London’s best outdoor dining

The good news: with heaps of heatwaves on the horizon in the UK, alfresco dining is back on the menu. The not-so-good news: between London’s glorious gardens, revamped rooftops, secret suntraps, tranquil terraces, and concealed courtyards, there’s almost too much choice (and alliteration).  

This is especially true for Mayfair – home to so many of our favourite spots that we’ve rounded-up all our area-specific recommendations into this guide to Mayfair’s best outdoor dining for you. But, for now, here’s where to have supper in the sun across the rest of the city… 

In this article: 

• The Terrace at Rosewood London, Holborn
• The Secret Garden at The Ritz, St. James’s 
• abc kitchens in the courtyard, Belgravia 
• Sale e Pepe Terrazza, Marylebone 
• Pollini at Ladbroke Hall, Notting Hill 
• Dorian, Notting Hill 
• Lita, Marylebone 
• Baráki by Pyro, Borough
• Isla at The Standard, London, King's Cross
• Solaya, Shoreditch
• Belvedere, Holland Park
• Peggy Jean, Richmond
• Bar Jackie, Soho
• La Poule au Pot, Belgravia
• Jurema at The Mandrake Hotel, Fitzrovia
• Petersham Nurseries, Covent Garden
• Dinings SW3, Chelsea
• The River Café, Hammersmith
• Bingham Riverhouse, Richmond

The Terrace at Rosewood London, Holborn 

Best for: pizzas on the suntrap piazza. 

It sounds cheesy to say, but Rosewood London’s terrace has all bases covered weather-wise. Rain or shine, there’s more cheesiness on the cards: pizzas on the piazza, courtesy of a glowing Gozney oven. In just a couple of minutes, just-right blistered craters form around the crust, the molten cheese still bubbling. So good, in fact, that for many tables, the pizza seemed to be the sole reason for coming along. And after getting a slice of the action with the hot honey and feta pizza, we can see why. Bellisimo. 

rosewoodhotels.com 

The Secret Garden at The Ritz, St. James’s 

Best for: Champagne and crab rolls in the sun. 

If the weather’s blue, and you don’t know where to go, go where the fashion sits: The Ritz’s Secret Garden. Slip past the hubbub of Piccadilly and the hotel’s bowler hat-wearing doormen, and you’ll find a hidden spot behind the grand façade. Next, follow a winding path through pockets of flower beds to your table where parasols flutter in the breeze, fountains gently trickle, and white-waistcoated waiters are well-versed in the 18-page drinks menu. Leave the recommendations to them, then settle in with the Dorset crab brioche roll.  

theritzlondon.com 

abc kitchens in the courtyard, Belgravia 

Best for: a Mexican-themed summer pop-up. 

On the forecast this summer: tacos, tequila, and, as it stands, heaps of heatwaves. Well, that’s the case at abc kitchen’s Mexican-themed pop-up courtyard, anyway. Also forecasted: plenty of pea guacamole – once tweeted about by a former US president, now ordered by almost every guest who steps inside and best enjoyed with a mountain of tortilla chips. On the drinks side, Patrón’s very cool frozen cocktail trolley (pictured) serves piña coladas and strawberry margaritas, poured straight from a stationary, whirring slushie machine. Olé! 

maybourne.com 

Sale e Pepe Terrazza, Marylebone 

Best for: Amalfi-inspired spritzes and truffle arancini. 

Finding Sale e Pepe Mare’s secret terrace is the first part of the fun. This olive tree-speckled, super fresh basil-scented courtyard lies behind an iron gate on Cavendish Place. When we attended the launch party, the fun didn’t stop there. The bartenders shook spicy watermelon margaritas (a must-order, by the way) with such gusto that the cocktail shakers rattled like maracas. And the diavola pizza was such a hot commodity that guests did whatever they could to snap up slices laden with vodka sauce and ’nduja while they were still warm. 

saleepepe.co.uk 

Pollini at Ladbroke Hall, Notting Hill 

Best for: lunch beneath bamboo. 

If gardens were secrets, this would be the worst-kept one. Nevertheless, Pollini is one of London’s prettiest – albeit, one of its most popular – for good reason. The first: tables surrounded by swaying bamboo. The second: the menu. Don’t leave without ordering the pizzetta crowned with coins of Umbrian black summer truffle, foraged by trusted truffle hunter Luca and his three dogs in the Italian countryside. Then, do as the well-heeled Notting Hill crowd do and tuck into four pieces of tortellini stuffed with spinach, buffalo mozzarella, sage, and ricotta. 

ladbrokehall.com 

Dorian, Notting Hill 

Best for: snagging a seat at a sought-after restaurant. 

The bad news: this is one of the hardest tables in London to get your hands on. As in, weeks of waiting for a dinner reservation, hard. The good news: its outdoor terrace – a setup of two mint-green sofas – is available on a first-come, first-served basis. That means you can still get a taste of this Michelin-starred spot with a condensed version of the menu, including the caviar rosti crowned with a genuine mountain of roe and beef tartare with paprika-dusted crisps for scooping up every last chunk. 

dorianrestaurant.com | Credit: David Loftus 

Lita, Marylebone 

Best for: pretending Marylebone is the Mediterranean. 

You might know Lita for being one of the best (and most photogenic) restaurants in Marylebone. But sometimes, it’s what’s on the outside that counts too. Case in point: the terrace, where 20 seats spill onto the pavement and regulars settle in as white tablecloths flutter in the breeze. Between Sicilian red prawns splashed with 'nduja and Amalfi lemon, and martinis in ultra-thin, ultra-tall glasses, it’s easy to forget you’re in London – until black cabs and pedestrians with swinging shopping bags pootle past. That’s Marylebone for you. 

litamarylebone.com 

Baráki by Pyro, Borough 

Best for: fun Greek food. 

It’s easy to spot Baráki’s courtyard, thanks to the flame towers flanking the entrance. But what’s less easy is sharing the trio of dips. Tear the hearth-fired potato pitta apart (order at least one per person) and swish it through spiced feta with marinated sweet peppers or an Oreo-esque tzatziki topped with black Kalamata olive crumbs. Another challenge is stopping at just one spicy marg (sip with caution, as the rim is crusted with salt and chilli seeds), or resisting joining the cowboy-boot-wearing DJ for a bass-thumping boogie. 

pyrorestaurant.co.uk 

Isla at The Standard, London, King’s Cross 

Best for: pairing pale rosé with a pick-up sticks tower of fries.  

We're forecasting that this wine bar-slash-jungley terrace will be a hotspot for sharing the palest bottle of Minuty rosé possible when the sun’s out. The vino pairs perfectly with a massive mountain of matchstick fries – a dish so enormous that the waiter told us only a handful of couples end up conquering it, so be sure to order it with a bigger group. Insider tip: ask for the off-menu sticky toffee pudding – we can’t guarantee you'll get it, but we can confirm it’s worth a try. Good luck. 

standardhotels.com 

Solaya, Shoreditch 

Best for: east London vibes and skyline views. 

You’d be right to have high expectations for this one. Not only is it Shoreditch’s highest restaurant (it sits on the 25th floor of the art’otel), but it’s also led by Michelin-starred chef Kenny Atkinson. That means that you’ll a) have 360-degree views of London from the cylinder building's sun-dappled terrace and b) tuck into dishes such as a cracking beef tartare topped with a glossy confit egg yolk. You’d also be correct in planning to save the breadstick-shaped focaccia to scoop up every last bit. 

solayalondon.com 

Belvedere, Holland Park 

Best for: a fairytale-like setting. 

As the sun starts to set over Holland Park, herons swoop over its gushing fountains, luxuriating in the lavender-scented air as well-dressed couples stroll back from the opera. And that’s your view from the terrace at The Belvedere – a red-bricked, bonsai-filled restaurant that somehow feels like the castle at the top of Jack’s infamous beanstalk. Its food is worthy of a palace too: creative Italian dishes, clearly cooked with care. Try the Gillardeau oysters, served with raspberry granita (similar to a sorbet), or the lamb ragu (a lighter take on the classic Bolognese). 

belvedererestaurant.co.uk 

Peggy Jean, Richmond 

Best for: riverside dining. 

A vision in pastel-pink parasols, the latest addition to the Daisy Green empire serves Aussie-style dishes from a restored Jesus College Oxford barge. It’s moored near The Ivy Café in one of Richmond’s prettier spots, and the vibe is decidedly like an Aussie beach club – especially in the sun. It’s an all-Aussie affair from brunch to dinner, and you can also order fist-sized, rainbow-coloured lamingtons to takeaway, courtesy of sister brand, Radio Lamington. 

daisygreenfood.com 

Bar Jackie, Soho 

Best for: aperitivo classics (arancini and antipasti, anyone?). 

In typical Broadwick Hotel style, Bar Jackie is choc-full of sumptuous patterns and textures – from the mask-topped, gold-accented bar to the art-smothered, colour-splashed walls. It’s the sister restaurant to the ever-eccentric Dear Jackie, offering a lighter version of its classically Italian menu and a good selection of cocktails: this is a great place for aperitivo hour. If it’s a nice evening, sit on the street-level terrace and soak up Soho’s buzzy vibe whilst sipping something chilled, white, and Italian – and ordering a second portion of pea and lemon arancini. 

broadwicksoho.com 

La Poule au Pot, Belgravia 

Best for: people-watching. 

Nothing feels more like a French restaurant in London than sitting on the roadside with a glass of red – except when you do so at La Poule au Pot. Often vying with Clos Maggiore for the title of ‘London’s most romantic restaurant’, it’s been serving the same French favourites since 1962 – although, in recent years, several plant-based options have appeared alongside classics such as cassoulet and boeuf bourguignon. Stay late – the people-watching is excellent. 

pouleaupot.co.uk 

Jurema at The Mandrake Hotel, Fitzrovia 

Best for: ethnobotanical cocktails. 

When you imagine an urban oasis, you’re probably picturing something like The Mandrake Hotel. Jasmine and passionflower are draped from almost every surface, and if you look up, there’s a greenery-filled glasshouse for private dining. Cocktails are ethnobotanical (try the Patchouli Margarita if you like a spicy marg), and dishes are Mexican-leaning and seafood-heavy, such as grilled octopus and sea bass ceviche. 

themandrake.com 

Petersham Nurseries, Covent Garden 

Best for: buying fresh flowers. 

This flower-filled courtyard is undoubtedly one of the prettiest in London – and it’s home to not one but two restaurants, plus a bar, deli, wine cellar and florist. Come for a long, lingering dinner of small sharing plates at La Goccia, preceded by aperitivo at the adjacent bar (the negroni sbagliato is a must, made with Petersham’s own prosecco). Make sure to leave plenty of time to browse the shop and deli for flowery wares to enhance your own space. 

petershamnurseries.com 

Dinings SW3, Chelsea 

Best for: sustainably sourced sushi. 

Something about this pleasant little Japanese spot makes you feel like you’re on holiday – even if, as the name indicates, you’re at a Chelsea restaurant. It’s concealed down a mews and has a garden that feels like a quintessential West London courtyard complete with plant-smothered walls and wicker chairs that match your chopsticks. To eat, it’s seafood-heavy sushi – although the wagyu, topped with flecks of caviar and preserved spiced yuzu, is also unmissable. 

diningssw3.co.uk 

The River Café, Hammersmith 

Best for: ticking off a London bucket list restaurant. 

One of the few London restaurants that can truly be described as iconic, the River Café draws a crowd even on grizzly days. It’s been stretched across the same Thames-facing lawn since 1987; you come here for seasonal Italian dishes and the unmistakable feeling of being on holiday. Of the extensive menu, the freshly made pasta is always a good idea – as is that second glass of rosé in the sun. 

rivercafe.co.uk 

Bingham Riverhouse, Richmond 

Best for: making a night of it by booking a room upstairs. 

This boutique hotel-cum-members’ club-cum-riverside restaurant wears many hats. But none quite as appetising as when chef Vanessa Marx dons her award-winning chef’s hat. After securing your spot on the wrap-around terrace with the Thames trickling past the riverbank below, sit back and relax as Marx and her team serve up seasonal dishes that showcase the best of British produce – like the melt-in-your-mouth catch of the day from Brixham fish market, and a powerful chocolate pot paired with olive oil ice cream. 

binghamriverhouse.com