Some of Soho’s best sipping happens above street level, where terraces trade the crush of the pavement below for open sky and a cocktail in hand. Some come for the skyline, some for the tequila, some simply for a stylish pause mid-afternoon. Here are five that earn their altitude.
Aqua Spirit
Perched above Argyll Street with panoramic views toward Liberty and beyond, Aqua Spirit is the quintessential sundowner spot — sharp cocktails, a buzzy terrace, and golden-hour light over the rooftops of old London. It hits its stride on warm evenings, but when the clouds draw in there’s a polished bar and restaurant just inside. Open until past midnight most nights, it’s as good for a late session as an early aperitivo.
Why go: For that first warm-evening drink with all of Soho’s rooftops laid out toward Liberty — the sunset slot is the whole point. Order: A spritz or one of their signature gin cocktails, timed for golden hour.
30 Argyll Street, W1B 3BR · Nearest tube: Oxford Circus
Yasmin
A jewel-box rooftop above an elegant Levantine restaurant just off Regent Street, Yasmin pairs Mediterranean small plates with blanket-and-heater terrace dining that works well into autumn. It’s the most food-led entry here — come for mezze, sheep’s cheese and the best baklava in the area, with a drink to match. Tucked away and easy to walk past, which is half its charm.
1 Warwick Street, W1B 5LR · Nearest tube: Piccadilly Circus
The Nest, Treehouse Hotel
Not exactly in Soho, but a stone’s throw for sure… On the sixteenth floor of the Treehouse Hotel just north of Oxford Circus, The Nest delivers almost 360-degree views wrapped in real foliage and warm, considered design. Cocktails run around £16 and arrive beautifully presented; the staff will hand you a blanket if the terrace turns cold. It’s the most aesthetically refined of the bunch — reserve ahead for anything after late afternoon.
Why go: The most polished, design-led terrace of the lot — near-360 views, real greenery, and a blanket waiting if the wind picks up. Order: A house signature cocktail, beautifully garnished; worth the £16.
31 Charing Cross Road, WC2H 0LS · Nearest tube: Leicester Square
The Devonshire
Arguably London’s buzziest address right now, The Devonshire’s roof terrace sits above the famously heaving Denman Street pub. Heaters make it pleasant even on a drizzly day, the steaks are perfectly aged, and the Guinness rivals Dublin’s. You visit when you can get a table rather than when you’d like one — but the rooftop is worth the patience.
Why go: The buzziest address in town right now, with a heated terrace above the legendary pub — go for the energy as much as the view. Order: A perfectly poured Guinness — said to rival Dublin’s.
17 Denman Street, W1D 7HW · Nearest tube: Piccadilly Circus
Flute
On the seventh floor of The Broadwick — Soho’s most flamboyant new hotel — Flute is pure fantasy from the lift door to the last drink. The terrace is intimate and beautifully dressed, the cocktails are inventive (and they’ll happily go off-menu), and the service makes the whole evening feel like an occasion. Drinks sit at the upper end of the price range, but the experience earns it. Book ahead, and angle for a table outside.
Why go: For full theatrical fantasy at Soho’s most flamboyant hotel — an intimate terrace where the whole evening feels like an occasion. Order: An off-menu cocktail; the bartenders relish the request.
20 Broadwick Street, W1F 8TH · Nearest tube: Oxford Circus