Disclosure: I may earn a small commission from the companies or products mentioned in this post.
Being the 10th tallest building in London most people catch a glimpse of 30 St Mary Axe, the skyscraper more commonly known as The Gherkin, towering over the city on a regular basis. Whether gazing up at the strangely shaped building whilst strolling around the city, peering across from Sushisamba or Duck & Waffle in the Heron Tower, or looking down from the View from the Shard, The Gherkin is a significant part of London’s iconic skyline.
However, what many don’t know is that the Gherkin is not only offices but also hosts a beautiful restaurant and bar on its top floors.
Searcys at the Gherkin occupies the top three floor and offers amazing 360° views over the city. The venue regularly hosts private events such as corporate functions and even weddings, and when there are no events Searcys at the Gherkin is also London’s highest private members club, offering access to the private bar and restaurant for a £750 annual fee.
So right now you’re probably gasping at the fact I have a membership or wondering why you’re even reading this post as you’re not forking out that much. Well don’t worry, I don’t have a membership, and you don’t need one either. This year to celebrate its 10th year in the Gherkin, Searcys is opening its doors to the public so everyone can have the opportunity to wine and dine in this iconic building.
The menu prices won’t break the bank too much either. With their set spring menu booked through bookatable, we had a 3 course meal comprised of ham hock terrine to start, chicken for main and cheesecake for dessert, accompanied by a gin and tonic cocktail, for just £40pp.
Or if you’re more interested in the private bar you can grab a bottle of house wine for a little under £30 and a beer for just £5. Not bad at all for London prices!
The quality of the food was exceptional, and served so beautifully it would have been wrong not to Instagram it. But the best part of my evening spent in the restaurant at the Gherkin had to be the amazing views. Just from our table, we could see across to other famous buildings such as the Shard, the Cheesegrater and the Walkie Talkie, and from the bar afterwards, we got a great view of the Tower of London and Tower Bridge.
As an added bonus, arriving for dinner at 7:30 meant getting to first see over London in the daylight, then watching the sunset and the city illuminate gradually with thousands of lights. Breathtaking in both the light and dark!
I would definitely recommend heading to Searcys at the Gherkin whilst you can. Perfect for a special occasion or just because you want to check out somewhere fancy and unique with great food and views!
Visit Searcys at the Gherkin
Interested in other luxury restaurants in London? Check out more here.
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Emily is a born and raised London girl, starting life in the north of the capital then moving down to Fulham in the southwest. She has a master’s degree in Social and Cultural Anthropology from University College London and now works full-time running this blog and as a freelance travel writer, splitting her life between London and travelling the world as a digital nomad.
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