London Black Book

When the girl says ‘Lets go for a drink’ this usually does not mean the local pub. If she said it to her best friend then maybe yes, but not if you are the boyfriend and she has just said it to you…it doesn’t really work that way.

When I last said ‘ Lets go for a drink’ this for example could mean Vertigo 42. When I actually said it, I did not have the Vertigo Bar or anything similar in mind…but the Boy being the model lover he is decided ‘a drink’ meant the Champagne Bar at the top of Tower 42  in the City…so moi was told to get dolled up for a nice surprise and I spent hours if not days trying to decide what shoes I would wear…if I should buy new ones…and then planning my outfit around the chosen pair of shoes. I was needless to say (as always) not pleased with my own end result but the Boy seemed to approve. So all good then.

Then we got ourselves a cab and headed into the City…

We arrived at Tower 42, had to go some major security screening (think airport style bag x-rays and metal detectors) and were guided to the lift. The lift takes forever as yes, it needs to go all way way up to the 42nd floor.

Once in, reservations and coats are taken from us and we are led to our lovely spot in our time slot. Yes, you read right – but don’t let the prior booking, heavy security and strict admission times put you off: this bar at the top of Tower 42 gives you truly breathtaking views of the capital – you can have your pick of which side you would like to have – north, south, east and west of course.

All the seats are arranged along the glass panelled windows, so that every single guest can enjoy the panorama over the mahuuusive city of London. As the night sets in the view is truly beautiful and one can see the entire city lit up bright.

Vertigo 42 does not have a kitchen of its own but does offer a selection of dishes from the menu of Rhodes Twenty Four restaurant, which is 18 floors below on the 24th floor – think along the lines of little snacks, olives and cheese platters. Champagne starts at £46 for a bottle of Veuve Delaroy Brut and apparently goes up to about £795.50 for a magnum of Krug. There are also still wines and some long drinks, but not perse cocktails…

Is this place a first date option to impress? Guess it wasn’t anywhere close to our first date but yes suppose so – would be kinda hard for anyone not to be impressed. But make sure you do have conversation, this place isn’t loud enough to entertain silent pauses consisting of little sips of champagne while realising you have nothing to say to each other and the other person is actually really boring.

Sooo, after a lovely round of delicious snacks, two bottles of lovely white wine (I might like white wine anyway but these two were tres excellent) between us, we decided to head back down to ground level to hit up some divine cocktails at the divine Callooh Callay Bar in Shoreditch (The Boy definitely does things in style)…review coming up next! Over and Out. Merci.

Vertigo 42

International Financial Centre, Tower 42
25 Old Broad St, London, EC2N 1HQ
Phone Number: 020 7877 7842