I am wary of rooftops. Height is often used as a substitute for personality. Kevin Hart has built an entire career proving that theory wrong. CÉ LA VI London applies the same logic.
At the very top of Paddington Square, CÉ LA VI feels detached from the city without feeling remote. London is visible, not dominant. The room has weight. People arrive switched on. Nobody is here by accident.
Dinner sets the tone quickly. The 17th floor moves with purpose. An open bar anchors the space without demanding attention. The terrace pulls people in and out of conversations. The soundtrack is doing real work. Nothing feels overproduced. Nothing feels casual either – the fits are fitting.
The food is confident and to the point. Modern Asian flavours, clean execution, no unnecessary drama. Miso seabass arrives glossy and direct, lifted by Szechuan green chilli sauce that cuts rather than overwhelms. Crispy red snapper delivers crunch and balance. Wagyu beef tataki with truffle ponzu is rich, precise and disappears faster than expected. The menu is built for sharing, though not without hesitation. Everything feels deliberate.
Cocktails are handled with the same restraint. The Shiso Margarita is sharp and disciplined, the kind of drink that resets your expectations. The Paloma Caliente brings heat without turning into a performance. Asian botanicals are integrated quietly. Wines are well judged. Sakes feel purposeful, not decorative. And dangerous to any next-day, early morning activities.
Upstairs on the 18th floor, the energy changes. A private dining room for fourteen sits behind floor to ceiling glass, clearly designed for dinners with an agenda. Nearby, the lounge bar pulls things in a darker direction. DJs step in. The lighting drops. Dinner stops pretending it is only dinner. I know it’s only February, but a Christmas party here? Iconic.
CÉ LA VI London understands that a rooftop does not need to sell itself. It needs to deliver consistently and let people draw their own conclusions. This one does. Calm. Controlled. Fully aware that once you are up here, staying late is part of the point.
After all, leaving early was never realistic.
@celavi.london | ldn.celavi.com
1 Paddington Square, 17th & 18th Floor, London, England W2 1DL
