Franks Café

A drink with a view in artsy Peckham

A few years ago you wouldn’t have been able to pay people enough to go for a night out in Peckham, but fast forward to the present day and people can’t get enough of it. Located in South London, Peckham has become a focal point of London’s eclectic night life scene and has become what Shoreditch was before it got gentrified – it’s cool it’s trendy and it’s still a bit rough round the edges. Peckham’s newfound reputation as a hotspot for nightlife in London is mainly due to the world renowned Bussey Building as well as the supporting cast of establishments such as Four Quarters, Bar Story, Canavan’s and Peckham Springs but once a year during the summer months it adds the real jewel to its crown – Franks Café.

Franks Café is not so much of a hidden gem anymore (the queues to get in reflect this) but it’s still one of the best places to go when visiting London in the summer. Located on top of an abandoned multi-storey carpark it offers some of the best panoramic views of London the city has to offer as well as serving up a great menu of cocktails and food at reasonable prices.

Unlike the majority of London’s rooftop bars and reflective of the every-growing creative scene in Peckham, there’s not an ‘exclusive’ feel to Franks in the sense that anyone is welcome and there’s no dress code. It’s probably the only rooftop bar in London you can make the most of the rare rays of sun in t shirt, shorts and flip flops whilst necking a Negroni without feeling like the odd one out or under-dressed.

The café is the birth child of the non-profit commissioning art project, Bold Tendencies and it’s arty and trendy routes are evident from the moment you walk in and are confronted with bright pink stare well you have climb in order to reach the rooftop. An instagrammers dream, it fits in with the general friendly, vibrant and colourful vibe that you are likely to catch when enjoying a summers evening at Franks Café.

Jake Taylor

TripTide User