Following an extensive refurbishment, luxury hotel ME London has reopened Radio Rooftop, one of the most fabulous places I’ve visited this summer in London. Radio has it all: cool music, excellent Asian food and cocktails to die for.
A lift from a side entrance to the hotel gives guests direct access to Radio. The building was the original location of BBC broadcast in 1922. The recent revamp of the rooftop is the creation of international restaurant designer, Bernard Caroll. The sophisticated interior shows inspiration from Eastern Asian aesthetics with details such as bespoke coral reef wallpaper from Adam Ellis Studio, lavish furnishings in desert tones with an abundance of noble materials such as wood and marble.
The terrace of Radio Rooftop Bar goes all around the main bar and it is cleverly divided into different spaces.
The star of the show though is the beautiful back-lit onyx cocktail bar, where expert mixologists serve drinks as suggestive as It’s Giving Geisha or The Two Fridas, using sous vide to infuse extra flavour into cocktails. They also apply the sonic technique – ultrasonic waves – to improve any drink spritzed with tonic water, and offer authentic highball serves.
All around the bar, there is a terrace which offers 360° views of London’s skyline. There is a lounge area with sofas and another one with more traditional tables and bar-like stools. It is at one of these tall tables that my friend and I perched ourselves to enjoy our evening. The staff are wonderfully friendly, led by Senior General Manager Daniel Susko, who guided us through the extensive cocktail menu. First, we had a Yuzu Negroni – prepared with Roku Japanese gin, Campari, Carpano Classico and a sweet citrusy sake – and a Papaya Don’t Preach, made from Ciroc Mango vodka, Aperol, papaya and passion fruit. The expert mixologists at Radio Rooftop Bar use
Bee’s Knees and Papaya Don’t Preach, two of the most popular cocktails in Radio’s expertly curated menu.
The menu offers an irresistible variety of Asian fusion dishes. We started with Blistered Padron Peppers with shichimi sea salt. Honestly, the best I’ve ever had. Delicious Yaki (grilled) Pork Gyoza and Crispy Duck Harumaki spring rolls followed. We were so impressed with the food that we asked Daniel about the chef. He informed us that the executive chef is Federico Crisafulli, formerly executive chef of the Italian Embassy in Tokyo and prior to this, head chef at Intercontinental Yokohama in Japan, and Michelin-starred Grand Hotel in Rome.
The menu at Radio Rooftop offers an inspired selection of Asian fusion dishes of the highest quality.
It was time to keep exploring the cocktail menu. We went with Daniel’s recommendation: for me, a combination of bourbon, sake, Campari and Carpano Classico called Ume Bulevardier; and for my friend, a Bee’s Knees, made from gin, La Yuzu liqueur and honey. With these cocktails we had the freshest assortment of Sashimi with salmon, yellowtail, akami, chutoro and sea bass.
It is not just the food and the cocktails that are spectacular at Radio Rooftop Bar. They have an astonishing selection of premium Japanese spirits and wines, many from the stemmed House of Suntory distillery. Champagne lovers – such as this humble journalist – can indulge their passion booking a Radio Champagne experience, a brunch that merges Asian cuisine with Champagne from Moët-Hennessy (the maison behind Moët & Chandon, Veuve Clicquot, Dom Pérignon, Ruinart and Krug). I can’t think of a better way to kick-start the weekend.
Make your reservation HERE.
Author: Julia Pasarón
Radio Rooftop Bar
ME London
336-337 Strand. London, WC2R 1HA
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