You can’t really overstate the importance of a rooftop bar or summer terrace to Londoners.

After spending much of the year retreating from the rainier swings of Mother Nature, it’s pure bliss to find yourself drinking and eating in the spring and summer sun.

Whether you prefer your aperitifs at altitude or a more down-to-earth haven, here are the best rooftop bars and summer terraces in London right now:

The Whitcomb Terrace at the Londoner

The Londoner Hotel in Leicester Square has teamed up with St~Germain to launch a flower-filled summer terrace that will appeal to drinkers and diners alike. Order a Riviera Martini, Fleur de Sureau Negroni and more at its dedicated St~Germain bar before delving into Whitcomb’s delicious modern French fair. The lobster rigatoni with seared lobster and Scotch bonnet crème de labneh is a personal favorite (along with an elderflower St~Germain Spritz, of course).

38 Leicester Square, London, WC2H 7DX

The Nest at the Treehouse Hotel

The Nest is one of the few rooftop bars that draws crowds, rain or shine. Boasting an outdoor terrace with spectacular 360 degree views of the horizon, the tree house themed bar is nothing short of spectacular. There’s minimum spend for a £50 (or £30 for hotel guests) two-hour booking on food and drink, but a few small plates and cocktails will get you there in no time.

14-15 Langham Place, London, W1B 2QS

Wagtail

With terraced views of London Bridge, The Shard, Tower Bridge, St Paul’s and more, London’s latest 360 degree bar and restaurant won’t disappoint. Neither does his menu. Thanks to head chef Philip Kearsey and mixologist Angelos Bafas, upscale delicacies (like wagyu bresaola and soft-shell crab sliders) abound, plus a full-fledged restaurant. You’ll pay city prices (around £16 for a cocktail), but they’re worth it. To see: the ‘Mango’ (Cazcabel Blanco Mezcal, mango, honey, chamomile, and mixture of peppers).

68 King William Street, London, EC4N 7HR

The Garden Terrace at the Landmark

A true hidden gem, this all-weather patio is covered in glass and as opulent as a garden could ever be. Luckily, there’s an informal atmosphere to the space that makes it a perfect spot for a drink or a casual get-together. A bit of an oasis.

222 Marylebone Rd, London NW1 6JQ

Sabine

With an outdoor terrace and retractable glass-domed ceiling, Sabine’s indoor-outdoor rooftop not only offers the best view of St. Paul’s Cathedral, but also some of the best cocktails in town. To celebrate Sabine’s first birthday, Glenmorangie even placed the UK‘s first automated, fully immersive cocktail-making jukebox in the bar (pouring on demand four delicious X by Glenmorangie-based cocktails, available until to May 30).

10 Godliman Street, London EC4V 5AJ

Coppa Club Tower Bridge

Coppa Club is bringing the Riviera to Tower Bridge this year with an all-new embellished riverside terrace. They’ve added reams of twinkling fairy lights, palm trees and a slew of ornamental bougainvillea to their signature ‘pod’ setup to celebrate all things Mediterranean. They’ve even teamed up with Château Minuty rosé to bring out the best flavors on their new summer menu, championing all things fresh and local (save me a zucchini bruschetta with buffalo ricotta, lemon and mint, okay?). Reservations available from April 29.

3 Three Quays Walk, Lower Thames Street, London, EC3R 6AH

No. 32 The Old Town

Serving breakfast, all-day brunch, Sunday roasts, cocktails and canapes, there really isn’t a time when a visit to Clapham’s No 32 isn’t a good idea. Food is the big draw here; all ingredients are sustainably sourced (with the receipts to prove it, boasting 3* with the Sustainable Restaurant Association) and the menu is prepared daily. The views over Clapham Common don’t hurt either.

32 The Pavement, London, SW4 0JE

Queen of Hoxton

If you love your rooftops with ambiance, look no further than Hoxton’s ever-changing Queen rooftop space. The club-pub changes its “theme” fairly regularly, with new drinks and food to match, and its current Cherry Blossom setup is our favorite so far. As one of the more affordable rooftops in the area, you can indulge in specialty menu items (à la the Gouchjang burger and fries – packed with premium beef with kimchi, crispy onions and gochujang chili sauce) for as little as a dozen.

1 Curtain Road, London, EC2A 3JX

Northcote Vagabond Road

Wine lovers, rejoice! The oenophiles at Vagabond not only serve over 100 different wines by the glass, but also welcome their customers from Northcote Road to a secret garden above the workshop. It’s a great meeting place and one of the only places I’ve found a really delicious selection of orange wines (see: AA DENAVOLO Dinavolino Bianco 2020) south of the river.

4 Northcote Road, London, SW11 1NT

Seabird

The Seabird at the Hoxton Hotel has managed to take the sea to the skies, offering a wide range of oysters, tartars, ceviches and more. It’s delightfully cozy, given its marble finishes and general culinary sophistication, and there’s even an oyster happy hour from 3-5pm Monday-Thursday, where you can sample a range of Jersey No. 3, Lindisfarnes and Cumbraes for £2 each.

The roof of the Hoxton Southwark, 40 Blackfriars Road, London, SE1 8NY