The new openings are the latest moves in a remarkable “space race” for an activity that has historically been based at pavement or basement level. But the trend for “dining with altitude” in London arguably began in 1963 with the opening of London Hilton, near Hyde Park Corner, London’s first skyscraper hotel. Shortly after, in 1966, the Top of the Tower at the Post Office Tower in Fitzrovia was London’s first revolving restaurant. Other renowned high rise venues include Jason Atherton’s City Social on the 24th floor of the City’s Tower 42, the trio of restaurants Aqua, Oblix and Hutong halfway up the Shard, London’s tallest tower, and Searcy’s at The Gherkin in the city.
