Secret Forest On The Roof Of Selfridges

I don’t know about you, but finding hidden places in London makes me fall in love with the city all over again, like Forest on the Roof. In fact, I’m one of those people who’ll go significantly out of their way to find a hidden gem.

I always find myself perusing the beauty hall in Selfridges every time I am in the city, yet somehow forget to look for the ‘secret restaurant’ on the rooftop. It finally happened on Sunday -yay!

The concept of a forest on the roof restaurant emerged as a testament to creativity and innovation in the culinary world. Originating from a desire to offer diners a unique and immersive dining experience, these rooftop establishments aim to blend gastronomy with nature’s beauty. While the specific history of each forest on the roof restaurant may vary, the trend gained momentum in recent years as urbanites sought refuge from the concrete jungle and longed for green spaces in the heart of the city. By transforming rooftop spaces into lush oases adorned with trees, plants, and foliage, these restaurants provide a refreshing escape where patrons can savour gourmet cuisine amidst a serene and picturesque setting.

The secret restaurant in Selfridges: Forest On The Roof

There are two lifts opposite the Chanel fragrance counter, and the one on the left has a secret button that takes you up to the 5th floor. (the Express lift to be precise) It’s hard to spot as there are no signs to show the restaurant even exists and the button, which should say 5, is covered over. Luckily, there is a person in that lift that pushes the buttons for you (fancy!) and we asked her to go up to the 5th floor.

As the lift doors opened we were greeted by an autumnal forest; wooden logs, twinkle lights, moose heads and a sign saying ‘Forest Bar & Restaurant On The Roof’. The entrance is breathtaking; walking through the dimly lit hallway lined with trees, glittering twinkle lights and lanterns felt so magical.

We weren’t expecting them to have a table available, with it being lunchtime on Valentine’s Day an’ all, but we got really lucky and were seated right away.

The rustic decor in the restaurant makes for cosy surroundings with blankets thoughtfully draped across the chairs in the dining area should you wish to snuggle up.

There are a couple of barrel-shaped tables by the bar, but the highlight is definitely the cabin bars on the terrace outside.

These mini huts are decked out with faux-fur throws and cushions and although it was way too cold to spend longer than a few minutes outdoors, we couldn’t resist a mini photoshoot..

Of course.

I can imagine it being even better in the warmer months!

Imagine sipping on some cocktails out here on a warm, sunny day.

The menu is inspired by foraged food that you would find in Britain’s woodlands. We skipped starters and went straight for the mains and I ordered the woodland mushroom linguine. It was well prepared.. ok but not spectacular. Jass went for the fish and chips, which seemed to be a very popular dish. It’s worth noting that he said it was the best fish he’s ever been served; fresh, flaky with a very crisp batter. His chips were upgraded to truffle chips, and he even ordered a side of the seasoned chips. They were a big hit with us both!

The view of London was spectacular and the service exceptional. Our waiter, Ardi was genuinely friendly and ‘human’ unlike the robotic staff you would expect to find in these types of establishments.

It’s a shame that this place will not be here forever, as is the nature of any pop-up, but I hope the replacement can live up to its predecessor. They will be closed for a few weeks around the end of the month to prepare for Spring, and I can’t wait to go back and see the ‘new place’.

I’m sad that I’m so late to the party in my new discovery as the previous pop-ups looked amazing! Have you been to any of the Selfridges rooftop pop-ups?

(Note – Please excuse the terrible photo quality. I didn’t take my camera with me, and had to rely on my trusty iPhone!)