A Room with a View: Sky Garden
April 25, 2016London is home to some of the most talked about, luxurious rooftop cocktail bars in the world. With the warm summer months fast approaching there are not many things better than getting together with your closest friends unless, of course, you can combine that get together with sweeping panoramas of one of the most striking cities in the world. Such views are quickly becoming far easier to come across with new terrace bars popping up across the Capital constantly. The problem, though, is that each venue is incredibly different to the next which begs the question: ‘Which bars are actually worth the visit?’. This series of features will showcase the best eating and drinking destinations across this great Capital.
Situated at the heart of the city, Sky Garden at 20 Fenchurch Street spans three floors and offers uninterrupted, unrivalled 360º views across London. Arranged over three spacious floors, the venue is home to London’s highest landscaped public gardens, two highly revered dining destinations and an incredibly diverse cocktail list at the Sky Pod bar. During the summer months 155 metres into the sky, the setting is even home to an incomparable open air terrace, boasting some of the highest, most expansive views the city has to offer.
Reached by one of two express lifts “Sky Garden”, as PR Executive Laura Alix elucidated: “takes ‘bringing the outdoors in’ one step further by being London’s first truly seasonally-changing bar”. She continued: “Inspired by the four seasons, in autumn and winter months, guests can enjoy hot cocktails on sofas adorned with faux furs and cashmere blankets. Come spring and summer, discerning drinkers can soak up the sunshine in the heart of the city”.
In short, Sky Garden really is one-of-a-kind. Rhubarb, its organisers, have not only perfected the space but in collaboration with Gillespies, the renowned landscape architect, they have enhanced it – exhausting every possibility for perfection. Add to this, the expertly crafted menus on Jeremy Brown, Zac Whittle and Arnaud Delannay and the result is something rather special. On the 35th floor Sky Pod – the bar – serves up light bites from British charcuterie boards to pig’s head croquettes. One floor up, the brasserie, Darwin, employs soft lighting, light wood and rich leather to create an all day space for everything from relaxed brunches to business lunches and dinners. Finally, at the highest point in the venue, The Fenchurch Seafood Bar & Grill shifts the focus completely onto the food, featuring only a 180º view of the city stretching into the horizon as you gaze across the sit-at seafood bar. The latter is quickly becoming home to some of London’s most sought after tables and attracts only the most discerning of diners.
Although it is not solely the food menus and the setting that have earned Sky Garden such critical acclaim. Their cocktail list is extensive too. The pages are graced by an abundance of classics – Martinis, Manhattans, Old Fashioneds, Sazeracs and Cosmopolitans – accompanied by an array of forward-thinking inventions that both lend themselves to, and feed off of, the highly botanical theme in the venue around them, with excellent examples including: Winter Garden, which combines Tanqueray Gin infused kaffir leaves, St. Germain Elderflower, herbal liqueur, lemon jasmine and apple juice; Elegant Fizz, which tops the rich flavours of Galliano, St. Germain Elderflower, pear and lemon with prosecco; and Papi Chulo, which adds warmth and depth to the menu, stirring Zacapa 23-year-old and Don Papa rum with Licor 43, fresh ginger and chilli. Peering over this well-thought-out list, boutique spirits are arranged elegantly on the back bar display alongside some more widely known tipples, most available by the bottle with full table-service and notably including Don Julio Anejo Tequila, Stoli Elit vodka and the prestigious Hennessy Paradis Imperial Cognac tops off the list at a modest £2985. Below the painstakingly polished surface, craft beers fill the gleaming fridges and a carefully curated wine list spanning both old and new world examples makes Sky Garden just as desirable to the discerning drinker as it is to the foodie.
Towering over many of its competitors, for incredible panoramas, expertly crafted drinks and artistically presented food there are few better places in London than Sky Garden.