Madison

We made a reservation for three the day before, and from the moment we arrived, Madison impressed us. The service is incredibly well-organised and genuinely welcoming; from the staff downstairs confirming reservations and guiding guests to the elevator, to the hosts who seat you, and the team managing the doors. Professional, friendly, detailed - 10/10. The views of London are outstanding and truly add to the atmosphere. Whether you’ve lived here for years or are visiting for the first time, seeing the skyline from Madison looks like something out of a postcard. Our server, Sachin, was brilliant. He took the time to explain the menu, offered great recommendations, and made us feel well looked after throughout. The food was delicious, the drinks were excellent, and the complimentary prosecco was such a thoughtful touch. Overall, a 10/10 dining experience. I’d love to return in the summer or try brunch to experience this place in a different light. Highly recommend.

The most remarkable place imaginable. Absolutely blown away every time I visit ! I had 1/2 lobster tail ! It was phenomenal. The flavours were unbelievable, the lobster was super moist and fresh. Utter perfection ! To top it off we had a gigantic Strawberry Sunday. I was later surprised with a beautiful congratulations cake. Thank you Madison’s.

Absolutely brilliant, really struggling to find any constructive criticism. Food is delicious and prices are as you would expect for a high end rooftop restaurant in the city. Well done and thank you to the management that made sure we were well looked after

Came to this rooftop bar for a peek at the view and a refreshing cocktail. Gorgeous outside and inside dining and drinking areas. On a sunny day i imagine it’s even more packed and lively.

Came with my wife and got an incredible attendance thanks to Abhijith ( the really tall waiter). The food was delicious, flavorful and tasty. Great variety of cocktails also worth to try. Wishing to repeat this experience forward .

We had a wonderful dinner at the Madison. The views of Saint Paul’s and the London Eye can’t be beat on this rooftop restaurant. We particularly enjoyed the shrimp rigatoni, green goddess salad, and bread with Brie. Both the skillet cookie and chocolate sea salt brownie were chocolatey and delicious. Overall we had a positive experience but a few minor remarks are that the service was a bit slower than we’d like, we had to ask for our bread, ask for the check, etc. Additionally while the salmon was flavorful we wished it came with hot sides rather than cold boiled eggs, lettuce and green beans. It seemed more like an afterthought.

I had an amazing birthday celebration at Madison — delicious food, great drinks, breathtaking views of St Paul’s Cathedral, and an incredible atmosphere overall. I wouldn’t hesitate to come back again. Huge thanks to the team for the fantastic service making this birthday memorable ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

My recent visit was to celebrate my birthday, and the entire experience was top-notch. The food was incredible. We ordered the halal steak, and it was truly outstanding—cooked perfectly and seasoned beautifully. The chicken starter was also excellent and a great way to begin the meal. However, the absolute highlight was the staff surprising me with a complimentary birthday cake and drinks! This thoughtful gesture really made the day special. A huge thank you to our server, Tahmid, who took care of us throughout the meal. He was exceptionally patient, attentive, and friendly. We thoroughly enjoyed every moment and will absolutely be coming back in the future. Highly recommend for a special occasion!

Such hype around Madison -- don't fall for it. We were told in particular that the beef/steaks were excellent; what I got was tiny, overpriced and just okay. Agree with other reviewers that the view is stunning -- but when we were there, the view was ruined by the deafening music from "happy hour." Since it was played outside, there was no escaping it and the bass in particular pounded in our bodies. There were just two of us, and we were as far away from the music as we could get, and still couldn't hear each other. Highly recommend spending your time and money elsewhere for a special dinner -- or just go there for drinks, the view and a little hearing loss between friends.

Had a nice experience here. The views are awesome and vibe is very upbeat. The "greeter" on the lower level was a bit off-putting, but once I got past that I had a good time.

Nice Rooftop Bar across from St. Paul's Cathedral. Full Bar specializing in cocktails. There is a full restaurant behind the terrace bar, it seems a DJ plays music Cannot beat the views while sipping one's favorite drink. Service was very friendly, I was seated outside enjoying the mild weather and the views reclining on a sofa at the terrace.

Great view of St. Paul's in a nice location but ultimately just a mall restaurant. Food is just ok. Service is good. Go for a drink and the view.

Great place , amazing ambiance whit more amazing views. The food was really tasty and service was really good. I will definitely coming back on my next visit to London.

The ambiance was great, cute with excellent views. The heat lamps out side make sitting on the terrace more comfortable while you enjoy the breathtaking view of the cathedral. The service was hit or miss. The waitress, never approached us on her own. We had to waive her down and did not feel like a priority. Then to add to it, they asked to move our table to make was for a dinner service. Not sure why my reservation was seated there in the first place, as we get 1.5- 2 hrs to sit and enjoy. Nevertheless we were moved a few tables down and my seat was halfway in an open door. Food was just okay and drinks look better than they taste. Bathrooms were clean but hard to find a trash can. Overall I felt overlooked and brushed aside. The balcony with the view was fantastic though!

Aslam was soo great! He was attentive and gave special attention to our table. The chicken and waffle's were good- just wish it was bone in. Definitely a good find- with bottomless mimosas for 2 hours!

Quite literally the most overrated and douchiest places I've ever been in the world. Thinks it's Vegas but can't live up to hype. Even after making a reservation, paying cover and buying multiple rounds, we still weren't allowed to use the bathroom. Save yourself the trouble and go to Sky Pod London.

The food was average, but better than the service. The waiter didn't listen, brought us drinks we didn't order. Meal came out piecemeal not altogether.

1 star for the views 1 star for the saving grace waiter who gave me still water on the house because he had forgotten for 20 mins after me asking multiple times for water. Food was mediocre, cocktail was decent, service was just terrible, witness the staff getting into a heated argument with another guest on my way out of the restaurant-- if I wasn't in great company of a friend I hadn't seen for 6 years, may have left only 1 star.

Words are not enough to described how fabulous is this lounge in the heart of city of London. Our friend recommended this place to meet for happy hour and dinner. The lounge and restaurant is on the roof top of the 1 New Change building having St. Paul's Cathedral as a backdrop, it was really breathtaking. The ambiance is trendy, the background music is just perfect for customers to have a conversation. They served gorgeous cocktails, although local beers and wine are available as well. We started our dinner with a shared Ravioli and Ox-tail fritters both appetizers are delicious. whilst I chosen Margret duck breast with roasted Jerusalem artichokes, black cabbage, soy and maple glaze as my main entrée. It was very filling, mouth watering and great paired with a glass of Cotes du Rhône. The wait staff are really awesome, they do have a fantastic customer service. We had a lovely time visiting London. I will definitely comeback here and would recommend this place to family and friends.

Even though I only dropped by for a drink and the view, Madison was purely breathtaking and worth a visit (whether a local or tourist). The service was good and the clientele was fun. This place has a great vibe. TIP: If you don't want to wait in the long line for the bar, then just take the express elevator to the roof deck only. You will NOT be disappointed.

Some friends and I came here late one night. I was a little put off at first because they refused one of my friends for having trainers, but he actually had nicer shoes in his bag. Anyway, the initial vibe is one of... snooty just because there are bouncers that tell you to stand at a certain spot for the lift even when there isn't a line and who also make you change your shoes. When we were up the lift we were met with a pretty cool view. The people around were already sufficiency drunk, but the place was quite incredible and the view was awesome. I would definitely come here during the day to try some of their food.

Went here on a Friday night for dinner. Entry was easy as we had reservation. The bar area was buzzing- great vibe, best views, fun music. I really enjoyed the bar area, dining area was nice just more proper- so depends on what you feel like! The food was good- not wow but definitely not bad at all. Though next time I'd rather walk in for drinks ans soak in the view.

This place is great for drinks. The view from Madison is spectacular. We went here on a weekday evening for drinks. Seating for drinks is first come first serve. If you hang around for a bit you can get good spots to sit. Drinks are a little expensive but worth the view & ambience I would definitely recommend this place for drinks

Terrible service! We waited over two hours for our waiter as he ignored us. Unfortunate, that tips are included here. Take a picture of the view on the side of the restaurant because otherwise not worth the wait.

Great drinks by a mixologist with smooth tunes to get you through the evening! You gotta love it!!! And to add you get sin with your over indulgence of alcohol while staring at St Paul's! Go figure! Lol

Had a lovely dinner with some friends, great view, attentive service and amazing food!

I have never been more disrespected at an institution in my life -- don't come here unless you want to prove your right to go in. My friends and I walked in from the cold December London air and were immediately questioned if we were on "medication." What?! When we pushed back the security its because "we had red in our cheeks." It's below freezing out of COURSE our faces will reflect that. Moreover, no one else was questioned like we were. We had reservations for drinks on the rooftop and everything. We had to stand ground and argue for over half an hour just to get in. Absolutely disgraceful. The ownership and management should be ashamed of themselves.

Oh I really did want to find my new city bar, and this promised so much, but delivered so little. I turned up at 4pm on a Thursday and it was already crowded. In order to sit at a sofa in the non smoking section, you have to reserve, and a reservation means a minimum 600 quid spend. (Well if you all let them get away with it, what do you expect?) So I perched at a table for two on a high stool. A friend then turned up and found space round the corner in the smoking section, on a sofa, so I decamped round there. There were four of us meeting and we were really interested in catching up and chatting to each other over some interesting cocktails. That never happened. The clientele basically comprises secretaries in skirts way too short for their figures, heels that they can't walk in, chunky tiffany jewellery, screaming 'Oh My God' to other tables, and married men looking for a quick hook up. Ok, that sounds bitchy, but it's accurate. Even sitting practically in each others' laps, we couldn't all have one conversation at the same time due to the said screaming going on from all all sides. It was like mating season in the monkey enclosure, where only the loudest and screachiest were going to attract the male. The drinks were not good. Very expensive and just not brilliant ingredients. My favourite cocktail is a margarita and I can tell fake 'too sweet' lime juice a mile away - this was like drinking gummy bears. The cosmo my friend ordered had never seen a cranberry in its life and again had gummy bear lime juice. Even the views were a little disappointing, the best place to see them is the public picnic area on the opposite side of the roof to Madison. If you want to try this place (and assuming you are neither a screaming secretary, nor a philandering chap) I would recommend going earlier in the week. Actually scrap that, I wouldn't recommend going here at any time! (They get a point for clean loos. I do like a place that takes care of its nether regions.)

I've been to Madison twice now and I'm pretty lukewarm about it. The cocktails are heinously expensive, yet not great. Service lacks grace. The view is obviously fantastic and the bar itself is pretty nicely done, the outside area has some comfortable seating and the view of St Paul's Cathedral is probably unmatched by any other bar. The night I went there was a really good DJ although we did ask for the music to be turned down (it later went back up). Worth it for a quick drink staring at the view, but not for a whole evening.

Beautiful view of St. Paul's Cathedral! I came here around sunset on a recommendation for drinks and it was PACKED. Drinks were a little pricey but not unreasonable. It has a nice ambiance but that's basically it. I would say it's a good place for an after work drink. After we were done, we went to the public area for the view but drinks are not allowed there.

First time visiting here on a hot, sunny Sunday afternoon for cocktails on the terrace. The weather was perfect, got quite lucky. Nice, chillout catch up with a friend over drinks. Not too pretentious, found great seating near the terrace bar, what was even better, we got lounge service, which meant no queueing up! Was treating my friend to birthday drinks and chose The Rooftop - Hendrick's Gin, Elderflower, Lime & Prosecco. For myself I opted for Strawberr'Le - Belvedere Vodka, Limoncello, Strawberry, sugar and Prosecco. Amazing long drinks for an afternoon, warning though - they are pretty strong, so take your time drinking them. They went down pleasantly well. Round 2 we opted for the Pornstar Martinis - Vanilla Vodka, Passion Fruit, Lemon & Sugar, with a shot of prosecco. I have had a lot of these at various establishments, but these have got to my favourite at Madison's. They're not too overpowering, hydrating and even the prosecco is relatively light and enjoyable. The service is really good, drink suggestions from the mixologists are on point too. Was a perfect afternoon. Will definitely be visiting on more occasions. it has become my new favourite rooftop bar in London

Quite a good view, best enjoyed in summer- when it is very popular with out-of-towners at the weekend. The food is pretty well executed, but fairly timid. Think a step up from All Bar One, but not a very big step- burgers and steak , and a little bit of mild exotica ( a well done lamb tagine, for example). Would pass for the best restaurant in a middling size market town somewhere provincial. The staff, in my experience, are numerous and reasonably efficient, although the poor experiences noted by other reviewers probably result from fatigue at serving the oceans of thirsty drunken punters at peak times.

Had the most degrading experience. Only all brown group. Ladies, pre booked. Went passed 5 security and 3 reception staff, had a quick look of the view, but when we went to sit? Was told out we never had a reservation. The birthday girl was in a smart all black tracksuit and military blacks!. As a result rather than allow her to leave and the rest of us to dine, we were told we never had a reservation. Anyone who know this place knows you can't get past security without a booking!. Needless to say security was then called to initiate intimidation tactics. Unfortunately for them. The birthday girl is an independent black business woman who despite her appearance, had had her feelings very hurt!. Personal injury claim will be filled. Once they realised their rash judgment. They tried to offer us to come back!. You can take this review as a fit royal go Suck Ur Mumma! Will never spend my money I. One of your establishments again! Such a shame. Went to 14 hills the week before! So much more classy and more accommodating! But hey we move!.

Drink: Gin and Tonic - Hendricks Price: £7.50 Review: Reasonably priced for the location. Avoid large groups as the tables are filled pretty early on in the night. Unfortunately, the people who sit on the tables tend not to migrate to other bars so waiting for a table could be some time! People are well dressed, and the atmosphere is fantastically jubilant when the sun decides to come out in this wonderful city!

It's hard to find a good roof terrace in Lonodon and while Madison doesn't have a view of the whole of London, the view it has of St Pauls cathedral is spectacular. It's a good place to take tourist friends visiting London for the first time and a good place to take a date as it's romantic overlooking the cathedral. However, if you are on a date, you may want to think carefully about what time you arrive as it's too epxensive to stay there all night. I suggest arriving early as it fills up toward the end of the night. Only groups can book tables on the terrace. The location inside One New Change means you can start off your night with drinks, and go to Jamie Oliver or Gordon Ramsay's restaurant inside One New Change for dinner.

Madison Bar is by far my favorite spot in all of London. It is a classy, yet laid back rooftop lounge that offers a breathtaking view of the London skyline, as well as the top of St. Paul's Cathedral Dome it is situated right across. You take a glass lift to the top floor of this lounge, and once you step outside, you're presented with a charming little area with tables, sofas, and a wider walking area where you can opt out on the alcohol and just enjoy the view. There's also food on offer but I've only tried the cocktails so far -- which were deliciously exotic by the way. They're not too strong, but that suits the chill atmosphere of the place. I'd recommend this lounge more for a date spot than a pre-drinks place to get yourself pumped for a crazy night out at the club.

Go for the view Plus good cocktails and chilled out atmosphere, great to impress and show London.

Great place to bring visitors to London. I took my friend to the bar on the rooftop at sunset and it was great. We were lucky enough to find a seat outside on a tall table where we could see St Paul's. Prices are on the more expensive side at around £8 a glass of wine, but when you have good views places think they can charge more, so I guess it is to be expected. It's a really pleasant venue though and would be great on a summers evening, but I expect it would get really busy. A lot of people just come up to the rooftop to see the views and take photos so there are quite a lot of people wondering around.

On those rare days the sun does shine down on London, I will be at Madison. Who knew that a top the ugly brown One New Change building there is a sun-bathing gem of a restaurant and bar?! As we exited the elevator on the roof, I felt I was walking into an exclusive club; but the area could not be more accommodating. The cocktails were a little pricey (the cheapest being £8-9), but they were very inventive and tasty. I especially recommend the Passion Fruit Mojito. I didn't eat, but the tapas bar outside or the restaurant inside looked inviting. I will definitely be eating next time. The outdoor seating is stocked with comfy chairs and tables. If you can't snag a seat though, the deck has ample area for mingling and admiring the gorgeous view of St Pauls. Too bad other buildings below block the Thames and other famous London sites, but nevertheless, it's a great place to sunbathe all day and admire the sunset in the evening.

Great location!! Its worth a visit here even if only for an amazing view across London and St Pauls. Very much a post work place and always mobbed in the evenings especially a Friday. It was a lovely evening so we pitched ourselves outside to get a better view. Although it was cold most of the seats have overhead heaters which aren't always turned on so make sure you ask them to switch it on. They have a large supply on designer beers (probably so they can charge you more) and the only beer they have on tap is Heineken which on the night we were there they had none!! Its pricey and the staff aren't the cheeriest of people. Come on guys, with the price of those drinks and the awesome surroundings the least you can do is give us a smile!

This my new favourite watering hole near work. When the suns out there no place better, great vibe, great drink, great sounds, great food If you want to "hire" specific outside space they charge £1000 as a minimum spend for a group of 12 or more. Sounds expensive but for a group of about 20 it's only £50 each

Came here yesterday for lunch with a friend on the special lunch deal of two courses plus glass of wine for £20. The food choice on the set menu was excellent and I had the half a corn fed chicken which was huge and really tasty. My friend had the duck burger which came with fries (and the waitress suggested we share these to save me needing to order a side dish). Service was good and the desserts were delicious - I had orange polenta cake which I would definitely order again. The wine list was good though the cheapest bottle of house was £25 and we chose a delicious rose at £28. The restaurant is on the roof of a modern building (6th floor) with a terrace and bar overlooking St Paul's cathedral. Magnificent views of London. We had coffee afterwards sitting on a sofa in the bar looking at the view. Really great place to enjoy lunch and London.

Did not manage to eat here yet but will defo be back in the future. Great views of St Pauls and even towards the shard etc. A rooftop bar with a DJ is always a hit with me but the music was good to chill to, still conversate without having to shout. They sell cigars, tapas and an extensive drinks menu. May need to re review once I have a bite to eat though...

It was one of those nights where a collared shirt and blazer was accompanied by a beautiful dress and high heels. So of course, me and my girlfriend were out for dinner and drinks in breathtaking London. It was just that, we needed a location that served us tantalising food and beverages and offered us the skyline of the iconic city. We had heard of Madison's before, but never really visited. On arrival, we hit the 6th floor in a glass box of an elevator, which was no coincidence. The breathtaking view of St. Paul's Cathedral and pretty much the entire London skyline had taken our sight for a while. The only thing that ruined this - we didn't get a table at the restaurant. It seemed that nearby businesses had booked it out to have their Christmas party, with waits of up to an hour. C'mon, really?! My advice? Skip going there in the evening for food. It's far too busy, and the wait is ridiculous! The bar on the other hand was as we imagined... amazing mixologists, great drinks but highly priced. But hey, that's London!

Incredible views of the cathedral and the thames London especially as the sun sets and the decorative lights of the city come on! What a great place such an eyeopener! Definitely book if you want to sit and eat! Great for after work drinks as well! Can get very busy so arrive early! We did wait in a queue for a drink for about 20 minutes ( on a tuesday) but it was outdoor and on a nice evening it doesn't really matter if your in good company! The food was yum with lots on the menu to suit different tastes! The pate to start was delicious (not everyone's cup of tea i know) The cocktails were fab! The waiter even asked me what type of one i wanted then went to the bar to ask for one to be made up that wasn't on the menu as a treat! Such a lovely setting for an evening. I will definitely go back

I really liked the view of the Madison, that's the first thing you notice when you take the elevator up to the 6th floor. The bar is quite expensive however, it costs around 10 pounds for a cocktail, and the line for the bar was fairly long but went kind of quick. There are areas to sit with laid back music to the left of the elevator. Go look at the view of The City before you grab a drink, since you can't bring your drink along with you on the main part of the rooftop.

As a bar, this place has tasty cocktails and an amazing view but really that's it (I can't yet comment on the restaurant). Booking an area requires a hefty deposit and without that there's not much space to stand, let alone sit. I have been a few times but I guess the last trip left a bitter taste in my mouth. We huddled on a bench area outside one evening at the end of April when the weather had been unseasonably cold having had hail earlier in the day. There were no heaters, only blankets. Friends arrived separately and it was ok until the last person tried to come up the lift and the door staff (at the lift entrance) refused to let him in citing no table reservation. With us already upstairs they then used the excuse of dress code (black leather trainers) which I think is a bit much for a bar on a Thursday night. With no other choice we finished our drinks and joined our friend. We moved on to The Happenstance where the drinks were cheaper and the staff really welcoming.

Let's begin with the facts... a) It's expensive b) It has amazing views Glad we got that out of the way. It reminds me of a frou-frou sceney over-priced rooftop bar in Manhattan called 230Fifth. But I still recommend that place to out of towners who like the scene and want to experience it (except there you get red robes in the winter time). Drinks are on the expensive end but try ordering a low-to-mid priced bottle of wine. Saves you some £ and saves you from having to fight crowds on a packed evening to get back to the bar. I will say - this is a prime spot come Friday when it's nice out. Watch the time because there is a queue (and supposed dress code) but it moves. Honestly, I've been here less than a month and been twice. The 2nd time because some out of town visitors suggested it but I really couldn't find it in my heart to say "no, you DON'T want incredible views of St. Pauls and London during sunset...."

Madison lived up to the reputation of having a nice view of the city, most notably St. Paul's Cathedral. However the best view is not actually from the bar but the free observation deck where you are not allowed to drink. It's a shame because there could be so much more room to enjoy the view. That said, it's a good spot to tick off your list if you're a tourist but the locals say that crowds are common and queues are unbearable. My experience was lucky coming just before the post-work rush and finding reasonable prices considering the location. I even managed to get a table although generally you will wait downstairs without a booking and can expect much more hassle on a sunny evening. I wouldn't be a regular here but then again, it was a nice place to go without a booking, as the popular Sky Garden was fully booked all week.

I'm guessing a lot of people ordered the 'Hatorade' when they came here. I actually quite liked it. I dropped in after a session of yoga on the roof of One New Change. The terrace views of St.Pauls, the London Eye and the Shard are amazing - amazing date location. Inside it's floor to ceiling windows showcasing a panoramic view that must be awesome at night. Since it was a Sunday that I showed up, it was pretty quiet and I had my pick of seats. No crazy after-work crew like some of the other reviewers had to deal with. I had a glass of wine and some fries and soaked in the sun. The menu is a little on the pricey side for starters/tapas type dishes but the views make up for it. Only downside was the waiters are kinda strange and they brought me the wrong kind of fries. I like the bathrooms, they are large and very airy.

You know you're in a classy joint when there's a £9 drink called Hot Bitch, which packed a punch and was quite fiery (just like I like my hot bitches, yeaaa). Sure it's a bit expensive with its small portions and big price tags. But who can beat the incredible evening view of a lit up St. Paul and London Eye? Came here on a Monday night at around 7, and although it was busy, we were easily able to get a table. The £8.5 Japanese Cooler was a nice juxtapose to the Hot Bitch with its exotic addition of wasabi. Shared a few tapas, which were good but quickly added up. We all agreed the £7 Popcorn Squid was just as calamari should be (ie not rubbery), the £7 Fish and Chips were served in a cute mini frying basket and tasted as fish should taste (ie not rubbery), and the truffle fries were the consensual favorite (also not rubbery if you were asking). Definitely will come here again, maybe with a fuller wallet next time.

Madison is one of my favorite spots in London; there is no other rooftop bar quite like it. Literally facing St Pauls and overlooking the Shard and the London Eye, it boasts some of the best views of London. It is extremely spacious outside (yet a small bar inside) with seating and heat lamps for the less forgiving months of the year. The wine list is varied and the cocktails are sublime. The restaurant (across from the bar) has a fun, young vibe with a diverse menu. The food is well-presented and very tasty. The service is outstanding - waiters are extremely kind, helpful and attentive. I would absolutely go back, especially to enjoy the rooftop bar in the spring and summer!

In my continuing quest to overpay for drinks in London, I find my self displeased with the Madison. Or should I say, pleased that I failed my quest and didn't overpay. Cocktails 10 pounds. Wine from 5 and up. BUT THE VIEW. OH THE VIEW.

I guess you pay for the atmosphere here. 6 quid for a gin and tonic, and it seems very hip to go there after work, especially on a Friday night. The place was packed when we arrived at 7pm. We managed to nab a table as soon as another group left, but no seating at all. It was so loud, I was shouting the whole time. Took forever to get a drink, but the plus side was the beautiful view of the city at night, and right next door to St. Paul's Cathedral, also a lovely view.

There's no denying that the views are pretty extraordinary, especially at sunset. However, Madison is what I would think of as a tourist's idea of where COOL HIP LONDONERS go to hang out and be cool and hip. The drinks are ok (but kind of pricey for the variety you're getting) and the tapas aren't much better. The crowd is very mixed depending on the day and there's a minimum spend for reservations. Be warned, trying to get here after work on a Thursday when the weather is nice is like trying to invade Greece at the battle of Thermopylae. Hoards of people are squeezed into the glassbox elevator, made to ferment in the ride up to the roof and then stuffed again into a tightly rope-curtained standing area diligently patrolled by security personnel. Guess this is Sparta.

Madison has some clear pros and cons, though I'd give it four stars just for its unique pros. First, if you work in the Bank area, the location is perfect. In my case, this place is about 10min walk away from my office which makes it an ideal after-work venue for any purpose. Second, the view of St Paul's is one of a kind. Depending on the time of the day, you'll get different experiences too, so try to be there for a couple hours to see the full spectrum of the views this place can offer. However, a clear downside is the difficulty of getting in at peak times. For example, only two elevators operate up and down the building, and there can be a huge queue to even get on the lift to get to the bar. Once at the bar, you then have to go on a quest to find a spot to stand and drink amidst a heavy crowd. The drinks are good, though can be considered pricey. I liked their finger foods last time I tried. Finally, the indoors venue is quite well-done -- might be worth trying to get a table next time for a private party.

We found Madison's while walking through the area. The views cant be beat, 6 floors up and across the street from St.Peter's cathedral. They have many signature drinks. Staff is very pleasant from the hostess, managing staff and servers. Only issue, which was minor is the price. But I thought it was worth it.