12 London restaurants with bird's-eye views

This Thursday in London, "haute cuisine" will be taken to a whole new level.
The global pop-up dining experience Dinner in the Sky is back for 2018, and will be strapping groups of diners around a table and hoisting them 100 feet up in the air by crane.
From July 5 to 15, 2018, breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea and dinner menus created by award-winning chefs Robin Gill (The Dairy), Lee Wescott (The Typing Room) and Pascal Aussignac (Club Gascon) will be served alongside spectacular views of the Thames and London landmarks including St Paul's Cathedral and The Shard.
Tickets start at $65 (£50) per person and are selling out fast.
But you needn't risk spilling your aperitif onto gawkers below to enjoy elevated eating in the British capital. There are plenty of more comfortable indoor options.
We take the measure of the best -- and most thrilling

Helix Restaurant and Iris Bar, on levels 39 and 40 of the Norman Foster-designed Gherkin building -- a much-loved star of the London skyline -- open to the public for the first time on July 13, having previously only been available for exclusive hire and private events.
Helix's executive chef Daniel Loftin is behind a menu featuring seasonal British produce such as Dorset crab, Rhug Estate Welsh lamb and English green asparagus.
Iris Bar, which offers spectacular 360-degree views over the City, will unveil a new London-inspired cocktail list, including the Jack the Ripper -- with Mediterranean herbs vodka, beet juice, tomato, lemon and Worcester sauce -- a dark local twist on the Bloody Mary.
Where to find it: Searcys at the Gherkin, 30 St Mary Axe, London, EC3A 8EP; 020 7585 0505
Oblix at the Shard
Stunning dinner-time views from London's tallest building.
Stunning dinner-time views from London's tallest building.
Courtesy Richard Southal/Ilona Zielinska
The Shard is home to several fancy eateries, but Oblix is the original and the most elevated, situated on the 32nd floor of the glass skyscraper. Oblix has a New York-inspired rotisserie theme -- a departure for founder Rainer Becker, whose other restaurants, Zuma, Roka and the newly opened Inko Nito, are Japanese-themed.
Diners are treated to panoramic views of the cityscape -- staggering at sunset, but eminently Instagrammable all day long. Try Oblix's late-night menu: three courses and a complimentary cocktail can be enjoyed for £39 per person ($51).
Where to find it: Oblix, 32/F, The Shard, 31 St. Thomas St., London SE1 9RY; +44 (0)20 7268 6700
Duck and Waffle
Duck and Waffle offers delicious food and views 24/7.
Duck and Waffle offers delicious food and views 24/7.
Courtesy Duck and Waffle
Breakfast is the most important meal of the day, so why not treat yourself to waffles amongst the clouds? Duck and Waffle is located on the 40th floor of 110 Bishopsgate (Heron Tower) and even in London fog its impressive.

The restaurant's signature dish is its eponymous duck and waffle, but it's open 24/7, serving all-day food described as traditional cuisine of England with European influences.
Duck and Waffle's signature dish will cost you £16 ($21) from the breakfast menu, but two eggs any style comes in at £8 ($10.50) -- comparable to many less glamorous brunch spots in the capital.
Where to find it: 110 Bishopsgate, London EC2N 4AY; +44 (0)20 3640 7310
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Galvin at Windows
Admire the greenery of Hyde Park from the luxurious surroundings of Galvin at Windows.
Admire the greenery of Hyde Park from the luxurious surroundings of Galvin at Windows.
Courtesy Galvin at Windows
Holding fort in upper-crust Mayfair is Galvin at Windows, the Michelin-starred French restaurant on the 28th floor of the Hilton Park Lane Hotel. Known for its sterling service, the restaurant also supports the charity Galvin's Chance, which helps disadvantaged young people get into hospitality.
More classical in style than some of the city''s newer high-rise eateries, visitors are still treated to stunning aerial views of London's Hyde Park.
Where to find it: Galvin at Windows, 28/F, 22 Park Lane, London W1K 1BE; +44 (0)20 7208 4021
OXO Tower Restaurant
Dine with a view of St Paul's and the Thames at OXO, on London's Southbank.
Dine with a view of St Paul's and the Thames at OXO, on London's Southbank.
Courtesy OXO Tower Restaurants/Harvey Nichols
The iconic rooftop OXO restaurant has been wowing restaurant-goers since 1996, operated by chic British department store stalwart Harvey Nichols.
As one of London's older rooftop restaurants, OXO is at a much lower altitude than its City counterparts. Don't let that put you off -- this lower vantage point allows diners to watch the boats drift by on the Thames and enjoy a stunning view of St Paul's Cathedral -- and is more palatable for those with a fear of heights.
Why not try OXO's "Not Afternoon Tea," a scone-free affair in which Champagne is traded for cocktails and desserts are modeled after ice cream vans. Alternatively, it's the perfect brunch spot -- while away your Sunday morning looking out over the Thames.