Best & Cool Bars in London Borough of Merton

"If a trip up to the stunning viewing gallery of one of London’s tallest buildings sounds like a pocket drainer, think again. Situated inside a glass oasis at the top of the “Walkie Talkie”, Sky Garden is London’s highest public garden, filled with greenery and boasting panoramic views of the capital. It’s totally free to head up there, but you’ll need to book in advance, with post-lockdown visits starting up again from July 29."

"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."

"A Narnia-style hub of Instagrammable restaurants, bars and art on Mayfair’s Conduit Street, sketch is a dining emporium like no other. Dreamed up by restauranteur Mourad Mazouz, it’s made up of four uniquely designed restaurants and a bar which sits beneath the pod-style toilets – most likely the most photographed bathroom in the city. Other famous snap spots include the pastel pink Gallery with David Shrigley artwork adorning the walls, and the Swarovski-encrusted bathroom: Instagram gold."

"Just as famous for its interiors, French chef Pierre Gaignaire’s Sketch flagship is one of a select number of London restaurants with two Michelin stars. So the cooking belongs to a certain tradition, offering the likes of whole pigeon, pigeon terrine, beetroot, buckwheat crepe, and cherry for £54. It recently celebrated its 15th anniversary, which means neither Sketch’s sort of finery nor the boldest of bold designs have yet to fall out of fashion."

"Sketch kept popping up (from other sites, friends, IG) but the site doesn’t seem to let me make reservation for one. were you traveling alone, and did you have that issue?"

"This West End institution takes its name from market trader Josef Sheekey, who, in the 1890s, was granted permission by Lord Salisbury to serve fish and seafood in St Martin’s Court provided he supply after-theatre meals to Salisbury’s guests. More than a century on, it remains an established favourite with the capital’s glitterati, who you can often spot slurping oysters or tucking into the famous fish pie post performance. In 2008 it expanded to include the J Sheekey Atlantic Bar next door for a slightly less formal experience, featuring a buzzing open kitchen and ample outdoor seating for relaxed al fresco dining."

"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."

"One of London's properly iconic restaurants, Sheeky's have been serving up seafood to Londoners for over 100 years. The setting, tucked in an unassuming passageway linking Charing Cross Road to St Martin's Lane, means it's always been popular with London's theatre folk, popping in here post-performance as well as other A-listers. Here's where you'll find local thespians enjoying the restaurant's classic fish pie and oyster platters."

"With a variety of rooms and menus, there's really something for everyone at Juno Rooms. Don't miss this City restaurant as it offers you stunning spaces filled with plant installations and serving up innovative cocktails alongside hearty bites."

"A traditional pub in Camden, The Colonel Fawcett is serving up all the classics to hungry diners across its two outdoor terraces. Book your table here quick - before they all get taken - and enjoy a weekend brunch, Sunday roast or fish and chips while topping up your tan."

"Bostonian dining in a warm, buzzy interior, PJ's Bar & Grill is one of Chelsea's most enduringly popular restaurants & has become something of a local institution."

"Centred around a menu of home-cooked, authentic Greek dishes, OPSO in Marylebone has launched an ‘OPSO at home’ delivery service. Delivered to doorsteps in Marylebone and nearby neighbourhoods, the menu features signature dishes such as tzatziki, Dakos salad, chicken lemonato (roasted chicken thigh with lemon-oregano gravy) and creamy potato mash; beef stifado; and  Spanakorizo (spinach rice pilaf with fresh herbs and barrel matured feta cheese). Deliveries will arrive cold, to be simply heated at home."

"Turn your home into a Michelin-starred haven for the night with HIDE at Home, the delivery service from Ollie Dabbous’ Mayfair restaurant. Whether you’re dining on pumpkin orzo with sage butter, grilled lobster with masala butter, roast Herdwick lamb or blackcurrant Baked Alaska, you can guarantee the utmost quality. And if you fancy going all out, wines from Hedonism are available to order alongside the dishes."

"Japanese , Chinese"

"As pretty as a box of luxury chocolates, Matsuba is all dark wood and subtle light panels, with a discreet sushi bar, vintage Japanese parasols dotted around and quietly polite waiters. The menu trawls through the full Japanese repertoire from tempura to tonkatsu, but also expect a smattering of Korean dishes including bulgogi and bibimbap. Affluent Richmond locals appreciate Matsuba’s very decent wine list too."

"Born from a man’s dream to recapture the American diner scene, along with home-grilled burgers, hand-cut fries and thick milkshakes, Big Moe’s diner perfectly encapsulates classic American eating. Their menu spoils you for choice, from chargrilled beef and chicken burgers, lamb ribs and steaks to Cod and veggie options. If you want to start your day right, their breakfast menu serves New York-style Cro-dough and huge platters of beef sausages and chicken rashers served with free-range eggs and baked beans."

"Known for its top live blues bands, the Shoreditch Blues Kitchen also has a stellar menu to match, boasting mouth-watering Southern grub. A highlight is the Wings & Things sharing platter, offering buffalo wings, pork ribs, sweet potato fries, corn chips and dips. NW1, SW2, EC2, theblueskitchen.com"

"111-113 Camden High St, London NW1 7JN, United Kingdom www.theblueskitchen.comA mainstay in the centre of Camden for some years, and have recently opened in Shoreditch and Brixton. Famous for their ribs and burgers, you can’t go wrong sticking to a healthy portion of meat and fries!"

"The famous London Zoo offers daily events including a free nature trail for children to tick off animals on their way around. There is daily feeding of birds, meercats, penguins at the beach, magnificent tigers, lemurs and even a giraffe high tea!. Animals show off their skills in live demonstrations; there are bug encounters and much more!"

"Located in Regent’s Park is ZSL London Zoo, the world’s oldest scientific zoo. It opened in 1828, the brainchild of Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles, who was also the founder of Singapore. It’s one of the most popular things to do with kids in London, home to plenty of cool creatures."

"The world's first scientific zoo contains 12 listed buildings, 12,000 animals & 650 species. Regent's Park Outer Circle, Primrose Hill, London, NW1 4RY. Tube: Chalk Farm Station"

"Nestled in Battersea Park, this Children’s Zoo may not exactly be big, but that’s part of its charm. They house a range of mammals, reptiles and birds, from farm to smaller exotics animals. With various feeding times, picnic and play areas and children’s rides, this zoo is especially good for the little ones."

"Battersea Park Children's Zoo is home to a host of farmyard animals, flamingos, otters and monkeys. Battersea Park, London, SW11 4NJ. Tube: Sloane Square Station"