Editor’s Note: The following is a guest article from guest writer Sophie Jenkins who explores top London restaurants with the best views.
The city of London has so much to offer the enthusiastic and inquisitive tourist. The streets of London reveal beautiful old architecture that breathes culture and history into the city, as well as modern, chic, high-rise builds that help forge the London skyline. A turn on the London Eye will offer sights of St Paul’s Cathedral, London Bridge and Westminster, alongside Canary Wharf, the BT Tower and the infamous Gherkin.
Photo by John Heaven
If you aren’t in London for long (or even if you are), it is possible to ‘kill two birds with one stone’ by combining famous skyline views with another top London attraction – fine dining. London is renowned for its’ wonderful restaurants, and there are numerous restaurants in London that offer impeccable views of the city. Here are some of the best:
Galvin at Windows
Photo via Bookatable.com
With panoramic 360° views, the acclaimed Galvin at Windows is housed in the sophisticated London Hilton on Park Lane. Awarded a Michelin star, the exquisite restaurant also holds 3 AA Rosettes for its modern French haute cuisine and glamorous 1930’s interior. Fantastic main courses include dishes such as slow cooked belly of pork, sweet corn, clams and green tomato chutney, or sea bream a la plancha with risotto of pearl barley and cuttlefish and bacon foam. In exclusive Mayfair, Galvin at Windows is positioned on the 28th floor of the building, offering striking views over London. If you want to dine in a fine Michelin star restaurant and experience amazing London views, including Buckingham Palace and Hyde Park, then this is the perfect destination for you.
Photo by Food Stories
View from Galvin at Windows
Rhodes 24
Photo via Bookatable.com
Celebrity chef Gary Rhodes’ latest venture is Rhodes 24, a Michelin star restaurant in the middle of the City, serving traditional, seasonal British cuisine. The impressive restaurant is on the 24th floor of the tallest building in the capital, Tower 42. Free range English duck with caramelised turnips, buttered curly kale and duck prune gravy is just one of the delicious mains to feature on the restaurant menu. After a dessert of warm treacle tart with orange curd ice cream, you can head over to the stylish bar to sample the bespoke menu of diverse cocktails, whilst gazing out at the modern city skyline. This location may be best at night, when the buildings of the City are beautifully illuminated.
Skylon
Photo via Bookatable.com
With floor-to-ceiling windows, Skylon is a fine dining restaurant featuring stunning views across the River Thames. Skylon is made up of 3 areas – the formal restaurant, the more relaxed Grill, and the bar, renowned for its extensive wine list and premium cocktails. On the 3rd floor of Royal Festival Hall at the Southbank, Skylon is perfect for either a relaxed lunch whilst visiting the Southbank, or a special evening meal after a trip to the theatre – the views are spectacular at any time of day. Signature dishes include Denham Estate venison carpaccio, served with pickled beets, toasted hazelnuts and cabernet sauvignon dressing in the restaurant, as well as the Grill’s homemade organic gravadlax and Skylon risotto.
Online restaurant reservations can be made for all these restaurants, which is recommended as they are, understandably, very popular. Just make sure you don’t forget to take your camera along!
About the author: Sophie Jenkins is a food fanatic and social media expert at Bookatable.com. Restaurants, travel, socialising and making a mess experimenting in the kitchen are her passions in life.
Author: Jonathan Thomas
Jonathan is a consummate Anglophile who launched Anglotopia.net in 2007 to channel his passion for Britain. Londontopia is its sister publication dedicated to everything London.
Another idea: sneak a snack onto the London Eye!
Best idea ever!
The one at the top of the National Portrait Gallery has a great view over Trafalgar Square and down Whitehall.