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Touch the Sky(garden) in London’s rooftop jungle

London’s skyline wouldn’t be complete without 20 Fenchurch Street, or the Walkie Talkie, as it is more commonly known. The 37 storey building is mostly home to offices, but the top three floors are reserved for the aptly named Sky Garden. It offers 360-degree views of the city from its landscaped gardens, observation decks and open air terrace.

Sky Garden boasts five bars and restaurants. The Fenchurch Restaurant offers a refined dining experience at the very top of the building, the Darwin Brasserie is a galley kitchen with seasonal plates of British cuisine, the City Garden bar offers all-day dining and drinking, Fenchurch Terrace is an exclusive lounge area with fine wines and bar snacks, and the Sky Pod bar has a delicious menu of cocktails.

 

 

The airy, chilled roof canopy is a haven for those that long for some greenery in the heart of the city. Each bar and restaurant has a unique vibe, depending on what you fancy. Head Chef Dan Fletcher has taken Fenchurch dining to new heights this year with adventurous and elegant dishes. The Fenchurch restaurant offers a five or eight course tasting menu starting at £55 per person, or an a la carte menu with dished such as roast Cornish skate, charred Iberico pork, Scottish loin of venison or fillet of cod. The desserts are to die for, with the poached red pear served with whipped whisky cream and coffee ice cream being our favourite.

The Darwin Brasserie is open all day, serving breakfast, brunch and all day food. Our favourite is the servern and wye smoked salmon and the coconut quinoa porridge for breakfast, the roast pork belly for brunch and the confit duck burger or home-cured ricotta from the a la carte menu. It has an extensive wine menu, as well as breakfast cocktails.

 

The City Garden and Sky Pod bars offer an array of delicious cocktails, such as a winterberry mojito, a berry tipple tea and a baba au rum. They also serve charcuterie, seafood, vegetarian, cheese and dessert sharing boards as well as bar snacks.

Re-opening in April, the Fenchurch terrace has every spirit you could ever wish for, with a menu of gin cups and cocktails names after different areas of the city. Try the Mile End for a kick of tequila, or the Mayfair for rhubarb infused Cividina grappa. A list of old and new world wines is also available, along with vodkas, whiskies, bourbons, cognacs, liqueurs and rums. The terrace has unspoilt views from the top of the Sky Garden, making it the perfect place to spend a summer’s evening.

Just be sure to book, because walk-ins are welcomed, but only a limited amount.