Best & Cool Bars in Great Warley

"The view from Rafael Viñoly’s Sky Garden, also known as the Walkie-Talkie building, is unlike any other in the city. From here you can survey London’s ever-growing sprawl with the city stretching up to the north, Tower Bridge and the Shard to the south, and Canary Wharf to the east. It’s free to explore the tower’s three stories of landscaped public gardens, but make sure to book in advance."

"Offering perhaps the best free vantage point in Central London, the indoor viewing decks and restaurants occupying the top three floors of 20 Fenchurch Street (known to locals as the "walkie-talkie") are a great place to hang out without spending a penny. It is open daily, just book your free visit in advance."

"Sky Garden is on top of one of the skyscrapers found in London. You can visit levels 35 through 37 of the "Walkie Talkie" for free—just make sure to book a ticket in advance."

"Occupying what used to be the headquarters of Christian Dior, Sketch is chic, glamorous and trendy. In the Michelin Guide 2020, it was elevated to the maximum three stars, putting it in an elite group alongside Restaurant Gordon Ramsay and Alain Ducasse at The Dorchester. The Lecture Room & Library, at the top of the Grade II listed building, offers haute-cuisine by the extraordinary chef Pierre Gagnaire in a plush setting of studded ivory leather walls, ornate plasterwork ceilings, and rich furnishings in purple and crimson."

"The Lecture Room & Library, also known as Sketch, was a new addition to to the list in 2020 and continues to keep its stars. It’s also one of the 16 Mayfair restaurants with Michelin stars in 2020. The Library offers a sophisticated French menu, with a seven-course meal priced at £120."

"Pierre Gagnaire's uber chic Mayfair restaurant is certainly for special occasions - it's one of the most expensive meals in town. There are multiple dining rooms within the building, all with very different looks and menus. There are also incredibly instagrammable loos."

"Tucked behind the heart of Theatre Land on St Martin’s Court, the red facade of J Sheekey’s fish, shellfish and seasonal game restaurant is nothing short of iconic. Sheekey’s is as famous and as much a part of the West End as the actors and theatregoers who frequent it pre- or post-show and it’s been top of its game for over 100 years. Devour seafood platters or pop in for oysters and a glass of Champagne or head next door to the more casual, but just as loved, J.Sheekey Atlantic Bar."

"It's part of London's vast culinary mythology, and it feels a bit like stepping back in time to Covent Garden's theatrical heyday. J Sheekey offers a cornucopia of the city's freshest seafood in a darkly lit, brass embellished ambience which is perfect for highbrow romancing or laid back business dealings. Start with scallops in a halfshell with garlic and chilli for £17.50, and move on to a grilled Dover sole with bearnaise for £39.50."

"We love the classic schmoozy charm of this place, set in the heart of Theatreland. The food is a little like very upmarket pub food, so think half pints of prawns, fish pies, lobster thermidor (what do you mean you've never seen that down the King's Head?), and platters of shellfish galore. There’s an oyster bar next door, too, which made it onto our list of the best oyster bars in London"

"Complete with flower installations, huge terracotta pots and the smartest outdoor furniture we've ever seen, this is the second restaurant from Petersham Nurseries in Covent Garden. La Goccia is more casual than Petersham next door (which also has a small number of tables outside), serving delicious plates of Italian cichetti: squid in chilli-spiked tomato salsa and white asparagus sprinkled with edible flowers. Everything on the plate is as pretty as the surroundings and really, that is why you're here."

"It’s the strangest thing, but sipping lukewarm prosecco in that paddling pool you ordered from Argos really isn’t making you feel like you’re on Lake Garda. Luckily, the hidden courtyard at La Goccia will give you that whole dolce vita feel, and more importantly, access to some great Italian small plates. Be warned that prices can stack up quickly, but it’s totally worth it for a top-tier catch-up or a special date night."

"The Petersham team also have a restaurant on their Covent Garden site, which has a somewhat secret garden in an internal courtyard, protected on all sides from the surrounding building. That, plus cosy blankets on the seats, make it a popular choice for al fresco drinks and nibbles, especially during aperitivo hour."

": With floor to ceiling windows giving views out over the Thames and the Tower of London, this restaurant and cafe is gorgeous destination venue for enjoying bottomless Prosecco with a brunch or lunch dish at the weekend."

"In a nutshell: Indian restaurant meets train journey Where is it?. 29 Bond Street, Ealing, London W5 5AS Why should you care?. They're big in Hammersmith and Northfields and now Patri has arrived in Ealing."

"At just over 1000 metres long, Walthamstow Market is the longest in Europe and, because it’s not really part of the London tourist track, it’s one of the best London markets for real budget bargains. It’s open every day (except for Sundays and Mondays) from dawn until dusk, and is used by locals on a daily basis to buy food, clothes, gifts, electrical equipment, music, body care products and household goods. Whatever you need, Walthamstow Market has it, and if you can’t see what you want, someone will get it for you by the following week."

"Within the 19th century Piazza of Covent Garden, there are three markets to explore. Take a look around the Apple Market, East Colonnade Market and Jubilee Market for handcrafted gifts, artworks, confectionary and clothes, among other diverse goods. Covent Garden: Monday to Friday 10am-8pm, Saturday 9am-8pm, and Sunday Midday-6pm."

"The world-famous Covent Garden Apple market which was originally focused on fruit and vegetables still runs today. From Tuesday through to Sunday the market is filled with hand-made art and design goods, bespoke jewellery, paintings and more. On Mondays, the market hosts antiques and collectibles."

"There are so many shops in London that desire to be featured on your Instagram feed. The following all provide unique opportunities for London ‘Grammers. READ MORE: Travel Photography Gear for the Best Instagram Photos"

"Founded in Belgravia in 1982 by Chef Peng (who you’ll still find working the burners today), Hunan is perhaps the most unusual restaurant on this list thanks to the fact that it does not – and never has – had a menu. Rather diners are simply encouraged to tell staff if there’s anything they don’t eat and how spicy they enjoy their food. Then they are invited to sit back and enjoy a parade of tapas-style Chinese small plates that may include traditional dishes from Hunan province alongside the restaurant’s signature crispy frogs’ legs and fermented bamboo shoots."

"Restaurants Chinese Chelsea. Visit this acclaimed but under-the-radar Chinese and you’ll be asked if there’s anything you can’t/won’t eat and what level of spice you like. After that, you’re in the kitchen’s hands as wave upon wave of progressively larger plates arrive, often with the distinctive taste of Hunanese regional cuisine."

"Choice is overrated, and no one knows this better than Hunan. Menus don't exist at this Pimlico restaurant, with diners instead being prepared 12 or 18 courses as decided by Chef Peng. In a true test of trust, you’ll only be asked if you don’t like anything and what level of spice you can handle."

"Restaurants Chinese Marylebone. ‘Family eating’ is second nature to the Chinese, so it’s no surprise that this palatial rendezvous, located just a stroll from Madame Tussauds, is good with the kids. Sit with your little’uns at one of the big circular tables and share the spoils from some superior dim sum – ideal finger food for youngsters who haven’t yet mastered the art of chopsticks."

"Restaurants Chinese Marylebone. Decked out in lavish Oriental style, Phoenix Palace is a favourite of international businessmen, but its easy-going bustle also suits local families who crowd round circular tables for the excellent weekend dim sum (reservations are a must unless you fancy queueing). Dinner is a blast during Chinese New Year."

"The truth is, the best Chinese takeaways are the ones nearest to home, the ones which nightcap a potentially disastrous evening and send anyone off to bed with a smile. So in this spirit, the best takeaway in London is actually Happy Valley on Southampton Way at about 11.30 pm when the drunks are congregating outside and the older bald chef has finished his cigarette break and is back at the wok seasoned with a generation’s worth of chow meins. Crispy noodles with black bean sauce please."

"Occupying disused bare-brick railway arches in Waterloo underground station, The Vaults is a striking space for alternative arts and immersive theatre. As well as jazz sets, indie plays, and alien-themed musicals, you can discover a continual rotation of art in its tunnels. This unique contemporary art gallery is said to feature artists who ‘have a natural affinity for the unusual, the daring, and the unknown’, and that is easy to see."

"Although it only opened in 1982, the Barbican is regarded as a home of London arts, showcasing the best in dance, film, music, theatre and visual arts. When the building first opened, it was labelled a “concrete pyramid” due to its looks, but was renovated with statues and decorations to look prettier and stand out from buildings around it. See a show at the Barbican"

"The Barbican is Europe’s largest performing arts centre, located right in the City of London. Its Brutalist styled architecture offers lots of opportunities to take some unique photos, like the one below by Chris Martin Scholl. Make sure to plan enough time to explore all the hidden corners of this fascinating landmark."

"The Barbican Centre is the largest arts centre in Europe and home of the London Symphony Orchestra. It was opened to the public in 1982 after it took a decade of construction work. The arts centre is one of the places in London that is child-friendly."