With London transitioning from Lockdown 2.0 into Tier 2 on December 2, I’m looking forward to counting down to Christmas as I always do: catching up with friends in town over lots and lots of cocktails. However, because I don’t understand ‘bubbles’ (I live by myself – can’t everybody be in my bubble?) and I don’t want to blow my budget on a ‘substantial meal’ every time I leave the house, I’ll probably be drinking the majority of these cocktails outside. In December. So, if this is the way its going to be, there had better be heaters, there had better be blankets and there had better be something warm and boozy to drink. I am thinking cosy over cool (though cool would be er…cool too). So where will I be outdoor drinking in London this winter?
I’ll be adding to the list as I go, so keep checking back for updates…
The rooftop party spot: Madison
3 words: Hot Mulled Negroni.
Yes please.
Madison at One New Change has been a summer haunt of mine for the past few years because the terraces (yes, plural) are huge. It gets BUSY up here – DJs, Ibiza party vibe – particularly on a hot early finish Friday in the middle of summer. Its a place where I like to take out-of-town visitors – the views over the city are fab and you just have to get that shot of St Paul’s Cathedral nestling in a cocktail glass. I do it every time.
Their cocktails are…decent. I’ve found them hit and miss, but once had an amazing Chocolate Negroni there (though, it was a Dante pop-up soooo….). But that brings me back to the beginning and the winter-friendly hot mulled version.
For the festive season, they are bringing us Madison Winterland, complete with fur blankets, cosy seating and cups of Eggnog on the heated terraces. There will also be little lodges built for 2 or 4 serving up packages of festive cocktails, nibbles and a bottle of Tattinger.
No pics from 2020 yet, but they’ve got my attention…
Madison, One New Change, St Paul’s, London, EC4M 9AF
Getting pretty high: Sushi Samba
For someone who doesn’t eat fish or shellfish, I do hang around a lot of sushi places. Because they are just so PRETTY. Roka is a fave (especially Shochu Lounge under the branch on Charlotte street) but aside from a teeny terrace at Canary Wharf, no outside space. Boo hiss. Next fave? Japanese-Peruvian-Brazilian fusion spot Sushi Samba. I’ve had supper in South Beach (RIP), done Cocktail Week in Covent Garden, but the branch I keep coming back to is the one on the 38th & 39th floors of the Heron Tower Tower in The City. Why? THAT terrace, of course (…and the ride down in the lift. My stomach always flips).
No news on their festive plans, but they open back up on the 2nd and, if the terrace is open, you’ll find up me up there, huddled round the fire pit clutching a Lychee Cooler.
Sushi Samba, Heron Tower, 110 Bishopsgate, London, EC2N 4AY
The secret city garden: Double Standard
From the 39th floor, we’re back on terra firma at Double Standard at The Standard Hotel in Kings Cross (though they do have their own very fabulous ‘space pod’ lift up to Decimo restaurant on the 10th floor). This was the second bar I visited after lockdown 1.0 ended, so it is only fitting that I head back after this one too.
Back then it was July and we were fighting for shade from the 90 degree heat on the terrace. It’s the secretest of gardens, a quiet oasis slap bang in the middle of one of the noisiest parts of town – Kings Cross station is right across the road. Just head out the back of the 70s retro bar and restaurant, past the Mimi Moet vending machine and outside into another world.
During the summer we were drinking frozen Aperol Spritz’s, munching on southern fried cauliflower and mopping our brows. Last winter they had sheepskin rugs, duck confit mince pies and plenty of mulled wine. This one? We’ll just have to wait and see…
Double Standard, The Standard London, 10 Argyle Street, London, WC1H 8EG
The urban village green: Ham Yard Hotel
I’ve mentioned before how much I love Firmdale Hotels. They are gorgeous to look at (love that quirky Kit Kemp aesthetic), fabulous to stay in and – most importantly – dreamy to drink in. The Ham Yard is one of their larger London properties, but it still retains a boutiquey vibe, set in a cute little courtyard strung with lights, with outdoor dining and surrounded by chic independent designer stores. ‘Urban Village’, they call it. Yes, it is in the middle of Soho, but I get where they are coming from.
The ‘Village Green’ is on the 4th floor and comes complete with trees, shrubs, flowers, a fully planted kitchen garden and 2 working beehives. And a bar. Of course. Not just for show, the fruit, vegetables, herbs and plants flowering on the terrace are also used in the Ham Yard bar and kitchen: everything from Lemon Verbena leaves to Edible Chrysanthemum to fresh honey from the hives have popped up on the cocktail menu.
However, this roof terrace garden is off-limits to all but hotel guests (boo hiss)…or those attending private events or their regular pop-up experiences. Lucky me, I did manage to snag tickets to A Hot Gin Roof event with Sipsmith’s gin a few years back where we were warmed up on a particularly nippy February evening with a selection of bespoke hot gin-based cocktails.
This year they have Winter Terrace Nights running up to Christmas and, lockdown pending, I’m all booked in. I’m looking forward to sipping festive cocktails (put me down for the hot Kentucky Coffee with Woodford Reserve, espresso, Angostura Bitters and a honey maple foam. Yum) by candlelight and getting cosy by the heaters while snuggled under blankets. Yes please.
Keep an eye on my Instagram – I’ll definitely be reporting back.
(UPDATE)
Ham Yard Hotel, 1 Ham Yard, London, W1D 7DT
Booze in the ‘hood: Heads + Tails
Yet another secret garden, this one a little closer to home: Heads +Tails, my London ‘local’.
Heads: you get a bright and buzzing space with glam touches ( I keep trying to walk off with bits of the furniture – those teal and gold stools would totally work in my lounge) and an excellent cocktail list (love their Maple Old Fashioned). Tails: you get a get a more sultry, neighbourhoody spot – lots of dark divey corners. Oh, and there’s the split-level garden out back so each floor gets its own little bit of outside space.
Now, I’ve not seen it set up for an al fresco winter – I assume they’ll bring out heaters and blankets and add something warming to the drinks list? Whatever, if its too cold, I can warm up on the walk home. There’s no excuse not to give this one a try.
Heads + Tails, 175 West End Lane, London, NW62LH
Riverside rooftop: Seabird
Once again, I don’t eat fish or seafood (see above), yet here we are: another seafood restaurant. This time Seabird – home of London’s largest oyster menu – on the 14th floor of The Hoxton Southwark, one of my summer staycation spots.
So why are we here? Because that terrace is gorgeous. It wraps around the building serving views of the Southbank and all the way across the Thames to The City and beyond. The inside restaurant’s not bad either. And the cocktails…
I still have dreams about their frozen Caipirinha.
I’ve not seen them promoting anything particularly Christmassy, can’t see any Eggnog on their menu but I know they will be re-opening and operating under tier 2 protocols, so I might get another look at their terrace this side of 2021 (assuming they open the terrace, turn on the heaters and throw in some blankets).
And for all my staycation crew, spend £200 on dinner for 2 this month (except 25th and 31st Dec) and they’ll throw in a room at The Hoxton for free – you just need to book in advance (check their socials for deets). If I actually ate seafood, I’d be all over this – or do you think they’d let me make up the dinner bill in Caipirinhas?
Seabird, The Rooftop, The Hoxton, Southwark, 40 Blackfriars Road, London, SE1 8PB
The house in the clouds: Nest
This was the first bar I visited back in July 2020, at the end of lockdown 1.0 (see, I was way ahead of the game with this al fresco thing). The Nest bar/restaurant is on the 16th floor of The Treehouse hotel.There are quite a few hotels on this list, and that is probably because in this city, other than office blocks, they are the ones with the real estate. High rise = fabulous roof terrace.
Oh and it is.
Steps from Oxford Circus tube, but as it is so high up, mercifully away from the mental crowds (and you know its worse down there at Christmas). The airy interior space is glam, yet cosy: I love the bright textile accents, the (I want to say Persian???) rugs, the draped throws, the cushions. The hanging lights are beautiful, then they bring the true treehouse vibe with lots of twigs and greenery. It all works so well, then the 360 degree wraparound terrace comes along and just steals the show. They got views.
The cocktail list is imaginative, drawing inspiration from the tree. Ready for reopening, the menu has been given a bit of a festive makeover. Do we forgive them for the Spiced Pumpkin Bellini? Or the hot Banana Coffee? Hmm…think I’d stick to the classics. Luckily, they do those really well.
Grabbing a blanket and cosying up on a lounger on this treetop terrace is definitely on my winter bucket list.
The Nest, Treehouse Hotel London, 14-15 Langham Place, London W1B 2QS
Igloo here, igloo there: igloo everywhere
They’ve been popping up around town for a few winters and I’ve never really been that bothered. But now, with bubbles, social distancing and rules of six – and the fact that it is bloody freezing out – all of a sudden igloo pop-ups are the best idea ever. Here’s 3 to look out for:
Coppa Club, Tower Bridge
Set on a Thames-side terrace with panoramic views taking in the sights of the city, these really are the glammest igloos in town. With decor inspired by French Vineyards, at Coppa Club you’ll get rugs and throws and candlelight. Underfloor heating will keep you snug and toasty as your group (each individual pod seats 4-6) dines from the extensive menu of classic faves.
And the cocktails? I’m drooling. This year they’ve partnered with Piper Hiedsieck, so they are serving bubbles by the glass, the bottle and in cocktails. They also have mulled wine (’tis the season) then, get this, Tiramisu Martinis, Cookie Old Fashioneds, Batidas and Hibiscus Margaritas. Want, want, want, want.
All of this. If you can get a booking, that is. I sat in an online queue for an age and got nada. I wish you better luck than me.
Coppa Club, 3 Three Quays Walk, Lower Thames Street, London, EC3R 6AH
Pergola Paddington
They are no showing me any pictures (it opens on 3 December), but at Pergola‘s Miracle on Kingdom Street pop-up they are promising me private Moët & Chandon Champagne Chalets, so…
They also have the igloos, a heated Bavarian-style hall with live music and DJs, restaurants serving Hot Bourbon Toddies and boozy cheese fondue. Its giving me Hyde Park Winter Wonderland vibes without the overpriced fairground rides, but I’m intrigued…
Pergola Paddington, 5 Kingdom Street, Paddington Central, W2 6PY
Aviary, Finsbury Square
Elegant, classy…expensive.
Perched on the 9th & 10th floors of the Montcalm Royal London House Hotel, the igloos at Aviary are guaranteed to serve some iconic London skyline views. Each individual pod is beautifully styled and can seat 2-6 for either a dining or drinks and nibbles package – love this, so many of the other options in town were dinner only, and you know my diet is liquid. They have Tanqueray as their partner so I expect nothing less than fabulous gin-based cocktails. I couldn’t find the dedicated igloo cocktail list online, but on their main list, the Flamingo Riff (Tanqueray Gin, lychee juice, green tea, hibiscus infused Yaguara Cachaça) sounds right up my street.
oos/
It is in City-boy central, so the minimum spends come as no surprise (to be fair, none of these igloo options are particularly cheap), but good for a pre-Christmas treat? It’s 2020. We need SOMETHING…
Aviary, Montcalm Royal London House, 22-25 Finsbury Square, London, EC2A 1DX
Outdoor drinking in London this winter
I don’t want to get too excited, just in case there is a last minute twist in the tale, but easing out of lockdown in London means bars are back, baby. But in order to navigate the random tier rules – not necessarily indoors. Luckily, London has been stocking up on heaters, blankets, igloos , fire pits and lots of warming boozy brews so, if the only way we can safely socialise with other people is al fresco, we can at least do it without catching hypothermia (’cause we haven’t suffered enough this year).
I’ll be rocking my faux fur and hopefully hitting the hotel roof bars to get my cocktail fix…let’s just hope I can actually get a booking, eh?
Where’s my tier 2 crew? Where will you be outdoor drinking in London this winter? Let me know in the comments.
