Spoiler alert: there’s an ace rooftop bar in Peckham, and it’s not Frank’s Café. The Bussey Building might be best known for its club nights, but it’s got another string to its bow in the form of a trendy rooftop bar, which has just reopened for the summer. Perched atop the multi-purpose venue on Rye Lane, Bussey Rooftop Bar acts as an ideal precursor to an impending night out.
Views of the London skyline come practically unobstructed, making this little watering hole a scenic drinking location both day and night. It’s very low key: chilled-out tunes, palm trees, fairy lights and pastel-coloured decking give the space a beach bar feel – the perfect urban getaway to soak up the sun’s rays (rays aren’t guaranteed, though; this is still England).
The bar itself is small and service was sluggish, but tipples are worth the wait. The cocktail list oozes summer: the Meloncholy – with gin, honey, prosecco and elderflower – was light and zingy, while the Berry Garcia was a refreshing blend of white rum, berries and mint. Cocktails run to no more than a tenner, but if you’re feeling thrifty you can get a glass of wine from £5.50. There’s also a shack hosting a range of street food pop-ups on rotation – RockaDollar was serving its hot dogs and nachos with an impressive homemade jalapeño salsa when we visited.
Frank’s might have written the book on rooftop drinking, but this bar offers the next chapter, and it’s filled with style, good music and cracking cocktails.