I tried the recently opened 1864 Bar on top of John Lewis’ flagship Oxford Street store and it was surprisingly chilled despite being in such a busy location.
If you head into John Lewis in Oxford Street and take the lift all the way to the sixth floor you’ll find 1864 Rooftop Bar & Kitchen.
With covered seating, grass and views of Central London, this bar offers a relaxed place to have some food and drinks after a busy day of shopping or work.
I recently visited to try the menu after it opened earlier this summer.
The bar can seat up to 200 people, with both an indoor bar and outdoor terrace with greenhouse style booths.
The menu also features seasonal cocktails with classics like Margaritas and Negronis alongside their own specials like a Lychee Bramble.
We got a couple to try, and my favourite was the Lychee Bramble, it was a lot sweeter than a usual bramble with the lychee, and the taste slightly reminded me of a Daiquiri with the sweetness.
One thing to note, whilst their menu has quite a broad range of alcoholic drinks there weren’t quite as many for those looking for a mocktail.
Alongside drinks, you can also order from a selection of small tapas-style plates to share, featuring flavourful dishes like their lobster rolls or even a vegan chocolate mousse.
We got a few plates to share including the sweet potato fries with rosemary and cayenne, lobster rolls with pickled cucumber, sweetcorn tarragon fritters with smoked chilli salsa and the chorizo croquettes.
The food was delicious and really used a variety of rich flavours, my personal favourites were the lobster rolls and the chorizo croquettes with a creamy sauce.
If you visit on Friday and Saturday evenings the venue also turns into a more lively nightclub with DJ sets and live music.
All in all, I’d say if you’re looking for a space to stop off in Oxford Street away from the hustle and bustle, 1864 is definitely worth a visit.
1864 Rooftop Bar & Kitchen is open from 12pm – 10pm Monday – Saturday and 12pm – 9pm on Sundays.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here