Soho Sky Terrace Review

As the sun hid behind yet another cloud and the temperatures plummeted below the predicted 25 degrees, I was beginning to grow a bit concerned about my night ahead. My visions of a sun kissed evening spent sipping wine and eating prawns blew away with every gust of chilly London wind. The night of al fresco dining that I’d promised my homesick Australian friend was becoming seemingly impossible, unless we were to head out with our windbreak in tow. If I was to show my friend the delights of an English summer and make her feel more at home, I needed a backup plan – and quick.

Luckily, my answer was glaring down at me from above. I was to whisk my Australian pal up and on to London’s Soho Sky Terrace – the perfect venue for outdoor dining, come rain or shine. With this in mind, I was confident my friend would be slightly more taken by the English summer, which so far just wasn’t cutting it for her.

Based at the top of the swanky Courthouse Doubletree Hotel opposite bustling Carnaby Steet, Soho Sky Terrace is in a very exclusive location. Thanks to this, it is frequented by a varied crowd and seems to be especially popular with suited and booted business types during the week. This mixed clientele adds atmosphere and life to the bar and allows for a relaxed but cosmopolitan feel.

With regained confidence about the night ahead, the two of us trotted up the hotel steps before being greeted by a friendly doorman. A walk through the chic Courthouse Doubletree lobby was a treat in itself and then it was up to the fifth floor to gain access to the Soho Sky Terrace itself.

As we stepped out onto the busy patio, a big smile appeared on both our faces. The scene that lay before us was full of character and fun. A wooden bar takes ownership of one corner while the rest of the space is congested with arty furniture, a mix of low and high level tables and stools. There’s also a raised decking area that houses more seating and a number of heaters – essential items in our unpredictable summer weather. Water features fill the walls, Astro Turf covers the floor and potted plants are dotted around the terrace to give a real outdoor feel. A roof also shelters part of the venue so we were still able to make the most of the sunshine but escape the cold wind at the same time.

As we sat down and glanced over the menu I was becoming more convinced that my promise of al fresco dining would be a winner. To make things even better, Soho Sky Terrace offers barbequed meals. Surely my friend would feel right at home now. Cue my unconvincing Australian accent and a stereotypical comment about shrimps!

I went for the chilli prawns - part of my vision came true after all – and they were divine; although I would have liked to have seen a few more for my money. The rest of the vision – the wine – didn’t materialise (although there was a list available) because instead I opted for some of the bar’s fruity cocktails, a real indulgent treat.

The rest of the menu is a mix of light bites and small meals, mainly with a meat focus. This could be to the bar’s downfall as there is only one vegetarian meal on offer. The sole meat-free option is a veggie burger and that proved to be just mediocre.

Soho Sky Terrace is unfortunately only a temporary venue on London’s hospitality scene. Despite the all-weather cover, the bar is only open during the summer months, due to shut down in September. During this time, however, it will host large screens for major sporting events. The World Cup was playing when we visited and because the volume was turned up to the max, it certainly drew a crowd.

Being a stubborn and defensive Brit, I will do my best to make the most of the English summer. Soho Sky Terrace is therefore the ideal outdoor inner city space as it allows me to embrace the unpredictable and unreliable British weather. I can visit on both the rare, warm, dry days as well as during the colder, drizzly spells that we have become more accustomed to. I believe my less homesick Australian friend will even be sticking around a while longer to chuck some more shrimps on the Soho Sky Terrace barbie. It was even a winner with her – bonza mate!...read more

Laura Collins 01 Jul 2010

Customer Reviews for Soho Sky Terrace

Average (based on 1 votes): 1 Atmosphere: Value: Quality:

The following customer reviews are not endorsed by Fluid London and are simply those of users who wish to publish their independent experiences of Soho Sky Terrace.

“I tried this place out the other day. It was beautiful in the sunshine but it's a shame the roof covered most of the seating area. We couldn't make the most of the sun's rays. Also, lots of people were smoking around us when we were trying to eat, which was a bit off putting. Other than that the terrace is in a good location and was perfect after a hard morning of shopping!”
Atmosphere: Value: Quality:
Lucy, London (2 years 10 months 25 days ago)

Soho Sky Terrace Opening Hours

Additional Information

• Group: Hilton