Afternoon:
10°c
As the autumn closes in, instead of drinking out, drinking up becomes the thing — swapping beer gardens for glimpses of the outside world from great heights. No doubt this is why Harvey Nichols decided to open up its Fifth Floor Bar champagne salon next month (from 22 October, 109-125 Knightsbridge, SW1, www.harvey
nichols.com).
Of course, the Vertigo 42 champagne bar at the top of the former Natwest tower would probably sniff at five floors. It is reservation-only and the earlier you book, the better view you are likely to get (Tower 42, 25 Old Broad Street, EC2, 020 7877 7788, www.vertigo42.co.uk).
To look out at the river, the Skylon Bar at the Southbank Centre is ideal (Belvedere Road, SE1, 020 7654 7800, www.skylonrestaurant.co.uk). If it's parks you're after, Galvin at Windows (right, 22 Park Lane, W1K, 020 7208 4021, www.galvinatwindows.com) offers views of Hyde Park and from Min Jiang at the Royal Garden Hotel (2-24 Kensington High Street, W8, 020 7361 1988, www.minjiang.co.uk) you can look out over Kensington Gardens.
