Following on from my where to eat series in Norwich, where my first stop was Gonzo’s Tearoom, it’s all about a luxury dining experience this time. The Rooftop Gardens in Norwich city centre was beautiful and one of my favourite dinners we had, if you love a rootop bar then you need to book a table here. I can imagine the height of summer this is super popular. So, here’s what we got up to on our visit!
Drinks & Starters
The bar is actually situated within an office block (sounds strange but has similar vibes to going up to the Duck and Waffle in London). Once you’re upstairs you walk straight into the bar and then the rooftop is through the restaurant area. During the summer, the waiters are mostly outside with drinks coming from the beautiful large bar.
The drinks list was fantastic and I thoroughly enjoyed my cocktail which was an English Garden which contained Tanqueray Gin, Elderflower, Apple, Lime, Fresh Mint & Cucumber. It was super refreshing, similar to a mojito but more fruity.
Dan went for a classic, an espresso martini which looked great and he said was delicious too. I’m not such a fan but they had a extensive list of all your favourite spirits too.
As we got there early we wanted to take it chilled as the sun was still setting. We got a small plate to kick things off before our main meal which was caramelised onion hummus with ciabatta. A delicious starter and I could’ve eaten so much more of this! I love cocktails and hummus, such a nice way to start an evening and as the sun set – a great atmosphere.
The Food
As it got a bit chilly and the chairs were more for chilling than eating (the ones we were on anyway) we decided to move inside. The staff were so accommodating here and the waiter was really attentive which made it a more enjoyable experience. Some rooftop bars aren’t table service so this made it a bit more chilled.
For the food, as we had eaten SO much prior to this meal, I wanted to go for a salad. I wouldn’t normally opt for salads as I think a plate of leaves and tomatoes can be over priced but this was SO worth it. I had halloumi on mine which was char grilled and plenty of it. The leaves were dressed brilliantly with olives and lots of peppers. The sun blushed tomatoes were so soft and juicy. I was so impressed and I loved how refreshing it was. It was such a big salad too and I couldn’t finish it all.
Dan’s dish looked incredible. It was a smoked Gressingham duck breast served with baby carrots, marmalade glaze and onion mash. It was as good as it looks – despite being a rooftop bar, the restaurant and food is as equally as good.
Dan enjoyed this with a glass of red wine and he had no complaints. A beautifully presented dish too.
Overall impressions
Whilst we couldn’t fit dessert in, this was such a beautiful destination for a city break dinner, drinks or date night. It was really chilled, not over crowded and the service was impeccable. I loved the decor inside the Rooftop Gardens – everything had been well thought out. I would easily come back again and would love to do this on a Saturday night when it’s even busier. Yes it’s a touch pricer than your local bar but the atmosphere and setting is well worth it and the quality is high.