Are you visiting London this summer? If so, make a beeline for The Berkeley hotel, part of Maybourne which also owns Claridge’s, The Emory and The Connaught, where, for the summer months only, its swish rooftop terrace is open to non-hotel guests in the evenings. If you’re lucky enough to get a reservation on a sunny day, it’s perhaps the city’s most stylish spot for cocktails and dinner, complete with outdoor swimming pool (no swimming allowed though, unfortunately, but its presence does up the summer ante), sweeping views over Hyde Park and signature striped sun loungers. So far, so Instagram.
This year, the luxury hotel, which is nestled between the exclusive Belgravia and Knightsbridge neighbourhoods, has injected a fiesta-inspired twist to its offerings, serving up a selection of tacos and Patrón cocktails alongside an impressive list of non-alcoholic drinks crafted from the likes of mango lassi, lime, shiso umeshu and coconut cream. Let’s be honest, it’s the food (and views) we’re really there for, so be sure to kick things off with its ‘make your own guac’ – a hearty serving of smashed avocado, spring onion, chilli, garlic, tomato, coriander, toasted seeds, lime and crunchy tortillas which, as the name suggests, is a DIY dish. Also up for grabs is a trio of tacos that comes topped with smoked salt marsh lamb and saffron aioli, barbeque jack fruit, coconut and coriander cream, and a gently spiced Dover Sole – all equally as delicious as the next.
It doesn’t stop there, either, as there’s ice cream from a soft serve machine for dessert, with a selection of rotating flavours throughout the season.
Trust us – we tried it ourselves, and found there’s literally no better way to spend a sun-soaked evening than by settling in at one of its poolside tables or stretching out on a lounger, taking in the views and digging in. The Berkeley Rooftop Bar is open Tuesday – Saturday, 7.30 – 11pm, with the last sitting at 9.30pm. Book now
