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By Hilary Armstrong 04.06.09
Fun in the sun: take in afternoon tea, and the view, on the roof terrace at Boundary
No one wants to sit inside when the weather's wonderful, but have you noticed how all the city's sunniest roof gardens and most jaw-dropping views seem to belong to posh private members' clubs and swanky boutique hotels?
Not fair, is it? Luckily, some of this season's hottest roof terraces are opening up to the rest of us, meaning we can sun ourselves over cocktails and grilled lobster just like the A-list. And it's good news for you smokers, too — you can puff away on all these terraces.
Here are our favourite roofs with a view...
Boundary Rooftop
Sir Terence Conran's Boundary became even better with the opening of its rooftop terrace. Dotted with potted herbs and olive trees, there is ample space for drinkers to sip on the English martinis (gin, elderflower and cucumber, £8) and cocktail pitchers (£20). Meanwhile, the grill restaurant does summer eating perfectly: scallop and pancetta brochette (£19), or a whole native lobster (£38). It's open from midday to 9pm, subject to the weather. Follow @boundaryrooftop on Twitter for the latest weather updates.
Boundary Rooftop, 2-4 Boundary Street, E2 (020 7729 1051)
The Courthouse Hotel
There's rooftop action at the Courthouse Hotel near Carnaby Street this summer as it opens its funky terrace to regular punters for the first time.
The terrace is geared up for real summertime R&R, with shisha pipes on offer and a full bar stocked with more than 100 spirits and liqueurs. To mop up the mojitos there are snacks from the barbecue — bacon butties, burgers and kebabs.
Courthouse Hotel, 19-21 Great Marlborough Street, W1 (020 7297 5555)
The Trafalgar Roof Gardens
Make eyes at Nelson across a crowded Trafalgar Square from the chic sixth-floor roof terrace of The Trafalgar Hotel. Settle down for a pitcher of Pimm's (£29) garnished with fresh herbs or afternoon tea with champagne (£25). The terrace is open from 4-11pm on weekdays and from 2pm at the weekend.
The Trafalgar, 2 Spring Gardens, SW1 (020 7870 2900)
The Roof Gardens
There's hardly an iconic London sight you can't see from the lush 1.5-acre gardens,
six floors up from Kensington High Street.
Even the most jaded of Londoners can't fail to be impressed by the Spanish-themed gardens, alfresco champagne bar and resident flamingos. There's more outdoor space upstairs at Babylon Restaurant where shellfish and barbecue menus are available on weekdays. The seafood platter of langoustines, crab and oysters (£38) is a top choice.
Highlight of this summer season are the Secret Garden lunches throughout June and July when the barbecue will be fired up for sunny outdoor feasts (£25 a head including a glass of wine).
The Roof Gardens, 99 Kensington High Street, W8 (020 7368 3993)
The Fellow
Opposite St Pancras International, this gastropub is well-placed to service all our pre- and post-Eurostar needs. Dine on main courses like chicken and leek pie and organic salmon fishcake for a tenner.
The Fellow just became even better with the recent extension of its bijou roof terrace. It's still small and has views no better than the average London flat, but what it lacks in panoramic vistas this suntrap makes up for in atmosphere and fab daiquiris. It's a simple menu served from 5pm until late — snacky bits such as pickled quail eggs (£4), duck rillettes (£4), and Parma ham with figs (£5).
The Fellow, 24 York Way, N1 (020 7833 4395)
The East Room
Trust this cool Shoreditch club and New World wine room to keep the best bit — its herb- and tree-planted Roof Deck — for members only. We're partially forgiving them, though, because this summer the rules are being relaxed to allow us plebs on the roof for Sunday brunch and lunch. And what's not to love? All the Sunday papers, DIY Bloody Marys, huevos rancheros and Pop Bingo.
Brunch starts at 11am and segues into lunch, a proper Sunday roast (from £14) followed by rhubarb crumble or strawberries and cream (£6).
The East Room, 2a Tabernacle Street, EC2 (0700 084 7876)
