The London skyline is instantly recognisable, filled with the shapes of iconic buildings like the London Eye, the Shard, St Paul’s Cathedral and most notably, Tower Bridge. The cityscape offers an eclectic mix of new and old architecture making it all the more endearing. Amongst this dish of eye-candy silhouettes is an ideal place to enjoy the skyline, the Madison Rooftop London. An evening here offers dynamic live music, a glamourous bar, impressive American-style steakhouse menu and incredible outdoor terrace offering panoramic views of the city.

Sipping on a glass of chilled Dom Perignon, the sun sets, and the Madison Rooftop London whirs with energy from the live DJ and the chatter of friends meeting over dinner and drinks.  Madison Rooftop London is one of the city’s most desired and popular social settings for all of these reasons and more.

London is a city full of secrets; a place where the old constantly clashes with the new, and where the remnants of the city’s past creeps up unexpectedly. The Monument in dedication to the Great Fire of London looks out of place, shadowed by modern structures. Old churches are surrounded by high-rise office buildings and skyscrapers. Depsite London being a city of rapid growth, there are rules in place for the protection of views for certain archaic buildings.

From the sky, the windows reflect from the penthouse of One New Change, like that of a diamond in the sun. From here, you have the perfect vantage point for incredible views over London city – most notably St Paul’s Cathedral. This vantage point is one of the city’s most Instagrammable hotspots and comes with a good serving of food, wine and live music.

Big name restaurant group D&D obtained Madison Rooftop London in 2014, and since then the space has been transformed into a Manhattan-style loft, inspired by humble American food favourites. Madison boasts one of the most notable views in London, particularly at sunset as the Cathedral is illuminated. Low hanging lights give a soft glow to the indoors restaurant area. Floor to ceiling windows, with curvature roofing means that the view of the outside is never obstructed, particularly for those drinking or casually dining on the sleek leather lounges with optimum placement by the window.

Outside, the terraces are decorated with white lattices, that provide closure for the VIP areas and exclusive Moët & Chandon bar. As the London evenings are usually cool, the outdoor terrace is appropriately covered with scattered white umbrellas and heaters are dotted around to keep the terrace and its guests warm. The London skyline is illuminated bordering, and the terrace offers the perfect vista. Resident DJ’s Dan Healy and Tony English pump up the ambience of the space, providing Café Del Mar vibes in the centre of London, akin to a beach club in Malta.

Chef Mike Denham is the man in charge of the kitchen, whipping up classic American-style grill dishes with contemporary twists. Madison is well known for the grill menu, comprising of a selection of succulent steaks, including a 52oz tomahawk to be shared. For those feeling “boujie” – add the grilled garlic butter lobster and make for a surf & turf style sharing dish, yum!

The best part of Madison is that the menu has something to offer for everyone – and at all times of the day. Despite being heavily influenced by grilling and offering up a range of steaks and grilled meats, Madison Rooftop London also provides for vegans and small plates for tapas style sharing. Truffle oil parmesan fries can be paired with beef carpaccio, or for those who don’t eat animal by-products, zingy miso glazed aubergine with crunchy pineapple and chili salad and rich, tangy tomato linguine with roasted peppers is on offer. The range is sizeable but not overwhelming, Madison gets the menu right – not overthinking the cooking style, serving up classic, fresh dishes that appeal to everyone.

Dining indoors, the views are remarkable, and the bar is extensive. With friends, a sharing options work best, the Shellfish Platter is a tower of soft, buttery whole lobster, coconut shrimp, fresh tiger prawns, crab claws poking out, ready to be cracked open and meat to be enjoyed.

Saturdays and Sundays daytime are a prime time to visit Madison, as it’s a little quieter than the evenings, though equally as sprightly. Sling back a fresh Bloody Mary, paired with crispy fried chicken and waffles, or sweet brioche French Toast. Maybe keeping it classic is preferred? If that is the case, there’s four different types of Eggs Benedict: the Italian with roast pepper, Mushroom, smoked Salmon or crunchy fried chicken all oozing with delectable, creamy hollandaise sauce.

Madison is a place to be seen – full of Instagram models, hotshots and impressive rotational in-house DJ’s. It’s perfect for catching up with friends over a drink with an extensive and impressive wine and cocktail list to choose from. There’s an exclusive terrace just for Moët & Chandon, and there’s plenty of wine to choose from. Most impressive is the extensive list of North American wine; the reds all originating from California, and the white options a mix of California and Washington State favourites. Watch the sun set over the London skyline, St Paul’s Cathedral dome illuminated.  It is the perfect backdrop for celebrating or catching up with friends over a bottle of Taittinger Brut, or a Laurent Perrier Rose.

As the sun sets, the old meets the new with the Madison Rooftop London, a contemporary New York style dining and drinking spot overlooking St Paul’s Cathedral and the city of London. With an all-encompassing menu covering all bases, Madison provides the perfect place for meeting friends over a glass of champagne or a sharing platter of fresh seafood. Come for brunch, lunch or dinner – maybe just a drink, no matter the occasion, the Madison Rooftop London does not disappoint.