We went to Aqua Nueva rooftop restaurant when we stayed at The Dilly Hotel in Piccadilly because I wanted to find somewhere a little bit different for dinner. Aqua Nueva kept appearing on lists of rooftop restaurants in London and, on paper at least, seemed like a good fit for my affordable London luxury content series because I’d seen you could get a set menu.

Rather than spending £60+ per person on a tasting menu, there was an option to enjoy three tapas dishes for £26 per person, making it a more affordable way to experience one of London’s well-known rooftop restaurants, so seemed worth a punt. Although, now I know there are a few tricks to keep the bill down, so am sharing here with you guys…

Is Aqua Nueva rooftop restaurant worth it?

It is worth going to Aqua Nueva, London but only if you follow my advice to ensure you get great value. If you’re looking for a rooftop restaurant near Piccadilly, Aqua Nueva is an easy walk from The Dilly Hotel and the £26 set menu offers a more affordable way to try it. The food was good, the service was quick and attentive, and the included glass of Prosecco adds value. However, if rooftop views are your priority, avoid visiting at peak times. Our Saturday evening visit was so busy that we barely saw the view at all. It was absolutely heaving with guys in their twenties, definitely more nightclub vibes than class restaurant and to be honest it was very very loud ( I realise that makes me sound about 100 years old!)

An easy walk from The Dilly Hotel

First up, it was super easy to get to. It was a really short walk from The Dilly and it’s a really nice walk as you get to go up Regent Street and take in all of the amazing buildings.

If you go in the evening, it’s obviously quieter than during the rush hour in the day, so you get to actually appreciate it a bit more. It’s just opposite the London Palladium Theatre, making it a straightforward option if you’re staying around Piccadilly Circus.

There was a short queue outside and then you have to go in, pass through security and head up in the lift because it is a rooftop restaurant and bar.

First impressions: more nightclub than restaurant

We went at 8:45pm on a Saturday and it was absolutely heaving.

The restaurant itself is quite dark and felt very much like a nightclub. There was a nice-sized table with a circular booth area to sit in and we could see some of the view from the window, but we weren’t close enough to really appreciate it.

To properly enjoy the view, you would have needed to go out onto the rooftop terrace in the bar area, but that was absolutely packed with people having drinks.

If you’re going primarily for the rooftop views, I’d recommend visiting during the week or booking an earlier slot. The Saturday evening atmosphere was busy, loud and very crowded.

Everyone seemed very young and it was mainly large groups of guys in their twenties, which added to the nightclub feel.

There was some interesting decor too like this giant bull!

How to experience Aqua Nueva for less

The set menu is where Aqua Nueva makes the most sense from a value perspective.

Rather than ordering from the à la carte menu or choosing one of the more expensive dining experiences, you can choose one starter and two main dishes from a selected menu for £26 per person.

An extra bonus that I completely missed when booking is that the set menu includes a glass of Prosecco each. We didn’t need the extra drinks we ordered so could have saved there.

For anyone looking for affordable London luxury, this is probably the best way to experience Aqua Nueva without spending a small fortune.

What we ordered

We chose padron peppers and Iberico ham croquettes to start.

The padron peppers were one of the larger portions on the menu and there were loads of them.

The croquettes were well cooked, but they are very small and you only get three, so it’s worth bearing that in mind when choosing your dishes.

For our mains, we went for the artichoke dish, the mushroom and potato dish, and two of the pork dishes, which gave us a good mix.

The food was really nice, really well cooked, and there weren’t any long waiting times. Everything arrived quickly and the staff were attentive throughout.

The rooftop views: choose your timing carefully

This was probably the biggest disappointment for us.

Because we visited at such a busy time, we never really got to enjoy the rooftop element that Aqua Nueva is known for.

The terrace was completely packed with people drinking and socialising, and while we could glimpse some of the skyline from our table, we didn’t really get the rooftop dining experience we’d expected.

I don’t think that’s necessarily the restaurant’s fault. We booked very last minute and took the only available slot. If I were doing it again, I’d choose an earlier booking or visit during the week.

Don’t accidentally book the wrong restaurant

One thing worth mentioning is that there are two different restaurant concepts on the same floor.

The neighbouring restaurant is beautifully decorated with flowers covering the ceiling and is quite a different look and feel.

They’re in separate parts of the building, so if you’re booking specifically because you’ve seen photos online, double-check that you’ve selected the correct restaurant.

Was Aqua Nueva worth it?

Our total bill came to £93 once expensive drinks and the 15% service charge had been added.

It was good to experience a different style of restaurant and I’m glad we tried it but it was dark, loud and busy.

The food was good, the service was efficient and the set menu offers a more affordable route into what would otherwise be quite an expensive dining experience.

That said, I wouldn’t return.

It was simply too loud, too busy and didn’t represent particularly good value for us because we never managed to enjoy the rooftop views that we’d gone there to see. There are lots of cute little independent restaurants tucked away near Picadilly which I’d prefer to chill in.

If you’re staying at The Dilly and fancy trying a rooftop restaurant without paying tasting-menu prices, Aqua Nueva’s set menu is worth considering. Just choose your booking time carefully. The food and service delivered, but the atmosphere was much more nightclub than relaxed rooftop dining.

FAQs

How much is the Aqua Nueva set menu?

At the time of our visit, the set menu was £26 per person and included one starter, two main dishes and a glass of Prosecco. You’ll need to add 15% service plus any extras like water and drinks.

Is Aqua Nueva within walking distance of The Dilly Hotel?

Yes. It’s a short walk along Regent Street from The Dilly Hotel in Piccadilly.

Does Aqua Nueva have rooftop views?

Yes, but you’ll get a much better experience if you avoid peak Saturday evening times when the terrace can become extremely busy.

Is Aqua Nueva good value?

The set menu offers decent value compared with the restaurant’s more expensive dining options. However, drinks and the 15% service charge can quickly increase the final bill.

Would I visit Aqua Nueva again?

Personally, no. The food was good and the service was attentive, but the atmosphere was too loud and busy for my taste and we didn’t get to enjoy the rooftop views.

Where next?

For better value, money-saving dining, check out my post about Pizza Express after-school club. For free things to do around London, check out my Covent Garden post or along the South Bank or the St martins in the fields church and crypt.

If you’re looking for somewhere to stay in London then read my reviews about the Standard hotel, St Pancras, Melia at the White house, The Dilly, Inhabit Queens Gardens, Bayswater.

Check out my main travel on a budget page or my how to do Rome on a budget