In the mood for a festive drink? Also check out the best wintry pop-ups this Christmas and beyond.
Our guide on where to eat, drink and be merry in igloos, globes, domes and other such transparent structures at bars and restaurants in London this winter — ideal for Christmas parties, meeting friends, and cosy date nights.
Igloo pods at Circe's Rooftop
Aurora Nights is the theme at Circe's Rooftop (formerly Bar Elba) near Waterloo this winter, which includes a new menu in collaboration with Hotel Chocolat, and igloo pods under the stars available for private hire, with prices starting from £100 (redeemable against food and drink during your visit). Each pod is designed as a mini living room, with sofas, lamps, a coffee table, blankets and a private sound system, with space for up to eight people.
That chocolate-centric cocktail menu includes a salted caramel chocottini, and a midnight mocha martini, a chocolatey take on the traditional espresso martini made with Hotel Chocolat chocolate espresso liquor. There's a hearty food menu too, spanning mozzarella and truffle arancini, sage and onion-crusted chicken strips served with gravy mayo, and pigs in blankets with a honey mustard dressing.
Igloo pods at Circe's Rooftop, available October 2024-January 2025.
Igloos at Aviary, Finsbury Square
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Grey Goose cocktails and warming nibbles await at the igloos atop Aviary, overlooking Finsbury Square — and the view of the City is pretty dreamy too, in a high-rise kinda way. Summit Above The Skyline is the inspiration for this year's winter terrace, which includes igloos kitted out with twinkling lights and cosy decor.
Igloos can be booked for either dinner or drinks, or you can get a Christmas Igloo Experience as a gift voucher, if you're looking for something other than socks or chocs to give someone this Christmas.
Aviary igloos, Finsbury Square. From 2 November 2024.
Igloos at Wagtail, Bank
Sister venue to Aviary (above), Wagtail is also getting in on the Summit Above The Skyline action. It's a similar set-up (Grey Goose cocktails and winter-warmer food, inside igloos) in a different location, on the old House of Fraser building at the top of London Bridge, so offers views over the bridge, and towards landmarks including the Shard and the Monument.
Igloos at Wagtail. From 30 October 2024.
Igloos at The Sipping Room, West India Quay
Three heated igloos take centre stage at the new Enchanted Forest Terrace outside The Sipping Room by Drake & Morgan, in partnership with Monkey 47 Gin. Each is built for up to eight guests, adorned with wreaths, twinkling lights and cosy throws. Various festive party and a la carte menus are available, as well as seasonal cocktails including the vibrant Tanger-Lini (Monkey 47 Gin, Disaronno, tangerine purée and sparkling wine).
Winter igloos at The Sipping Room. 3 November 2024-March 2025.
Mercer Rooftop, Cannon Street
Beluga vodka cocktails and ham hock terrine with piccalilli mayo are among the delights to be enjoyed inside the igloos at Mercer Rooftop, perched atop Vintry & Mercer. Each après ski inspired dome is decked out with faux fur blankets, candles and fairy lights — and holds up to seven people.
Mercer Rooftop, Cannon Street, 11 November-early 2025.
Igloos next to the Thames at Coppa Club, Tower Bridge and Putney
The OG igloos which sent London into an Instagram frenzy have gone permanent. Yep, you can now dine in an igloo next to the Thames all year round — but it's that little bit more magical at Christmas, with Tower Bridge and the London skyline shimmering in the background. The Putney branch of Coppa Club gets in on the riverside igloo action too.
This year there's an Alpine theme, in collaboration with Aperol. Think walkways lit with lanterns and lights hanging from trees leading you to igloos decked out with foliage, fairy lights, and cosy faux fur blankets and furnishings.
A festive food menu is available for groups dining in the igloos, along with a cocktail menu, including a dedicated iconic Aperitifs menu, spanning Aperol spritz, chocolate orange negroni, and a Crodino non-alcoholic spritz
Igloos can be booked for two-hours slots, for between four and eight people. The Tower Bridge venue has a minimum spend of £35/£45 per person depending when you visit, while at Putney it's £25/£35 per person.
Oh, and these igloos are VERY popular, so be quick if you want in.
Coppa Club igloos, Tower Bridge, Putney and other locations. From 12 November 2024 until March 2025.
