Top terraces and pop ups for perfect alpine cosiness, winter cocktails and delicious spiced nibbles

Pictured: The Sipping Room

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Sonnys Riverside

Kingston

This unique rooftop bar has had a cosy winter glow-up this season, with the stairs leading up to the bar festooned with twinkling lights, and an open-air terrace with a log burner in the middle where you can sip mulled wine and enjoy views of the wintery river. Inside is warm and cosy, the transparent window coverings keep the heat in, and it’s a great spot for an early evening cocktail. A DJ gets the party started Thursday to Saturday, and on our visit, there was a wide range of ages and group sizes, all in the mood for a night out. The long bar has a glitterball and orb lights and there are faux furs draped on the chairs and benches all adding to the festive feel.

2 

Igloos at the Sipping Room by Drake and Morgan

West India Quay

The Sipping Room at West India Quay has unveiled a magical new look for winter, transforming its heated terrace and famous igloos into a chalet-inspired hideaway. There’s an enchanting canopy of fairy lights, copper leaves and winter foliage, and the inside is decorated with soft teal walls and berries. This year they’ve partnered with Singleton Whisky to bring delicious winter cocktails: the Singleton Hot Coco, a hot chocolate made with whisky, honey syrup and toasted marshmallows, the Scottish Spice, made with Lillet Rosé, mango purée, chili liqueur and orange bitters, a Whisky Sour with honey syrup, orange biters and egg white, an Orchard Blossom with orange juice, lemon juice, fig and orange soda, and a Singleton Negroni with Campari and sweet Vermouth.

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Alpine Terrace, Kitchen at Holmes

Looking for some alpine magic this winter? Step into Kitchen at Holmes’ alpine terrace complete with winter lights, cocktails by Jamesons Whiskey, and delicious festive bites. This year’s menu sounds mouth-wateringly good: from a Puff Pastry tartlet with porcini mushrooms and Comte bechamel to a Welsh Dragon Hot Dog with braised onion, cheddar, paprika and oregano pomme allumettes. There’s also a newly renovated festive rooftop cinema upstairs, which will be showing Christmas classics throughout December.

4 

Johnnie Walker Black Ruby Terrace

Drake & Morgan King’s Cross

This heated winter hideaway is a sophisticated, atmospheric terrace set in rich plum, cherry and amber tones. There’s seasonal bar snacks along with indulgent cocktails like the Black Ruby Sour, made with Johnnie Walker Black Ruby, lemon, raspberry and honey.

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Rémy Martin Terrace

Great Northern Hotel, King’s Cross

The Great Northern Hotel’s Rémy Martin Terrace is the perfect place to stop for a drink before catching your train. Get cosy under the heaters while you people-watch above one of London’s most iconic thoroughfares, enjoying irresistible cocktails like the Tiramisu Martin made with Remy Martin VSOP, Bailey’s Irish Liqueur, cream and Musetti coffee. 

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Flight Club’s Winter Paradise Roof Terrace

Victoria

Flight Club’s Winter Paradise Terrace is a vibrant festive wonderland decked out in reds and golds, green foliage and twinkling lights. There’s a limited-edition cocktail menu featuring festive tipples soaked in the flavours of Christmas, from a Rudolph’s Remedy made with cider mulled with cinnamon sticks and cloves and Singleton Scotch liqueur, to a Santa Baby made with Mozart Chocolate Liqueur, Baileys and a kick of tequila. There’s also a selection of decadent festive snacks: be sure to try the crispy brie and cranberry bites, the pigs in blankets with honey mustard, and the baked camembert sourdough wreath.

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Feast Off Piste

The Berkeley, Knightsbridge

Missed your chance to go skiing this season? Never fear. You can at least still enjoy alpine vibes at The Berkeley’s Feast Off Piste, where they’ve decorated their rooftop bar with ski gondolas. Enjoy classic alpine treats like mulled wine raclette, tartiflette with freshly shaved truffle, a milk chocolate fondue, and gingerbread s’mores. Yum.

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The Fire Garden at Ham Yard Hotel

Central London

Looking for a taste of exclusivity? Ham Yard Hotel’s rooftop isn’t usually open to the public, except in winter, when the seasonal Fire Garden terrace opens and welcomes visitors looking for morsels of seasonal sophistication. This year they’ve teamed up with Sapling Spirits to bring you truly luxurious limited-edition cocktails, including an Irish-coffee inspired Spirited Mocha and a Marshmallow Blazer, made using toasted marshmallow Sapling gin, pistachio syrup, and walnut liqueur.