The Rooftop St. James

Bar in Trafalgar Square

Unique rooftop bar with stunning views across Trafalgar Square.

The Rooftop St. James

6 / 10 from 1 review

Address
The Trafalgar St. James
2 Spring Gardens
Trafalgar Square
London
SW1A 2TS

Map

History

Telephone
020 7870 2900

Region
Trafalgar Square

Nearest Station
Charing Cross
0.05 miles

Category
Bars

Website
https://trafalgarstjames.com/the-rooftop

Opening Times

Monday	Open 12:00 - Closes 23:00
Tuesday	Open 12:00 - Closes 23:00
Wednesday	Open 12:00 - Closes 00:00
Thursday	Open 12:00 - Closes 00:00
Friday	Open 12:00 - Closes 02:00
Saturday	Open 12:00 - Closes 02:00
Sunday	Open 12:00 - Closes 23:00

Opening Summary
From lunchtime to late night, please note that from Thursday to Saturday we have an age policy of 21+ after 5pm

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Covid 19 Information
From readily available hand sanitizer and disinfecting wipes, to increased scheduled cleaning and changes to our amenities and services, we’re committed to protecting your wellbeing while using our public spaces.

Venue Facilities

Food Served

Contactless Payments

Credit Cards Accepted

Music Played

Private Area

Outdoor Area

For those unable to getaway this Winter, we give you The Northern Lights at The Rooftop.
Taking inspiration from Northern Europe and the natural illumination phenomena it has become renowned for, we're serving up an array of crafted cocktails alongside rich and decadent Winter-warming dishes.

In addition to a decidedly delicious cocktail and food menu, you can also expect sumptuous furs, candlelight and, as the sun sets on London's skyline we'll be holding intimate Aurora light shows that are certain to delight and surprise.
So, pack your bags and ascend for The Rooftop for a truly immersive Winter rooftop experience.

Should you make a request for the outside area of The Rooftop, please be advised that while our team will always do their best to grant requests, this may not always be possible. The outdoor space with the view of Trafalgar Square are limited, so please ensure you book your reservation in advance.

The Rooftop St. James Picture Gallery

The Rooftop view

Pink Dragon, Signature Cocktail

150 Espresso Martini

The rooftop St. James

Beef Skewers

Mochi

All In London Review

A great view when the sun comes out

Vista is the Spanish word for “view”, and there certainly is a great one from the rooftop of the Trafalgar Hotel, which boasts a close up of Nelson’s Column and the London Eye. There’s a crowd of smartly dressed punters sipping cocktails here while Giles Peterson-style jazz-house plays in the background, but getting up here isn’t quite so chilled – the queue seems to have been deliberately constructed to make the venue seem as exclusive as possible. In other words, it’s slow-moving and slightly chaotic. Our reservation has gone awry too, but we eventually go up after finding the email with our booking on an iPhone.

The terrace is uncovered so reservations are confirmed on the day depending on the weather (although there are heaters and blankets). This means the already narrow window of opportunity has decreased even further with this year’s climactic conditions, so Vista are making it worth their while by charging an entry fee of £5. Given that cocktails start from £12 and a small glass of wine is £9.50, this is not a cheap night out. Then again, when a skyscraper can charge £25 a pop to peer at the view this shouldn’t be surprising.

This season Vista have introduced a menu of cocktail-infused food, with things like piña colada koftas and lobster margaritas. Gimmicky? Perhaps, but we enjoy the food a lot more than we initially want to, as we have to wait around 40 minutes for it to arrive. The daiquiri seared tuna has a subtle marinade of rum, passion fruit liqueur, coriander and lime, and the steak martini is a butterflied fillet soused in gin, vermouth and oregano, served with a pot of plump olives and a mini-cocktail shaker with sweet raspberry coulis. There’s criticism from the boif: he’s a rare steak man and this is well done, and they don’t ask how you want it cooked. The menu also has dips, salads and titbits like olives with chilli; we like the moreish dried seaweed coated in crispy tempura.

And the cocktails? They’re very good too: the Mad Hatter made with port, balsamic-infused Galliano, Johnny Walker Black Label bourbon, lemon and ginger is strong, sweetened a touch with honey, while the Perfect Host is a very refreshing drink of rum, fresh celery, lime, apple juice and egg white, sprinkled with cracked black pepper.

Before leaving I overhear two girls in the toilets complaining about having phoned up in advance to be told there was no wait, only to encounter the irksome line at reception. Then again, as is the norm, if you want a bit of sunshine, you have to be patient.

Reviewed by Leila
Published on Jun 16, 2013

Best For

Enjoy a drink on London's best rooftops

Drinkies, a great view... what else you could possibly need?

Vista is your classic dial-a-hotel-rooftop-bar with its swanky tables, ‘chill out’ soundtrack and pricey punch, however, the views are ace. Like the website says, on top of the Trafalgar Hotel the views are ‘indulgent’ – and with Nelson’s Column next door, you’d have to agree.