Best Views, London

For me, London is a home not a holiday-tion. But even after 6.5 years of living, working and breathing in the city life, I still discover something new each week. London is not a city of sky-scrapers (except for the more recently developed financial district called Canary Wharf), so restaurants or bars with amazing views are hard to find.

Here are my 3 favorites:

Eat/Drink

1) Galvin at Windows

This swanky NY-style bar is on the 28th floor of the London Hilton on Park Lane. The decor is decadent and so is the extensive cocktail list. The restaurant and bar offer 360-degree views of London's expansive metropolis. Galvin is dark and trendy at night, but if you really want to take in the scene, go before the sun sets and score a table on the balcony.

http://www.galvinatwindows.com/thebalcony.html


2) The Portrait Restaurant

Tucked away on the 5th floor of the National Portrait Gallery is this lively restaurant, packed at lunch-time with Londoners wining and dining for leisure or business. Take in the spectacular views over Trafalgar Square to Big Ben, the Houses of Parliament, the London Eye and more. The perfect place to sip a glass of wine and rest your tired museum-trekking bones.

http://www.npg.org.uk/visit/food/restaurant.php

3) Roof Garden at the Trafalgar

At the other end of Trafalgar Square, enter the Trafalgar Hotel, and catch the lift right up to the rooftop for a cool, tropical setting. I can't believe it took me over 6 years to realize this hidden gem was so easily accessible. We happened to hit it on a perfect summer day (infrequent in London!), which was our 1st wedding anniversary. This spot is unforgettable.

http://www.thetrafalgar.com/roof_garden.shtml


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