Best & Cool Bars in Barkingside

"The ferns, fig trees and purple African lilies that clamber up the final three storeys of the 'Walkie Talkie' skyscraper are mere wallflowers at this 155m-high rooftop garden – it's the rather extraordinary 360-degree views of London (the best in the City) that make this vast, airport-terminal-like space so popular (advance booking recommended). Located on the 35th floor of 20 Fenchurch St, the Sky Garden has front-row seats for the Shard and vistas that gallop for miles east and west."

"Day 1: Arrive in London, Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour, the London EyeDay 2: Westminster Abbey, Buckingham Palace, Big Ben, Whitehall, Covent GardenDay 3: Tower of London, Tower Bridge, Borough Market, Tate Modern, St. Paul’s Cathedral, Sky GardenDay 4: National Gallery, Greenwich, Prime Meridian, Up at the O2Day 5: British Museum, Portobello Road Market, Victoria and Albert Museum, Harrod’s"

"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."

"Occupying what used to be the headquarters of Christian Dior, Sketch is chic, glamorous and trendy. In the Michelin Guide 2020, it was elevated to the maximum three stars, putting it in an elite group alongside Restaurant Gordon Ramsay and Alain Ducasse at The Dorchester. The Lecture Room & Library, at the top of the Grade II listed building, offers haute-cuisine by the extraordinary chef Pierre Gagnaire in a plush setting of studded ivory leather walls, ornate plasterwork ceilings, and rich furnishings in purple and crimson."

"Sketch in Mayfair boasts not only the most Instagrammable bathroom in town, but a stellar food menu – which you can now enjoy at home. Its new delivery service, sketch at home, offers either a four-course meal (with a vegetarian option) or a decadent Sunday roast, featuring a sharing côte de boeuf with all the trimmings. Each comes with instructions advising on how best to reheat and present the dish, plus paired wine."

"If the convivial atmosphere of a bistro or elegance of a fine-dining French restaurant leaves you as cold as a steak tartare, Sketch: The Gallery might just be the answer. A feast for all the senses, this unique concept has an emphasis on bold, progressive ‘new French’ food from chef Pierre Gagnaire and even bolder design from Fourth Plinth commissioned artist David Shrigley. Book a table at a French restaurant now."

"We love the classic schmoozy charm of this place, set in the heart of Theatreland. The food is a little like very upmarket pub food, so think half pints of prawns, fish pies, lobster thermidor (what do you mean you've never seen that down the King's Head?), and platters of shellfish galore. There’s an oyster bar next door, too, which made it onto our list of the best oyster bars in London"

"Sheekey has been a firm favourite for the wealthy and well-known ever since, with the likes of Keira Knightley, Sienna Miller and Bradley Cooper recently spotted dining there. Located in Covent Garden, the fuss-free, deliciously fresh fish menu makes it a faultless dining experience."

"Patrick Powell’s restaurant sits part-way up Manhattan Gardens in Stratford, at the point where the gravity-defying skyscraper appears to have had a chunk sliced out of it. As delicately balanced as both the building and the rest of Powell’s menus, brunch dishes include Cornish crab with potato latke, pickled fennel and sesame, and cod brandade with poached egg, pickled onion and light-as-a-feather potato chips. For something with a little more oomph, go for the drool-inducing black pudding burger with pickles and shallots – the ultimate fancy hangover food."

"On the seventh floor of The Stratford hotel lies this farm-to-table restaurant run by former Chiltern Firehouse chef Patrick Powell. Muted, Scandi-style interiors place full emphasis on the food – for good reason. Starters could include pistachio choux stuffed with liver parfait and preserved kumquat, and a delicate celeriac velouté, while mains might feature perfectly cooked monkfish doused in a rich shellfish sauce and Cornish plaice drizzled with Champagne sauce."

"Where: Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, 20 International Way, London E20 1FD. The wraparound terraces at Allegra’s seventh-floor restaurant at The Stratford are beautiful - imagine a wildflower meadow in the sky and you’re halfway there. The terrace menu makes full use of the wood-burning grill and their weekend brunch is a popular alfresco option."

"Restaurants Spanish Chinatown. A tapas bar from the kings of imported Spanish provisions, Brindisa’s Soho canteen blends superb ingredients with impressively refined cooking. Just add an easy-going vibe, reasonable prices, inventive child-friendly finger food and sophisticated Iberian wines to keep the grown-ups on side."

"This popular tapas restaurant has an outpost in Borough Market, dishing up their famous chorizo. The flavorful Spanish sausage is served in ciabatta with peppers, and is one of the tastiest street foods you can get in London. Where: Borough Market"

"Bustling Spanish Tapas restaurant serving a range of small plates including cured meat, cheese and fish from Spain's best producers."

"The Railway Tavern was known in 1855 as The Railway Hotel, one of several pubs in the famous Quadrant of Richmond. In Victorian days the pub also offered rooms to its patrons, perhaps for sleep after one too many at the bar – or for those catching an…"

"Far from your conventional brunch in London, the team at The Candlemaker combine copious amounts of alcohol with delicious brunch dishes; and let's not forget the all-important sprinkling of Bingo. Hosted by the Tina Turner Tea Lady, expect to find on their menu Eggs Benedict, tangy Bloody Marys and all the fruity Mimosas a person can handle, this is one of London's quirkier brunch specials."

"One minute the sea will be there, then at low tide it’s literally completely disappeared. (Hence why the pier needed to be so long back in the day!). The largest beach which is closest to everything is Jubilee Beach."

"Restaurants British Southwark. Jammed onto the side of an architectural practice in Southwark, this serene Aussie-style café-restaurant is something of a quiet classic in this part of town. Come the weekend, the standard breakfast menu (lots of eggs and avocado, as you’d expect) expands into brunch territory with a host of sizeable salads and burgers, waffles, pancakes and favourites such as sweetcorn fritters."

"Somewhat bemusingly, it claims to be the oldest French restaurant in London despite only being founded in the 1940s. Still, the menu is brimming with classic French dishes, so we’ll forgive this apparent fib."