Willows On The Roof - London Rooftop Restaurant & Bar Reviews Summary

Atmosphere & Location

Pros:

• "An oasis in the midst of bustling Oxford circus."
• "Amazing way to spend a Saturday afternoon. Warm and cozy inside the igloo, pretty lights, wood burning-effect stove and our own music playing via the Bluetooth speaker."
• "The roof top was definitely one of the most beautiful in London."
• "The whole atmosphere is done very well, and feels really nice with ambient lighting and funky trees."
• "When it comes to rooftop bars this one is special, the atmosphere and design is brilliant."
• "An absolutely gorgeous garden oasis."
• "Such a great way to take a break in the middle of central London."

Cons:

• "It is very exposed, so if there's a bit of wind around it'll feel cold even on a warm day."
• "View is for some stupid reason covered with bushes. So you even can't see anything. Pretty bad Saturday afternoon."
• "I was disappointed by the view and deadwood all around the terrace."
• "Just don't expect great views over the city, as this is not the right location for that."
• "The views arnt amazing, because the sides are all built up with trees and edging as such."
• "It's all very artificial. There are no good views."
• "This place seems very confused."

Service

Pros:

• "The staff are absolutely fantastic and super lovely."
• "The waiters were all super friendly and smiling!"
• "The manager clearly has a can do attitude; because although the place was super full a few days before Christmas, he arranged a table for 5 / for us & took our order as soon as we were ready."
• "Highly recommend this place especially Davide."
• "We had great service from the outset."
• "The drinks & food came very fast."
• "Staff and service are great, very helpful and attentive."

Cons:

• "Food is bad. Service equally poor."
• "Disappointed by service before attending."
• "The waiter took our order for drinks(water included) and no sign for good 45 minutes."
• "The service was super slow and the staff seemed like they'd rather be getting a root canal than working there."
• "Service terrible. Ignored and walked past by countless staff who are more interested in talking to each other."
• "But the worst thing about the experience was the service."
• "Service pretty poor - parts of our order totally forgotten."

Food & Drinks

Pros:

• "Mulled wine as a consolation prize after skating, very delicious sausages rolls and friendly staff."
• "The pizza was one of the best we’ve all ever had."
• "Great food & cocktails, fab atmosphere & extremely professional & friendly accommodating staff."
• "The meat melts in your mouth, and the buns are soft and sweet."
• "The food and drink were had were value for money. The taste of both the food and the non alcoholic cocktail were sublime."
• "Good pizzas, fresh & tasty."
• "Food was served very quickly, and the burgers were tasty."

Cons:

• "YOU CAN'T SMOKE ON THIS ROOFTOP BAR."
• "The usual grilled cheese on a table next to us was dismaying at best."
• "Nice outside bit but food is super average."
• "The 'skating' is for children only. Don't waste your time and money."
• "The food was awful tasted like a box of Ole passo! Awful food for London."
• "Sadly the food is not up to scratch…poor excuse for Mexican which was disappointing."
• "The food however was a bit bland."

Accessibility & Facilities

Pros:

• "The place was actually a lot more spacious than it seemed in their photos too."
• "Although quite difficult to find as you have to negotiate a series of stairs...but there are staff at various points to guide you."
• "Accessed from inside the John Lewis store using the lift."
• "Blankets were provided which was good, but probably standard for London in winter."
• "The glass pod had music and was beautifully decorated, with comfortable seating."
• "Great little roof terrace with cozy atmosphere and lots of nooks and crannies to relax in."
• "A nice rooftop garden offering cocktails, wine, and a simple selection of tasty food."

Cons:

• "Signage should be improved to enable patrons to find the terrace without assistance."
• "Seating is extremely limited and be prepared to sit on the astro turf or stand."
• "When we came to leave told that the lift to the floor below was for staff and we had to carry our very heavy suitcase down to the floor below."
• "I took my daughters to the only toilet upstairs which was a disabled toilet, it was filthy and lots of toilet roll flung all over the place."
• "The willows-on the sixth floor-why do host staff feel it’s ok to have reserve signs on 20 tables at 6.15pm."
• "First, it’s hidden at the top of John Lewis. You must meander through a flight of stairs with the distinct smell of a hospital."
• "The toilets are also a floor down and unisex but they are just a row of standard cubicles."