Alto by San Carlo is the rooftop Italian restaurant and bar above Selfridges on Oxford Street, with a retractable roof and an open-air terrace and bar.
It crowns Selfridges. The Rooftop Guide places Alto on top of the Selfridges store on Oxford Street, reached through the shop.
The roof retracts. San Carlo says the main restaurant and bar open year-round under a retractable roof, so the space runs come rain or shine.
A terrace bar joined it. In summer 2025 Alto added a colorful outdoor bar and dining terrace inspired by the Italian islands, per San Carlo.
The format is Italian. The bar pairs Italian cocktails, wine and aperitivo with the San Carlo group's kitchen, per its own site.
Views are the draw. Luxury London highlights the skyline outlook over Oxford Street and the West End from the elevated terrace.
It is part of San Carlo. The group runs Alto as its London rooftop, an offshoot of its Italian restaurant brand.
It opens daily. San Carlo lists service seven days a week, year-round, from lunch through evening drinks.
Booking is sensible. As a rooftop above a flagship store, tables and bar seats fill, so reserving ahead is the safer bet.
Who would love it: drinkers who want an Italian aperitivo with a West End view. Who should skip it: anyone after a low-cost round or a late club night.
The mood leans polished. Spritzes, wine and aperitivo suit a smart afternoon or evening rather than a rowdy night.
The terrace shifts with the season. Open-air in summer and sheltered under the roof in cooler months, the space adapts through the year.
It pairs with a shopping day. Sitting above Selfridges, it works as a break or a finish to an Oxford Street visit.
Prices match the setting. As a West End rooftop, drinks and plates sit at the higher end, in line with the location.
The cocktails lean Italian. Negronis, spritzes and aperitivo-style drinks anchor the bar list, per the group.
It holds its own among rooftops. Alongside Sky Garden and Aqua Shard, Alto adds a central, store-top option to the London rooftop scene.
Timing matters. Sunset draws the busiest crowd, so an earlier or later seat is calmer for a drink.
The kitchen backs the bar. Italian plates and sharing dishes mean a drink can run into a full meal without leaving the terrace.
The setting feels removed. Lifted above the Oxford Street crowds, the rooftop trades street noise for open sky and skyline.
The history is short. Alto arrived as a recent addition to the Selfridges rooftop, taking over the terrace that crowns the store.
Aperitivo defines the early evening. The bar leans into the Italian ritual of a spritz and a snack before dinner, which sets its pace.
The wine list reads Italian. Regional bottles and by-the-glass pours back the cocktails, in keeping with the kitchen.
It draws a mixed crowd. Shoppers, couples and after-work groups share the terrace, pulled in by the view and the central location.
Access runs through the store. Guests reach the rooftop via Selfridges, which ties the bar loosely to the shopping day.
The terrace styling stands out. Bright island-inspired colors and greenery give the open-air bar a distinct look against the roofline.
It suits a celebration. Birthdays and gatherings book the terrace, drawn by the setting as much as the drinks.
Weather shapes the experience. On a clear evening the open roof is the draw, while the cover keeps the bar running through London rain.
Alto by San Carlo earns a place on our best rooftop bars in London guide, and the wider London guide maps the West End.
