Warmer weather making you wish it was festival season already? Head along to the Dalston Roof Park Rooftop Bar, now opened for the summer on top of an east London gallery, where you can relish the longer evenings with an oolong tea cocktail and a carton of gourmet street food while taking in breezy rooftop views across East London.
With several different culinary offerings set to rotate monthly throughout the summer, like Frank’s Franks, or Zoe’s Ghana Kitchen, Dalston Roof Park kicked off proceedings last night with The Wing Men, a friendly group of bearded guys barbecuing apple-smoked chicken wings in a variety of flavours. Sauces on offer included flaming peach with bird’s eye chillies, or American-style Korean BBQ sauce with hoi sin, all served with a slice of toasted brioche and spicy slaw. Tossed with butter and eaten (mostly) by hand, it’s not a dainty dining experience, but was fabulously rich and flavoursome. Proceed with caution if you go for a spicy option though – we were glad to have a cocktail in hand while tucking in.
Drinks, from the Backgound Bars pop up, also riffed off the British festival vibe, with the “Dalston’s Old Sage” mixing Beefeater Gin green tea and sage (grown in the many flower beds that dot the allotment), or our favourite, the Rum-a-Mile, a sweet fruity watermelon and rum-based concoction. The Dalston Roof Park’s take on Pimm’s offered a nice twist on a classic; gin served with blueberry Ceylon tea, strawberry, cucumber and mint. Otherwise, sample the Swedish beer Pistonheads or the refreshing cold-pressed ciders at the second bar – perfect for enjoying perched on a deckchair or relaxing on the Astroturf.
Before you venture down though, bear in mind that the Dalston Roof Park evokes every festival element so you can expect a wait for food, basic toilet facilities and at this time of year, bracing weather (though there’s an inflatable roof for shelter from the rain). But if that doesn’t faze you, that there’s plenty to enjoy, like the creative food and drink options, free films, DJs and the unique East London view.
Dalston Roof Park is at Print House, 18 Ashwin Street, London, E8 3DL.
