As London edges into longer evenings and lighter moods, the city’s restaurants are responding in kind. TONE’s edit this week leans into the shift in season, rooftops come into their own, menus soften into something brighter, and dining feels less about routine and more about occasion.
From sky high spritzes to refined European plates and atmospheric Soho dining, these are the five places setting the tone right now.
For spring spritzes and skyline moments, 14 Stories
High above the city, 14 Stories leans fully into the arrival of spring with a limited edition menu designed for golden hour. The Spring Blossom Spritz selection feels intentionally light, floral, citrus led, and made for slow sipping as the skyline softens into evening.
The Golden Hour Spritz blends Renais Gin with elderflower and lemon for something crisp and quietly elegant, while the Explorer’s Spritz moves in a more unexpected direction, layering mezcal with pineapple, melon and basil. It is the kind of menu that encourages you to stay for one more, particularly when paired with the restaurant’s blossom installations, which bring a soft, almost dreamlike quality to the space.
This is not just a drinks menu, it is a seasonal moment, one best experienced just before sunset.
Location: 1 West India Quay, Hertsmere Rd, London E14 4AL
Book here.
For refined British seasonality, Berners Tavern
Few dining rooms in London feel quite as cinematic as Berners Tavern, and its new spring and summer menu gives you every reason to return. Under the direction of Jason Atherton and Andrei Poptelecan, the kitchen shifts focus to seasonal British produce, handled with a level of precision that feels both classic and contemporary.
Starters move from delicate to indulgent, think Kentish pea salad alongside a rich Cornish brown crab doughnut, before giving way to deeper, slower flavours. The 24 hour lamb neck lasagna is already a standout, while the veal schnitzel topped with a fried duck egg delivers something altogether more decadent.
Desserts follow the same rhythm. A lemon posset offers a clean, citrus finish, while the old English trifle reworks something nostalgic into something sharper. It is thoughtful, confident cooking, served in a space that still manages to feel quietly impressive.
Location: 10 Berners St, Fitzrovia, London W1T 3NP
Book here.
For rooftop brunch done properly, Wagtail
Set across two levels overlooking Tower Bridge, Wagtail delivers one of the more refined rooftop experiences in the City. It is a space designed for lingering, part restaurant, part social setting, where the view is only half the story.
The brunch offering leans indulgent without feeling heavy. Cruffins filled with chorizo, avocado and poached egg sit alongside lighter plates like seabass crudo, while the prawn cruffin edges into something more playful.
Beyond brunch, executive chef Henrik Ritzen brings a Nordic perspective to the menu, with dishes that balance clarity and depth. Expect early asparagus paired with sheep’s yoghurt and truffle, or quail offset with cherry molasses and wild garlic.
It is elevated without being overstated, exactly what a rooftop should feel like this time of year.
Location: 68 King William St, London EC4N 7HR
Book here.
For dining with atmosphere, Sucre Soho
There is always a sense of occasion at Sucre Soho. Set within a former concert hall, the space carries a natural grandeur, softened by warm lighting and the energy of an open kitchen.
The menu draws on Argentinian influences, built around high quality produce and a sharing style approach that suits the setting. But what sets Sucre apart right now is its cultural programming. Through its ‘Origins at Sucre’ series, the restaurant is leaning into live performance, including collaborations with the London Chamber Orchestra, bringing music into the dining experience in a way that feels immersive rather than staged.
Downstairs, the bar shifts the mood entirely, darker, louder, and designed for late evenings that stretch on. It is a restaurant that understands atmosphere as much as it does food.
Location: 47B Great Marlborough St, Soho, London W1F 7JP
Book here.
For seafood and city views, No.3 Rooftop at Smiths of Smithfield
Overlooking St Paul’s, No.3 Rooftop at Smiths of Smithfield offers a quieter, more understated take on rooftop dining. It is less about scene, more about substance, a place where the food holds its own against the view.
Led by chef Jay Bond, the menu places seafood front and centre. Halibut with squid ink mornay leans rich and precise, while chalk stream trout pastrami brings something more delicate to the table.
It is thoughtful cooking, paired with a strong wine list and cocktails that feel carefully considered rather than decorative. The result is a rooftop that feels grown up, somewhere to settle in, rather than simply pass through.
Location: 67-77 Charterhouse St, Farringdon, London EC1M 6HJ
Book here.
From rooftop terraces to dining rooms that reward lingering, this week’s selection reflects London at its most considered, a city easing into spring, one table at a time.
For more recommendations, visit TONE Magazine LDN and our Eats page.
