Babylon at The Roof Gardens in Kensington, London

Fluid Eating's Review of Babylon at The Roof Gardens

Three girls. Objective for the evening - to have bucket loads of fun in a glamorous location. Venue - the Roof Gardens, Kensington. Objective met. I could have written just that but I had such a good time that I'm desperate to say more. It was simply flawless. Greeted by Pippa, the friendly hostess, we were led up to our home for the next few hours via a lift to the top floor. It's an urban myth that the drinks are extortionate at Roof gardens. We sat at a table drinking £28 bottles of wine between us, and that wasn't even the cheapest. It's another urban myth that people in the Roof Gardens are unfriendly and fake. We literally danced with every person, man or woman on the dance floor. It was like an extremely classy school disco and everyone joined in. A bunch of Americans twirled us round the dance floor as we threw our heads backs laughing. When they were spent we bopped away with a gaggle of Italians, who worked down the road at the V&A. The extra vigilant bouncer took care of our hand bags that we'd dumped at his feet – which is quite different from the usual club that doesn’t allow anything other than feet to touch the floor.

There was plenty of room for everyone to co-exist with one-another. As we wiggled our hips and threw up our arms and drifted through the dance space, people moved aside, people moved towards us, shaking their hips and lip synching, with a smile each time. The bouncers were fabulous, more like friends and guardians as opposed to brutish dance floor enforcers. Ever vigilant and professional yet aware that people were there to enjoy themselves, let go after a working week and slide across the dance floor, like something from a music video....and they let it happen. The music was exhilarating yet exhausting - a fantastic mix of chart cheese, dance and R&B. Our bodies were permanently glued to the dance floor - we couldn't leave - every time we waited for the average song to be played to facilitate a rest, it wouldn't appear and instead like an oil slick went on and on and more and more people joined the throng. There was plenty of room for drinking, dancing and relaxation. The staff were the friendliest I've come across in a long time. A flawless night out...the only thing I regretted was my decision to slip into 4 inch heels to dance the night away….but boy was it worth it.

Reviewed by Melissa Davis


Babylon at The Roof Gardens Description:
Babylon is more than just a restaurant and promises exquisite cuisine, fantastic service and spectacular views of London’s city skyline. When the weather is right, guests can dine al fresco on the terrace and make the most of those magnificent views but you need to be quick as the terrace tables are on a first come first serve basis.

Recently refurbished to give it a fresh, new look Babylon’s design echoes the elements of the earth to respond directly to the unique surroundings of The Roof Gardens below.

A hundred feet above Kensington High Street, is an unexpected location for a lush, Mediterranean world of ponds, palms and flamingos, but the 1.5 acre landscaped Roof Gardens has been around now for 70 years and is one of the best known roofs in the world.

Visit Babylon and enjoy dining with a difference!

Please note that Babylon is open for lunch Monday to Sunday from 12pm until 2.30pm and dinner Monday to Saturday from 7pm until 10.30pm.

Babylon at the Roof Gardens is on the 7th floor, one floor above the Tanqueray Live Lounge (Updated 07/12/2010)

Babylon at The Roof Gardens Food & Drink Menus

Listed below are few sample food and drinks items available at Babylon at The Roof Gardens. These lists are not enhaustive, but are instead designed to give you an overview of the venue's offerings and assciated prices.

Babylon at The Roof Gardens Food menu

Not only will your eyes be delighted but your taste buds will be thrilled with Babylon's extensive menu using the freshest of seasonal ingredients. Several vegetarian options are available. Please visit http://www.roofgardens.virgin.com/en/the_roof_gardens/babylon/food_and_drink for more details.

Item	Price
Duck Egg	£10.00
Deep fried crispy duck egg, smoked rapeseed oil mayonnaise, mixed herb and red watercress salad, fried shallot rings
Diver Scallops	£14.50
Sautéed diver scallops, butternut squash purée, pancetta, chopped pistachio nuts and watercress
Pumpkin Risotto	£12.00
With mascarpone, sage crisp beignets
Wild Mushroom Fricassee Tart	£21.00
Puff pastry tart, mixed seasonal wild mushrooms, tarragon, garlic, parsley and shallot with Swiss chard and mousseline sauce
Wild Sea Bass	£27.00
Confit in extra virgin olive oil, with aubergine caviar, aubergine chutney and confit baby aubergine, dressed with lemon oil
Lamb Rump	£24.00
Madeira braised rump of lamb, celeriac, garlic and beetroot, buttered Savoy cabbage
Apple and Walnut Crumble	£10.00
Apple and Walnut Crumble with ginger ice cream
Vanilla and Honey Madeleines	£9.50
with Cognac, Chantilly and hot chocolate shot
Panettone Tiramisu	£11.00
Mascarpone espirra, panettone, Amaretto jelly

Babylon at The Roof Gardens Drink menu

Babylon at the Roof Gardens offers a variety of drink selections from bottled beers to champagne cocktails and wines by the glass and bottle.

Item	Description	Price
Beer	Bottled beers, such as Peroni, Sol and Grolsch.	£5.00
Tudor Crush	Inspired by our own Tudor garden, enjoy the flavours of the English hedgerows. Fresh raspberries, blackberries and blueberries with Tanqueray gin and crème de mure.	£10.50
Red Wine (glass)	Piropo, Malbec.	£7.00
White Wine (glass)	Vivanco, Rioja Blanco.	£7.00
Champagne (glass)	Beaumet 'Cuvee Brut'.	£10.50

Babylon at The Roof Gardens Special Offers

Babylon Restaurant offers lunch time specials everyday of the week plus the opportunity to gain entrance to The Roof Gardens Private Members Club when dining on a Friday or Saturday nights at a reduced rate of £10 per person

Title: Set lunch menu & Complimentary glass of Fizz - 2 courses at £20 and 3 courses at £23.
Description: Subject to availability as displayed in the booking interface. Offer excludes service and includes VAT. Not available in conjunction with other offers.
Classification: Lunch, From £20 to £30, Fixed price Menu
Date: 30 Nov, 2011 - 19 Nov, 2012
Days: Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday
Time: n/a
This is an online special offer only - Click here to book

Title: Set lunch menu - 2 courses at £20 and 3 courses at £23
Description: Subject to availability as displayed in the booking interface. Offer excludes service and includes VAT. Not available in conjunction with other offers.
Classification: Lunch, From £20 to £30, Fixed price Menu
Date: 30 Nov, 2011 - 19 Nov, 2012
Days: Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday
Time: n/a
This is an online special offer only - Click here to book

Babylon at The Roof Gardens Opening Hours

Sunday	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday	Saturday
12:00pm - 2:30pm	12:00pm - 2:30pm 7:00pm - 10:30pm	12:00pm - 2:30pm 7:00pm - 10:30pm	12:00pm - 2:30pm 7:00pm - 10:30pm	12:00pm - 2:30pm 7:00pm - 10:30pm	12:00pm - 2:30pm 7:00pm - 10:30pm	12:00pm - 2:30pm 7:00pm - 10:30pm

Babylon at The Roof Gardens Map

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“This is my favourite restaurant in the whole of London and I love going here. The bar is great for cocktails too. It may be fairly expensive but then that's what boyfriends are for!” Rating: — Lavinia, London (27 Jan 2011)

“Roof Gardens Lovely, Lovely place. Beautiful gardens, polite & professional staff. Food was Excellent! 2010 2Courses £18 and 3 courses £21. I had a 3 Course with wine, being a Vegetarian I was amazed at the brilliance of the courses, high standard, freshness and great taste, beautifully presented, incredible standard of food & quality for that price, and for this part of London. Also, when warm & Sunny, great seating area outside with great views over London. Highly recommended, and I want to make this a regular eating place from now on.” Rating: — Karen, London (30 Dec 2010)

“I love this place! A real treat and fun too. Without being pretentious. The staff were sweet and obliging. We had the set menu. The portions look small but there's plenty of food. The cooking a cut above your average good restaurant. Also great that there are tables on the balcony for when the weather is nice.” Rating: — Janey, London (18 Jun 2010)

“Lunch is special here! Great food, service and view - highly recommend.” Rating: — steff, London (24 May 2010)

“Was taken here by my boyfriend as a special treat and loved it! Just wish the weather had been better...” Rating: — Julia Turnpike, London (09 Sep 2008)

“the best!” Rating: — rosie, London (22 Nov 2003)

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