Last Updated on July 11, 2026
Cool rooftop summer at Vintry and Mercer
4.5 out of 5.0 starsThe Mercer Roof Terrace has teamed up with boutique Provençal winemaker Minuty to offer a summer of al fresco dining and good wine. Guests can expect Château Minuty cuvées, such as the “Cuvée Prestige” rosé from Côtes de Provence, plus modern British cooking. The big bonus is the Vintry and Mercer hotel rooftop’s wide-ranging views high above the city skyline, from the distant Shard to the much closer dome of St Paul’s. We went along on a warm Sunday to enjoy the view and a very long and pleasantly boozy lunch.
We were shown to a prime spot right next to the spire of Christopher Wren’s St James Garlickhythe. Over the course of our afternoon on the Mercer Minuty Terrace, we were treated to the peeling of its bells at ear level. Very atmospheric.
Before venturing into Minuty’s wine list, we felt the occasion merited a cocktail. What could be more summery than a Hugo Spritz? This was a breezy mix of St Germain liqueur, soda and prosecco. My companion meanwhile decided to go for something more unusual, the Gophir Lane, named for a tiny street on the other side of Cannon Street station from the hotel. I was pretty jealous when it arrived on the table, a vision in orange made from Pensador mescal, Aperol, pineapple and lemon juice. Its heady mix of sharp fruit flavours with a touch of smokiness went down well.
Happily set up with our first round of drinks, it was time for starters. I picked the Smoked Cornish Chicken Terrine, which was essentially an alternatively constructed Salad Nicoise. The densely packed terrine of freshly cooked chicken was served with an anchovy dressing, baby gem lettuce, focaccia croutons and parmesan, topped with crispy onions. This was such a meaty and filling starter that I feared (needlessly, it turned out) that I wouldn’t have room for my next two courses.
Just a couple of mouthfuls into her Wye Valley Asparagus, my friend was already discussing plans to recreate the dish at home. She loved the creaminess of the whipped stracciatella and the oomph of preserved lemon and chilli dressing both boosting the simple joy of the asparagus.
It was a rosé kind of day so we shared a lovely chilled bottle of the Minuty Prestige Rosé. Note: it’s also available by the magnum as well as by the glass. The mix of Grenache, Syrah, Rolle and Cinsault grapes makes for aromatic florals alongside salinity and minerality.
My main dish of Roasted Chalk Stream Trout tasted as vibrant as it looked. The trout was cooked to the point that is just right for me, with not a hint of that overdone dryness that so often afflicts trout and salmon. Every element of the plate worked together, the fish sitting on a bed of greenness (possibly inspired by mushy peas…) including English asparagus, wild garlic and peas. The topping of caviar and an excellent tartare sauce polished the plate off.
Still in raptures about her starter, her main course had a lot to live up to. A recently lapsed vegan, she chose one of the two options from the Plant section of the menu: the BBQ Courgette served with Romesco sauce, pickled chilli, quinoa salad, basil pesto and pistachio dukkah. This was an enjoyable dish but not rapture-inducing.
I’d started our lunch with a summery cocktail, and there was no way I wasn’t going to choose the summeriest of desserts: the Strawberry and Cream Vanilla Soft Serve. It was delicious and enormous, though one might kid oneself that soft serve ice cream is just air. Here it came with sweet Kentish strawberries, a biscuit crumb, lime zest and miniature pink meringues.
My friend made quick work of her rich and sweet Dark Chocolate Mousse with mango and passion fruit topped with toasted coconut and chocolate crumb.
There’s something relaxing and almost otherworldly about eating and sipping cold drinks high above ground-level London on a hot day. The views from the Mercer Minuty Terrace are great, as are the booming church bells. The friendly staff made sure that we thoroughly enjoyed our lunch on the rooftop.
20 Garlick Hill
London EC4V 2AU
020 3908 8099
Looking for something with great al-fresco dining in a different part of London? We recommend Sam’s Riverside in West London
Leave a Reply