – allegedly the highest roof terrace in Europe. Safe to say, you’re getting 360-views over the entire city from up here, as well as a stream of small plates from Sushisamba’s signature triple-cuisine menu (Japan, Peru and Brazil). Sushi and ceviche in the sun? It’s a no-brainer.

Heron Tower, 110 Bishopsgate, EC2N 4AY; sushisamba.com

The Rooftop at The Standard, King’s Cross

Whizzing to the top floor of The Standard is always an experience – especially because you get there via a scarlet external lift that brings you eye-to-eye with St Pancras’s clock tower. The synthetically turfed terrace stretches right across the 11^th floor, providing plenty of space to bop along to the DJ sets while sipping one of the signature spritzes. Hungry? Hit up the pizza truck for savoury and sweet slices, or else slink downstairs to Decimo for a Spanish-Mexican feast.

10 Argyle Street, WC1H 8EG; standardhotels.com

Flute at Broadwick Soho, Soho

The Broadwick has always attracted a stylish sort – rumour has it a certain blonde pop star was spotted here after her sold-out shows at Wembley Stadium. But its rooftop seems somehow to have escaped mainstream attention, making it feel like a proper hidden haunt in Soho’s busy streets. The wraparound terrace is glam-packed with mirrored ceilings and animal-print upholstery, and the drinks list follows suit – this is a place for champagne and caviar bumps and tapping your toes to live DJ sets.

7^th floor, 20 Broadwick Street, W1F 8TH; broadwicksoho.com 

Yasmin, Soho

Sitting on Yasmin’s terrace on a blazing summer’s day, you could almost believe you’re somewhere in the Med. The electric-green plants and Riviera-style awnings certainly help that daydream, as does the menu of seasonal small-plates inspired by chef Tom Cenci’s travels in Istanbul (we recommend ordering two portions of the lamb shawarma croquettes). By night, the atmosphere kicks up a notch, with a lively energy fuelled by a killer cocktail list – try the “grand bazaar” (Yasmin’s version of an old fashioned).

1 Warwick Street, W1B 5LR; yasminsoho.com

ABar Rooftop at Mandarin Oriental Mayfair, Mayfair

If you’re going to put a rooftop bar on top of one of Mayfair’s swankiest new hotels, you might as well deck it out in gold and add a cloud-inspired ceiling. And that’s precisely what you’ll get at ABar, the rooftop sibling to Michelin-starred chef Akira Back’s signature restaurant on the hotel’s ground floor. The food is a clear highlight (try the sushi tacos), and the cocktail menu is stacked with interesting twists on classic serves – like the artichoke old fashioned.

22 Hanover Square, W1S 1JP; mandarinoriental.com

Kioku by Endo at Raffles London at The OWO, Whitehall

Raffles’ rooftop restaurant is by sushi god Enzo Kazutoshi – his Mediterranean-inflected Japanese food is the perfect fodder for a summer’s evening alfresco. The terrace joins the main restaurant with the turret private dining room (one of the most beautiful in London, by the way), and gives you mega-views of a tourist shop’s worth of London landmarks: Big Ben, the London Eye and Nelson’s Column. This summer, it’s teamed up with Rathfinny to create a bites and bubbles menu – a combo of sushi, champagne and, fingers crossed, sunshine.

6th Floor, The OWO, 2 Whitehall Place, SW1A 2BD; kiokubyendo.com

Bund Lounge at London Hilton Park Lane, Mayfair

A new one for your radar – the shiny new Bund Lounge on the 28th floor of London Hilton on Park Lane. The vibe is somewhere between the Orient Express and an elaborate theatre, with Art Deco details and funky lamps scattered across jewel-toned carpets. And then there’s the view. Tall, floor-to-ceiling windows open over London’s twinkling rooftops – you can practically count the stars. No wonder the cocktail menu is inspired by astrology (Chinese zodiac, to be precise), with 12 signature serves showing off the best of Southeast Asian spirits.

22 Park Lane, W1K 1BE; shanghaime-london.com

Soleil by Claude, Belgravia

You’ll have to wait until September if you want to dine at Claude Bosi’s two-Michelin-starred Brooklands. Because this summer, he’s swapped his racing-inspired restaurant for something more summery: Soleil. Serving a slice of the French Riviera to the eighth floor of The Peninsula London, Soleil is all about light dishes designed for hot weather – seafood and salads, light pastas and long cocktails. It’s all best enjoyed with a glass of Château Minuty rosé – and the terrace’s unbeatable views over Hyde Park. Open until 31 August 2025.

1 Grosvenor Place, SW1X 7HJ; peninsula.com

The Berkeley Rooftop Bar, Belgravia

Striped sun loungers, icy granita and a turquoise wedge of water – turns out, you don’t need to leave the capital to chill in Capri this summer. You just need to head to the rooftop of The Berkeley, which is once again opening its rooftop to everyone (not just hotel guests) this season. From Thursday to Sunday, you can sip citrusy negronis, nibble sharing plates of burrata and octopus and drink in the hazy horizon over an Amalfi lemon sorbet served with a splash of limoncello. Perfetto.

Wilton Place, SW1X 7RL; the-berkeley.co.uk

1864 Rooftop Bar, Oxford Street

Oxford Street isn’t exactly known for its serenity – but climb to the top of the John Lewis flagship and you’ll find 1864, a sky-high, sun-soaked sanctuary with private greenhouses and sweeping city views. Stop by in the afternoon for a “garden cooler” and a round of small plates (the chorizo croquetas and lamb polpette are non-negotiable), or head up at sunset when the DJ sets kick in and the Calamansi Margaritas come out.

6^th floor, 300 Oxford Street, W1C 1DX; 1864rooftopbar.co.uk

Joia Rooftop, Battersea

Joia Rooftop is back for summer – and it’s not playing around. It’s packing panoramic views of the power station, Iberian small plates by acclaimed chef Henrique Sá Pessoa and a stellar lineup of DJs from Soho Radio; it’s the place to be when the sun’s out (or on its way down). The playful cocktails are a highlight, offering standout serves like the pastel de nata-inspired “moonstone” or tequila-spiked slushies.

Battersea Power Station, 15th Floor, 1 Electric Boulevard, London SW11 8BJ; joiabattersea.co.uk

Scott’s Richmond, Richmond

Scott’s Richmond has taken summer entertaining to (fragrant) new heights with the launch of its rooftop Botanical Garden Terrace in partnership with Bombay Sapphire. Dressed in wildflowers, this alfresco haven is the sort of place where lunch drifts into aperitivo hour like a summer breeze. You’re helped along by the seasonal cocktail menu, which heroes Bombay Sapphire’s signature botanicals – standouts include the frothy, prosecco-spiked sgroppino and the “time for tea”, laced with Earl Grey and citrus.

4 Whittaker Avenue, TW9 1EH; scotts-richmond.com

House Party, Soho

If your post-work pint tends to descend into mayhem, you might as well ascend to House Party’s rooftop in Soho. Equal parts sun trap and late-night playground, this Poland Street party pad was co-founded by Stormzy, and offers a summer-ready mix of nostalgic music, frozen margs and woodfired pizza – and panoramic views from its seventh-floor vantage point. No invite needed.

61 Poland Street, W1F 7NU; thehouse.party

Rosé on the Roof at Ham Yard Hotel, Soho

Château La Coste is bringing a taste of Provence to London, transforming the roof terrace at Ham Yard Hotel into a Mediterranean-inspired oasis where guests can lounge amid olive trees and lavender, sipping rosé and Provençal twists on classic cocktails. Following a welcoming coupe of rosé sorbet, you can graze on sharing platters of crudités and aïoli, or artisanal cheeses and saucisson, or pick from a menu of small plates bursting with southern French flavours – think olive and anchovy-studded caramelised onion tarts and merguez with courgettes, peppers, lemon and mint.

1 Ham Yard, W1D 7DT; Wednesday-Sunday from 3pm, 1 August until mid-September; tickets £15 per person, booking essential