How to Visit the Coppa Club Igloos Without a Reservation
Dine with the best view in London with a cozy igloo all to yourself.
It's impossible not to fall in love with these dreamy igloos.
You have probably see them on Instagram or Pinterest but may not know where they are located or how to actually visit. This page will give you all the info you need to dine at this iconic location with or without a reservation.
Where are They?
London has many venues that now offer scenic igloos, but the best igloos in London are at The Coppa Club. There are multiple Coppa Club locations, but to get the perfect view of the The Shard and Tower Bridge as shown in the pictures above, make sure you you visit the Tower Bridge location.
Reservations Fill Up Fast
When I was planning my first trip to London, visiting these igloos was one of my top priorities. I followed Coppa Club on Instagram, and they tell you when the online igloo reservations open to the public. I was online the moment the reservations opened, but the website froze six times and crashed four times. I finally confirmed a reservation but I immediately received an email saying it was cancelled. For no reason. I tried three more times, and the same thing kept happening, so I gave up. I called the restaurant but never got through. Apparently this is quite common because the igloos are so popular that the sudden increase in website traffic causes a crash.
IF you able to make a reservation for Coppa Club online, make sure you choose the Tower Bridge location and specifically choose the "igloo" option; it may not be available on all days/times. If you are not, read on to learn how you can visit without a reservation like we did.
Dining at Coppa Club Without a Reservation
The secret: the restaurant always keeps one igloo open for walk-ins. So hypothetically you could visit at any time as long as you're willing to wait. But if you're like me, you don't want to waste your vacation standing in line.
My recommendation: arrive early for breakfast. The restaurant opens at 7:30am Mon-Fri and 9am Sat-Sun. We arrived at 7:15am on a Tuesday and had the entire igloo to ourselves. If you'd rather have a lazy morning opt for Saturday or Sunday and get there at 8:45am. We ate light, just tea, fruit and a pastry, but the ambiance was unbeatable. We watched the sun rise over the Tower Bridge and it could not have been more perfect.
If you do choose to start your morning here, I recommend heading straight to the Tower of London right after. It's a five minute walk and opens at 9am Tue-Sat. Arriving early will allow you to see the Crown Jewels before the crowds descend. From there head over the Tower Bridge to Borough Market, The Shard and The Globe. Find more info on this itinerary by checking out A Perfect 3 Day London Itinerary.
FAQ
Are the igloos heated?
Yes. This is London, everything is heated. Plus the chairs have sheepskin rugs and extra blankets available.
Can I walk in for lunch or dinner?
You can certainly try, but the wait will be much longer. Your best bet is to get to the restaurant before it opens so you will be the first in line for walk-ins.
Can I get the same view from inside the restaurant?
In short, no. But the inside is beautifully decorated as well. It looks like West Elm teamed up with a vintage store to create a colorful midcentury escape. The front facing wall is made entirely of windows, so you will still see something, but you won't get the magic of being right on the water with a the panoramic view.
I made a reservation but then received a cancellation that I did not initiate. Do I still have a reservation?
No. I contacted the restaurant through Instagram when this happened and they assured me that if I had a confirmation number (which I did) that my reservation still stood, and they were just working out the kinks. However, when we arrived early on the day of the "reservation" hoping to walk-in, they confirmed that the reservation had indeed been cancelled. Good thing we planned ahead.
