London's Best Outdoor Restaurants
Dining out is always a treat, but nothing beats dining out alfresco: the food is that much tastier, the drinks slip down more easily and the mood is pure pleasure. With high summer hitting its peak, we’ve selected London’s best outdoor eateries. Tuck in.
Julie’s, Holland Park
A west-London institution, Julie’s decadent vibe and discreet setting has been luring locals, celebrities, artists and royalty for over 55 years. Recently re-opened after changing hands and undergoing a sumptuous interior refresh, this modern French brasserie continues to capture the boho spirit of its Holland Park home.
Luca, Farringdon
Step into Luca’s cobbled courtyard and you’re transported to the sunlit streets of Italy, where you’ll dine among olive trees and beautifully scented jasmine. The vibe is elegantly relaxed, with fireside terrace seating, while the menu boasts elevated Italian cuisine. Be warmed, the daily offerings from in-house pasta room are almost impossible to resist.
The Laundry, Brixton
No reservation is required (though booking advisable) at this popular neighbourhood venue with its bustling outdoor terrace. Enjoy a mix of traditional dishes with an Australasian flourish from a kitchen that serves from morning to midnight. This is good, honest cooking; no surprise then that The Laundry is home to South London’s best Sunday roast.
Image: Luca, Farringdon
Image: The Laundry, Brixton
Rochelle Canteen, Shoreditch
Step inside Rochelle Canteen, and you swiftly forget you’re in the round-the-clock bustle of east London, such is the peaceful air this walled-garden restaurant conjures. Adding to the fresh feel is Canteen’s simple, daily-changing offering of Britain and European dishes. The result is a mouthwatering menu of taste-packed food made with quality produce.
Seabird, Southwark
Head to this rooftop hangout and soak up panoramic (you might say “bird’s-eye”) views while sampling a taste of southern Europe: alongside Spanish-inspired dishes, you’ll find London’s longest oyster menu and an incredible raw bar. Come for the food and stay for the party – Thursday to Saturday nights (until September 30th) find the rooftop rocking, with guest DJs and moreish Casamigos cocktails.
Towpath Café, De Beauvoir Town
Head for the Towpath’s outdoor seating area beside the seasonal cafe – a Victorian boathouse overlooking Regent’s Canal. A favourite with Islington dwellers, this relaxed and rustic eatery offers tasty Mediterranean and British dishes, served right by the river. Feast on vegetarian and vegan delights, and feel your cares drift away with the tranquil canal waters.
The River Café Café, Hammersmith
Newly opened this summer, the River Café Café is the next-door neighbour and baby sister of the iconic River Café. If it’s possible to imagine, this venue has an even more relaxed vibe than the original, with alfresco seating beside the Thames. Prices are lower than those of its celebrated sibling, but the Italian-inspired fare is no less heavenly.
Sparrow Italia, Mayfair
Sparrow’s Nest is the rooftop terrace of the elegant Sparrow Italia in central London. Come for the incredible cocktails and artfully presented cocktails, drink in the rooftop views, before feasting on mouthwatering modern Italian cuisine. Our favourite main course? The meatballs with whipped ricotta and the spicy rigatoni are sublime.
Image: Sparrow Italia, Mayfair
Image: The River Café Café, Hammersmith
Campania & Jones, Columbia Road
This stylish little spot serves southern Italian dishes made with local and seasonal produce. The venue has a quaint, old-school air and nabbing one of the outdoor seats adds to the ambience. The menu changes regularly, with pasta made daily on-site, and the dishes are as delightful as the venue, ensuring you leave with stomach and heart equally full.
Fallow, St James’s
In the mood for outdoor foodie delights in a luxe Westminster location? Look no further than Fallow, where sumptuous sustainable fare is the order of the day. The mood on the wraparound terrace is buzzy yet relaxed, the staff are knowledgeable and the cuisine is gloriously creative. A true eating-out treat.
Toklas, Temple
Launched by founders of the Frieze art fair, Toklas boasts an outdoor terrace courtyard, suspended above Surrey Street – a typically creative and stylish setting from which to enjoy its sublime Mediterranean fare. Vegetables and seafood sit forefront in a menu of simple but splendid dishes, while lustworthy puddings and ice-creams complete the perfect picture.
The Culpeper, Whitechapel
The Rooftop Garden at this Spitalfields gastropub offers more than just incredible views. Seated amongst beds of herbs and veg, grown for the kitchen and cocktails, you can tuck into offerings from the tasty grill menu, order a Culpeper picnic or enjoy one of the scrumptious seasonal dishes. And don’t leave without ordering a Culpeper gin & tonic, billed as “the best known to man!”
La Goccia Petersham Nurseries,
Covent Garden
A lively Italian in Covent Garden, La Goccia is an offshoot of the main Petersham Nurseries in Richmond and shares its focus on seasonal food. Naturally, the courtyard is a foliage-filled haven, while the menu offers Italian “aperitivo” and small plates known as “cicchetti”, rustled up in the open kitchen. Add heavenly puddings, and it’s hard to go home.
Gold, Notting Hill
This Portobello Road joint has a cool, multicultural mood befitting its location in laid-back Ladbroke Grove. Set over four floors, our favourite is the attic terrace – a vibey jungle of an outdoor space where you can sit, surrounded by lush greenery, and enjoy scrumptious seasonal dishes, cooked in wood ovens and designed to share. And then there are the cocktails…!
Image: Gold, Notting Hill
Image: La Goccia Petersham Nurseries, Covent Garden