Wagtail

There ain’t no view like a Wagtail view. Seriously, if you are looking for a rooftop bar and restaurant that acts as a guidebook of London’s most famous buildings, this is it. Exit the lift and walk out onto the spacious and well-designed terrace and be prepared to enter a spontaneous architecture and geography round with your friends. The Shard, St Paul's, the Walkie Talkie, the river Thames, bridges and much more – on a clear day you can see far and wide across the capital.

But, aside from buildings you can see, what about the building you’re in? Wagtail’s own setting is very impressive. Most notable is the ornate cupola which rears up in front of the terrace, as an intimate space for private dining. Across the terrace are plenty of heated and covered spaces, with spots at high tables to look out from, or you can lounge on squishy sofas for a relaxed feel.

Wagtail has a fully-formed evening menu which boasts both mains and a grill section, offering the likes of olive-fed English wagyu rib-eye and whole brill meunière with lemon and caper butter. We tried the weekend brunch menu which is smaller but deliciously rich and comes with a bottomless prosecco option. You absolutely need to get the 90-day Somerset Saxon chicken thigh waffle which comes with a big, sunny-side-up fried duck egg and drizzle of maple syrup. It’s heavy and indulgent, but isn’t that the point? The triple cooked chips are also undeniably good and come smothered in Parmesan and truffle for extra headiness.

While bottomless brunch has its own benefits, we would urge you not to discount the cocktail menu too quickly, as the bar tenders here have come up with an imaginative selection that taste as good as they look. The ‘Chilli’ cocktail gives a real kick with Tequila Blanco, Mezcal, Agave Nectar and a chilli blend mixed with hazelnut into a smooth finish. For something sweeter, the ‘Ruby’ adds cherry liqueur to lemon, pineapple gin and prosecco for a tangy, fruit taste.

Wagtail’s main draw is undoubtedly its beautiful terrace but if you do fancy sitting inside you can, the floor below is in an indoors restaurant, still complete with great views.

Wagtail is a luxury dining rooftop destination, slap bang in the middle of the bustling City of London. Here you can expect some of the best views in London, elegant cocktails, and high-end, modern European fare. With executive chef Philip Kearsey (ex-Corrigan’s) and bar manager Angelos Bafas (ex-Aqua) at the helm, you couldn’t be in better hands.

In the mornings, watch the sun rise over the capital while enjoying a choice of boujie breakfasts like wagyu, truffle hollandaise, buttermilk waffles, and the like. Cocktails here don’t come cheap, but they rarely do at London’s various rooftops. Try the Maracuja, made with ketel one vodka, vanilla grass, stone fruit nectar and passion fruit kombucha, or the Chili, which sees Tequila Blanco, shaken up with mezcal, agave nectar, a chilli blend and hazelnut. The wine list is short, as cocktails are the primary focus, although you’ll find enough choice when ordering by bottle.

Those splashing out at Wagtail should start with spiced shrimp on a crisp sourdough toast with a nutmeg butter. Pumpkin raviolo with sage butter, seabass ceviche with a passion fruit dressing and beef tartare are also on offer as first courses. Meat-eaters shouldn’t pass up the olive-fed wagyu ribeye main, accompanied by potato pavé, smoked and pickled baby onion, Roscoff onion purée and bone marrow jus. From the sea, there are dishes like whole Scottish lemon sole with a lemon and caper butter, or a fillet of cod with patatas bravas, chorizo and tomato sauce. Vegetarians, meanwhile, can enjoy a seasonal vegetable risotto or a miso and sesame rocket salad with clementines and crispy wontons.

Desserts are fairly straightforward here, with the exception of a rather intriguing pumpkin crème brûlée, coconut sorbet and toasted pumpkin seeds. A cheese board is also available for those seeking something more savoury, with quince membrillo and onion compote on hand to balance the palate.