Rooftop 12th Knot - Sea containers in London

12th Knot: the Thames and the City from the 12th floor

A rooftop above South Bank

12th Knot occupies the top of Sea Containers London, a hotel on the banks of the Thames near Blackfriars Bridge. The bar, with its bright decor and open-plan space, opens onto an open-air terrace. From there, the view sweeps over the river, the City skyline and St Paul's Cathedral. The terrace, which is fairly small, has mostly simple chairs; the most comfortable seats are indoors. On Friday and Saturday nights, DJs play afrobeats, house and R&B.

Signature cocktails and sharing plates

Signature cocktails cost £16 to £18, such as the gin-based Kiwi Sour at £16 or the Oaxaca Margarita with mezcal, pineapple and chilli at £18; the Golden Hour, made with Laurent-Perrier champagne, reaches £23. Classics are made on request, mocktails cost £11 or £12, a glass of champagne starts at £18 and a glass of wine at £10. The kitchen serves plates for grazing and sharing: marinated olives, sea bass ceviche tacos, Devon crab rolls, buffalo chicken or dry-aged beef sliders, from £7 to £17. A discretionary 13.5% service charge is added to the bill. On Wednesdays from 5pm to 7pm, a selection of bottled wines is half price.

Practical information

Open Tuesday to Saturday from 5pm, until midnight on Tuesdays and Wednesdays and until 12.30am from Thursday to Saturday; closed on Sundays and Mondays. Booking is recommended, online for up to 15 people; terrace tables cannot be booked and the terrace closes at 10pm. Smart casual dress, no sportswear or flip-flops. Over-18s only. The rooftop can be hired privately and holds up to 300 guests. Getting there: Southwark tube station 5 minutes' walk away, Blackfriars 7 minutes away.