October 8, 2026
Arcus Rooftop Bar & Restaurant in London is Bloomsbury looking upwards for once. Set on the tenth floor of The Imperial, it gives the neighbourhood something it has never quite had before: a proper rooftop restaurant with near-360-degree views, a large terrace, cocktails, sharing plates and the London skyline behaving shamelessly in the background.
The idea is built around weather, light and seasonality, which is clever because London’s sky is rarely dull, even when it is being unpleasant. Arcus is open to hotel guests and visitors, making it less of a private hotel amenity and more of a public skyline room.
Come for sunset, cocktails and a table above Russell Square. Stay for snacks, DJs and the pleasing feeling that Bloomsbury has finally joined the rooftop conversation.
At a Glance
Best for: Rooftop drinks, sunset dinners, dates, groups and Bloomsbury views
Cuisine: Modern European sharing plates, brunch and all-day dining
Location: The Imperial, Russell Square, Bloomsbury
Price: Around £45–£90 per person with drinks
Signature orders: Sea bass ceviche, Devonshire crab toast, lamb tacos, grilled octopus, tuna tartare and Solstice cocktail
Atmosphere: Scenic, polished, sociable and skyline-led
Nearest station: Russell Square
Booking tip: Book around sunset, especially from Thursday to Saturday
What Is Arcus Rooftop Bar & Restaurant?
Arcus is The Imperial’s rooftop bar and restaurant, positioned as Bloomsbury’s first skyline destination. It is not just a hotel bar with a few tables outside. At 324 seats, it is a serious rooftop operation, designed for brunch, lunch, dinner, drinks, private events and late-night music.
The name suits the concept. Arcus is shaped around the sky: shifting light, weather, clouds, city views and the odd theatrical sunset. This could sound like marketing fog, but on a rooftop it has some truth. The view changes the meal.
The venue is also open to non-hotel guests, which gives it a more democratic feel than many hotel rooftops. Bloomsbury residents, tourists, after-work drinkers and hotel guests can all share the same lift upwards.
The Atmosphere and Design
The main luxury here is height. Arcus looks across Bloomsbury and central London, with views that reportedly stretch towards St Paul’s Cathedral, the London Eye, the British Museum domes and Russell Square below.
The room is designed for all-weather use, with indoor and outdoor spaces and a canopied terrace. That matters in London, where rooftop bars often spend half the year pretending guests enjoy being lightly punished by drizzle.
By day, Arcus is brighter and more relaxed. By night, it becomes more of a bar, with DJs, cocktails and the skyline doing its best impression of glamour. The best seats are outside when the weather allows, or near the windows when it does not.
The Menu
Arcus keeps the food broad, modern and built around sharing. By day, the menu moves through brunch classics: eggs royale, eggs Benedict, eggs Florentine, a full English breakfast, Turkish eggs, truffled scrambled eggs and sweeter plates such as apple crumble toast or banana and hazelnut toast.
Later, the menu becomes more rooftop-bar friendly. Cold plates include Devonshire crab toast with pickled heritage peppers and chilli mayonnaise, sea bass ceviche with English berries and basil, hand-cut British beef tartare with truffle mayonnaise, and yellowfin tuna tartare with Honeycrisp apple and Campari gel.
Hot plates are better for drinking. Free-range chicken skewers come with coriander yoghurt and Hatfield Farm honey. Lamb tacos use slow-braised British lamb shoulder with roasted pepper purée and crispy kale. There is also grilled octopus with confit potatoes, crispy prawn tempura with lime foam, and a tempura oyster royale with sriracha and fermented chilli.
Salads and sides keep things lighter: heritage tomato and burrata, watermelon and feta, peach with pine nuts, triple-cooked chips and tenderstem broccoli. Desserts include cherry Bakewell tart with mezcal sorbet, mango choux bun and dark chocolate mousse with banana sorbet.
Drinks & Wine
Cocktails are the main event. The list is inspired by Bloomsbury’s changing light, seasons and skyline, with drinks including Solstice, made with tequila, Aperol, chilli, tarragon, strawberry cordial and citrus, and Halo, with vodka, melonade, rhubarb, citrus and ginger beer. At £17 each, they are priced like rooftop cocktails and should be treated accordingly.
What to Order at Arcus
Best brunch order: Turkish eggs or truffled scrambled eggs
Best cold plate: Devonshire crab toast
Best raw dish: Yellowfin tuna tartare
Best hot plate: Slow-braised British lamb tacos
Best seafood snack: Tempura oyster royale
Best dessert: Cherry Bakewell tart with mezcal sorbet
Best cocktail: Solstice
For two people, book around sunset, order one cold plate, two hot plates, chips and cocktails. For brunch, keep it simpler: eggs, coffee, one sweet dish to share and the view doing the rest.
Who Is Arcus Best For?
Arcus is best for people who want a rooftop without crossing into Mayfair or the City. It works for hotel guests, dates, visiting friends, after-work drinks, relaxed group dinners and anyone near Russell Square looking for a view.
It is less suited to diners chasing a serious, food-led destination. Arcus is about atmosphere first. The menu is there to support the skyline, not compete with it.
Is Arcus Worth Visiting?
Yes, especially for drinks, sunset or a scenic dinner in a part of London that has never been overrun with rooftop options. Arcus gives Bloomsbury a new kind of social room: high up, polished and open to more than just hotel guests.
The food sounds strongest when kept snack-led: crab toast, ceviche, lamb tacos, octopus, prawn tempura. The cocktails are doing the heavier lifting, and that feels right.
Book for the view. Order enough to keep the table going. Let the sky have the final word.
Practical Information
Address: The Imperial, 61–66 Russell Square, London WC1B 5BB
Area: Bloomsbury
Nearest station: Russell Square
Cuisine: Modern European, brunch and sharing plates
Opening hours: Sunday to Wednesday, 11am–midnight; Thursday to Saturday, 11am–1am
Service charge: 12.5% discretionary service charge
Dress code: Smart casual
Age policy: 18+ from 5pm onwards
Walk-ins: Accepted subject to availability
Private dining: Available
Accessibility: Step-free venue with lift access from the ground floor
Best for: Rooftop drinks, sunset views, brunch, dates and private events
FAQs
What type of food does Arcus Rooftop Bar & Restaurant serve?
Arcus serves brunch, all-day dining and sharing plates. The menu includes eggs, toast dishes, crab toast, ceviche, beef tartare, lamb tacos, grilled octopus, prawn tempura, salads, sides and desserts.
Where is Arcus Rooftop Bar & Restaurant?
Arcus is on the tenth floor of The Imperial at 61–66 Russell Square, Bloomsbury, London WC1B 5BB.
Is Arcus open to non-hotel guests?
Yes. Arcus is open to both hotel guests and outside visitors. Booking is recommended, especially during peak times.
What should I order at Arcus?
Order the Devonshire crab toast, sea bass ceviche, yellowfin tuna tartare, slow-braised lamb tacos, grilled octopus and a Solstice cocktail. For brunch, try the Turkish eggs or truffled scrambled eggs.
Is Arcus good for a date?
Yes. Arcus works well for a date, especially around sunset. The rooftop views, cocktails and terrace make it feel more romantic than a standard hotel restaurant.
Does Arcus have a dress code?
Yes. Arcus has a smart-casual dress code and encourages guests to dress for the occasion.
Does Arcus have DJs?
Yes. DJs are a regular fixture at Arcus, particularly in the evening, when the venue becomes more drinks-led and atmospheric.
Arcus Rooftop Bar & Restaurant London Bookings
Capital A List members can make bookings for Arcus Rooftop Bar & Restaurant below.
