Dinner With A View: 24 London Restaurants With A Side of Scenery

OXO Tower Restaurant

With a 200ft long terrace, OXO is one of the few places in London with panoramic views across the city and the River Thames, and the talented team behind the bar have been mixing, shaking and pouring all sorts of wonderfully coloured concoctions getting ready for summertime.

Enjoy a tipple from the substantial cocktail list or a casual bite from the bar menu – just make sure to book ahead on busy days, especially weekends, as this is one sought-after al fresco spot.

Tattu London

Taking outdoor dining to a whole new level with unrivalled views of the city, contemporary Chinese rooftop restaurant Tattu London offers a selection of dim sum and unique cocktails with breath-taking 360 views over London’s Soho.

With their signature style and contemporary dishes inspired by the flavours and ingredients of modern Chinese cooking, they offer an unmatched al fresco experience in their terrace bar, the Phoenix.

Angler

Perched atop South Place Hotel, Angler is a Michelin-starred restaurant showcasing the best sustainable seafood from British waters, with a beautiful rooftop terrace to boot. Nestled in the heart of the City, it’s the perfect place for a work lunch, or a show stopping meal as the sun sets.

Sabine

Not only does Sabine have an uninterrupted view of St Paul’s Cathedral, it’s got a killer cocktail list too. It’s well worth booking a table and watching the sun sink into the horizon as you knock down half a dozen spritzes.

Whilst more of a bar than a restaurant, they do offer light bites. So if, like us, you love a small plate, expect to tuck into the likes of tandoori prawn skewers, chickpea chips and charcuterie.

Fenchurch Restaurant

Prepare to sit, watch, dine, and sip as you enjoy 360-degree views of London through one of the biggest, most imposing windows in London. At the top of the so-called Walkie Talkie tower, more accurately known as 20 Fenchurch Street, and most commonly known as the Sky Garden, you’ll find one of the most memorable spaces in London for dining, drinking or just enjoying the view from London’s highest public garden.

For dinner, head to Fenchurch Restaurant, perfect for enjoying sky-high views and a contemporary British menu.

Tavolino

Split across two floors, with an outdoor terrace and panoramic views of London, Tavolino is already off to a good start. The fact that it’s right on the riverside by Tower Bridge is a bonus, and the iconic view takes in the best of London’s landmarks.

The delicious food and dazzling cocktails only add to the occasion, with dishes including bucatini ‘cacio e pepe’; 8oz hanger steak, crispy fried aubergines and roast garlic mayo; and pizza topped with roasted red pepper, pine nut, pesto and black olive. Wash it all down with a White Peach Bellini or an Arancino (Buffalo Trace bourbon, Cointreau, lemon, chocolate and orange).

Bateaux London

The genius of Bateaux is that you’re guaranteed not only one view, but loads of them. That’s because the glass-sided boat restaurant will be skimming down the river throughout your meal, giving you glimpses and eyefuls of London’s riverside landmarks throughout.

Whether you opt for lunch, dinner, afternoon tea, or even a Sunday roast, the food itself is notably excellent – as is the live entertainment and views of an ever changing London skyline as you zip past.

Duck & Waffle

You know the saying jack of all trades, master of none? That could have so easily applied to Duck & Waffle, but in fact they win at being a 24 hour restaurant, having excellent food and unrivalled views out across London.

The experience begins with a 40 second lift ride that whooshes you up to the 40th floor of 110 Bishopsgate and ends with you having had your fill of duck and waffle and your storage on your phone being that much smaller due to all the photos you took.

Plateau

Get yourself over to Canada Place in Canary Wharf and head to Plateau. Not only will you emerge from the 4th floor lift with stunning views of the Canary Wharf skyscrapers (especially at night), but you’ll experience contemporary French cuisine and classic cocktails from the stylish restaurant or alfresco heated terrace. 

Seabird

Home to incredible interiors, London’s longest oyster list, an impressive marble raw bar, and sprawling city views – dinner with a view doesn’t get much better than Seabird.

The restaurant sits on top of The Hoxton, making it the perfect post-work location for a rooftop rendezvous. Join freelancers and fellow WFHers in the stylish lobby by day, then head up top for sundown cocktails and oysters as you watch the sun set over the London skyline.

Butler’s Wharf Chophouse

If you fancy a meaty feast with a view, then make a beeline for the terrace at Butler’s Wharf Chophouse. Sat along the Thames with incredible views of Tower Bridge, it’s the perfect romantic setting to take a date, or impress an out-of-towner while they’re visiting London.

However if you’re heading here with friends, we’d recommend visiting on a Sunday, where groups of four or more can tuck into a Sunday roast to share including aged Aberdeen steak, chicken, lamb shank, beef dripping Yorkshire puddings, duck fast roast potatoes, seasonal vegetables and bottomless gravy. It’s the city’s ultimate scenic Sunday lunch.

Boundary

Drink in spectacular views of the City and East London from the stylish surroundings of Boundary’s heated Rooftop orangery, bar, grill & outdoor terrace.

Come rain or shine, this pretty little Shoreditch balcony is a equipped with everything you need to escape the city below – from a Mediterranean-inspired menu and rosé sipping amongst the orange trees in summer, to  cheese fondue and melting raclette as the rooftop transforms into a cosy alpine garden come winter.