West London is offering some of the capital’s most compelling outdoor drinking options this summer across Kensington and Chelsea.
The Berkeley Bar’s seasonal cocktail menu, SW1 Sips, is inspired by local legends of the area, including Ian Fleming’s Belgravian home and the Royal Court Theatre.
The standout serve is the Anya Sgroppino, featuring tequila, vermouth and raspberry brandy poured over lime salt and agave sorbet in a coupette.
The hotel’s rooftop bar, usually reserved for guests, has opened to the public for summer with a Capri in the City theme featuring Amalfi lemon cocktails, pizza and focaccia.
The Roof Gardens, located atop the Art Deco Kensington building housing the Metro and Daily Mail newspapers, was originally opened in the 1930s and has operated as a members’ club in recent years.
The venue famously hosted flamingos during its era under Richard Branson’s Virgin ownership, and counts the Beckhams among its A-list regulars.
Members can sign in guests, making it worth cultivating a friendship with anyone who holds a membership to experience the capital’s highest rooftop palm trees.
Bluebird Chelsea on the King’s Road remains a reliable institution, showing major sporting events such as Wimbledon alongside a menu featuring Marmite tart, crispy duck salad, suckling pig and Essex lamb chop.
Harvey Nichols’ fifth floor terrace in Knightsbridge focuses on champagne and afternoon tea, with current lunch dishes including roasted Scottish salmon, Cornish crab linguini and grilled whole baby chicken with salsa verde.
The Hanover Bar at the Mandarin Oriental Mayfair offers views over Hanover Square, with a cocktail menu celebrating local literary and creative legacies, including The Bond, made with vodka, gin, Lillet Blanc, lemongrass and coconut oil.
The menu also features The Muse, with rum, Oolong tea and grapefruit inspired by the Royal Academy of Arts, alongside finger food including tacos and Wagyu hotdogs.
Brooklands, named after the famous British racetrack and situated on the roof of The Peninsula hotel, features brash steel interiors designed to evoke racing cars and aeroplanes, with a metal plane spanning the length of the ceiling.
The venue has an outdoor terrace with views over Hyde and Green Parks, alongside wall murals dedicated to historic motor cars and aviation.
Sachi on Motcomb Street offers contemporary Japanese and pan-Asian food with a retractable roof, live DJs at weekends, and cocktails inspired by Japanese proverbs, including the What Goes Around Comes Around made with Suntory Hibiki whisky, cherry liqueur, Campari and bitters.