Best restaurants with a view in London

Often filled with suits and city bankers, City Social's darkly lit setting and low ceilings can be forgiven as its views across the city are exceptional. Headed up by Michelin-starred chef Jason Atherton and holding a Michelin star itself, this restaurant screams corporate luxury. Lobster tortellini, saddle back pork and stuffed courgette are a few of the dishes available on the a la carte menu.

There isn’t much better than overlooking the Thames on a sunny day in London. Thankfully OXO Tower Restaurant’s terrace has one of the best views of the Thames you could ask for. Sitting pretty on the eighth floor you can enjoy the view while eating the likes of roasted quail, poached lobster or Lamb cutlets. Claiming to be perfect for celebration dinners, if you’ve got a special occasion OXO Tower restaurant is definitely worth booking.

Located only two floors above Sushisamba, Duck & Waffle is noticeably more laid back than its downstairs neighbour. Boasting the same incredible view with dishes like the classic duck with a savoury waffle, roasted aubergine and roasted plaice to enjoy, Duck & Waffle works perfectly for casual and corporate dinners alike. It’s open 24 hours a day too so if a late night waffle craving hits, you know where to go.

Sitting in a glass box that not only looks over the whole of London, but also the Sky Garden, its further-back position in the Garden means that the views are even more spectacular. After enjoying a walk around the garden, take a seat in the contemporary and light restaurant to enjoy the likes of braised lamb, lemon sole and harissa baked aubergine. The whole building's main focus is on being good to the environment too so it’s a win win for everyone.

As a long-time favourite of the corporate business crowd, Coq d’Argent’s most spectacular attraction is its rooftop garden and wrap around terrace. With views of the Gherkin and the Walkie Talkie building, it’s the ideal spot for a drink after work, especially in the summer months. The cuisine focuses on luxury French cooking so you’ll find escargot, venison tartare and vol-au-vent on this traditional menu. If you really can’t get enough of this restaurant, you can have your wedding in its rooftop garden too.   

Spanning a whopping three floors, Bo¯kan’s industrial feeling setting fits right in with its location just a stone’s throw from the Docklands. The 38th floor bar features Docklands themed cocktails and the stunning roof terrace on the 39th floor gives you views across all of Canary Wharf, a great place to spend an evening (or lunchtime) after work. Food-wise you can expect grilled octopus, wild pigeon and truffle risotto. After indulging, head up to the higher floors to finish your evening with more drinks.

It says it in the name, but located on the 31st floor of the Shard (London’s tallest skyscraper just FYI) you have views across the entire city and beyond from the floor to ceiling windows at Aqua Shard. Being right in the heart of the city you can expect to find all of London’s big wigs here and not just for the views. On the menu expect to find salt marsh spring lamb, stuffed artichoke and Hereford beef.

Located on the middle floor of Hide’s three storey restaurant, Hide Ground is the more affordable and accessible part of restaurant. Serving up British dishes, the menu includes the likes of steamed Cornish Sole with mussels, barbecued octopus and crab tartlets. As it’s on the ground floor, views perhaps aren’t as spectacular as the other entries on this list, but ascend the grand wooden staircase to Hide Above, and it’s a whole other story.  

With views across Brockwell Park, this Herne Hill restaurant is a must go if you are after a relaxed and cosy dinner in a laid back and stylish setting. Salt fish dumplings, pan seared hake and prosecco jelly are some of the dishes you’ll find on the menu. With a special focus on its wine, Park’s Edge's extensive list includes varieties from all over the world including British wines from up and down the country.

The London skyline is a piece of art, which is why it comes as no surprise that the National Portrait Gallery decided to showcase it through the ginormous windows in its top floor restaurant. The view is distracting, but if you can take your eyes of it for just a second you’ll find the likes of spinach mousse, grilled rabbit and cherry clafoutis on the menu. Once you are finished with your meal you can head downstairs to continue browsing all the other types of art on offer.

On the tenth floor of the Royal Garden Hotel, this luxury Chinese restaurant not only serves up the best of what the cuisine has to offer, it also has panoramic views across Hyde Park with the London skyline perfectly placed in the distance. When it comes to what’s on offer food-wise, its wood-fired signature Beijing duck with pancakes is a must try. If you’re feeling fancy you can order a bottle of champagne to accompany your duck too.

Sitting on the 35th floor of the Shard, TING is the highest of all of its restaurants and is part of the luxurious Shangri-La hotel. On the menu you’ll find modern British dishes with Asian influences throughout. Expect the likes of duck liver ballotine, Scottish halibut and salt marsh lamb. As with all the restaurants in The Shard, décor wise the view does the talking, but, much like the menu, you’ll find Asian touches throughout.  

Although not in the heart of London, this country house Hotel in Richmond has views of a different kind that are just as stunning as city views. Overlooking the Thames just before its runs into the city and its surrounding meadows you’ll feel as if you’ve stepped into a Jane Austen novel. The menu features the likes of goat’s cheese, beetroot and yogurt sorbet, Dover sole and coconut panna cotta. If you’re looking to escape the busy city but don’t want to stray too far, The Petersham restaurant is well worth a visit.

Climb the swirling oak staircase to Hide Above for incredible views across Green Park. This restaurant's offering is made up of tasting menus. From the quick and casual lunch set menu, to a whopping eight course tasting experience that features the likes of Cornish baked lobster, glazed veal sweetbread and Iberico pork cooked over charcoal. If heights are not your cup of tea Hide Ground and Hide Below, located on the lower floors, may be more your speed. 

Hutong is the Aqua Group's take on Chinese cuisine. Featuring floor to ceiling windows that give you views across the city, alongside traditional Chinese décor in the form of distressed wooden panelling and red Chinese lanterns, it is clear from the moment you step through its door what cuisine is on offer. Menu-wise you can expect to find roasted peking duck which has been widely raved about by diners, alongside the likes of crispy soft shell crab and a selection of dim sum and dumplings.

As the name suggests, this old-navy yacht has been converted into a permanently moored restaurant near Temple tube station. Predictably the views you get at this restaurant are off the Thames and the London Eye so it’s a great place to spend a sunny London evening. Rabbit saddle, tuna steak and Eton mess are a few of the dishes you can choose from on the menu.

Owned by Rainer Becker, known for Zuma and Roka, Oblix has all the glamour but serves up western cuisine unlike its Asian counterparts. Located in London’s tallest skyscraper, The Shard, you won’t be short on views if you decide to eat here. You can see all of London through its floor to ceiling windows. The menu features the likes of rotisserie chicken with spring truffle, wagyu tenderloin and roasted sea bass. 

Filled to the brim with city slickers and Instagram influencers, this glamourous 38th floor restaurant is still one of the IT restaurants of the moment in London despite opening its doors in 2012. Located in the Heron Tower, a glass elevator takes you up to the brightly lit and airy restaurant where you can enjoy views across the city. Sushisamba also has the highest outdoor terrace in Europe so you can revel in the 360 degree view while munching on the likes of wagyu gyoza, lobster maki and sea bass tempura.  

Michelin-starred French food with a few Asian touches throughout is what you will get food-wise at Galvin at Windows. All overseen by TV’s First Dates restaurant manager Fred Sirieix, you can enjoy kimchi risotto, spring lamb rump and caramelised apple tatin to finish. Views-wise expect to see the city skyline as its located on the 28th floor of the London Hilton on Park Lane.         

As part of Parisian architect Jean Nouvel’s One New Change development, Madison boasts spectacular views over St Paul’s Cathedral. As with many of the restaurants on this list, tables are sought after so expect a wait before you take the lift up to the top floor. Once you’ve made it up however, you'll be met by a stylish and minimal tapas bar and stunning outdoor terrace complete with comfy couches and high tables overlooking the Cathedral. It’s worth paying a visit at night too.