Sonnys Riverside — Restaurant in London

Sonny’s is a fantastic new rooftop bar by Kingston Riverside that’s already become one of my favourite spots in town. It offers a winning combination of delicious food, great service, and a relaxed atmosphere with a stunning riverside view.

What makes Sonny’s stand out is its laid-back charm. The rooftop has a natural, slightly rustic feel, with a canopy that blends in nicely with the surroundings—it’s not overly fancy, but it adds to the warm, inviting vibe. The view over the river is absolutely beautiful, especially as the sun sets. It’s the perfect setting for a casual lunch, drinks with friends, or a date night.

The food here is genuinely excellent. Every dish we tried was fresh, well-seasoned, and packed with flavour. The menu has a great mix of options, whether you’re after light bites or something more filling. The drinks are just as impressive—cocktails are creative and well-balanced, and the staff are happy to recommend pairings.

Speaking of the staff, the service is one of Sonny’s strongest points. Everyone we interacted with was friendly, attentive, and seemed to really enjoy working there. It made the whole experience feel even more special.

Sonny’s feels like a place that was created with care—not trying too hard, just getting the essentials right. With its riverside location, relaxed style, and consistently good food and service, it’s a great addition to Kingston. I’ll definitely...

Sonny’s Riverside has exploded out of the corpse of The Viper Rooms, much like a xenomorph bursting from a ribcage. And honestly, that’s a good thing.

It’s a complete transformation. The stunning riverside views, once wasted under the reign of McCluskies and Viper Rooms, are now front and centre. The newly rebuilt outdoor area is clearly going for a “daytime party in Miami” vibe. Is it pulling it off? The answer is yes.

Security and staff, some of whom were Bacchus' finest, were quick to explain this was a soft launch and that improvements are still ongoing. That would explain the occasional awkward pause between songs and the odd bit of building that still looks a work in progress.

As for the reviews complaining about the lack of seating, Kendrick once said, ...Dont Kill my Vibe. It’s a popular place. That’s how chairs work. You don’t get one just for showing up. Maybe get there earlier?

My only current gripe? It closes at 10pm, last orders 9.30. That’s painfully early. I've temporarily docked a star as a result, sweet talk the council and hustle a few more hours.

Still, this is a brilliant little venue with big energy, and I’ll definitely be back. Massive respect to Sonny’s for trying to revive the fun in Kingston’s after a decade of painful bar closures....

Things I love- the pizza is delicious! views are amazing, drinks affordable and people lovely.

Things that need to improve- Frustrating that you can’t order from the waiters and have to use the app or bar queue, with poor wifi it took 15 minutes and our order still hadn’t gone through. The staff are firendly but need training, the guy at the bar didnt know what 'sex on the beach' was when ordering a cocktail so had to choose something else instead. They put our order through twice because they didnt know how to use the till (we, the customer helped them do it).

Could also do with some more standing tables as there is nowhere to put drinks if you havent booked/acquired a seat. So it feels a bit awkward.

Re the enteratinment, the guy had a good voice but it was like being at a funeral. They definetly need a better vibe, perhaps a DJ playing beach house or a singer with more buzz.

In sum, this place has so much potential. Hopefully management will just invest a bit more time and money into training and WIFI so people can visit, have fun, eat yummy food and chill in good...