It’s hot. So hot I want to be outside all day and night. Which is perfect because summer in London is the ideal time to head to the city’s outdoor bars. The best are the ones with a view, and there are lots to choose from. Since I promised I would write more about things south of the river, today I want to share my picks for the best rooftop bars in south London.
Best Rooftop Bars in South London
From the South Bank to Peckham, Rotherhithe to Brixton, London has no shortage of high-rise al fresco terraces to enjoy.
When the weather warms up, they’re the perfect places for a cocktail with a view or a glass of wine in lush surroundings.
My list includes some places that have become institutions over the years and others that have popped up more recently. It has casual venues and upscale ones, late-night spots and all-day spaces.
I’ve put my favorites on here, and I hope you find one (or three) that fits your personal style and taste.
Some of these rooftop bars in south London are open year-round, while others hibernate during the colder months and pop back up when London thaws out.
Similarly, some are open daily, while others are closed one or more days of the week. And some take bookings (at least sometimes) while others don’t. As such, make sure to check opening hours and times before you go.
1. Bar Elba
On an unassuming rooftop by Waterloo station, the Napoleon-themed Bar Elba is one of the best rooftop bars in south London.
The entrance is hidden around the corner from Waterloo Road, and it’s a climb after that. But there are entertaining signs and Napoleonic quotes to lighten the journey up the never-ending stairwell.
Once at the top, it becomes clear the climb is worthwhile. There are views across London, and everything from The Shard to One Blackfriars can be spotted on the horizon.
And that’s to say nothing of the scene closer in. Bar Elba itself turns the concept of Napoleon’s exile on Elba on its head.
Rather than a prison, this is a party island. It’s buzzing on warm days, and the Mediterranean theme is spot on for summer.
The big bar on the roof serves all kinds of cocktails, and there are happy hour specials to add to the fun.
Picnic tables along the perimeter are great places to sit with friends and soak up views, and the upper terrace is perfect for taking photos of the London skyline.
2. Frank’s Cafe
Frank’s Cafe at Bold Tendencies is another of the best rooftop bars in south London.
Located on top of the Multi-Storey Car Park across from Peckham Rye station, this seasonal summer bar has become a London hipster institution over the last decade.
Frank’s draws people in from all over the city and puts Peckham on the map for the south London-shy when the sun shines and the temperatures climb.
This is one of the most popular rooftop bars in south London for a lot of reasons. First, the view is hard to beat. The bar has an uninterrupted line of sight leading straight to the iconic skyscrapers in the City of London.
There are seats along the wall, so it’s easy to sit facing the view as the day goes by or the sun goes down.
Second, the scene at Frank’s is always fun. There are rotating art exhibitions on the roof, events going on around the bar, and big wooden tables to take over with friends.
There’s a restaurant in addition to the bar, and the weekend brunch makes it a popular place for all-day eating and drinking.
Third, Frank’s is only open from late May to late September. The scarcity factor makes it all the more appealing when the season starts, the doors open, and the party begins.
3. Bussey Rooftop Bar
Right next door to Frank’s, the Bussey Rooftop Bar is another of the best rooftop bars in south London.
Located on top of The Bussey Building, it’s right by Peckham Rye station and easy to access from Rye Lane (especially if you like climbing stairs).
Like Frank’s, the Bussey Rooftop Bar has a view of the London skyline and the City skyscrapers.
Given it sits south of Frank’s and above it (it claims to be the “highest drinking hot spot in Peckham”), the Bussey Rooftop Bar also has a view of Frank’s. Meta.
The Bussey Rooftop Bar serves all the drinks you could imagine, plus food like burgers, hot dogs, and vegan and vegetarian dishes.
This is a great place to go during the summer before seeing a movie at the outdoor cinema next to it.
It’s easy to combine the two for an evening of watching the sunset and seeing a film under the stars. I once went on a hot summer night and it was a dream.
4. The Midnight Apothecary
Speaking of an evening under the stars, The Midnight Apothecary in Rotherhithe promises just that.
This seasonal pop-up cocktail paradise is one of the most unique rooftop bars in south London, not least because it’s in a garden on top of a museum.
The Midnight Apothecary sits above the Brunel Museum, which is dedicated to an engineering family and the story of the Thames Tunnel project.
While the bar lacks the views of some of the others on my list, it more than makes up for it in atmosphere.
Open Friday and Saturday nights during the summer, The Midnight Apothecary focuses on wild cocktails, campfire, culture, and cuisine.
Which means they serve seasonal botanical cocktails around a fire pit using ingredients grown in the rooftop garden or foraged nearby. There’s street food, too.
Unlike other rooftop bars in south London, this one requires a booking. Tickets to the two sittings per evening include admission to the roof garden and Brunel Museum.
They also include an optional guided descent into Brunel’s enormous underground Grand Entrance Hall, and free marshmallows to roast on the fire (like summer camp for adults!). There are happy hour specials, too.
5. The Prince of Wales’ Rooftop Bar
One of the most exciting rooftop bars in south London can be found at The Prince of Wales in Brixton.
This pub and music venue on Brixton Road has a two-tier outdoor roof terrace. It’s a great place for late-night drinking and dancing.
The pair of terraces are the perfect places to see the sunset with a cocktail in hand. Once the sun is down, there are DJs to get the party started and keep it alive throughout the night.
The Prince of Wales also has regular events like special summer rooftop parties and themed nights with food and entertainment.
Some events encourage dressing up according to the theme, which adds to the fun and atmosphere.
6. Queen Elizabeth Hall Roof Garden Bar
On the Thames, the Queen Elizabeth Hall Roof Garden has one of my favorite rooftop bars in south London. Located in the heart of the South Bank, it’s a great place to meet friends for a Pimm’s and soak up the sunset along the river.
This place is the perfect escape from the bustle of the riverfront, and a fun spot to go after riding the London Eye, going to the food market by the Royal Festival Hall, or soaking up the scene and street performances along the South Bank.
Open from early April to late October, this rooftop bar in south London is set among wildflowers, fruit trees, and allotment gardens that fill the space with color and foliage during the warmer months.
It’s a lush oasis in the concrete jungle of the architecture surrounding it, and being here always makes me feel like I’ve stepped into a set from Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream.
7. OXO Tower Bar
Just down the river from the Queen Elizabeth Hall Roof Garden, the OXO Tower Bar on the South Bank is another of the most exciting rooftop bars in south London.
It’s higher up than its neighbor and smaller in size, so has a more intimate feel and better views along the river.
The OXO Tower Bar is a bit more upscale than the other venues on my list, and it’s open all year. There’s a terrace and an indoor space, so it’s prepared for all-weather conditions, too.
In addition to British cocktails and other drinks, the bar serves snacks, meals, and weekend brunch.
There’s a restaurant and a brasserie next door that also have terraces, so you can easily transition from bar to casual or fine dining if you want to. There’s afternoon tea with a view, too.
Rooftop Bars in South London
I hope you’ve enjoyed this list of rooftop bars in south London.
Whether you stick to the river or venture further afield, there’s a variety of places to suit your mood and style. Whichever one you choose, I hope it helps you beat the heat.
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The Bussey Rooftop Bar looks Lovely! I’ll have to check it out on my trip to London later this year. Cheers!
I’m glad you think so! I hope you enjoy it.
Thank you for these good advices! I love the Bussey rooftop bar as well(it seems blooming there: so nice!!!) and the Oxo tower bar is different…but the view is quite spectacular!!!
Yeah, those are both great ones!