The 100 Club ★ 4.5
££££
FitzroviaEvent nights, doors typically 19:30
The Oxford Street basement that hosted the 1976 Punk Festival is the longest continuously running music venue in London and still books across genres from punk through Northern Soul.
TipThere are no bad sightlines, the stage is at floor level. Get a drink before the headline, the bar queues 12 deep on a sold-out night.
Frank's Cafe ★ 4.6
££££
PeckhamMid May to mid September only, Wed-Sun 11:00-23:00
The 10th-floor multi-storey carpark bar built by Practice Architecture for Bold Tendencies in 2009 is the summer fixture, with a Negroni view across south London and zero pretense to anything more.
TipCard only, no advance bookings, no table service. Get there before 18:00 on a Friday or you queue down the ramp.
Coq d'Argent ★ 4.2
££££
City Of LondonMon-Sat 12:00-00:00, Sun closed
The James Stirling postmodern roof garden above No.1 Poultry is the City rooftop institution, with a sunken lawn, a French restaurant and a bar terrace that catches the Bank of England light.
TipThe garden is the bar, the restaurant is the formal room, sit in the garden for a drink and skip the menu unless you are expensing.
Aviary ★ 4.2
££££
FinsburyMon-Fri 06:30-00:00, Sat-Sun 07:00-00:00
The 10th-floor terrace on Finsbury Square belongs to the Montcalm Royal London House and runs an all-day operation with City skyline views and a weekend Birdsong brunch programmed with a resident DJ.
TipSunset slot 18:30-20:00 is the best light, book the terrace not the indoor section.
12th Knot ★ 4.5
££££
South BankTue-Wed 17:00-00:00, Thu-Sat 17:00-00:30
The Sea Containers 12th-floor cocktail bar on the South Bank looks out at St Paul's and the river, with a cocktail programme that earns its rooftop premium and small plates that justify staying for dinner.
TipThe window seats book out for sunset, request one when you reserve. The corner with the Blackfriars view is the prize.
Madison ★ 4.1
££££
City Of LondonMon-Sat 12:00-00:00, Sun and bank holidays 12:00-22:00
The One New Change rooftop bar and restaurant runs eye-level with the St Paul's dome, with a modern American menu downstairs and a long terrace bar that is the closest seat to the cathedral.
TipWalk straight through the restaurant to the bar terrace, the queue at the front desk is for diners only.