The Berkeley Rooftop Opens to the Public: Capri in the City for Summer
For most of the year, the top of The Berkeley is one of the most private spaces in SW1: a heated, open-air pool looking out over Knightsbridge, Belgravia and Hyde Park, reserved for people sleeping in the building. Each spring and summer, though, the hotel opens its rooftop bar to outside guests, and this year it has given the season a theme: Capri in the City. If you have ever wondered what the view looks like from Wilton Place, now is the moment to book.
How to get up there
The rules are simple. According to the hotel's rooftop page, non-residents can visit the Rooftop Bar by making a reservation, subject to availability. The pool itself remains exclusively for hotel guests, with no day passes, so this is a drinks and small plates outing rather than a swim. The rooftop is seasonal and the hotel suggests checking opening dates before you set out.
Capri in the City sets the mood: think sunshine, spritzes and southern Italian lightness, with pizza and focaccia on the menu, as City AM reports in its round-up of the area's best rooftop bars. The pool bar's usual repertoire of small plates, seasonal spritzes and classic cocktails fits the brief neatly.
Downstairs: SW1 Sips
If the rooftop is fully booked, the Berkeley Bar & Terrace at street level has its own reason to visit. Its seasonal SW1 Sips menu is described by the hotel as a love letter to Belgravia, with ten cocktails each honouring a local figure or landmark. Highlights include:
- Anya Sgroppino: named for Anya Hindmarch, whose Pont Street village is around the corner. Tequila, vermouth and raspberry brandy meet lime salt and agave sorbet in a coupette, for something close to a slushy margarita.
- Candlelit Gimlet: a nod to candle maker Rachel Vosper.
- The Double-O: inspired by Ian Fleming's home in the area.
- The Courtly Pimm's: a salute to the Royal Court Theatre.
- Barracks Brew: a tribute to The Grenadier, the historic pub a few streets away.
The bar serves seasonal small plates, bar classics and desserts alongside a curated wine list, and the list changes with the seasons. Note that terrace tables carry a minimum spend of £50 per person.
Something sweet
Make a detour on the way out. The Berkeley is also home to Cédric Grolet, the Paris pâtissier who acts as the hotel's pâtissier-in-residence, and his counter pipes pastries to order in front of you. A box to take home is the most elegant possible end to an evening on the roof, and on a warm afternoon the counter is a fine first stop too.
Booking tips
Reserve the rooftop as early as possible for warm evenings and weekends, since outside guests are admitted only as space allows. A sensible plan is an early evening drink on the roof followed by dinner nearby; our hotels guide covers the other Knightsbridge addresses with terraces worth knowing. The Berkeley is on Wilton Place, a five minute walk from Knightsbridge and Hyde Park Corner stations.
