TOP THREE
Rooftop Restaurants
Live the highlife by dining at one of these glorious rooftop restaurants, as you watch the summer sun wind down
WORDS BY CLAIRE BENNIE
1 - 360
TURKEY, fly to Istanbul
www.360istanbul.com
Choose to soar the sweeping marble stairs or squeeze into the tiny elevator with a gaggle of well-heeled Turkish cognoscenti. Floor-to-ceiling glass windows and panoramic views across the Bosphorus and the city’s silhouette never cease to attract a mixture of beautiful locals and visitors, all keen to be seen at 360, one of the most glamorous restaurant and cocktail bars in the city. Spacious, smooth, sleek and smart, the chef has created a menu to match. It’s a fragrant fusion of world cuisine, from Morocco to Japan, Thailand and Spain, to mention just a few. Expect quirky and ironic names like the “totally cheesy” thin-crust pizza and the “love me tender” beef rib.
2 - KOSYBAR
MOROCCO, fly to Marrakech
www.kozibar.tripod.com
Head south towards the Kasbah and the Saadian Tombs to the Place de Ferblantiers. Here, you’ll find the tin workshops making decorative lanterns at a cheaper price than the souks. Nip to the top floor of the Kosybar for a superb rooftop view across the city out towards the Djemaa el-Fna and a laid-back drink. At night, the bar hosts live music within its beautifully styled three floors. But best of all is to stay for sunset and, as dusk descends, watch as the sky above is filled with the swirling, nesting storks that have taken up residence on the rooftops. Enjoy an exotic snapshot of the sights and sounds that intoxicate visitors.
3 - THE ROOF GARDENS
ENGLAND, fly to London
www.roofgardens.com
Standing at the base of the old Barker’s building, in the faded and clinical looking reception area, you wouldn’t expect what awaits you after ascending six floors to the Kensington Roof Gardens. One hundred feet above the throbbing street-life below, patrons can casually dine alfresco on the spacious wooden decked terrace among lush greenery. Peek into the walled Tudor garden and exotic Spanish garden and watch the famous pink flamingos flutter around this horticultural hideaway, all with the London skyline as an impressive backdrop.
