13 East London rooftops to explore in 2024

Last updated - January 3rd 2024.

From bars to cinemas, enjoy East London from the clouds via a range of rooftops.

  1. Netil 360, London Fields

Climb the 5 flights of stairs to the top of Netil 360, and you'll be rewarded with panoramic views of the Hackney skyline. This London Fields rooftop just got a fresh glow-up for 2023 with proper seating throughout and a Japanese sushi menu, but it still retains a laidback atmosphere and walk-ins are welcome. Netil 360 is also now a year-round venue, only closing in January and February for renovation, so you can sip drinks on the roof even when it's freezing. You might want to swap the Aperol Spritz for mulled wine in December, though.

2. The Culpeper, Spitalfields

You might assume that growing food outdoors is a privillege reserved for country dwellers, but The Culpeper is successfully utilizing its rooftop space to grow and harvest all manner of vegetables. From beans to courgettes, salad leaves and aubergines, everything that grows in its 1,400 square foot space makes it onto The Culpeper's seasonal menu. Try their 3-course set menu for £35 or just enjoy some drinks with the Gherkin in the background. You can also volunteer at the garden to learn the ropes of growing food in a city.

3. Dalston Roof Park, Dalston

Tucked away from the main drag, Dalston Roof Park is one of those places you could easily miss unless you had intel about it. This rooftop is a spring/summer venue and offers a range of events from proper DJ floorfiller nights to laid back cinema dates and street food. Rooftops often come with high bar prices, but Dalston Roof Park regularly has deals on, so having a cold one with a nice view won't break the bank.

4. The Marksman, Hoxton

For something fancy, The Marksman hits the spot. It's always packed to the rafters on Sundays when the Columbia Road pack trickle out of the flower market and descend onto Hackney Road. Their Sunday Lunch is the stuff of legend, and The Marksman was the first London pub to be awarded Michelin status. In terms of the rest of the menu, Jay Rayner once said "if there's a better lunch in London, I'd love to know about it." This is more of a terrace than a rooftop, and it's small, or 'cosy' as marketers may describe it. However, what this terrace lacks in views it makes up for in atmosphere. Booking recommended.

5. Chiringuito, Bethnal Green

If you perch at a certain angle, you could pretend you're in Seville or Barcelona, not chaotic Bethnal Green. There's Spanish food to match at this restaurant/bar which serves up Catalan-style tapas in the evenings. In the day time they offer coffee and lunch with the terrace open from midday. On weekends, there's often DJs spinning records and barbecued delights. Chiringuito overlooks St John church and it's situated next to the central line, so if it's convenience you're after with decent views, you've found it.

6. TT Liquor x Esti, Hoxton

Esti Restaurant has pitched up at cocktail and spirits bar, TT Liquor in Hoxton for a 6-month residency on the roof. Esti offers phenomenal summer barbie cuisine cooked on the coals. When we visited, we were blown away by the value for money, idyllic rooftop setting and portion size. Definitely turn up hungry if you're paying a visit, and bring your sunnies on a nice day as it's a sun trap! Set just back from the busy Dalston Kingsland Road, it's serene and peaceful up there and you feel out of the hustle and bustle. We'd really recommend this for a day drinks and lunch situation or a date night.

7. Roof East, Stratford

Stratford isn't the first destination that springs to mind when you're considering a day or night out in East London. The main things to do are shop, shop and well, shop. Roof East offers a welcome break from the crowds. Occupying the 7th and 8th floor of Stratford multi-storey car park, Roof East is an expansive space offering a free games area, rooftop film club, street food such as an authentic Mexican taqueria and many drink options. It's also an events space, listing a rotating line-up ranging from Jenga olympics to quiz nights and dance clubs.
The Sky Garden usually steals all the glory when it comes to a spot purely for views, but it's always busy, sold out and you feel obliged to spend heaps of money. If you're looking for a place you can rock up any day of the week, The Garden at 120 is a safe bet. You might have to queue for 15 minutes, and you will have to put your stuff through an airport-security style scanner, but it's free, you can take your own food and drink and once you're up there take as long as you like. The Garden at 120 provides ample seating and offers some of the best views we've seen of East London and beyond. It's also open all-year round. We've been in the summer, and we've been in the dead of winter - both were very pleasant. Just watch out for the sea of Instagram photoshoots at peak time.

9. All My Friends, Hackney Wick

From the creators behind The Cause comes All My Friends, a listening bar/Japanese small plates venue with technically more of a terrace than a rooftop. You might be thinking "this isn't 10 floors up, why did it make the cut?" Well, in our opinion, rooftops are all about the views and this one overlooks the canal with a great vibe. That, and we want to support a new small business when we can. There are heaps of music-centric events on here and it really is well-appointed in the middle of Hackney Wick. Definitely put it on your list for some summer sundowners.

10. The Rooftop, Shoreditch

The Rooftop makes it onto this list due to its proximity to Shoreditch and flexible opening times. You can saunter in for brunch between 11-15.00 during weekends, but equally, you can grab a group of pals or a date and head there for after work drinks. It's definitely on the bougier side, but the space is undeniably impressive, as are the views.

11. The Red Lion, Hoxton

Added to the list after a tip off from a fellow roof dweller, The Red Lion in Hoxton is open all-year-round and has around 10 tables on the roof with parasols for hiding from the rain. They also have an indoor games room with a pool table and drinks are reasonably priced for the area.

12. Night Tales Loft, London Fields

 NT's Loft in London Fields has a rooftop terrace serving empanadas, burgers, tequila, frozen margaritas and all that good stuff. Bookings are recommended during weekends. By day NT's Loft is a place to bask with friends and enjoy good food and drink, by night it's a party venue.

13. Kraft, Dalston

Situated 5 floors up, Kraft markets itself as 'Dalston's highest rooftop' and it's true. The panoramic views really are impressive and the drink selection ranges from Kraft-brewed pale ales and beers to classic cocktails. We really enjoyed the spicy margarita and the pale ale. Check before you visit as although there is some cover, this rooftop is 'weather dependent.'