CÉ LA VI London review: Unmissable rooftop experience (worth every pound?)

If you’ve been scrolling London rooftop content and wondering whether CÉ LA VI London is a genuinely great night out or just an expensive photo opportunity, this review is for you. Located at Paddington Square, CÉ LA VI isn’t a one-size-fits-all situation because you can book it three different ways: lunch, dinner, or just the bar for drinks.

In this review I’m sharing what it felt like in real life, what I’d do the same next time (and what I’d skip), plus a few practical tips so you can plan it right and actually enjoy the rooftop moment instead of stressing about the details.

Quick facts: Where it is, what it is, and who it’s for

CÉ LA VI London is at Paddington Square, basically right by Paddington Station, so it’s one of those places where you don’t have to “cross half of London” to get a rooftop moment. The best part is how smooth the arrival feels: from the station area you head straight towards the building and go directly to the lift, which takes you up to the 17th floor and drops you right into the restaurant level. Honestly, even the terrace area before you walk in already makes an impression, like, “okay… this is going to be a night.”

Getting to Paddington (Tube + Elizabeth line)

Paddington is super connected. You can get there on:

• Bakerloo line
• Circle line
• District line
• Hammersmith and City line
• Elizabeth line (also stops at Paddington and connects with multiple Tube lines there)

If you want a simple “who it’s for” wrap-up line for this section: it’s perfect for date nights, birthdays, visitors, or anyone who wants that “London rooftop” feeling without going all the way to Mayfair first.

The vibe: what it feels like up there (day vs evening)

During the day, the whole place feels bright and airy, because it’s basically all glass, so you’re sitting there with London spread out in front of you like a movie backdrop. In the evening (when we were there), it turns into a completely different mood: city lights on every side, that classic beautifully lit London skyline, and the kind of view that makes you pause mid-sentence because you keep looking around.

Music-wise, I have to say this clearly because I saw Google reviews claiming it’s too loud and you can’t talk. That was not our experience at all. For us it was perfectly balanced, not too loud, not too quiet, just enough to create atmosphere while still being able to have a normal conversation without leaning across the table.

Practical things that made a difference: there’s a cloakroom, so you can leave your coat and instantly feel more comfortable. And the service deserves its own shout-out. We felt genuinely looked after the whole time. The staff were happy to talk us through the place and the dishes, and you can tell they actually know what they’re serving. That’s exactly what you want from a venue aiming for this level. Overall, it’s flexible in the best way: it works for a romantic dinner, a night out with friends, or celebrating something special without it feeling awkward or over-the-top.

Booking options: lunch, dinner, or just the bar

CÉ LA VI London has three ways to do it, and this is honestly why I think it works for so many different moods: you can book lunch, book dinner, or book just the bar if you only want drinks and the view. (And yes, I’m a big fan of places that don’t force you into a full three-hour commitment.)

Option 1: Lunch (our pick)

Lunch is available Monday to Friday, 12pm to 3pm, and it’s set up as a 2-course or 3-course menu: £29 for two courses or £36 for three. Lunch has its own set menu, and dinner has its own menu too, so they’re really two different experiences. Thanks to the restaurant’s kindness and hospitality, we were served a few extra dishes beyond what the set lunch includes, which meant we could try more of the menu and get a much better feel for what CÉ LA VI is really like.

One practical tip: reserve the lunch, even if you’re going on a weekday. There are days when lunch isn’t served, and in general this place fills up fast. When we arrived it got busy quickly and you could really feel the room turning from calm to full-on rooftop lunch energy.

Option 2: Dinner

Dinner is the “full evening” version: more of a night-out feel, and it’s the easiest choice if you’re coming for a date night or celebrating something. If you want that slightly more dressed-up mood with the city lights, this is the one.

Option 3: Bar only (drinks)

If you’re not hungry but still want the skyline and the vibe, booking the bar is the move. It’s perfect when you want a rooftop moment without committing to a full meal, or if you’re meeting friends and you want it to feel special but low-effort. You can even see “Bar” as a booking category in their reservation system.

Bottom line: whatever option you choose, I’d still recommend making a reservation. This is not the kind of place that stays empty and patiently waits for you to walk in.

Food review: what we tried, what stood out, and what we’d order again

First, a practical thing that matters if you’re planning this around something (like we did): the service was fast. We were a group of four, we ordered a lot, and we still managed to eat properly and leave on time, even though we were rushing to a West End show. (Our reservation was super last minute, so we had less time than we would have liked, and we honestly regret that because we could have happily stayed longer.)

We booked lunch, and the lunch setup was great value for the level of the place, but thanks to the restaurant’s kindness and hospitality, they also served us a few extra dishes beyond what the set lunch includes, so we could try more and get a real feel for the menu.

Here’s what we had, and my honest take on each.

Small plates and starters (the “this is why we’re happy we ordered a lot” category)

Edamame
Simple, but done right. Warm, lightly spicy, addictive, perfect to snack on while deciding what’s next.

French fries (Maldon sea salt)
Good fries, crispy, golden, but in a meal like this they almost became background noise because the other flavours were so much more exciting.

Fish & prawn gyoza (spicy lemon dressing)
Lightly crisp, super delicate, and basically melted in the mouth. The funniest part is that people in our group who usually avoid seafood were like, “Okay, I could eat this anytime.” That’s a win.

Black cod croquettes (dynamite sauce, dill)
These had a real kick. Crispy outside, soft inside, and the sauce earns the name “dynamite”. If you like spice, you’ll be smiling.

Braised beef bao buns (short rib, galbi glaze, chilli, fried onion)
Soft, delicate, full of flavour, and they disappeared in seconds. We genuinely wished we’d ordered more because they were gone too fast.

Mushroom & bamboo dumplings (with chilli sauce and black vinegar)
Really nice, soft texture, pleasant, but for us it was the only one in this section that didn’t give a big “wow” moment. Still glad we tried it.

Sushi that converted the “I don’t like sushi” people

We ordered a maki roll that looks most like the Prawn Tempura Maki (with mentaiko aioli and avocado) but since it was recommended to us, I might have noted wrong. I need this on record tho: it was really good. Also, the people who always say “I don’t like sushi” (in my opinion because they’ve just never had good sushi) were suddenly like, “Wait. I could eat this every day.” Exactly.

Mains: the “how is it this tender?” moment

Okay, the mains were the strongest part of the whole meal for us, and choosing a favourite became impossible.

Black truffle “sushi rice” risotto (butternut squash, parmesan mousse, fresh truffle)
The dish that divided the table (in a good way). I’m not a truffle person, so I was never going to be the easiest audience here. But everyone else was absolutely obsessed. Proper creamy, very truffly, rich, and the kind of thing that feels luxurious and comforting at the same time. If you love truffle, this is your dream.

Grilled salmon teriyaki (pumpkin, shimeji mushrooms, edamame)
This was genuinely one of the most delicate pieces of salmon we’ve ever had. Perfectly cooked, soft and buttery, with crispy skin. I would come back and order this again without thinking.

Satay chicken breast (coconut rice, bok choy, peanut satay sauce)
I did not know chicken could be this tender. You could literally cut it with a spoon. This is one of those dishes where you can tell it’s both chef skill and ingredient quality. Absolute standout, no notes.

Chilean sea bass (Szechuan green chilli sauce)
Soft, flaky, lightly crispy on the outside, with a gentle kick from the sauce. The whole table had different favourites, but everyone agreed on one thing: we did not want the meal to end.

Desserts: two winners and one that got ignored

Kalamansi & mango, coconut 3 ways (mousse, mango brulee, coconut ice cream)
This was the group’s favourite. Very mango-forward, very coconut-forward, and people were basically obsessed. Those flavours aren’t usually my thing, but even I could say it was well done.

Sticky toffee pudding (spiced butterscotch, Suntory whiskey ice cream)
This one is 100 percent my vibe. Sweet, sticky, comforting, and I would order it again in a heartbeat.

Dark chocolate & shiitake cremeux (with guava sorbet)
This is the dessert we couldn’t remember the name of, the chocolate one with the pink sorbet. It was tasty, but it felt a little drier in parts and, compared to the other two, it kind of faded into the background. Not bad, just not the one we kept talking about afterwards.

Drinks: cocktails that actually taste like cocktails (and feel worth it up there)

We started in the nicest way possible: each of us was served a glass of champagne recommended by the staff, plus mineral water (both still and sparkling) right away.

Later, we went for cocktails based on the team’s recommendations and our own taste preferences, so everyone picked something slightly different: citrusy and refreshing, a touch of strawberry sweetness, something with lychee, and more floral notes. And honestly, every single one was a hit.

Price and whether they’re “worth it”

Cocktails were £17 to £19 each, and I’ll say this: they didn’t feel watered down or “mostly ice and vibes”. You could clearly taste the spirits they listed, but the drinks were still smooth and genuinely enjoyable. And with that rooftop view, it’s one of the few times in London where I can say: yes, the price makes sense.

If you want, tell me what vibe the missing fourth drink had (fruity, bitter, spicy, smoky, creamy, anything) and I can write a placeholder line that still sounds natural until you remember the name.

Dress code and entry rules: what to wear

This is an elegant place, and the minimum dress code is smart casual. The restaurant also makes it clear that beachwear and sportswear can get you refused at the door, so it’s not worth testing your luck if you’ve planned a whole rooftop moment.

What I noticed though: even if the official rule is “smart casual”, a lot of people treat CÉ LA VI like a special occasion spot. So outfits often lean more dressy and going-out, especially in the evening. Lunch feels a bit more relaxed, but later on you definitely see more heels, blazers, nice dresses, and “I planned this outfit” energy.

If you’re unsure what “smart casual” looks like in real life, a genuinely easy hack is to scroll the restaurant’s Instagram for a few minutes. You’ll spot guests in the background sometimes and it helps you get the vibe without overthinking it.

And honestly, the interiors deserve it. Even if you’re not a “dress up” person, it’s worth wearing something you feel great in, because you’ll probably take photos. The views are insane, the space is beautiful, and yes, even the bathrooms are weirdly photogenic.

Best time to go: day vs evening, and how to plan it

CÉ LA VI is honestly beautiful at any time of day, it just hits differently. In daylight you get that bright, glassy, “London is right there” feeling. In the evening, the whole city turns into a sea of lights and the view becomes properly magical, especially because you can see the skyline in almost every direction. So it’s not really a question of “when is it best?”, it’s more “which version of London do you want today?”

The nice thing is that reservations can be surprisingly doable even day-to-day. If you’re flexible, you can often find something just by checking their booking page and picking what’s available.

Now the practical part: if you book 1.5 hours, it’s doable, but you will feel a bit rushed, especially if you’re ordering multiple dishes. The easiest way to make it stress-free is to look at the menu before you arrive and decide what you want. And if you’re on a tight schedule (like we were), tell the staff right away. In our experience they’re happy to help and they’ll do their best to pace things so you make it on time.

For anyone combining this with a West End plan: getting from Paddington to most West End theatres usually takes around 15 to 20 minutes, so it’s a very realistic pre-show option, as long as you don’t leave the timing to “we’ll figure it out later.”

How to get there: easiest route, station tips, and what to expect on arrival

Getting to CÉ LA VI is genuinely easy because it’s right by Paddington Station, and Paddington is one of those stations that connects you to basically everything. You can arrive via the Bakerloo line, Circle line, District line, Hammersmith and City line, or the Elizabeth line. Once you’re at Paddington, you’re only a short walk from Paddington Square.

Now, a small heads-up that will save you a mini stress moment: we used Google Maps and it got a bit confusing right near the entrance. There are these big escalators that kind of pull your attention, but the key is: you don’t go to the escalators, you go behind them, where you’ll find the lift that takes you straight up to the restaurant level.

We were slightly unsure for a second, and an on-site security guard helped us immediately, so don’t hesitate to ask if you feel lost. Once you find the lift, it’s smooth: you go up to the 17th floor, and you’re basically delivered straight into the CÉ LA VI experience. And even before you fully step inside, the terrace area near the entrance already feels impressive, like the night is starting before you’ve even sat down.

Final verdict: is CÉ LA VI London worth it?

Yes, it’s worth it. And I don’t say that lightly in London, where you can spend a lot of money and still leave thinking, “Okay… but why?”

CÉ LA VI gave us exactly what we came for: an unforgettable view, a genuinely great atmosphere, and food that we keep talking about with real sentiment. The only thing we truly regret is how little time we had. We booked last minute and had to rush because we were heading to a West End show, and honestly, we would have happily stayed much longer.

This dinner also ended up being a perfect start to our trip. It was our first night out during this stay, and it set the bar ridiculously high from the very beginning. Everything felt smooth: the service, the pacing, the drinks, the way the staff looked after us, and the fact that every single main dish had someone at the table calling it “the best one”.

So yes, worth every pound. We recommend it, and we already know we’ll be back for future occasions, because this is exactly the kind of place that makes you want a “round two”, with more time and zero rushing.