8 at The Londoner

Eight floors above Leicester Square, 8 is the rooftop of The Londoner: a Japanese izakaya bar and lounge that trades the noise of the square below for a quieter drama of its own. Its signature space, the Shima Garden, sits beneath a retractable roof that draws back to the West End sky, arranged around a central firepit with banquette seating and a wall of living greenery.

The rooms are done in chiaroscuro — dark timber, low light and brass — across three connecting spaces: the Shima Garden, the semi-private Izakaya Lounge and a central bar backed by a Japanese whisky collection. The kitchen sends out modern izakaya small plates, robata and sashimi, while the bar pours sake, rare whisky and the 8 Tastes of Japan cocktail list. At weekends a DJ plays until midnight, and the room reads as a party space rather than a dining one.

For a private event the three spaces book individually or combine for a full rooftop takeover of up to 200 guests. The Shima Garden holds around 45 and the Izakaya Lounge up to 30, while an exclusive hire gives a party the whole eighth floor, its skyline and its retractable roof. Available for private hire; enquire through the events team.