Nestled atop roofs with ample space to bask in, or tucked away from the hubbub in their own secret oasis, as soon as summer settles in the city’s best hotels and restaurants throw open their patio doors and spill out onto the streets, opening up perfect areas for an afternoon aperitivo or a long and languorous lunch.
Here, we take you through a selection of London’s finest seasonal outdoor spaces to see you through the summer months.
Café Francois, Borough
If you’ve already consumed enough classic picky bits to last until 2027, head to Café Francois’ new Provençale terrace – bringing a slice of southern France to Borough Yards and offering regionally-inspired nibbles to broaden your al fresco dining options. Here, you can snack on snail croquettes, lamb brochettes, courgette fritti, gilda and more. To add to the European holiday feel, happy hour runs from 3pm-5pm daily, serving glasses of rosé for £8 or carafes for £30, plus any three items from their menu for a very reasonable £25.
cafefrancois.london/terracedining
Angler, City
Helmed by Roux Scholarship-winning chef Craig Johnston, Angler has maintained its Michelin star for 13 consecutive years, serving exquisitely plated seafood from its seventh floor spot at South Place Hotel, a stone’s throw from Liverpool Street Station. Its covered rooftop terrace is an extension of the restaurant space rather than a seasonal alternative, meaning that you can embrace the full dining experience with a sweeping view over the City all year round. From impossibly delicate savoury petit fours to sesame-infused tuna tartare, rich lobster bisques and stunning desserts (their caramelised pear pavlova with candied pecans is a knock out), in the summer, it elevates an already memorable experience even further.
Bluebird, Chelsea
With a rich history dating back more than a century, Bluebird stands proudly as a King’s Road institution. Step outside of its Art Deco interiors, however, and Bluebird’s spacious outdoor terrace is a place to happily while away the summer hours – particularly if you’re a sports fan. A large screen showing everything from the World Cup to Wimbledon and Formula One is at the centre of their summer offering, served alongside Louis Pommery sparkling wine, Mirabeau rosé and a playful, tennis-themed cocktail and dessert menu courtesy of Lavazza coffee. Naturally, you can enjoy their regular bar offerings too, plus modern British classic fare.
Upstairs at Langan’s, Mayfair
If the sight of a high street full of endless vapes leaves you cold, then Upstairs at Langan’s – the roof terrace hideaway perched atop the iconic Mayfair brasserie – has its sights on more traditional vices. Here, you can indulge in a curated cigar menu, to be enjoyed under its retractable roof no matter the weather. If that doesn’t take your fancy, they also have a dedicated caviar selection, oysters, and a cocktail list that’ll keep you sozzled long past dusk.
langansbrasserie.com/upstairs/
Royal Horseguards Hotel, Westminster
If you’re looking for a truly peaceful – and surprisingly inexpensive – rest stop near one of London’s most bustling boroughs, then the Royal Horseguards Hotel’s secluded summer enclave, tucked beside Whitehall Gardens, is worth your time. A stone’s throw from the Strand and just over the bridge from the South Bank, the space has no business feeling quite so calm, and yet its copious greenery and shaded awnings give it the feel of a charming English garden. In keeping with the tone, they serve a full spritz menu as well as pitchers of Pimms and various gins, while their dining menu is a comparative steal for the area, with gastropub-style mains and classic British puds.
St. Pancras Terrace, King’s Cross
Tucked around the back of St. Pancras Renaissance Hotel, their summer terrace – part of the Booking Office 1859 restaurant – is your perfect pre or post-travel moment of relief. Open until September in partnership with Laurent-Perrier, champagne and champagne cocktails are their priority, with Carlingford oysters, light bites and seasonal mains (shrimp brioche bun, crispy duck salad) to keep you fed. Head there for sundown for bubbles and balmy skies over the clock tower.
COYA
Where Peruvian eatery COYA’s main restaurant is a vibrant fiesta of sounds and smells, its summer terrace - tucked away down a quiet side street, with the Bank of England looming in full view - feels more like relaxed, European-style piazza dining. Surrounded by sunflowers to keep the bright spirit of the inside space alive, the flavours of South America are ripe for a warm summer’s evening, from light, fresh ceviche to guacamole served tableside. Prioritise their Chilean sea bass cazuela: a stunning dish of perfectly flaky fish served atop a local delicacy of risotto-esque bomba rice infused with chilli lime butter and sweetcorn pureé. On the terrace, glasses of champagne and Cotes de Provence rosé vie for top billing with their summer cocktails. A long, pisco-centric Lugo spritz would be our suggestion.
Orrery, Marylebone
Downstairs at Orrery, the fine dining restaurant helmed by chef Pierre Minotti (ex-of the two Michelin-star Hotel Café Royal), service is a firmly white-linen affair. Serving a trio of meticulously designed tasting menus rooted in seasonal British produce and precise French technique, dinner is a pleasingly formal and theatrical experience. Upstairs on their summer roof terrace, however, you can relax a little more and sink into the season. The space is filled with comfortable sofa areas that can seat groups of five, while their menu offers a taste of the spoils below, featuring inspired savoury bites including sea bream carpaccio and Oscietra caviar on a buckwheat crumpet. A dedicated terrace cocktail bar comes courtesy of Renais Gin.