It’s probably fair to say that demand for al fresco dining is at an all-time high. While the great booking frenzy may now be behind us, the best restaurants with outdoor dining spaces have enduring appeal that will see out the summer. From waterside terraces to sunny courtyards and rooftop destinations, our list offers a little more than those tables hastily arranged outside your local...
Cantina Boccone
London
Deptford is fast becoming one of London’s best places to eat. Recent additions include south London hotspots TOAD Bakey and cafe Mondo, while another new arrival to note is Cantina Boccone. This stylish wine bar celebrates the best of Italian and Portuguese food and drink. The outdoor seating is highly sought after for its excellent people-watching vantage point and is best enjoyed sipping a crisp white from the Douro Valley accompanied by some seriously addictive fried olives. boccone.co.uk
The General Tarleton
Yorkshire
This stylish restored 18thcentury coaching inn, located in North Yorkshire, is exactly the sort of spot where you can imagine whiling away an evening by the fire. Just as tantalising a proposition, however, is its sun-soaked terrace. Taking the humble beer garden to new heights, this outdoor oasis is the ideal spot to linger while making your way through the bar’s spritz menu while grazing on snacks like Winchester and leek croquettes and, naturally, a selection of Yorkshire crisps. generaltarletonferrensby.co.uk
The Victory
London
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The time-honoured London tradition of enjoying a pint while standing outside a pub can be done in slightly more elevated fashion at The Victory. This Dulwich watering hole has a wraparound pavement terrace, affording punters an atmospheric seat while tucking into chef Seán Breen’s extremely moreish menu, featuring oysters and mignonette, Cornish crab vinaigrette and steak tartare with dripping toast. Whisper it: the extra cold house martinis are some of the best to be found south of the river. victoryrestaurant-bar.co.uk
Upper West
London
A slice of American bar culture can be found atop the Chancery Rosewood hotel in Mayfair. The Eagle Bar is found on the seventh floor and is split into two venues, Upper East, which opened in September 2025 and the newly launched Upper West. This elevated apéritif destination enjoys verdant views of Hyde Park, which guests can enjoy while exploring a curated drinks menu featuring cocktails such as the eponymous Upper West Spritz (Cocchi Americano, guava, strawberry and cream, and Billecart-Salmon Rosé Brut) and the summery Palomina, their take on the classic Paloma with Patrón Reposado Tequila, watermelon, grapefruit, lime, chilli, Pol Roger Rosé Brut. rosewoodhotels.com
The White Horse
Suffolk
This charming former coaching inn has recently been reimagined by restaurateur George Pell and the team behind The Suffolk in Aldeburgh. Not only has the interior of the Grade II-listed pub been sensitively restored, the spacious walled garden has been transformed into the type of outdoor terrace an afternoon can easily be lost within. Snacks like frickles with whipped feta and Korean fried chicken are ideal drinking accompaniments, while larger plates are equally as tempting – think heritage tomato, mozzarella and basil salad followed by a retro fabulous Suffolk chicken Cordon Bleu with leek and mushroom fricassee. whitehorse-suffolk.co.uk
Kitty Hawk
London
Rooftop bar and kitchen Kitty Hawk enjoys a prime location in St Martin’s Place, right in the West End, and with that location comes enviable views. While taking in city vistas on the newly-designed terrace guests can tuck into the spot’s recently launched Mediterranean menu from head chef Simone Auer. Handmade pitas come with the likes of feather-light whipped cod’s roe, while the grill serves up sharing dishes including whole seabass and chicken with green tahini. etmcollection.co.uk
The Mariners
Cornwall
A visit to Cornwall surely isn’t complete without enjoying Cornish seafood al fresco. The Mariners has been a stalwart of the local hospitality scene for 30-odd years, and for good reason. Perched by the Camel Estuary with two outdoor terraces to drink in those views, this waterfront destination notably serves hyper-local Porthilly oysters three ways, while other local specialities include brown butter Cornish cod and crab with beef fat hash brown. the-mariners.co.uk
Amano Covent Garden
London
On Drury Lane, the Hotel Amano Covent Garden’s crowning glory is its sleek 7th floor bar, with indoor and outdoor spaces overlooking the cobbled streets below and taking in the city’s skyline. For a unique outlook on central London with cocktails on tap, this is the spot. amanogroup.de
Toklas
London
Just off the Strand, where Surrey Street slopes down the river, sits the discreet entrance to Toklas. Up some steps you’ll find one of the most stylish and laid back restaurant terraces in London, with views of the Thames and the famously shuttered Aldwych tube station opposite. The restaurant is the brainchild of Frieze founders Amanda Sharp and Matthew Slotover and attracts a chic, arty crowd, who fill the 3000 square-foot terrace on hot summer nights for cocktails and seasonal Mediterranean-style dishes. toklaslondon.com
The Garden House at Beaverbrook
Surrey
On a balmy summer’s evening there’s no better place to be than the Garden House Restaurant’s terrace at Beaverbrook, the grand country house hotel in the Surrey Hills that was once the home of press baron Lord Beaverbrook. Your toughest decision will be deciding between a table overlooking the wildflower meadow or one facing the Mr McGregor-ish kitchen garden. The immaculate vegetable beds and beautiful greenhouse (the envy of every gardener that visits) supply much of the produce that goes into the seasonal, Mediterranean-style menu. beaverbrook.co.uk
The Standard
London
With heatwaves becoming a fixture of the British summer, there’s no place better to escape the city heat than a rooftop, ideally with a cold drink in hand. The Standard London’s cheerful astro turf clad rooftop bar isn’t affected by any hosepipe ban, and there are spectacular views of the neo-gothic tower of St Pancras opposite, Centre Point and beyond. For those still needing to cool down, a frozen Paloma slushie made with Papa Salt gin should do the trick. standardhotels.com/london
Culpeper
London
Culpeper is a lush pocket of green among the chimney pots overlooking the City of London’s skyscrapers. This summer it becomes the ‘Regen Rooftop’ with a £35 lunchtime set menu showcasing the produce of farmers and suppliers who follow regenerative farming practices such as The Ethical Butcher and The Good Earth Grower. The drinks list will have a sustainable focus too with Biodynamic winemakers, Sacred Spirits and Absolute’s carbon neutral range. Dishes will be cooked over coals in the rooftop kitchen, while fruit, flowers, herbs and vegetables grown on the spot by head gardener Jack Astbury contributes add a hyperlocal flavour to the menu. theculpeper.com/rooftop
The Hut at Colwell Bay
Isle of Wight
Don’t be fooled by the name – this waterfront spot is no dinky beach shack. Perhaps the sense of formality would jar with the simple pleasures on offer… fish tacos, lobster and chips, a west-facing terrace perfect for evening sun. Getting to this tip of the island is part of the fun – shuttle yourself across from Lymington on the mainland and they’ll take you ashore by tender. thehutcolwell.co.uk
One Hundred Shoreditch
London
Panoramic views across East London, a retro pink-tinted Palm Springs aesthetic and a menu that’s pure Americana with snacks like devilled eggs, tacos and a soft shell crab burger make One Hundred Shoreditch’s playful rooftop terrace a foolproof choice for a fun night. That’s before you even get to the signature Margaritas, martinis and the DJ playing Latin dance music... onehundredshoreditch.com
Jurema at The Mandrake
London
Enjoy a lazy Sunday brunch under a fragrant canopy of jasmine and passionflower at the Mandrake’s first-floor terrace, Jurema. Served from 12 until 4pm, the eclectic menu features dishes including mushroom and kale tacos, buttermilk fried chicken and brioche French toast, with DJ Karen Lopez providing a suitably chilled soundtrack for a relaxed weekend afternoon in the sun. themandrake.com
Parrillan
King’s Cross, London
Shaded by olive trees and bedecked in cheerful striped green and red cushions, this expansive outdoor restaurant seems transplanted straight from the Mediterranean – save for the unmistakably urban Gasholders complex next door. Here, diners are trusted to wield mini tabletop parilla – Spanish grills – to char prawns, chicken wings and lamb pintxos with precision. The unusual prospect of a DIY dinner is but one of several reasons to swing by a sensationally regenerated King’s Cross. parrillan.co.uk
20 Stories
Manchester
There are no points for guessing the inspiration behind the name of this rooftop bar and restaurant, which crowns glass monolith No.1 Spinningfields in Manchester’s buzzy business district. Wholly open to the elements, its large terrace features mature trees that scale the full two storeys, plus glass dining pods, firepits and secluded corners with sleek sofas. Book a table for sunset and you’ll be well rewarded. 20stories.co.uk
Rocksalt
Folkestone, Kent
Kent-bound day trippers tend to peel off for Whitstable, Margate and Deal before southerly Folkestone, but the port town deserves a share of the spotlight. Opened a decade ago on the pretty harbour, Rocksalt is still the best spot for a languorous lunch, with its timber terrace cantilevered over the sea. While much of the menu is devoted to locally caught seafood, it also showcases seasonal Kentish produce. rocksaltfolkestone.co.uk
Seabird
Southwark, London
Hotels have something of a head start when it comes to the sort of space needed for outdoor dining. The Hoxton’s Southwark outpost, which arrived in London after a trio of stateside openings, certainly made the most of its elevated position with restaurant Seabird on the 14th floor and its unparalleled views across London. Its rattan furniture and rows of palm trees are paired with concrete and brickwork in a nod to the neighbourhood’s industrial heritage. seabirdlondon.com
No 197 Chiswick Fire Station
Chiswick, London
Hit a spell of balmy weather in the whitewashed walled garden of this all-day spot and you could almost believe you’re in the Balearics. In reality, it’s W4 – a leafy corner of the capital made all the more appealing by its arrival four years ago. The menu is well set up for summer, with sharing plates and charcuterie boards alongside bowls of pasta and brunch dishes. Cocktails are classic with a twist, with some served by the jug. no197chiswickfirestation.co.uk
Gold
Notting Hill, London
Launching less than a year before the first lockdown, this west London restaurant never got a fair outing on the capital’s fickle food scene. Now, with al fresco dining more desirable than ever, its transportive garden room – all lush palms and pink plaster walls – seems almost prescient. The retractable roof offers an insurance policy against the equally fickle British weather. goldnottinghill.com
