Where to go for the best dining views in London

The Seabird is a rooftop restaurant with an astounding view of Big Ben and the surrounding area through its floor to ceiling glass walls. The restaurant is seafood orientated and is known for its incredibly large selection of oysters. Other than its oyster menu, there is an all-day and a dessert menu you should also check out. From the former menu, Dish Cult recommends trying the Mackerel Ajada, and from the latter, we recommend trying the Manchego cheesecake.

Duck & Waffle is one of London’s most well known high-altitude restaurants with a good view of the Gherkin and other London landmarks. It’s open 24 hours and has a tremendous number of menus to choose from, including breakfast, bar bites, all-day menu, dessert and vegan. You won’t be surprised to hear that a lot of the dishes are duck themed, including “Duck Egg en Cocotte” and, of course, “Duck and Waffle”.

Darwin Brasserie, also known as the Sky Garden, is a fantastic rooftop restaurant overlooking the Thames. Its atmosphere is described as laid back and spirited, which is achieved by its stunning surrounding garden and décor. The restaurant has breakfast, a la carte, Sunday brunch, dessert, and “Darwin drinks” menus to choose from, depending on the time of day of your visit. We recommend trying the delicious Cornish Lamb Rump from the a la carte menu or the wild mushrooms on toast signature dish from the breakfast menu. If you plan to take in the night-time view with some evening cocktails, try the smoked negroni or the Darwin punch.
If you love the mental image of watching over the busy street below with a knockout cocktail in your hand (and who doesn’t), then the Darwin Brasserie could be perfect for you.

Not every good view has to be from a high place. The Garden Café is situated within the garden museum, and you can take in the beautiful greenery around you while you enjoy your meal. For our readers who prefer natural views over urban city ones, this might be the choice for you.
We’d recommend the Potato Gnocchi, Wild Garlic & Parmesan main course, and the Lemon & Seville Orange Posset, Shortbread dessert – you can’t go wrong with either. However, The Garden Café changes its menus regularly, so don’t be afraid to find your own favourites if these are no longer available.

Darcie & May Green provides a unique canal-side dining experience, which is certainly a different kind of view to the others discussed so far. The establishment describes itself as floating pieces of art designed by British pop art legend Sir Peter Blake, so this is a great venue to absorb some British culture too! Darcie & May Green is open from the early hours until late evening, so you can plan almost any meal or occasion for your visit.
You’ll find a few different menus, including Aussie breakfast and brunch, and bottomless brunch, in addition to dinner. If you are going for dinner, we’d recommend the Roasted Salmon made using a delicious and creative recipe or the 45-day aged rib-eye steak. If you are visiting for brunch, try the award-winning banana bread sandwich or the fresh and tasty smoked salmon royale and avocado.
Darcie & May Green provides such an incredibly unique setting and excellent quality food that everyone could benefit from visiting and eating here at least once.

The Mansion Bar and Cafe is another venture by the team behind Social in Peckham’s Copeland Park, so you can expect tasty cocktails and sustainably sourced ingredients in contemporary surrounds. What sets this spot apart, however, is the Grade II-listed Georgian building that it is housed in. It’s also nestled pretty spectacularly in Beckenham Place Park, so you can enjoy views across the verdant grounds and imagine you’re far further from the centre of the capital than you actually are! The Mansion is also home to artist studios, yoga and wellbeing classes, and a vintage shop, so you can really make a day of it if you wish.

There’s literally no bad table in The Petersham Hotel restaurant. Located on the edge of Richmond Park, the eatery boasts uninterrupted views of one of the loveliest sections of the Thames. The meadows in front of the hotel are protected in order to preserve the view from Richmond Hill, which has been admired and reimagined by artists including JMW Turner. The menu is equally as exquisite and features high-end dishes, including a lobster souffle and smoked salmon that’s carved from the trolley!

There’s literally no bad table in The Petersham Hotel restaurant. Located on the edge of Richmond Park, the eatery boasts uninterrupted views of one of the loveliest sections of the Thames. The meadows in front of the hotel are protected in order to preserve the view from Richmond Hill, which has been admired and reimagined by artists including JMW Turner. The menu is equally as exquisite and features high-end dishes, including a lobster souffle and smoked salmon that’s carved from the trolley!

You may have spotted some strange glass igloos by the Thames on your travels… Well, these are part of the Coppa Club, and you can actually dine and drink within them! These little pods, as well as the venue’s other sumptuous areas inside, offer incredible views of Tower Bridge, especially when the sun goes down and the landmark is illuminated in all its glory! The all-day menu offers a spectrum of cuisines and drink options: from indulgent brunches that you can really take your time with, to easy pizzas and light bites…

On the south side of the Thames, you’ll find Tavolino, which is an Italian eatery and aperitivo bar that feels like a local but offers incredible views of Tower Bridge and Canary Wharf beyond. Cosy banquettes and low lighting create a serene, romantic atmosphere that is only enhanced by the view of the lights dancing on the river. Meanwhile, the menu offers up comforting Italian favourites including traditional pizzas, steaming bowls of pasta and even a trio of negronis to try out — if you dare!