Rooftop Bars in Canterbury
Rooftop bars in Canterbury are a rare breed. The city is low, medieval and tightly packed, so we could only verify two places where you can drink above street level: a rooftop bar on top of a city-centre hotel and a pub with a hidden roof terrace. Places are ranked using their Google rating weighted by how many reviews they have, with the roof terrace we found in our research added at the end. Student tip: outdoor space is the whole point here, so save these for a dry evening and bring a jacket.
- 2 places, ranked by Google rating
- Open places only, checked every month
- Website and Google Maps for each
- 1
The Rooftop Resident Kitchen and Bar
Perched on top of the Hampton by Hilton on St Margaret's Street, The Rooftop reopened in 2026 with Canterbury-born burger brand Notorious BRG running the kitchen. Expect loaded burgers and fries, shuffleboard and interactive darts, plus an outdoor area with views to the cathedral. It is the only bar we could verify on an actual rooftop here.
- 2
The Drapers Arms
The Drapers Arms is a pub on the corner of Sun Street and the King's Mile with a hidden first-floor roof terrace full of plants. Outlaw runs the kitchen, cooking Asian-inspired street food and smoked dishes. Planning a society social? Its website lists a student package with use of the upstairs area and terrace, plus food and drink discounts.
Ranked by Google rating, weighted by the number of reviews so a place with a handful of five-star reviews does not jump the queue. We check the list every month and drop anywhere that has closed.
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