Dinner with London at our feet
There are some restaurants where the setting is part of the occasion before you have even looked at the menu. Lucky Cat at 22 Bishopsgate is one of them. David and I headed into London for a rare weekend away without the children, and dinner 60 floors above the city felt like exactly the sort of escape we had been looking forward to.
Lucky Cat by Gordon Ramsay sits on Floor 60 of 22 Bishopsgate in the City of London. From the moment we arrived, the panoramic view did most of the talking. London stretched out beneath us, with the Thames winding through the skyline and some of the capital’s most recognisable buildings appearing from an entirely different perspective.
I had seen plenty of photographs before we went, but the scale of the view is difficult to appreciate until you are standing beside those windows yourself.
First impressions of Lucky Cat Bishopsgate
The restaurant has a dark, glamorous feel, balanced by the huge windows and changing light outside. The interiors are dramatic without competing with the view, and there is a real sense of occasion to the room. It works equally well for a date night, a celebration with friends or somewhere memorable to take visitors to London.
We visited while there was still daylight, which meant we could see right across the city. If I returned, I would be tempted to book around sunset so that I could watch London change from day to night from the table.
The atmosphere felt lively and polished rather than overly formal. It was special, but we could still relax, enjoy a cocktail and take our time over dinner.
The food and cocktails
Lucky Cat serves Asian-inspired dishes designed for sharing, so the menu is ideal if you like ordering several plates and trying a little of everything. We chose a mixture of dishes, from beautifully presented smaller plates to richer, more comforting options, and the variety made the meal feel like an experience rather than a single main course.
Presentation is a big part of it. Every plate looked considered, colourful and made for the table, but the food still felt generous and enjoyable rather than style over substance. The cocktails matched the setting perfectly and our pink drinks looked especially good against the London skyline.
My advice would be to go with people who are happy to share. It is the easiest way to explore more of the menu and makes the evening feel sociable from the start.
What I wore
A glamorous London dinner is always a good excuse to dress up, and I wore a burgundy velvet midi dress with an asymmetric neckline, styled with a slim black belt, strappy black heels and my Chanel bag. The rich colour worked beautifully against the restaurant’s dark interiors and warm lighting.
Lucky Cat feels like the right setting for occasionwear, but I would choose something you can still feel comfortable sitting and sharing plates in. A midi dress, tailored jumpsuit or an elegant top with trousers would all work well.
Staying at The Ned
We stayed at The Ned in the City of London, which made the whole trip feel like a proper weekend away rather than simply dinner and the journey home. Housed in the former Midland Bank building, The Ned has kept many of the original architectural details, and the building has a sense of history as soon as you step inside.
One of its most unusual spaces is The Vault, part of Ned’s Club Downstairs. It is a late-night bar and club space inside the original bank vault, complete with the enormous circular vault door. Access arrangements depend on membership and the booking or event, so it is worth checking what is included before your stay, but it is certainly one of the most unexpected nightlife settings in London.
Pairing Lucky Cat Bishopsgate with a stay at The Ned worked brilliantly because both places feel distinctively London: one gives you the city from above, while the other places you inside one of its historic banking landmarks.
Is Lucky Cat Bishopsgate worth visiting?
For the view alone, Lucky Cat Bishopsgate deserves a place on a London special-occasion list. What made it memorable for me, though, was the complete combination: getting dressed up, sharing food, enjoying cocktails and seeing the city from the 60th floor.
It is the kind of place I would recommend for a birthday, anniversary, London date night or a weekend away when you want the evening to feel different from the everyday. I would happily return, especially for a sunset booking or to experience the restaurant after dark.
Would you choose dinner 60 floors above London, or the nightclub hidden inside an original bank vault? Let me know in the comments.
Useful details
• Lucky Cat Bishopsgate: Floor 60, 22 Bishopsgate, London EC2N 4AJ
• Cuisine: Asian-inspired sharing dishes, sushi and cocktails
• Best for: Date nights, birthdays, anniversaries and special occasions
• Hotel: The Ned, 27 Poultry, City of London
• Booking note: Check current opening times, menus, dress guidance and access arrangements directly with each venue before travelling.
