Sabi Phagura enjoys the bright lights of London from the Foster and Partners designed ME Hotel London

London really comes alive at night, and there’s no better way of taking in the sights than from a rooftop bar with a nice cocktail in your hand. And at the Radio Rooftop Bar, you can do just that. Located on the tenth floor of the ME Hotel, it’s the only rooftop bar, lounge and terrace in The Strand and Aldwych area. From here, you can indulge in international tapas with a twist, whether you’re visiting for pleasure or business.

And the dizzying heights are not just confined to the outdoors, for the ME Hotel itself really is something. It’s hardly surprising then that it managed to climb up the hotlist of one of the top traveller magazines since flinging opening its doors in 2013. Designed by the world famous architects, Foster and Partners, the ME Hotel London provides 157 exquisitely-designed modern rooms, including 16 suites; two New York restaurants (Cucina Asellina and STK London); and the aforementioned Roof Bar with an outdoor terrace offering spectacular panoramic views of the Capital including the London Eye, Trafalgar Square, Tower Bridge and Covent Garden.

When it came to our bedroom, it was super stylish with all the mod cons you can expect. The separate lounge area complete with an integrated digital media hub gave the room a feel you were home from home. And the huge rain shower provided the exact pick-me up I needed to go and sample the rooftop bar and a spot of fine dining at the STK London restaurant.

Accessed by a lift, the Radio Rooftop Bar is open to both residents and non-residents alike. Its outdoor terrace is welcoming both in the summer and winter months thanks to its heated lamps. The bar certainly has that upbeat vibe of a classy establishment which is great for entertaining a group of friends or even a date. The vistas really are the icing on the cake, and on a number of occasions, I allowed myself the luxury of tailing off a conversation just to take them in while sharing a bottle of champagne with my friend.

Although the Radio Rooftop Bar offers tapas, if you want something more substantial, then a visit to either one of the hotel’s restaurants will help you soak up some of the cocktails. Cucina Asellina is an authentic and rustic eatery, while STK touts itself as a ‘female friendly’ steakhouse. The décor in STK is certainly provocative with black leather banquettes, glass, mirrors and a healthy dose bling. In fact, it wasn’t too dissimilar to a nightclub with a long imposing central bar and the upbeat music playing in the background. It was the surrounding semi-circular banquette dining tables that made you realise that you were indeed in a restaurant.

Steak as you can imagine dominates the menu here with a selection of different cuts of USDA prime beef offered in a range of sizes. Groups of up to ten people can order a selection of ‘Party’ steaks, and for the really brave, the raw bar is the perfect starter. Besides the meat, the signature dishes include Parmesan Truffle Fries, Shrimp Rice Krispies and Sweet Corn Pudding Jumbo Lump Crab Salad. The fries were truly to die for, although the portion was definitely on the small side.

And the reason why the place looks like a nightclub more than a restaurant, is because it sort of becomes one after dining. After 10pm, the DJ creates an atmosphere charged with energy, transforming the space into a party place. It’s certainly one sure way of burning off the food just consumed, and you can really get into the spirit of things without having to leave the venue at all.

For more information on the ME Hotel London, visit:
www.melia.com/en/hotels/united-kingdom/london/me-london

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