London’s Best Terraces for Summer
London comes alive in the sunshine, and few things beat lingering over great food and a drink on a terrace with a view. From rooftop bars overlooking the city’s skyline and canal-side hideaways to leafy courtyards and Parisian-style pavements, the capital is packed with al fresco spots that make the most of the warmer months. Whether you’re after a long lunch, sunset cocktails, weekend brunch or a memorable dinner under the open sky, these are the London restaurants and terraces worth booking this season.
Just moments from Paddington station, Market Halls Paddington brings together some of London’s best street food traders beneath one roof, with a spacious outdoor terrace that’s made for sunny lunches, post-work drinks and weekend catch-ups. Grab everything from juicy burgers and tacos to fresh pasta and bao buns, then settle in with a cocktail, craft beer or frozen margarita as DJs and live entertainment bring the terrace to life throughout the summer.
The Galvin brothers’ more relaxed sibling to Michelin-starred La Chapelle next door, tucked into Spitalfields’ Bishop’s Square. Its front terrace – nicknamed the Château Sainte-Marguerite Summer Terrace this year after its rosé partner – is a genuine year-round draw, fully covered and heated for cooler days, with red umbrellas that give it the feel of a mediterranean sidewalk café. Expect vermouth-led cocktails, Mediterranean sharing plates and Executive Chef Arturo Granato’s seasonal bistro cooking.
Bloomsbury’s botanical showstopper, set within The Bloomsbury Hotel and named after Virginia Woolf’s Mrs Dalloway. The terrace’s floral display changes with the seasons, and a retractable roof plus heaters mean it runs as an all-year destination — a “secret garden” in winter, a light, elegant al fresco space come spring and summer. Known for its Champagne afternoon tea as much as its all-day brunch and dinner menu.
Tucked away in St Christopher’s Place just off Oxford Street, Bar Kroketa brings a slice of Spain to one of London’s prettiest pedestrianised streets. Its outdoor terrace is perfect for sunny lunches and after-work drinks, with front-row seats to the bustling courtyard. Settle in with a crisp glass of Spanish wine or a refreshing vermouth alongside the restaurant’s signature golden croquetas, plus a menu of tapas and larger sharing plates that transport you straight to Madrid.
Part of the redeveloped former BBC Television Centre in White City, The Broadcaster’s rooftop is one of West London’s most dramatic – multiple floors up via lift, with sweeping views over Westfield and the old Wood Lane studios. The rooftop terrace runs a regular guest-chef BBQ series through summer, alongside cocktails, DJ sets and a modern British pub menu below.
Set right on the banks of the River Thames, Tapas Brindisa Richmond pairs one of London’s prettiest riverside terraces with the relaxed spirit of a Spanish neighbourhood restaurant. Watch boats drift past over a glass of Albariño, crisp cava or a refreshing spritz while grazing on Brindisa’s renowned tapas, from jamón Ibérico and grilled seafood to silky tortilla and padrón peppers. It’s an idyllic spot for long, leisurely lunches that effortlessly stretch into sunset drinks.
The Riviera Terrace at The Churchill Bar
Hyatt Regency London’s art deco cocktail bar trades its Highland winter theming for full Riviera glamour each summer. The Riviera Terrace overlooks leafy Portman Square and now serves lunch as well as evening drinks, pairing British heritage with a spritz-led menu and the bar’s signature Churchill Craft Gin cocktails.
A little piece of Lyon in the heart of Covent Garden’s Market Building, where the garden terrace looks straight onto the piazza – prime people-watching territory. Expect classic French tartines, pastries and bistro plates from co-owner Aurélia’s family recipes, best enjoyed with a glass of Sancerre in the sun. (Its Victoria sibling also has a private-hire terrace for larger groups.
An Australasian-accented all-day restaurant and bar at Crowne Plaza London Docklands, looking straight over Royal Victoria Dock. The year-round terrace runs a summer BBQ skewer menu every Friday to Sunday – think gochujang chicken and lamb kofta – alongside cocktails built for warm afternoons, like the East London Spritz.
This Mediterranean-and-Italian spot’s Oxford Circus branch (there’s also one at Holborn) pairs an intimate, candlelit dining room with a canopied, heated outdoor terrace that keeps going whatever the weather. “Flavours of the Sun” is the tagline, and it shows – expect Mediterranean sharing plates alongside Italian classics like carbonara and tiramisu.
A hidden gem behind King’s Cross station, inside the Kings Place arts complex, with a large astro-turfed terrace running right along Regent’s Canal. This summer it’s partnered with Roebuck Estates for an “English Garden” terrace theme, pouring English sparkling wine and British-ingredient cocktails alongside farm-to-table steaks and Sunday roasts sourced from Rotunda’s own Northumberland farm.
