Looking Best rooftop bars and restaurants in Hackney, Dalston, Islington, Shoreditch, Hoxton, London Fields, King’s Cross and the City of London
If you are looking for the best rooftop bars in East and Central London, this is where the list gets good. Across Hackney, London Fields, Shoreditch, Hoxton, King’s Cross and the City, the strongest rooftops right now range from casual pizza-and-cocktail terraces to polished hotel bars and destination restaurants with skyline views. The balance is not even across every neighbourhood, though. Shoreditch, King’s Cross and the City have the deepest bench of true destination rooftops, while Hackney and London Fields have fewer but more characterful options. Islington has a smaller local rooftop scene, and Dalston currently looks thinner than it once did.
This guide focuses on places that are genuinely worth recommending now, based on current venue pages and recent operating info, not just famous names with a terrace upstairs. That means the list leans toward rooftops with a clear point of view: somewhere you would actually go for a summer evening, a birthday dinner, sunset drinks, a date night or a proper rooftop lunch rather than just one quick photo.
Netil360, London Fields / Hackney
If you want the rooftop that feels most naturally East London, Netil360 is still one of the best rooftop bars in Hackney. The venue describes itself as Hackney’s best rooftop bar, with panoramic London views, natural wine, craft beer, cocktails and stone-baked Neapolitan pizza, while its current listings also show weekend DJs and a more weatherproof setup than the old strictly-sunny-day rooftop model. For London Fields and Hackney, it is one of the clearest top picks because it feels relaxed, social and rooted in the area rather than hotel-polished.
What makes Netil360 especially useful is that it is not trying to be a special-occasion-only rooftop. It works for after-work drinks, casual groups, pizza nights, birthday meetups and long summer Saturdays. If you are writing for people searching “best rooftop bars Hackney” or “best rooftop bars London Fields,” this is one of the names that genuinely deserves to lead the article.
Queen of Hoxton, Shoreditch / Hoxton
Queen of Hoxton is one of the most recognisable rooftop names in Shoreditch, and it earns its place because it is more than just a terrace with a bar. The venue describes itself as a Shoreditch venue with a rooftop bar, nightclub and events programme, and its official site highlights table bookings, drag brunches, club nights and regular event programming. That combination gives it a livelier, more entertainment-led feel than many of the hotel rooftops on this list.
For people searching for the best rooftop bars in Shoreditch, Queen of Hoxton is one of the strongest picks when the brief is fun rather than formal. It is especially good for groups, party energy and nights when you want the rooftop to feel like part of the evening rather than the entire event. The weather-dependent rooftop hours are also worth noting before you go.
Boundary Rooftop, Shoreditch
Boundary remains one of the classic Shoreditch rooftop bars for a reason. Its official rooftop page highlights a large outdoor terrace and a glass Orangery restaurant with panoramic views, which makes it a strong all-season option rather than somewhere you only think about in July. It is one of the best all-rounders in Shoreditch because it can do lunch, cocktails or dinner without feeling too casual or too corporate.
For a “best rooftop restaurants Shoreditch” angle, Boundary is especially useful because it is not just a drinks terrace. The Orangery setup gives it more of a proper dining identity than many rooftops manage, which is why it still holds its place even as newer Shoreditch rooftops keep opening.
Kaso Rooftop, Shoreditch / Hoxton
Kaso at One Hundred Shoreditch is one of the strongest stylish rooftop bars in Shoreditch right now. The hotel describes it as a rooftop bar, kitchen and terrace with cocktails, Champagne and panoramic views of East London, while also leaning into East Med flavours and regular rooftop DJ sessions. That combination makes it a very good fit for date nights, weekend drinks and nights when you want Shoreditch energy without ending up somewhere flat and predictable.
It also earns its place because it bridges the gap between bar and restaurant better than many hotel rooftops do. You can go there primarily for drinks, but it still feels substantial enough for a proper evening out, which is exactly what many people actually want when searching for the best rooftop bars in Hoxton and Shoreditch.
Llama Inn, Shoreditch / Hoxton
For rooftop dining rather than just rooftop drinking, Llama Inn is one of the standouts. Its official site and The Hoxton both position it as a rooftop Peruvian restaurant and bar with city views, killer cocktails and a strong wine list. This is one of the better places on this list when the meal is meant to be the main event, not just the backdrop to it.
That makes Llama Inn one of the best rooftop restaurants near Shoreditch and Hoxton if you want somewhere that feels more food-led and more destination-worthy than a standard cocktail terrace. In editorial terms, it is one of the rooftops that helps lift this list beyond pubs and party bars.
The Rooftop at The Standard, King’s Cross
King’s Cross has become one of the best areas in London for rooftop drinking, and The Rooftop at The Standard is one of the main reasons why. The official page says it stretches across the 11th floor with panoramic city views, specialty cocktails, bubbles on tap and playful snacks, with current seasonal opening hours listed for April 2026. The location next to St Pancras gives it one of the most recognisable backdrops of any rooftop in London.
For searches like “best rooftop bars King’s Cross” or “rooftop bars near St Pancras,” this is one of the essential names. It feels visual, central and genuinely different from the East London rooftops because the setting is so tied to the architecture around King’s Cross itself.
Decimo, King’s Cross
If The Rooftop is the drinks move, Decimo is one of the best rooftop-style restaurants in King’s Cross. Decimo describes itself as Mexican-Spanish cooking on the 10th floor of The Standard, with produce cooked over fire, mezcal-forward cocktails, floor-to-ceiling windows and sweeping skyline views. It is more destination dinner than casual drop-in, which is exactly why it belongs high on a list like this.
It is also one of the strongest picks here for celebratory meals, impressive dinners and stylish lunches near King’s Cross. Even though it reads more as a skyline restaurant than a pure open-air rooftop, it absolutely delivers the elevated-above-the-city experience people are usually looking for.
Sweeties, King’s Cross
Also at The Standard, Sweeties gives you the late-night version of the rooftop mood. The venue describes itself as a 10th-floor cocktail bar, discotheque and late-night lounge with skyline views, indulgent drinks and an evolving DJ line-up. If Decimo is the dinner option and The Rooftop is the open-air sunset option, Sweeties is where you go for King’s Cross rooftop energy with a nightlife slant.
That makes it especially useful for readers looking for rooftop bars that feel more glamorous and grown-up than the usual station-area drinking spots. King’s Cross has changed hugely in the last few years, and Sweeties is one of the clearest examples of that shift.
Big Chill King’s Cross
Big Chill is a more casual and group-friendly rooftop pick in King’s Cross. Its official page says the venue spreads across three floors and includes a large roof terrace with private areas, a bar and a retractable roof. That makes it more about fun social plans than a polished destination dinner, but that is also why it earns a spot here.
For birthdays, larger groups, easier drinks and less dressy rooftop plans, Big Chill is one of the more practical options in this whole guide. Not every rooftop needs to be elegant; some just need to be easy, lively and good for a crowd.
Wagtail, City of London
If you want a polished rooftop restaurant in the City of London, Wagtail is one of the strongest options full stop. The venue says it is split over two floors with a restaurant, two private terraces, a rooftop terrace bar and 360-degree views of landmarks including Tower Bridge, St Paul’s, the Shard, the Gherkin and the Walkie Talkie. It is one of the clearest special-occasion rooftops on this list.
This is the kind of place that works for celebrations, client dinners, impressive brunches and those nights when you want the view to feel properly dramatic. For “best rooftop restaurants City of London,” Wagtail should be near the top.
Sabine, St Paul’s / City of London
Sabine is one of the best rooftop bars in the City if the view is the main event. Its official site focuses heavily on the skyline terrace, outdoor bar and direct views of St Paul’s Cathedral, and that is exactly why it stands out. For after-work cocktails, date nights or summer drinks with a very obvious London backdrop, it is one of the strongest names to know.
A lot of City rooftops can feel interchangeable, but Sabine has a more specific visual identity because of that St Paul’s-facing position. It is a rooftop bar you remember for where it is, not just what is on the drinks list.
Florattica, Aldgate / City fringe
Florattica is one of the prettiest rooftop bars in this wider part of London. The venue describes itself as a hidden oasis high above the City in the Minories, inspired by East London’s textile heritage, and its official pages highlight both skyline views and seasonal rooftop igloos. That makes it a strong option for stylish cocktails, design-led evenings and dates where the atmosphere matters as much as the drinks.
It also gives this list a different tone from the more corporate-feeling rooftops in the Square Mile. Florattica feels softer, more intimate and more visually curated, which is why it works so well in lifestyle-style recommendations.
Aviary, near Shoreditch and the City
Aviary has been a reliable all-round rooftop for years, and it still deserves a place on any serious list of the best rooftop bars near Shoreditch and the City. Official venue pages describe it as a rooftop restaurant and terrace on the 10th floor of Montcalm Royal London House, with all-day dining, inventive cocktails and expansive skyline views. It also pushes its brunch offer quite heavily, which makes it especially useful as a daytime rooftop recommendation.
Geographically it sits just outside some of your exact neighbourhood labels, but editorially it belongs here because it serves the same Shoreditch-Hoxton-City audience looking for elevated brunches, drinks and skyline dinners.
Los Mochis London City, Broadgate / Liverpool Street
Los Mochis London City is one of the best food-led rooftops in the City right now. Official pages describe it as a Mexican-Japanese restaurant and rooftop above Broadgate Circle, with a scenic terrace, skyline views and a 3,000-square-foot weatherproof rooftop space with outdoor dining, a bar and lounge area. It feels buzzy, modern and much more like a destination restaurant than a drinks terrace that happens to serve food.
For readers searching “best rooftop restaurants Liverpool Street” or “best rooftop restaurants City of London,” this is one of the most relevant newer-feeling options. The mix of strong food identity and skyline setting makes it one of the more complete packages in the City.
The Castle, Islington
Islington is not packed with major skyline rooftops in the way Shoreditch or the City are, but The Castle is one of the clearest genuine local options. The pub promotes its rooftop screen, rooftop garden and summer drinking setup, while its official site positions it as a rooftop pub in the heart of Islington. It is much more of a neighbourhood rooftop than a big-ticket destination, but for rooftop drinks in Islington itself, it is one of the most credible picks.
That distinction matters. If someone is specifically searching for the best rooftop bars in Islington, it is better to recommend the local places that genuinely exist than to force in nearby rooftops that are technically outside the area. The Castle is useful because it actually answers the Islington brief honestly.
Bubba Oasis, Angel / Islington
Bubba Oasis is another Islington-area option, though it is more hidden terrace than skyline showstopper. Its own materials describe it as a rooftop events venue in Islington, and additional local listings describe it as a homely café-cocktail bar with a magical hidden roof terrace. That makes it a better pick for laid-back local energy than for panoramic rooftop views.
Still, it deserves a mention because Islington’s rooftop category is not especially deep. For readers who want somewhere local, social and a bit tucked away rather than polished and panoramic, Bubba Oasis is one of the better fits.
Best rooftop bars and restaurants by occasion
For casual rooftop drinks, Netil360, Big Chill King’s Cross and Kaso are among the strongest choices because they combine atmosphere with a more relaxed, social feel. Looking For a smarter all-round rooftop that can do lunch, dinner and cocktails, Boundary, Aviary and Wagtail are stronger picks. Not forgetting rooftop restaurants where the food matters as much as the setting, Decimo, Llama Inn and Los Mochis London City stand out most clearly.
If the brief is skyline cocktails in the City, Sabine and Florattica are especially strong. If the brief is a more local rooftop in Islington, The Castle is the clearer answer. And if the brief is best rooftop bars in Hackney or London Fields, Netil360 is still the most convincing all-round recommendation.
Final verdict
If you are narrowing this down to the names most worth knowing, I would keep the shortlist like this: Netil360 for Hackney and London Fields; Boundary, Kaso and Llama Inn for Shoreditch and Hoxton; The Rooftop at The Standard, Sweeties and Decimo for King’s Cross; Wagtail, Sabine, Florattica, Aviary and Los Mochis for the City; and The Castle as one of the more credible genuine rooftop options in Islington. Dalston, at least for now, is the weak spot in the category.
FAQ
What are the best rooftop bars in Shoreditch?
Boundary and Kaso are two of the strongest rooftop bars in Shoreditch, while Llama Inn is one of the best rooftop restaurant options around Shoreditch and Hoxton.
What is the best rooftop bar in Hackney or London Fields?
Netil360 is one of the clearest top choices thanks to its panoramic views, pizza, cocktails and regular DJ programming.
Are there good rooftop bars in Islington?
Yes, but there are fewer destination rooftops in Islington than in Shoreditch, King’s Cross or the City. The Castle is one of the most established genuine rooftop options in the area, with Bubba Oasis offering a more hidden-terrace alternative.
What are the best rooftop restaurants in the City of London?
Wagtail, Aviary and Los Mochis London City are among the strongest rooftop restaurant options in and around the City, while Sabine and Florattica are more drinks-led.
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