7 spectacular summer bars for the positive drinking crowd

GB Roof Garden at Grande Bretagne, Athens

Raise a glass to this stunning view of the Acropolis

Athens’ foremost grand-dame hotel is a byword for grace and old-world charm, with its unbeatable location, just opposite the Greek parliament, and 8th-floor rooftop bar offering glorious unobstructed views over to the Acropolis. Essentially, it’s an elegant, heavenly rooftop spot to pause for a summer sup. Take in the classic vistas over a sunny plate of grouper with roasted fennel, kozani red saffron and orange blossom marmalade. To drink? A virgin mojito, or light-hearted signature ‘Candy Crush’ with pineapple, lime and blackberry puree. 

marriott.com/en-us/hotels/athlc-hotel-grande-bretagne-a-luxury-collection-hotel-athens 
1 Vasileos Georgiou A, Syntagma Square Str

Azotea Focus Barcelo, Madrid

This year-round roof terrace perched atop the Barceló market is intensely loved for two reasons. The first of which is its exuberant profusion of foliage, which should be exploding into fragrant flower, ooh, right about now. The second reason is its weekend brunch, which includes chef Manuel Berganza’s note-perfect ‘huevos benedictinos’ and ’pancakes con chocolate’, served alongside revitalising glasses of Tanqueray 0.0% and tonic. Surrounded by merry bursting buds, it’s a properly Edenic city-centre hangout.

azoteaforus.com
6 C. de Barceló

Lumi, Lisbon

Gaze across Lisbon's ginger rooftops with a refreshing zero-alcohol mixer

Lumi is, for one thing, the perfect place to get your bearings in Lisbon. A swish contemporary rooftop bar, attached to the five-star Lumiares Hotel in the fun-loving Bairro Alto neighbourhood, it commands awesome views over the city skyline and out over the Tagus river. While you’re mapping it all out, nibble on some pica-pau – traditional Portuguese beef strips in pickle sauce – courtesy of inspired head chef Joao Silva, alongside with a refreshing zero-alcohol hibiscus spritzer. Quite the pairing for the Portuguese capital’s scene-stealing sunsets. 

thelumiares.com/eat-and-drink
35 R. de São Pedro de Alcântara 

La Terrasse, Nice

Quite literally the home of ‘haute cuisine’, this chic restaurant and bar with un-matched views of the Med is situated on the lofty tenth floor of Le Méridien hotel. Feast on Asian/Mediterranean dishes, like Ikemaji red tuna tartar with mango and avocado or pan-seared Piedmont veal, and for best results, get in early and secure a table for sunset. The knockout sea views are beyond special, especially when complemented by La Terrasse’s virgin colada with pineapple juice and coconut cream. 

laterrasse-nice.com
1 Prom. des Anglais

Beefbar, Mykonos

Managing to maintain upscale energy, despite being to all intents and purposes a laid-back beach bar, is some feat. Beefbar manages it supremely. Attached to the plush Bill & Coo Coast Suites hotel on Agios Ionnais beach, it’s the definition of ‘barefoot luxury’. There’s even a pier so you can access it by yacht. The menu is split into ‘beef’, ‘reef’ and ‘leaf’, so in addition to the signature (unmissable) Kobe gyros, you can plump for sea bream, or vegetarian aubergine Miso. In terms of drinks, it’s all about the mango mule with greek honey, syrup and ginger beer. Nothing to beef with here. 

mykonos.beefbar.com
Agios Ioannis

Bokan 39 Bar, London

Another blockbuster sunset at this sky-high hangout in Canary Wharf

Chef Guillaume Gillan really hits the high notes at this 39^th-floor bar and restaurant in London’s Canary Wharf, where British classics are refracted through a 21st century lens (think rabbit tagine with nettles, peas and broad beans and monkfish n’duja with lush spring vegetables). One floor up, the bar – decked out in an impeccable blend of rarefied natural wood, contemporary lamps and classic Chesterfield sofas – is quickly becoming the city’s most sought-after lookout. Sink a zesty ‘Giorni di Sole’ with watermelon syrup, lime and soda water, and watch another perfect sunset light the London sky ablaze. 

bokanlondon.co.uk
40 Marsh Wall

Restaurant Colella, Barcelona

Proper authentic Neopolitan chef Roberto Colella has brought a wealth of experience from his time in kitchens in London and Milan to craft original contemporary Italian cooking in Barcelona’s Eixample neighbourhood. What can you expect? Choice bull bresaola, gnocchetti with wild boar ragu or burrata with cherry tomatoes and mezclum bouquet. And that’s just for starters. Enhance every sunny, Mediterranean-inspired bite with a Tanqueray 0.0% from the bar, with a glug of top-shelf tonic, and enjoy a feast to remember. 

colellarestaurant.com
190 Carrer de Pau Claris

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