Tucked away above Crossrail Place, behind a free public roof garden, sits one of Canary Wharf’s most surprising escapes: a 10,000-square-foot botanical bar and restaurant where hanging vines meet wharf views, DJs take over on Friday nights, and Saturday means 90 minutes of bottomless brunch. This guide covers everything you need to know before you go to Pergola on the Wharf — what it is, what it costs, when to go, and whether it is worth your evening.
What Is Pergola on the Wharf?
Pergola on the Wharf is a botanical rooftop bar and restaurant in Canary Wharf, London, set inside Crossrail Place at E14 5AR. It is part of the Pergola group — the sister venue to the better-known Pergola Paddington — but the Wharf site has its own character: bigger, greener, and built around the water. Step through the Crossrail Place roof garden and you arrive at a light-filled dining room dressed with real ferns, trailing vines and hanging wicker lanterns, with floor-to-ceiling windows and a wrap-around terrace looking out over the north dock.
The idea is simple and it works. Canary Wharf is a forest of glass towers and sharp suits; Pergola is the soft, leafy contrast. Long wooden sharing tables, earthy sofas and a 200-capacity outdoor terrace make it feel more like a garden party than a City bar, which is exactly why it fills up so fast on Fridays and Saturdays. It is a bar and grill, a brunch spot, a Sunday roast destination and an events space all at once, and the crowd shifts with the hour — power lunches at midday, after-work drinks from five, and a proper party once the DJs start.
Where Is Pergola on the Wharf?
You will find Pergola on the Wharf at Crossrail Place, Canary Wharf, London E14 5AR, on the top level of the building, reached through the Crossrail Place roof garden. That garden is worth a wander in its own right: it is a free public space, open to everyone, and it is the prettiest way to arrive.
Getting There
The easiest route is the Elizabeth line or Jubilee line to Canary Wharf station, then a short walk through the estate to Crossrail Place. If you are coming from central London, the Elizabeth line from Tottenham Court Road or Liverpool Street gets you there in around fifteen minutes. Buses and the DLR also serve the area, and there is plenty of signage once you are inside the estate. Aim for the roof garden level and follow the planting — the greenery gives the game away.
Inside Pergola: The Botanical Bar and the Terrace
First impressions matter here, and Pergola makes a strong one. The interior is a genuine botanical space rather than a few potted plants for show: real flowers, ferns and vines climb the walls and hang from the ceiling, and the floor-to-ceiling windows flood the room with natural light even on a grey London day. Regulars describe it as stepping into a greenhouse that happens to serve cocktails, and on a rainy afternoon that warm, summery feeling is half the appeal.
The Wrap-Around Terrace
The terrace is the reason most people come. It wraps around the venue with panoramic views across the north dock and the Canary Wharf skyline, and in summer it is one of the best-value rooftop experiences in east London. There is space for around 200 people outside, so even on a busy Saturday you can usually find a corner with a view. In winter the indoor space takes over, and the glass walls keep the wharf views in play whatever the weather.
Is There a View Worth Coming For?
Honestly, yes — with one caveat. This is not a skyscraper view like the one from Bôkan’s 39th-floor terrace; it is a waterside view, low and close to the dock, with towers rising around you. If you want the highest panorama in London, head to Primrose Hill or our guide to the Oxo Tower instead. But for a drink with the water glittering beside you and the towers lit up at dusk, Pergola’s terrace is hard to beat.
Food and Drink: What to Order at Pergola on the Wharf
The kitchen works around a simple idea: fresh, seasonal ingredients, cooked simply, with a menu themed around earth, land and sea. Sharing boards named after London’s famous markets — New Covent Garden for vegetables, Smithfield for meats and Billingsgate for fish — set the tone, and the all-day menu runs from small plates to burgers and roasts. Dishes visitors keep mentioning include tuna tartare, mojito chicken, barbacoa beef tacos, hasselback roasted squash and jerk chicken tacos, plus the cinnamon French toast that regulars call the best they have had in London.
The Bottomless Brunch (Saturdays)
Saturday is Pergola’s headline act. The bottomless brunch costs around £60 per person and buys a three-course brunch with 90 minutes of bottomless drinks — Prosecco, Bloody Marys, mimosas, Aperol Spritz or the house Pergola Punch — with non-alcoholic versions available. The menu changes with the seasons and spans everything from Mexican meze platters to Korean sandos. Book ahead: Saturday brunch is the busiest sitting of the week, and walk-ins are often turned away. The resident DJ takes over from around 4pm, so a brunch booking can happily roll into a Saturday night.
Express Lunch (Weekdays)
If brunch prices make you wince, the weekday express lunch is the quiet bargain. Monday to Friday, 12pm to 4pm, a main and a soft drink costs just £12.50 — genuinely good value for Canary Wharf, where a sandwich alone can cost nearly that. It is aimed at the office crowd, so arrive before 1pm if you want a relaxed table.
Cocktails and the Drinks List
The cocktail list leans fruity and playful. The signature Pergola Punch (spiced rum, passion fruit, pineapple, grapefruit and lemon, around £13.50) is the one to try first, alongside the Fizzy Peaches (vodka, peach liqueur, vanilla, white grape and apricot soda) and the Watermelon Smash. There is also a house favourite, the White Plum Blossom, and classic cocktails are available on request. An alcohol-free Pergola Punch (around £10) keeps non-drinkers in the fun.
Pergola on the Wharf Opening Hours and Prices
Opening hours are generous, but do check the venue’s own website before you travel, as times can change around Christmas and private events.
- Monday to Wednesday: 12pm – 11pm
- Thursday to Saturday: 12pm – midnight
- Sunday: 12pm – 10pm
As a rough guide to prices: the express lunch is £12.50 on weekdays, the Saturday bottomless brunch is around £60 per person, cocktails sit in the £10–£14 range, and a 12.5% discretionary service charge is added to bills. Entry itself is free — you only pay for what you order — which makes Pergola an easy, low-commitment stop on a Canary Wharf evening.
Events at Pergola: DUSK Fridays, Soulful Sundays and More
The weekly calendar is what turns a nice bar into a destination. Friday nights belong to DUSK, the weekly party with DJs playing Afro house, house, amapiano and familiar dancefloor favourites until late — the liveliest night of the week and the one to pick if you want a party. Saturdays bring the bottomless brunch by day and DJs and a packed dancefloor by night. Sundays slow right down with Soulful Sundays: brunch bites, Sunday roasts and mellow live music to close the week. Through the winter the venue leans into the season with a Christmas programme, and the whole space — up to 700 people for exclusive hire, with a private dining room for 12 — is available for parties, product launches and office celebrations.
Do You Need to Book Pergola on the Wharf?
For a weekday drink or lunch, you can usually walk in. For anything else, book. Saturday bottomless brunch, Friday night DUSK and Sunday roasts all fill up, and the venue itself advises reservations for weekend visits. Booking is done through the venue’s own website (pergolacanarywharf.co.uk) or by phone on 020 8176 6105. A few practical tips: book brunch at least a few days ahead; arrive on time, as bottomless sittings run to a strict 90-minute clock; tell the team about allergies when you order, as not every ingredient is listed on the menu; and if you are coming for the terrace in summer, aim for golden hour — the light over the dock just before sunset is the best seat in the house.
Pergola on the Wharf vs Pergola Paddington
People often confuse the two, so here is the quick version. Pergola Paddington, on top of the old sorting office near Paddington station, is the original — smaller, more central, and famous for its street-food stalls. Pergola on the Wharf is the bigger, newer sibling: a full bar and restaurant with table service, a proper brunch and roast programme, and a waterside terrace instead of street food. If you want grazing and a central location, go to Paddington. If you want a long brunch, a party night or a waterside view, the Wharf wins.
Is Pergola on the Wharf Worth Visiting?
For most people, yes — with expectations set right. The food is good rather than destination dining, the drinks are fairly priced for the postcode, and the real product is the setting: a green, light-filled room above the dock that feels nothing like the towers around it. It is at its best as a group occasion — a birthday brunch, a Friday wind-down with colleagues, a summer Saturday that drifts from Prosecco into dancing. Solo visitors and couples will enjoy it too, but the long sharing tables and party atmosphere reward going with friends. The honest downsides: weekend prices climb quickly once the service charge lands, portions can be on the small side, and the terrace is weather-dependent in the way all London rooftops are. Go for the brunch or a Friday night, book ahead, and you will see why it has become one of Canary Wharf’s busiest rooms. And if you are making a day of the area, pair it with a wander through the roof garden and a stroll around the docks — or a shopping break on Carnaby Street on your way back into town.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Pergola on the Wharf free to enter?
Yes. There is no entry charge at Pergola on the Wharf — you only pay for food and drinks. The Saturday bottomless brunch (around £60 per person) and special ticketed events are the exceptions, and those are booked and paid for in advance.
Do you need to book Pergola on the Wharf?
Booking is strongly advised for weekends. Saturday bottomless brunch, Friday night DUSK and Sunday roasts regularly sell out, so reserve through the venue’s website or by phone. Weekday lunches and early-evening drinks are usually fine as a walk-in.
How much is the bottomless brunch at Pergola on the Wharf?
Around £60 per person for a three-course brunch with 90 minutes of bottomless drinks (Prosecco, Bloody Marys, mimosas, Aperol Spritz or Pergola Punch), with non-alcoholic versions available. Prices can change, so confirm on the venue’s website when you book.
What time does Pergola on the Wharf open?
It opens at 12pm every day. Closing times are 11pm Monday to Wednesday, midnight Thursday to Saturday, and 10pm on Sunday. Hours can change for private events and over Christmas, so check before you travel.
Is Pergola on the Wharf good for groups and parties?
Yes — it is one of the best group venues in Canary Wharf. The terrace holds around 200 people, the whole venue can be hired exclusively for up to 700 guests, and there is a private dining room for 12. Long sharing tables, sharing boards and the Saturday brunch format all suit groups.
