5 Rooftop Bars in Soho To Visit Now

While Soho is renowned for its bar scene, rooftops are somewhat few and far between. The majority of the neighbourhood’s hotspots are nestled within its narrow streets, spilling out onto the pavement, or hidden in basements – but there are a few towering high above. Here we highlight the best rooftop bars in and near Soho, from an Italian garden at the top of Selfridges to a glitzy terrace serving theatrical cocktails.

Soho’s Best Roof Terraces 2024

Aqua Kyoto

Seek refuge from bustling Oxford Street at Aqua Kyoto’s  rooftop terrace, launching in partnership with Porte Noire Champagne. Housed on the fifth floor of the former Dickens & Jones building, the vibrant space serves Japanese fare and fizz, the perfect pitstop after an afternoon of shopping.

5th Floor 240 Regent Street (Entrance, 30 Argyll St, London W1B 3BR, aquaspirit.co.uk

Alto by San Carlo at Selfridges

The Italian rooftop restaurant at the top of Selfridges is fittingly chic. A project from the famed San Carlo group, it comprises a restaurant with a retractable roof, plus an al fresco terrace and bar area, making it a lovely spot to visit year-round. The main dining room is a light-filled space set beneath a canopy of lemons, while the terrace offers skyline views. Amid this idyllic setting you can sip Aperol Spritzes and feast on Italian-inspired sharing plates like arancini and fried calamari. A taste of la dolce vita, bang in the middle of London.

400 Oxford St, London W1A 1AB, sancarlo.co.uk

Tattu London

Manchester-born Chinese restaurant group Tattu now has an outpost in London, with a huge restaurant on the sixth floor of the Outernet building next to Tottenham Court Road station. It’s a cool, sultry spot inspired by a traditional Chinese ‘Courtyard House’, complete with aesthetic interiors and, crucially, a roof terrace. From here you can order equally photogenic sharing plates and cocktails, such as the popular Skull Candy, a sweet vodka tipples served in a skull-shaped vehicle and arriving amid a cloud of smoke. There’s also the Cherry Blossom Negroni, which comes with its own little pink tree, or the Jade Flower, a refreshing mix of vodka, lychee and sour cucumber.

The Now Building Rooftop, Outernet, Denmark St, London WC2H 0LA, tattu.co.uk

The Nest at Treehouse Hotel London

With its botanical design and jaw-dropping views, The Nest at the top of London’s Treehouse Hotel wins the award for the neighbourhood’s most Instagrammable rooftop bar. It’s decked out with green foliage and hanging lamps, with floor-to-ceiling windows and a wrap-around terrace overlooking the city. This year, the outdoor terrace is running in collaboration with Laurent-Perrier, decorated in pretty wildflowers, with glasses of pink champagne available both by the glass and the magnum.

14-15 Langham Pl, London W1B 2QS, treehousehotels.com

Soho Sky Terrace

This rooftop spot is something of a hidden gem, found at the top of the Courthouse Hotel on Soho’s Carnaby Street. A fun drinks menu includes cocktails like watermelon martinis and malbec sangria, plus buckets of beer, spirits and wine. Food-wise there are sharing nibbles, pizzas and wraps. It’s a popular venue for private events, with capacity for up to 80 people standing or 60 seated – though you can book for smaller groups, but be aware there may be a minimum spend. 

16 Great Marlborough St, London W1F 7HS, courthouse-hotel.com

Featured image: Tattu London