Lovely bar/cafe in Soho/Covent Garden to meet DD at Saturday lunchtime

[fernsandlilies]

That's it really - DD age 21 will get train into KX and we want to meet for a couple of drinks and a bite to eat before going to the theatre near Leicester Square with other family. Can you suggest somewhere cool/Instagrammable/fun please?

Roof terraces especially welcome.

We will need food, but as we are going out for a meal later and I am penny pincher I was thinking to eat a quick sandwich on the train and just have nibbles with a drink.

I would go along to Alto on top of Selfridges. I think you have to book, but is lovely. Can’t think of anywhere in soho that is both good and has a roof terrace, although top of the trafalgar hotel has a good view.

Not on a roof - you are spoilt for choice
wun’s tea room
disrepute
The Vault
Bar termini
Swift
Blind pig
Simmons
Hensons
Bar Americain at Zedels (has a famous cheap set menu next door)

The only place I can think of off the top of my head is Punch & Judy in Covent Garden which has a balcony overlooking the square.

I think that the opera house has a nice terrace?

Fab thanks!

Alto is amazing but fully booked, I will mark that for another time. The Opera House is a good shout.

I will check out the other suggestions

Opera House was my first thought. Bars, restaurant, terrace overlooking the piazza.

There’s a lovely bar called Plume i Covent Garden - wine and cheese - which is wonderful!

ah Plume is very cute! Thank you

now it's hard to choose

https://www.meleepere.co.uk/about-us

Mele e Pere (apples and pears) is nice, a bar/cafe as well as a restaurant. Great selection of Vermouths. No roof terrace, sadly.

Does it have to be Soho/Covent Garden? If you want a roof terrace, there is more choice if you add in Kings Cross/Leicester Square.

Kings Cross
https://www.standardhotels.com/en-GB/london/features/the-rooftop-bar-standard-london
https://www.bigchillbar.com/kings-cross

Soho(ish)/Oxford Circus
https://aquakyoto.co.uk/bar/

Fitzrovia (opposite side of Oxford Street to Soho)
https://www.treehousehotels.com/london/eat-drink/nest

Trafalgar Square/Leicester Square
https://trafalgarstjames.com/the-rooftop
https://www.lsqrooftop.com/#dine

Aldwych (by Covent Garden)
https://radiorooftop.com

Or did you want something a bit more laid back? I can't think of any chilled rooftop terraces in that part of town. Pergola in Paddington is a roof terrace street food place. Mercato Mayfair is a similar concept in an old church that has a roof terrace but I haven't been up to the terrace!

https://www.pergolapaddington.com
https://mercatometropolitano.com/mercato-mayfair/

Having researched all these excellent suggestions, I conclude that the rooftop option should wait for another time. Several of them focus on bottomless brunch on a weekend lunchtime, and many of the smarter places have quite a substantial minimum spend. Also most of them are fully booked for the date I want.

Thank you @EmpressMoo for such a great list - plenty there for our next visit to London, and perhaps we'll allow a bit more time and check out rooftop venues away from the centre. For some reason, Peckham seems to have quite a few!

You're welcome!

Franks in Peckham is great. Definitely worth the trip!

What about Willows on the Roof on top of oxford st John Lewis? It's not too pricy

Sticks and sushi in Covent Garden

sticksnsushi.com/en/restaurants/london/covent-garden

more nice ideas, thank you

https://thelane.co.uk/eat-and-drink-venues/the-garden