Last week, I watched my nephew’s eyes widen as he saw the London Eye spinning in the distance while we shared a meal on a sun-drenched rooftop restaurant.
“This is better than watching YouTube on my tablet!” he said. Honestly, he’s not wrong. There’s something magical about combining good food with spectacular views.
A rooftop dining can turn an ordinary family meal into an unforgettable experience. That’s why I love bringing my family to a place like this whenever I get the chance.
If you’re like me, who loves to treat his family once in a while, I’ve got some spots for you. In this blog, I shared the best rooftop brunch spots in London that can provide you and your family with great food and views.
How much does a rooftop brunch cost in London?
A rooftop brunch in London can range from £35 to £65 per person, depending on the number of courses and whether you include bottomless drinks.
How I chose the best rooftop brunch in London
- Food quality: I looked for establishments that receive positive feedback about their food based on the reviews they have.
- Customer service quality: I selected rooftop dining spots that serve food quickly and have respectful staff who help guests, such as when a guest spills a drink.
- View and atmosphere: Most of the businesses I picked offer unique views and atmospheres that give guests a positive vibe throughout their stay.
- Value for money: I opted for dining spots that serve quality food at an affordable price.
1. Circe’s Rooftop Bar
Address: Mercury House, 117 Waterloo Rd
Phone: +44 20 3034 0922
Business Hours:
- Mon-Wed: 3 PM – 1 AM
- Thu-Sat: 12 PM – 2 AM
- Sun: 12 PM – 1 AM
Circe’s Rooftop Bar is for families who love to enjoy panoramic skyline views of the city. It’s situated at a place where no high buildings can obstruct your vision of the London horizon.
What’s great is that as seasons change, the bar’s atmosphere changes as well. The bar’s staff redecorates the spot to align with the current season, so each visit feels fresh and well-curated.
Not only that, their menu follows suit too! They offer seasonal dishes that match the weather, like light and vibrant ones in summer and heartier dishes in colder months.
Additionally, I love that they provide two bottomless brunches. There’s one that you can enjoy every Saturday, and a seasonal one available at select months of the year.
Beyond brunch, I really loved Circe’s rotating drink specials. From Margarita Mondays to Spritz Sundays, there’s usually a deal worth showing up for.
However, as a rooftop bar, they don’t allow people below 18 to enter their premises. This makes them not the ideal rooftop spot to visit if you have kids in your family.
One of London’s best-kept secrets
“One of London’s best kept secrets. The cocktail menu, particularly the Golden Apple Highball and Golden Arcadia, are absolutely phenomenal. Easily in my top 5 cocktail bars I’ve visited in London, and I’ve been to a fair few. Staff always friendly and efficient. Absolutely top class venue, only thing I wish they had is a lift as those stairs are pretty steep!! The view is fantastic though, so worth the leg workout. Also worth noting that the bouncer at the door was genuinely one of the most friendly security guards I’ve ever had the pleasure of meeting (whoever was on shift 9-10pm Tuesday 15/04/25)”
-Thomas Rich, Google Review
The food was delicious
“I booked us in for a bottomless brunch and it was themed around the gods. I absolutely loved how there were gods and goddesses walking around and interacting with you, playing games, singing and just having a fantastic time with everyone there. There was a variety of choices for our drinks and we did try a bit of everything but my favourite was the margarita cocktail 🍹 The food was delicious! We had the chicken burger and chips and it was the perfect portion to line our bellies! Definitely want to come back again (when it’s not raining) to taste their frozen cocktails I’ve been hearing a lot about 😍”
-Krystl F, Google Review
2. Marlin’s on The Roof
Address: 45 Curtain Rd
Phone: +44 20 3856 9170
Business Hours: Mon-Sun: 7 AM – 11 PM
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Website
Marlin’s on The Roof consistently earns praise for its relaxed and welcoming atmosphere. Many guests say they feel instantly at ease in the space, which I can definitely agree with.
If you’re after city views, this spot doesn’t disappoint. You’ll be very close to the city skyscrapers, giving you a front-row seat to the busy streets of London while enjoying your meal.
Their flexible menu also stood out to me. They offer various plate servings to guests, from small to large ones. This makes it easy to tailor your order based on your appetite and budget.
I also love that they have a separate menu for their bottomless brunch. At their bottomless brunch menu, they offer starters, mains, and desserts. It feels more like a proper dining experience than an average brunch.
The only catch is that they don’t always offer a bottomless brunch, as it’s often only available during certain months of the year.
It was a great experience
“Last month I was invited for a fabulous staff party at the Marlin’ on The Roof and we had a wonderful experience. The roof top is fantastic they also had a lovely hot swimming pool. Late in the evening it was raining and immediately te staff close up the rooftop and they also create a small smoking area to make sure we all could still enjoy our evening. Food was delicious, service was excellent. The staff couldn’t do enough to look after us. The restaurant manager Lorenzo went above and beyond to resolve any issue and ensure we had a good evening. He also reserved for us a table downstairs to make sure we could continuous enjoy the party!!! It was a great experience Will definitely come back!”
-Giulia Coke, Google Review
Great views
“Had an absolutely fantastic experience at the Blue Marlin. It was a beautiful sunny day, and the rooftop setting made it the perfect spot to soak up the atmosphere. Great views, a relaxed vibe, and just the right amount of buzz. The food and drinks were top-notch—flavourful, fresh, and beautifully presented. But what really made the day special was the service. Huge shoutout to Manuel, the manager, who was incredibly welcoming and attentive. You can tell the team really cares about creating a great experience. Highly recommended!”
-Claudia Sarro, Google Review
3. Darwin Brasserie
Address: Level 36, 1 Sky Garden Walk
Phone: +44 333 772 0020
Business hours:
- Sun-Thu: 8:30 AM – 10 PM
- Fri-Sat: 8:30 AM – 10:30 PM
What drove me to include Darwin Brasserie on this list is its perfect views of the River Thames. Seeing boats gently passing by in early afternoon gives this place a relaxing vibe.
One major plus is that you can reserve a window table, unlike many establishments that operate on a first-come, first-served basis. This ensures you will not be disappointed during your visit.
It’s also among the more family-friendly brasseries in London. They welcome and accommodate families with children throughout their business hours.
Their menu selection is also a green flag. They provide a comprehensive breakfast menu, an à la carte menu, and even a dedicated kids’ menu—something that’s surprisingly rare for venues with a premium setting.
But beyond the menu, I really love their extensive wine list. They offer so many that it may take you a couple of minutes to choose the one you’d like to drink.
The only caveat is that the spot is not the most budget-friendly option in the city. Even considering the quality of the food, the cost still felt steep enough for one customer to say it felt like he was also paying for the view.
The staff was very kind and attentive
“We had breakfast here and the food was very good. The wait staff (Oksana) was very kind and attentive. She always smiled was very patient with all of our questions. She refilled coffee and water multiple times. I had the Nordic smoked salmon with scrambled eggs and rye toast. My wife had the pancakes with the berry compote topped with clotted cream. I would recommend going with a small part of 2 or 3. We had a party of six and had a table near the middle. The tables with the best views were on the periphery and appear to be two seaters. The views from Sky Garden are amazing and worth making a reservation at Darwin Brasserie. The fact the food was good too is a bonus.”
-Eric Cadiente, Google Review
Fast and quality service
“Our server Halim was very friendly and attentive and made us feel really welcome, as well as delivering fast and quality service. The food was lovely, but wouldn’t quite rate it 5 star as it didn’t quite live up to the prices. The same applies to the drinks. I ordered a pink cloud cocktail – it was really nice but it was only half a champagne flute full and it cost £20. I suppose you’re paying for the views and the ambience really, so in that way, it was definitely worth it, and overall a really enjoyable experience. I would certainly recommend booking a window seat though as this is what made the experience worth it.”
-Niamh Flanagan, Google Review
4. Duck & Waffle – London
Address: 110 Bishopsgate
Phone: +44 20 3640 7310
Business hours: Open 24/7
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Website
Duck & Waffle is a hit for families who enjoy a lively, buzzy atmosphere while dining. The energy is high thanks to a steady stream of guests, yet the place never feels too crowded or overwhelming.
Situated on the 40th floor of the building, it’s the highest dining spot on my list. The views alone are worth a visit, offering sweeping panoramas of the city that make for a memorable backdrop.
True to their name, they have a great range of waffles on their menu. They serve eight kinds—some with a duck egg as an ingredient, while some with fruits like banana and avocado.
You shouldn’t miss their Sunday roast as well. Every Sunday from late morning to early afternoon, they serve three-course meals with dishes such as corn ribs, pork belly, and more.
However, if you’re a wine lover, this is not the place to be. They only have cocktails and mocktails on their menu.
One of the best meals I’ve had
“Benn there on a Sunday night. Service was excellent and paid attention to us asking how the dinner was going and serving water multiple times during the meal. Food was very good and in my short experience in London this is one of the best meals I’ve had. Duck and waffle is the signature dish. I am not a fan of such types of recipes but I tried and enjoyed it. I would recommend this place which is a nice place to have a meal and would recommend even if it was at ground floor… but then of course it stands out for the amazing views from the glass walls. Looking down at the other skyscrapers and tower bridge while eating and drinking was really a wonderful experience”
-luca balduzzi, Google Review
Worth the price
“This is the best spot to enjoy a view with your meal. High up with great views all around. I ate here for breakfast and the food was delicious. A bit pricey, not not crazy pricey. This is expected since you are eating at the top of a skyscraper after all. Well worth the price for the combination of great food and great view. I suggest you make a reservation, all tables were full when I ate here.”
-Dennis F, Google Review
5. Aqua Shard
Address: Level 31, The Shard, 31 St Thomas St
Phone: +44 20 3011 1256
Business hours:
- Mon-Fri: 12 PM – 10 PM
- Sat-Sun: 10:30 AM – 10:30 PM
The place where Aqua Shard is situated is already an attraction itself, so imagine if you’re on the 31st floor of it. You can see Big Ben, The London Eye, and many other landmarks when you dine in it.
One of the great things here is their numerous, comprehensive menus. Aside from their brunch menu, they offer lunch and dinner menus, making them an appropriate place to hang out at any time.
They’re also another family-friendly dining spot on my top list. Your kids can have an ice cream or even a sorbet, with flavours that change each day.
Additionally, their Peter Pan-themed afternoon tea is a great brunch option for your whole family. The event has four distinct menus that cater to both meat and vegetable lovers.
However, they have relatively short operating hours compared to other spots on this list. It’s not a big deal, though, as you will just swing by for a brunch.
A lovely experience
“We had the Peter Pan afternoon tea with our three children which was beautiful. All of the food tasted delicious and looked amazing. The ship with the dry ice is a lovely touch! When we were shown to our table it was disappointing to arrive to food all over the seats/floor and when we told the host she looked as though she didn’t know what to do. However a lovely lady with a dustpan and brush was walking around so we told her and she cleaned it quickly for us. You’d expect a bit more when the service charge was £50 alone. But overall a lovely experience.”
-sammi byrne, Google Review
It didn’t disappoint
“I really enjoyed the Aquashard experience, 6 of us had lunch on sunny London afternoon and it didn’t disappoint! The service was professional (yet as friendly as you’d like ), the food choices were great (some dishes could have been a little hotter) but all in all it didn’t spoil our enjoyment of our special lunch. It just feels like a special experience with impressive views all around. I would highly recommend it, and I would go again. 🥰👍🥂Even the toilet has a view!”
-Debbiebag, Google Review
