SUSHISAMBA Heron Tower

There’s plenty of high-rise competition in the City these days and “getting a reservation is always tough” but show-timing SUSHISAMBA is still a “wow-factor venue”, from the moment the lightning-quick glass elevator whisks you up to the 38th floor of the Heron Tower.

Once inside, expect incredible floor-to-ceiling views of London’s impressive skyline and groups of trendy City types splashing the cash on sexy show-stopping cocktails at the bar – don’t miss the creamy and fruity Lychee Cooler, a blend of vodka, elderflower and vanilla sugar which is shaken with lychee juice and coconut milk.

The buzz spills over into the razzmatazz restaurant, a truly gorgeous space decorated with hanging plants and splashes of bright orange. You can expect to hear Samba music blasting from the speakers, while innumerable staff are on hand to deliver “great service” and the views are, of course, spectacular (especially on a clear day).

Food-wise, the menu promises a thrilling fusion of Japanese and Latino cuisine that always packs a punch. Fans single out “some of the best sushi ever”, but we never tire of the crispy green bean tempura with intense black-truffle aïoli, or the richly luxurious Brazilian fish stew – a heady mix of shrimps, squid, sea bass, mussels and clams, topped with creamy coconut milk and finished with sticky chimichurri rice.

For pudding, sweet-toothed diners love the decadent chocolate and banana cake topped with a sugar-dusted plantain chip and a scoop of rum-spiked ice cream, although we’re also intrigued by ‘Zen Garden’ – an Asian-themed combo of yuzu curd, bergamot tea biscuits, chocolate, lychee and peach stones. 

Sky-high pricing and a feeling of uppity exclusivity (including a strict dress-code policy) might not be everyone’s cup of saké, but Sushisamba remains the ultimate City spectacle – a high-octane, fun-loving destination for thrill-seekers and those with money to burn.

Occupying the 38th and 39th floors of the tallest building in the City, SUSHISAMBA Heron Tower boasts the highest outdoor terraces in Europe, so if you’re looking for unparalleled, 360-degree views of the City, it’s a must-visit. Guests can take advantage of the views from the moment they step into the panoramic glass elevator that whisks its occupants up 39 floors in a jiffy before opening out on to the show-stopping main dining room.

SUSHISAMBA’s main dining room capitalises on its spectacular views of London with floor-to-ceiling windows. Pendulum lights hang through the gaps of the spectacular bamboo ceiling at varying heights, making the space look more like an art gallery than a restaurant. The impressive design doesn’t stop there though; bright orange banquette seating around the windows and hanging plants add vibrant pops of colour that offset the black and white floor.

It’s not just a few carefully-chosen plants that create the indoor-outdoor theme of this high-rise restaurant either – the structural orange tree on the west terrace is a work of art designed to reinforce the earth-to-sky motif this restaurant projects.

There’s more to SUSHISAMBA Heron Tower than its interiors and views, though these are undoubtedly a draw both for locals and visitors to London. The food is a colourful blend of Japanese and South American cuisine, meaning guests can look forward to the likes of Japanese tempura and sushi, Brazilian churrasco and moqueca, and Peruvian anticuchos and ceviches. The open kitchen, with its hot robata grill, churns out chargrilled meats, vegetables and fish, while the restaurant’s small-plates concept encourages a shared dining experience. There’s a separate vegan menu and a menu for the gluten-conscious too, plus a dessert menu brimming with cleverly-designed sweet treats that often look too pretty to eat. The bar is as well-stocked as can be, so be sure to try a cocktail while you’re there.