Hot wine, cool venues
With Winter fast approaching, we asked the team at Sleek HQ what their favourite rooftop venues are. You might think we are mad – we should be snuggled next to a fire rather than sitting out at a rooftop bar but there is method to our madness!
Did you know that the best way to drink mulled wine, gluhwein, vin chaud, glogg or vin brule – delicious in any language as far as we’re concerned – is outside in the cold. That’s why it tastes so good when you buy it at Christmas markets.
So, if you fancy a tipple in some glamorous hotspots, here’s our top 5 rooftop venues from the team.
Skylight Rooftop Tobacco Dock, London
Open all year round, Skylight dresses up for Winter from 2nd November this year featuring London’s first rooftop ice-skating surface. Yes, you can also get a glass of mulled wine as well as yummy fondue and seasonal cocktails.
Once you’ve got a photo of you skating with the city skyline behind you, you can warm up underneath the patio heaters. Entry is free but they charge £10 for 45 minutes of skating which includes skate hire. They are open Thursday to Sunday and accept bookings for groups larger than 10 people. Corporate or large group bookings can hire the ice surface for their exclusive use for limited periods of time. It’s definitely on our Christmas party venue hotlist!
Queen of Hoxton Rooftop Cinema, London
Calling itself the youth club for adults on the East side, the Queen of Hoxton has gone for a Moroccan themed rooftop this Winter. A treasure trove of brightly-coloured Babush slippers, ceramic tiles, twinkling lanterns, cushions and drapes awaits inside their unique rooftop wigwam. Moroccan spices and traditional Shisha scents will permeate the night air as you sit around crackling Chiminea fireplaces.
The rooftop is usually open from 4pm until 10pm Monday to Thursdays and from 12pm until 10pm Friday to Saturdays. They’ll cater for private functions from 50 up to 500 people but only during the week.
You’ll still be able to catch a film at the Queen of Hoxton Rooftop Cinema throughout the Winter months. Settling into a director’s chairs with a blanket and warm drink – let’s hope they decide to sell mulled wine or cider!
Radio Rooftop Bar, London
Radio is a rooftop bar on the 10th floor of the ME London hotel with striking, panoramic views across the River Thames and London’s skyline. This is one of the start of the more high-end venues on our list. Its central location means you can enjoy the city’s most iconic landmarks – Tower Bridge, the Shard, London Bridge, Saint Paul’s Cathedral, Tate Modern, Somerset House, Southbank, London Eye, Houses of Parliament, and Covent Garden.
Whether you want a glass of champagne or a full dining experience, it will be accompanied by live music from the DJ. The rooftop is available for exclusive hire with capacity for 240 guests and is open seven days a week. It’s a fantastic location to take your private party to new heights!
Ceresio 7, Milan
This historical-building in Milan has a surprise on its rooftop – two swimming pools! Whilst we don’t expect visitors to be in their bikinis at this time of year, this rooftop bar provides an alternative experience to the hustle and bustle of the city’s Financial District below.
It’s perfect for intimate getaways or corporate events although we can’t promise they’ll be serving vin brule in this elegant venue, you can certainly enjoy a drink from their American Bar at a poolside table or cabana. The bar serves all the old-time classic drinks with an Italian twist including home-made bitters and herb infusions.
1-Altitude, Singapore
1-Altitude is said to be the world’s highest alfresco bar. The venue takes over the top three floors of One Raffles Place in Singapore and offers a spectacular 360-degree view over the city. The highest viewing gallery in Singapore at 282m above sea level, you get some awesome sunsets whilst sipping almost any drink you desire – but it might be a bit warm for a gluhwein!
If you’re looking for an A-list venue for your private party or corporate cocktail reception, this is the place to impress your guests. You can enjoy a gastronomic dining experience, dance the night away with a World-class DJ or chill out to the sounds of a local band. This is a stunning location that will take your breath away.
We think our events team in Richmond has come up with some great ideas even if you’re travelling outside the UK this Winter. Contact us if you’d like our opinion on venues for your private party or corporate event – Richmond, London, Europe or further afield.