When the sun does choose to shine on London there is no better place to be than one of its outdoor restaurants: from secret scented-gardens to kerbside people watching; expansive terraces high above the hustle and bustle to chic courtyards. And hopefully we won’t need the blankets, umbrellas, heaters…
Scott’s Terrace
Founded in 1851 as an oyster warehouse, Scott’s is perhaps one of London’s most famous seafood restaurants. It was here that the James Bond creator and Scott’s regular Ian Fleming reportedly discovered shaken-not-stirred martinis. You may find writers, celebrities and politicians dining on lobster thermidor and beluga caviar — and in the summer you can do it all outside on the restaurant’s terrace. The space is thoughtfully laid out on the pavement in front of the venue but it’s cleverly protected by plants so you don’t feel too too exposed. There are also heaters — lots of them.
20 Mount St, London W1K 2HE, scotts-mayfair.com
The River Café
The River Café’s Thames-side location makes it perfect for a taste of outdoor London dining. It was opened in 1987 by Ruth Rogers and Rose Grey and was originally conceived as a canteen for the architecture practice of Rogers’s husband, Richard Rogers. Soon enough the trio turned the canteen into a restaurant, which remains widely acclaimed for its simple, seasonal, ingredients-first take on Italian food. An ever-changing menu means that you can eat something delicious and new every time you visit while enjoying the sun setting over the river.
Thames Wharf, Rainville Rd, London W6 9HA, rivercafe.co.uk
Casa Cruz
Sometimes you just need a great steak and when that craving hits it’s best to see the experts. At the Argentine-inspired eatery Casa Cruz, top-notch food is only one of the delights you’re sure to encounter. The other is celebrities. Recently it was the venue for a meeting of the minds between Taylor Swift, Cara Delevingne, Kate Moss and Andrew Scott (among others). The Beckhams are regulars and Leonardo DiCaprio is a fan.
Casa Cruz is housed in a Victorian building that was built as a pub and has maintained the same exterior architecture. The top floors of the restaurant are reserved for members, who can access its glamorous outdoor area with views of Notting Hill that are perfect for a glitzy summer evening alfresco.
123A Clarendon Rd, London W11 4JG, casacruz.co.uk
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Julie’s in Holland Park
Recently reopened under new ownership, Julie’s has been a west London establishment since it opened in 1969. It was the site of Kate Moss’s 22nd birthday and it’s where a £25,000 oak table — danced on by Tina Turner and lain on by Yoko Ono — was stolen. With a menu chock-full of French brasserie-style deliciousness (try some oysters from the raw fish counter, moules au Roquefort, or a lobster Caesar salad with a side of frites, for example), you really can’t go wrong.
The restaurant can seat 160 and a handful of tables can be found outside on the pavement in the summer.
135 Portland Rd, London W11 4LW, juliesrestaurant.com
Rooftop at the Berkeley
There’s nothing more fun than hanging out on a chic lounger by the pool — especially when there’s a rooftop involved. At the Berkeley Hotel’s rooftop there is all manner of delicious drinks and bites to enjoy, including sushi rolls, steaks or tuna tartare. You can also take aesthetically pleasing photos of your afternoon to make everyone jealous.
Wilton Pl, London SW1X 7RL, the-berkeley.co.uk
Maison Estelle
It’s only been open for 18 months but Maison Estelle has established itself as Mayfair’s in-the-know luxury members’ club. So you’ll have to be a member (£15,000 a year, we hear) or be invited as a guest to the grade I listed townhouse off Dover Street to enjoy its rooftop terrace, which is the place to be on a sunny Friday evening. Put a sticker on your phone and travel up to the fourth floor in the lift, pass through a shadowy anteroom with swagged curtains and you will find the roof. It’s all very Parisian and bijou: a cool little bar, yellow velvet sofas, antique carpets, heavy gold ashtrays (you can smoke), champagne and grown-up looking cocktails, burgers and bowls of pasta. Everyone seems to know everyone else and feel very pleased with themselves for being here.
6 Grafton St, London W1S 4EQ, maisonestelle.com
The Corinthia
The Garden is the Corinthia’s summer terrace and it’s very Dolce Vita with tumbling bougainvillea, sherbet orange striped cushions and Italian themed, seasonally sourced food — but because this isn’t Capri there are also heaters, blankets and a retractable awning. When we were there for lunch in late May this passed muster, keeping us dry during an extraordinary downpour so we could enjoy our huge tiger prawns with Aleppo pepper, perfect spaghetti cacio e pepe and negronis. The tiramisu served table-side might well be the best in London.
Whitehall Pl, London SW1A 2BD, corinthia.com
Chiltern Firehouse
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On a warm summer day there can be no better spot for people watching because everyone, whether they are eating inside or out, has to pass through Chiltern’s outdoor space. There are lounging sofa options for more relaxed events — a lunch of oysters, crab linguine or citrus-marinated chicken easily segueing into an afternoon of fun, especially when the tequila and mescal cocktail, the Oxomoco, is thrown into the mix.
1 Chiltern St, London W1U 7PA, chilternfirehouse.com
Toklas
Some say that this restaurant serves the best chips in London, but there are many other delights to sample in this mid-century design lover’s paradise. The menu is clever, modern British meets Mediterranean, and at this time of year dishes such as the Cuore del Vesuvio tomatoes, squid ink taglioni and wild sea bass crudo can be eaten on the terrace overlooking the old Strand Tube station. There’s an adjoining bakery, meaning that the bread is absurdly good; as are the arancia negronis. And don’t forget the chips.
1 Surrey St, Temple, London WC2R 2ND, toklaslondon.com
La Famiglia
A Sloane Rangers’ stalwart, La Famiglia has been serving Chelsea natives old-school trattoria fare in their blue and white liveried dining room for nearly 50 years. Lovely at any time of year but extra special in those warmer months when the awnings come off the summer terrace and you can pretend you’re in Tuscany, surrounded by gnarled olive trees as you eat classic feelgood dishes. Treat yourself to deep-fried artichoke, calamari fritti, calves liver and torta della nonna, while working through the wine list of fat Tuscan reds and Italian fizz.
7 Langton St, London SW10 0JL, lafamiglia.co.uk
Petersham Nurseries
This Richmond restaurant was started in 1997 by husband-and-wife duo Gael and Francesco Boglione, and is still family run. Today it’s helmed by the oldest of the couple’s four children, Lara. Sustainability is a key element of the locally sourced and seasonally inspired menu (attached to the restaurant is a nursery after all) and this Italian restaurant also happens to have the terrace of dreams.
Forget Italy. Filled with plants, colourful flowers and beautifully appointed tables, this is exactly where you want to spend a long, lazy afternoon drinking Aperol spritzes and eating insalata caprese.
Off Church Ln, Petersham Rd, Richmond TW10 7AB, petershamnurseries.com
Rochelle Canteen
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Tucked away behind an unmarked door in the middle of busy Shoreditch, Margot Henderson’s Rochelle Canteen is the ideal sunny afternoon escape. You can only access it by ringing an easy-to-miss doorbell, which opens to a large (for a city centre) grassy garden adjoining a covered terrace. There are white tablecloths but no pretence and the small indoor section has large doors that are opened in the summer.
16 Playground Gardens, London E2 7FA, rochellecanteen.com
Brat x Climpson’s Arch in London Fields
This summer make a point to visit Michelin-starred Brat’s Hackney venue in London Fields. In a covered courtyard the restaurant serves treats such as whole crab with hay butter, seasonal veggies and freshly baked wood-fired breads. You can book ahead but the restaurant always holds spaces for walk-ins, making it a perfect venue for a last minute jaunt on a sunlit day.
374 Helmsley Pl, London E8 3SB, bratrestaurant.co.uk
Primeur
One of the coolest spots in east London for a small plate, Primeur flings open its doors on summer days and becomes a warm weather wonderland. A sustainably minded joint, it serves an ever-changing menu of seasonally inspired dishes, including burrata with courgettes and basil, lobster baked rice and cuttlefish ragu — all of which you can couple with natural wines.
Barnes Motors, 116 Petherton Rd, London N5 2RT, primeurn5.co.uk
Louie
At the opulent Soho seafood restaurant you can enjoy a lobster roll topped with crisps alongside an ice-cold martini while tucked away in the velvet and gold-laden dining room. But the real fun begins at the end of the evening when the lights dim and everyone makes their way up to the restaurant’s terraced cocktail bar. It’s moody and extravagant, and getting the nod to head up makes the whole thing feel even more cool. DJs, stiff negronis and cigarettes await on this secret terrace. It can be a little packed on a weekend, but in a good way, plus it’s covered so you can keep dancing outside till the wee hours even if it rains.
13-15 West St, London WC2H 9NE, louie-london.com
The Terrace at the Ritz
Open till mid-September, this chic terrace which overlooks Green Park is walk-ins only, so it’s the perfect place for a last minute summer jaunt. It serves cocktails, tea, and food and even has a special caviar and champagne experience on offer. It can be adjusted to suit the tastes of those who know their way around a pearl spoon, and those who are new to the delicacy. After all, no summer afternoon is truly complete without a little alfresco caviar.
150 Piccadilly, St. James’s, London W1J 9BR, theritzlondon.com
