The Resy Guide To Outdoor Dining in London

Alfresco in Central

Where better than Missy Flynn and Gabriel Pryce’s Soho hotspot to relax on a hot day? There’s a hidden garden at the back, where you’ll be looked after by a charismatic front of house, and to dine, Pryce’s memorable spin on American fare on the menu. Cocktails are a must (their Paloma is one of London’s best) and the upbeat vibe is irresistible.

The tables on the street outside Quo Vadis in Soho are highly sought after spots. Who knows who’ll you’ll spy as you slurp oysters and knock back the sherry? Wise chef Jeremy Lee pays close heed to the seasonal calendar. In the summer months, you’ll find chilled soups, all manner of salad, the pick of the vegetable plot, and soft fruits tumbled with meringues and more whipped cream than is decent.

Terraces in East London

A sheltered terrace and fresh pours at Dalston’s 40FT Brewery make this live fire BBQ spot an ideal place to gather with friends. Here, sip some of London’s best craft ales while enjoying snacks and small plates from the formidable chef duo of Daniel Watkins and Andrew Clarke. Don’t sleep on the cocktails, either – their mezcal negroni is a perfect summer drink.

A handful of outdoor tables at Max Rocha’s white-hot London Fields restaurant are covetable, not least for Rocha’s fine seasonal Irish-Med cooking, but also for the peak Hackney vibes. Order a white port and tonic as you watch the canal shimmer beneath the husks of hollowed-out silos, and enjoy fresh anchovy and sage fritti, fine pastas and salads, and desserts to die for.

Your hot Hackney summer starts at Lardo. This welcoming London Fields Italian is made for hot days and balmy nights, when all the action gravitates to the terrace out front. Sip spritzes, Negronis, natural wine or lemon sherbet, and dig into silky pasta, sourdough pizzas, and some of the best tiramisu in town. Open seven days a week. Bookable inside and out.

Sam Lim and Brett Redman’s second outpost of their popular wine bar and restaurant is cannily situated as you enter London Fields from Mare Street; meaning that the restaurant’s terrace is perfect for watching summer evenings unfold. Cocktails and natural wines are a calling card, as are perfectly blistered sourdough pizzas; woodfired small plates of veg, fish and meat are excellent if you’re going all in. Don’t miss the La Vina-style burnt cheesecake.

The swathe of pavement outside Pophams near London Fields feels like the centre of the universe when the sun shines on Hackney. There’s plenty of space at the large wooden tables, so gather your mates together to work your way through a few bottles of natural wine and as much pasta as you can manage. Seasonal variations on the theme include triangoli with peas, Amalfi lemon and cacioricotta and Jersey Royal and Comté cannelloni. By day, there’s coffee, pastries, toasties and more.

A beautified terrace with a commanding view of Bishopsgate, Eataly’s al fresco bar and restaurant is both stylish and ultra-convenient for lunches and after-work catchups. Keep it easy with Aperol spritz and pasta; or drop in on Wednesdays, where you can expect chilled prosecco and freshly shucked oysters all day.

This Shoreditch institution is particularly beatific during the warmer months, and they’ve reopened their idyllic sheltered terrace for guests. Menu-wise, familiar comforts abound, with classics like smoked cod’s roe, lemon sole with monk’s beard, and a superb tart or ice cream all correct and present.

It may not be on the banks of the Rhine or in a picturesque Bordeaux village but the Renegade Urban Winery in Bethnal Green is still a totally unique place to uncork a bottle of wine. Catch some rays at the beer hall tables in the alleyway as you snack on British cheese and charcuterie with a bottle of wine made in east London. Who needs Champagne when a bottle of Bethnal Bubbles is just £39?

The annual reopening of the sun deck at Dudley’s is a cause for celebration in Walthamstow: those breakfast buns hit different in the sun. In the evening, the light softens, the candles are lit, and the summer cocktails and natural wines start to flow. Impeccable eats include cheese and Marmite beignets, hand-dived scallops and trout roe, and beef tartare and chips. Reservations taken Thursday to Saturday evenings.

One of London’s best restaurants for southern-style barbecue, David Carter’s Shoreditch institution has a spacious outdoor area, with plenty of benches for groups and shelter in case the weather turns. The Texas-style brisket and plenty of bourbon cocktails won’t hurt, either.

A favourite of East Londoners in the know, Laxeiro comes into its own during the summer with an informal patio for outdoor dining on Columbia Road itself, and comforting plates of Spanish cooking. Perfectly fried fritters, grilled fish and octopus, and thirst-quenching glasses of Galician-style gin and tonic make for fine summer dining.

A canalside location and a Venetian-inspired menu are two of the draws at this East London neo-bacaro, but really, chef Mitshel Ibrahim’s cooking is always worth the trip. Handmade pasta, desserts and tiramisu are outstanding, as are a bevy of apéritifs best taken on the restaurant’s sprawling (and newly renovated) outdoor terrace.

Freddie Janssen’s globetrotting menu pays tribute to everything from birria tacos to wickedly good sloppy joes and even a classic white fish sandwich. In short, it’s never short of thrills, with excellent coffee and cocktails from Empirical. There’s a relaxed garden out back with plenty of space for a catch up, laid back brunch, or an upbeat get-together.

That feeling when you’re looking for somewhere to eat in an unfamiliar Italian city and you stumble upon ‘the one’? That’s the feeling you get when you encounter Trattoria Brutto on its Farringdon back street. The old coach lamp, the red-checked tablecloths, the warm glow from inside are pure Fellini. There’s a handful of tables under the awning, where you can sip £5 Negronis, twirl fettuccine, and drink grappa into the night.

Easily one of the city’s best spots for great Japanese cooking, Koya’s terrace in the sheltered environs of Bloomberg Arcade should be on every Londoner’s go-to list for scintillating sharing plates, superb udon noodles and broths in a variety of styles. Pro tip: keep an eye out for interesting dishes from one of London’s finest specials boards.

Tucked away in Holborn Studios, this laid-back bar and kitchen’s double act comes courtesy of brothers Fin and Lorcan Spiteri. The restaurant’s cheeseburger and fried chicken sandwich have become cult favourites, best enjoyed with a stiff cocktail. While they’re not reopen for dine in yet, their expansive new outdoor deck on the Regents Canal is a spectacular place to spend a few hours.

Al fresco may be an Italian term but the French do it pretty well too. Case in point: Provender, a neighbourhood bistro and pavement café in leafy Wanstead. There’s space for 12 on the rattan chairs outside, where a Kir Royale whets the appetite for the £19 lunch menu (also served Tuesday to Thursday evenings). The à la carte is the definition of comme il faut, beginning with smoked crevettes or traditional charcuterie, ahead of escargots, French onion soup, côte de veau, or cod with mouclade.

Alfresco in North London

The latest residency in at The Compton Arms in Islington after Four Legs and Belly is Tiella by chef Dara Klein, ex Sager & Wilde and Trullo. “Punk rock Pugliese” is how the Evening Standard’s Jimi Famurewa describes her disarmingly good rustic Italian dishes such as meatball buns with smoked scamorza, sagne ncannulate pasta tossed with cime di rapa and bay leaf pannacotta with Fernet Branca. Reservations taken for spots in the groovy tiled garden.

Whether the Tamil Prince’s success is down to the pneumatic channa batura, the crispy okra fries, or the masala grilled prawns, who can say? All we know is that this modern-day desi pub in Barnsbury is permanently rammed. It can take some forward-planning to secure a spot, so it’s good news that it spills outside onto wooden picnic tables looking out on the leafy square. A pint of cold lager has never tasted so good.

Grab a few plates of tacos, Mexican sharing plates, and cocktails with friends in an airy, covered terrace in Coal Drops Yard. Tortillas are pressed daily in house, and larger dishes like cochinita pibil (slow-roast pork with orange, achiote, and charred garlic) for splitting a few ways always hit the spot.

With a dreamy terrace and beer garden, there’s room for the entire clan including kids and dogs. Food is from the same team behind legendary gastropub The Anchor and Hope, and is excellent — tender pork with chickpeas, cuttlefish rice and aioli, and a spiced rabbit pie for two feature on a menu that delivers summer on a plate.

Bowls of Malaysian laksa assert themselves as the can’t miss dish at this city-defining restaurant in Highbury. Owner and KL native Mandy Yin based it off versions she ate growing up, but while tradition is a part of her story, innovations like an addictive Malaysian fried chicken or refreshing gado-gado salad are her own. There’s plenty of space on Holloway Road’s wide pavement to linger. Don’t miss the tangy assam laksa if it’s on.

There’s plenty to love at this open-air beer-and-BBQ hub from the team behind Two Tribes brewery; part community hub and part beer garden, the covered space centres around open fire pits where joints of meat are slow cooked to perfection. Beers could not be fresher – the brewery is literally steps away – and there are frequently guest chefs manning the fire, so keep an eye on their Instagram.

The cuisine at Bintang leaps across Southeast Asia, but owner Omar Shah never strays too far from his Filipino roots. Stir-fries and slow-cooked dishes sing with flavours like mangosteen and chilli, while a heated, covered garden at the back is perfect for enjoying the restaurant’s standout brunch. Pro tip: don’t miss the pandesal French toast.

Aussie chef Bill Granger’s London restaurants have become an institution in their own right, with their smashed avo and hotcakes often imitated, but rarely bettered. Cocktails and brunches are excellent, while a more substantial menu is available at dinner. There’s a pretty patio for al fresco dinner and drinks, with its position en route to Granary Square making it particularly good for people watching opportunities.

Outdoors in South London

The best meals are often the simplest ones, and few restaurants have perfected heartfelt, straightforward cooking like this locally adored French gem. Sip martinis and wine outdoors with a plate of roast chicken or fish, with a view of Tanner Street Park. And don’t forget dessert; the souffles here are superb.

This friendly wine bar and bistro has fast become a local favourite on Queen’s Road, with their ‘Costa del Peckham’ attracting funseekers from across SE15 and beyond. Thirst-quenching natural wines and cocktails abound, as does neighbourhood cheer; meanwhile, chef Pablo Urain Alfonso’s menu changes frequently, with dishes like sea bass ceviche and porchetta with mojo verde on offer.

A well preserved, flower-festooned Victorian boozer in Clapham Old Town with a walnut-panelled lounge, first floor dining room and – the best bit – a spacious sun terrace looking out onto the Polygon. The weekend’s a vibe, with brunch served from 10am and spectacular roasts every Sunday. Your fancy friends will love the togarashi spiced scotch egg and sake-cured sea trout; your regular ones the great burger and fish and chips. Everyone will appreciate the excellent cocktails, wines, and cask ales.

The buzz of Borough Market is ideal for dining outdoors, and here, few things taste better than a few rounds of tacos and a cold michelada. An obsession with quality makes El Pastor stand out; tuna tostadas are excellent, as are fresh salsas, and the signature Mexico City-style el pastor tacos. Walk-ins only.

A breeze from the Thames and a plate of sizzling lamb chops are two London icons, and this playful Indian restaurant combines them with aplomb. A pretty terrace with a view of Tower Bridge sets the scene for spot-on takes on regional dishes like rasam shots, spiced okra fries, and a savoury venison doughnut you’ll think about for weeks.

Amy Corbin’s popular Queen’s Road restaurant is back, with the kind of modern brasserie dishes that are breathtaking yet familiar. True to its name, South African influences abound, and one of the most picturesque gardens in south London to take it all in from.

Stockwell’s finest boasts a sheltered terrace perfect for getting together over drinks and a spread of deftly cooked classics from the kitchen. One of London’s best pubs for dining, it’s an appropriate rendezvous point for old-fashioned bonhomie, along with excellent roasts, pints, and puddings.

One of the city’s greatest gastropubs and a classic London restaurant, this old-school boozer serves guests outdoors with a British and European-influenced menu with cocktails and wines to match. Roasts and braises are superlative and comforting for late spring weather, while smaller plates like taramasalata and Kalamata olives, potted shrimps and cucumber salad, and chickpea pancakes with Roman courgettes sing of summer.

Tucked away off Balham High Road, this chic neighbourhood restaurant punches well above its weight. Owner Chi San looked after the kitchens at Hakkasan and Yauatcha, and the cooking reflects those lofty standards; crispy duck pancakes and Singapore noodles are a homage to familiar Anglo-Chinese staples, while a standout 28-day ribeye offers plenty of wok hei. A cosy outdoor terrace on a quiet side street offers a relaxing place to enjoy a laid-back lunch or dinner al fresco.

Few things are better than a well-kept pub garden, and at this refurbished Vauxhall boozer, the food matches the experience. Opened by five hospitality veterans late of some of London’s finest establishments, standards are high, with seriously good pub fare – think cauliflower ‘wings’ with sesame aioli, or crispy lamb scrumpets with black garlic romesco – and plenty of south London ales to boot. The restored Victorian architecture and original bar is something to marvel. Also, don’t miss the Sunday roast, which is surely one of the city’s best new renditions.

A cosy neighbourhood bistro at heart, this chic newcomer sends out quietly spectacular plates grounded in Eastern Mediterranean flavours – from Ramiro pepper dolma and a poached chicken fattoush, to a grilled red mullet or a whole aubergine charred on the grill, served with chard and chickpeas. A covered pavement terrace arrives in time for a scorching London summer, while a list of organic and modish low-intervention wines rounds out the kind of establishment to visit again and again.

Jackson Boxer’s Notting Hill restaurant is known for sparklingly fresh seafood prepared simply, using outstanding fish and shellfish from Scottish suppliers and dayboats on the south coast. Its summer terrace is a lovely spot in which to experience the restaurant’s hospitality, alongside low-intervention wines and luxurious flourishes like a classic starter of crisps and Exmoor caviar.

The best tables in the house at the Abingdon in Kensington may not actually be in the house per se, but under the awning outside. Watch the world go by over double baked cheese soufflé Suissesse, moules marinières, a juicy Black Pig pork chop, and what must be one of the neighbourhood’s best Sunday roasts. Excellent wines too. While you’re there, take a look at the trompe l’oeil paintings covering the bricked-up windows (an old way to avoid window tax, apparently).

Inspired by the cosy bacaros of Venice, this stylish hideaway originally popularised the sharing plates format and stripped-down aesthetic now found in restaurants across the city. Chic plates perfect for grazing or sharing — think fritto misto, pizzette, burrata and meatballs — are best enjoyed with a few glasses of wine or Negronis.

Aussie chef Bill Granger’s swoon-worthy restaurant in Chelsea is beautiful on the inside and outside, with a picture-perfect terrace on Pavilion Road for enjoying dinner and drinks. The ricotta hotcakes and cocktails are unmissable (Granger’s original Sydney restaurants popularised the version of brunch we know today), but the prawn, ‘nduja and XO fried rice may low-key be the best dish on the menu.

Both an idiosyncratic joy and a classic London establishment, Hunan is adored for its “leave it to us” ethos, embodied by a no-menu experience whereby a series of exquisite plates of food arrive at the table, each inspired by Taiwanese, Sichuan, and Hunanese flavours. With a legion of loyal regulars, outdoor tables will be hard to come by, but it’s worth trying for owner Michael Peng’s hospitality and flawless wine recommendations.