As my author profile on this page suggests, I’m quite fond of a rooftop. From flower-draped terraces to free skyscrapers, London just seems better from up high. But one that really caught my eye after reading about the wow-worthy plates and unbelievable vistas? Bōkan London, nestled by the famous financial district. 

Name a better view of London: we'll wait...

DesignMyNight Review Of Bōkan Canary Wharf

This lofty paradise takes over three floors at the top of Novotel Canary Wharf: the main entrance guiding you towards a gorgeous space for drinks, with the restaurant below and terrace one level up. As for the interiors? Think industrial chic; dark wood, metal statement lighting, exposed brickwork and mustard-coloured accents. Floor-to-ceiling windows covered the whole far side, and honestly the sights were up there with the best in the capital. Here, you’re treated to unobstructed (but borderline nauseating, if you look down) views of The Shard, Horizon 22, The Gherkin and London Eye, with the meandering Thames weaving everything together.

We started our evening with a duo of delicious signature pours at the Bōkan bar: Desert Blossom (£15) and Artemis (£15). You can often tell how good the restaurant will be by the initial cocktails, and let me tell you these were absolute quality. The former was a smoky, heady mix of Don Ramon mezcal and cactus liqueur, plus grapefruit cordial. This citrusy, coral-coloured number was decorated in purple flowers and dried orange; I enjoyed every last sip. My date’s zippy tipple was a fantastic twist on the whisky sour, presented in a tall glass. It proved to be a well-balanced mix of lemon, honey, ginger syrup, Glenfiddich 12 and Ardbeg - you'd be forgiven for thinking this sounds medicinal but it really wasn't. The Fruit Pastel-like candied ginger was lovely as well. 

The Bōkan 37 reviews will show you how amazing this restaurant is.

The same luxurious dockyard-inspired decor followed downstairs at Bōkan's restaurant. Top tip, try and bag the corner table like us, as you’ll see two different angles of the London skyline. The Bōkan menu by executive chef Robert Manea promises modern European fare, made with carefully selected ingredients from the British Isles. A two-course menu will set you back a reasonable £55, and upgrading to three costs £65. I started with the honeymoon gazpacho, minus the Ibérico ham to make it veggie. It’s best described as liquid sunshine surrounding intricately diced tomato, topped with shards of crispy bread and cucumber spheres. The sea bream carpaccio was as fresh as you like, featuring thinly sliced fish presented in a circular shape, dotted with poppy seeds and croutons for texture. The delicate lemon flavour was heavenly too.

To wash everything down? Following tailored recommendations by the team, I opted for a Bardolino Chiaretto rosé (£45) as it reflected the breezy summer’s day we had. By this point, the sun was about to go down, basking Bōkan Canary Wharf in a divine, reddish-golden glow that was very Instagrammable.

The Bōkan London menu also included a seven-course tasting affair. Next time, maybe?

Our mains were just as picture-perfect as our experience so far. My courgette risotto was so pretty, hats off to the chef as their skills on show here were really impressive. Just imagine creamy, earthy rice that’s scattered with burrata and flashes of San Marzano tomato (drying this out was a stroke of genius in my opinion) and crispy parmesan. Beef lovers - make a beeline for the dry-aged sirloin, cooked medium rare and served sliced. My partner was left speechless by this dish, it was that good, from the charred flavour (that was almost crackling-like) and lemon marmalade to the melt-in-your-mouth meat. As for the incredible, bulbous baby aubergine, it was stuffed with cheese and turned out to be a massive hit. One minor qualm is that we would have liked more of the rich jus, before they took it away, but it’s no biggie. Also, make sure to order the black truffle potato fingers (£9) as they complemented the meal perfectly; swirly flaky layers drenched in a beautifully pungent sauce.

As our glasses continued to be topped up (kudos to the attentive staff), we felt very relaxed watching planes descend into Heathrow. Our dessert arrived next, but as I was simply too full to have my own, we shared the roasted pineapple. Bōkan restaurant London’s homemade olive oil ice cream had a delightful savoury flavour but then you’re hit with sweet but punchy fruit: a juicy burst with every bite. We devoured the sugary crumble base and thick basil ganache; it was almost a shame to demolish such an elegant pud that was finely decorated with orange petals. 

Bōkan Canary Wharf: Overall

Aptly translating to ‘lighthouse’, Bōkan Canary Wharf is a shining example of how to do rooftop restaurants well. Some sites would rely on the views but here, the dishes, surrounds and service are equally as impressive and our visit has been one of my favourites recently, especially as the multi-course menus are decent value. Bōkan London honestly exceeded my already high expectations and we could have spent hours here.   

For unbelievable rooftop bars browse through this guide. Also, don't miss a glossy dinner experience with our London newsletter.