When it comes to gorgeous rooftops, London’s got two to a penny, and over the years, I’ve been to my fair share. From Disney-themed afternoon teas to bottomless Champagne brunches, you can find anything and everything in the clouds if you soar high enough. The Treehouse Hotel - which opened in late 2019 - is one of those gems. Tucked away on the 16th floor of the hotel, The Nest has a 360 degree wrap-around terrace boasting a gorgeous view of the capital, and although well known, the hype hasn’t reached the masses, meaning it’s still slightly off the radar.
This year's Christmas list will entail a sitting room that looks exactly like The Nest.
Growing up, I was lucky enough to have my very own treehouse. It sadly wasn’t up in an actual tree (my dad bought me one that was already assembled), but what it lacked in branches and height, it made up for in floors, with both an upstairs and a downstairs to play in. Like my childhood abode, The Nest had plenty up its sleeve to keep me busy for the evening; from the twinking views to the sustainable cocktails and sharing plates. Settling down into one of the many couches and taking in my surroundings, it’s fair to say that it’s one of the capital’s most unique rooftops. Persian rugs, tall lamps and umpteen potted plants littered the floor while endless glowing bulbs and streams of foliage dangled from the rafters. Chatting about how comfortable the couches are and gawping (somewhat) out of the way, we managed to flip our heads toward the menus.
I’m not sure if this is controversial or not but we ordered a prosciutto and cheese board (£15.50) as our starter. Whether we were completely wrong or you think we’re geniuses, one thing that cannot be denied is the quality we found ourselves munching on. It may not have had variety on its side but sometimes simplicity speaks volumes. Silky slices of prosciutto, a chunky slice of brie (which melted the minute I jammed it onto some bread and popped it into my mouth), a slither of ruby-coloured quince marmalade and four bouncy slices of warm rosemary and potato bread made for a comforting start to our evening in the sky. Alongside our (game changing) cheese board starter, we ordered the roasted gochujang and sesame king prawns (£25).
Quality triumphs at The Nest with some exceptionally executed cocktails and seasonal food.
The prawns were plump, dressed in a blanket of gochujang sauce, sprinkled with whole roasted peanuts and shredded Chinese cabbage. I usually kill for gouging sauce - it’s a powerful flavour with lots of personality, but the prawns fell short of that punch, even if they were cooked to a grade-A standard. Helping us work our way through our starters were the Sustainable Paddy (Redbreast 12, pine-infused Dolin dry pine syrup and pine bitters - £15) and the non-alcoholic version (£9). Served in a coupe glass, the whisky-based drink had a clean cut, medicinal edge.
As we sunk further into one of the sofas, we continued to nibble our way through the plates in front of us, until our mains arrived. Two truffled British steak beef burgers (£24) - tender and slightly pink in the middle - came cushioned between cheddar cheese, turkey bacon, rocket, truffle mayo and smoky tomato relish on two sturdy brioche buns with a side portion of crunchy chips. Empty cocktail glasses taken away, we ordered cool as a carrot (£15). Mixed with El Rayo Blanco, citrus, agave and purple carrot puree, the lip-smacking mixture was a bright purple, and it looked exactly like the colourful illustration in the menu. Ditching the sweet endings which was a collection of sorbets, I ordered the apple spice and all things nice (£15) to conclude the evening. An uplifting combination of mezcal verde, El Rayo Blanco, plus apple and jalapeño,it was spicy and sweet sip with a fiery kick.
The Nest at The Treehouse Hotel is quite the stunner.
The DesignMyNight Digest
The question I always ask myself in the aftermath of a review is: would I recommend it to a friend? In The Nest at Treehouse's case, it’s an unequivocal yes. The cocktails are made with in-house syrups and bitters, with sustainability always in mind; the views are 10/10 and the atmosphere facilitates unwinding and relaxed conversation in equal measure. Although I wasn’t blown away by the food, it’s a great spot for a quick bite to eat and the cocktails are more than worth the journey to central London. With a menu that changes with the seasons and treehouse-less garden back in Ireland, I don’t think it will be too long before I’m back to play in their Instagrammable drinking den (or their pretty Mexican restaurant, Madera).
|
Hungry for more? Click here for our guide to the best rooftop restaurants in London and for more inspo, sign up to our weekly newsletter.
