Boasting some of the best views of the capital and great cocktails to boot, The London Sky Bar is a special addition to the city’s bar scene.

The Venue
On entering Millbank Tower you’ll be directed to the lift to embark your voyage to the 29th floor. As you step out onto glossy white floors and walls, you will see that decorative prints from the likes of Banksy adorn the walls. Walk through to the bar where you get your first glimpse of the incredible views – you’ll soon see there’s a different sight to be seen from all three sides of the room. The only bar to rival the views here is Paramount but The London Sky Bar just about shades it in this respect. Plush black leather seating lines the length of the walls, the long bar is stylish and sleek, and the VIP area is enticing with its glowing red lights and misted screen walls. All the furniture, including the DJ booth, is moveable to accommodate parties of any size and helpful markers on the windows indicate the landmarks you are looking at – useful when you’re trying to impress.

The Atmosphere
Dim lights and loud (but not too loud) music create a good setting, with somewhat awe-inspired people gazing at the views around the room. The bar is pretty quiet early on and, in the current arrangement of seating (just around the edges of the room), the bar feels a little empty and lacks real atmosphere at this time. Rumour has it that things liven up after 9.30pm, so if you’re looking for more of a vibe, it’s probably best to hang on until later. However, with the stunning panoramic vista, you’d struggle not to enjoy your time here. The bar feels exclusive without being too exclusive – it’s open to the general public although a table reservation is recommended - helping your night to feel special, and staff are incredibly friendly, which is refreshing as this is often a rarity in this type of venue.

The Drink
It’s hard to steer yourself away from ordering champagne (house is Moet at £65) here, such is the temptation to linger over a bottle as you pick out famous spots through the windows, but there is an impressive list of cocktails not to be ignored. A floral twist on the classic, the lavender martini (£15) blends tequila with lavender tea, orange liquor and lavender sugar, and top tips denoting each cocktail suggest this one helps to reduce everyday stresses and is one hell of an aphrodisiac, too. The rosemary sazerac (£15) is a heavenly mix of rosemary infused bourbon, Benedictine liquor, absinth and bitters, served straight up – not for the faint hearted – while the jasmine pisco sour (£15) is for those who like a bit of a tang to their drinks. Classic cocktails are also available from just £12.

The Last Word
With an inventive list of cocktails and arguably the best views of the city, The London Sky Bar needs to gather a bit more of a following to increase the atmosphere, but still offers a night out with a difference that will only improve as it gains popularity.

venue information venue map view london review user reviews (24) image gallery (4)