With daylight savings time now in place and the appearance of some good weather it is becoming clear that summer is on the way, meaning late afternoons spent eating, drinking and relaxing outdoors. We’ve put together a list of 23 of the best rooftop bars and outdoor terraces to check out this summer
North London
1The Castle, Islington
This gastro-pub offers a great menu and drinks list to be enjoyed on its spacious rooft terrace – an excellent place to catch some rays on a sunny day in the centre of busy Islington. The specials menu changes daily and it has a pub quiz on Tuesdays, which is only £1 entry.
54 Pentonville Road, London, Islington N1 9HF; geronimo-inns.co.uk
The Modern Pantry’s courtyard
2The Modern Pantry, Clerkenwell
This Clerkenwell staple has something for just about any time of the day – a healthy breakfast, a decadent brunch, lunch with friends, afternoon tea, dinner, or a bite to eat after the theatre. The outdoor area seats 32 people and is a great place to watch the world go by.
47-48 Saint John’s Square, Clerkenwell, London EC1V 4JJ; themodernpantry.co.uk
The Big Chill’s rooftop
3Big Chill House, King’s Cross
Kitsch and colourful furniture decks out this rooftop bar, which claims to bring a taste of Shoreditch to King’s Cross. Atop a Victorian pub with a quirky interior, this rooftop bar is an excellent place for an elevated drink. The menu ranges from craft beer, cider and wine to cocktails like the Big Tea Party – Absolut, Beefeater, El Jimador, Appleton white, Triple sec, apple juice, lemon juice, bitters and blackcurrant jam. It does food, too, and brunch for the morning after.
257-259 Pentonville Road, London N1 9NL; wearebigchill.com
South London
Brew’s pretty terrace
4Brew, Putney
All-day breakfast, wood fired pizzas after 5pm, an outdoor cinema on Wednesday nights and a top notch wine list to boot – Brew in Putney has been open since November and is shaping up as a summer go-to. As the fourth Brew café in south west London, the Putney location is the first to open in the evenings and has a lovely outdoor terrace area – currently it’s sheltered by a retractable roof and has a heating system to keep you warm while it’s still a little chilly, but come summer the roof will be back and the terrace soaking up the sun. Sit outside for an early morning juice, a late Bloody Mary-fuelled brunch, afternoon coffee and cake, or an evening of wine and pizza.
162-164 Lower Richmond Road, London, SW15 1LY; brew-cafe.com
The Rumpus Room’s balcony
5 The Rumpus Room, Southbank
Located in the Mondrian Hotel and inspired by the Bright Young Things – a group of high-energy bohemian socialites who partied their way through 1920’s London’s bars and newspapers – the Rumpus Room is decked to the nines, and has a dazzling view of London. Sit on the balcony and sip Champagne all evening.
20 Upper Ground, London SE1 9PD; morganshotelgroup.com
The waterside terrace at Source, Battersea
6Source, Battersea
Named after London’s natural spring on which the restaurant sits, Source is located right next to the Thames and boasts a wrap-around terrace overlooking the river, where you can soak up the sun and enjoy what the kitchen has to offer. The menu has a focus on the seasonal and the simple, with tempting dishes for brunch, lunch and dinner. Their wine list is well picked too – an essential for riverside dining.
Ransomes Dock Restaurant, 35-37 Parkgate Rd, London SW11 4NP; sourcebattersea.com
East London
The Water Poet’s garden
7The Water Poet, Shoreditch
We’re not the only ones to think that The Water Poet’s beer garden is among the best in London, and with ivy-covered walls, weathered benches and a buzzing atmosphere it’s easy to see why. And we haven’t even mentioned the menu and drinks list yet! This quirky pub has something for everyone – just make sure you don’t get lost wandering through all their many rooms trying to find the deck.
9-11 Folgate Street, London E1 6BX; waterpoet.co.uk
Boundary’s Rooftop
8Boundary Rooftop, Shoreditch
The Boundary rooftop combines grape producing vines and wild herbs to create a rooftop garden space that is open all year thanks to the weatherproof pergola and open fire. In terms of eating, you can expect Mediterranean hors d’oeuvres, bar snacks and steaks off the grill. When the weather’s good there may be a wait on tables, and it doesn’t take bookings on small tables so either get together a group and plan ahead or expect to join the well-dressed queue of punters. The views over the roofs of Shoreditch are worth it, though.
2-4 Boundary Street, London E2 7DD; theboundary.co.uk
The veranda at Dishoom, Shoreditch,
9Dishoom, Shoreditch
The ever popular Dishoom, modelled off an old Irani café in Bombay, has a great verandah area perfect for sunlight, reading a book off the shelves or working your way through the delicious menu. The retractable walls and roof make this area a safe bet all year round and in any weather, but this place is popular so get in early – we suggest going for breakfast, the bacon naans are a favourite.
7 Boundary Street, London E2 7JE; dishoom.com
Angler’s terrace
10Angler, Moorgate
Michelin-starred restaurant Angler, in the South Place Hotel not only serves up some of the best seafood in London but also has a lovely, elegant outdoor terrace. Rattan chairs and green shrubs create a Provençal style in the middle of the city, so with a setting like that, it only seems right to crack into the rosé.
South Place Hotel, 3 South Place, London EC2M 2AF; anglerrestaurant.com
Coq d’Argent’s rooftop terrace
11Coq d’Argent, Bank
One of the most infamous rooftops in the City, Coq d’Argent’s covered and heated terrace takes many guises throughout the year, from winter wonderland with fur rugs and mugs of steaming cider to sun trap, where icy cocktails cool wound-up workers.
No.1 Poultry, London EC2R 8EJ; coqdargent.co.uk
West London
Kensington Roof Garden’s Spanish Garden
12The Roof Gardens, Kensington
Since its opening in 1938, The Roof Gardens has been a London landmark. The three gardens span 1.5 acres – there’s the Spanish Garden, the Tudor Garden and the English Woodland, each distinct and spectacular in its own way. In these gardens, which are home to ducks, fish and even flamingos, it is easy to forget the busy streets just 100 ft below. Over summer there is a whole array of events happening – jazz on Tuesdays, BBQs on Friday and Saturday nights and magicians and roasts on Sundays, just to name a few. Entrance to the gardens is free of charge, but it’s usually best to call ahead to make sure they haven’t been booked out for a wedding or event.
99 Kensington High Street, London W8 5SA; virginlimitededition.com
Tom’s Terrace at Somerset House
13Tom’s Terrace, Somerset House
With a choice between a restaurant and a more relaxed deli-style café, this terrace at Somerset House is in a great spot for summer evening drinks. Relax with some food and drink and watch the river and the general comings and goings of London. On a sunny day this spot is an absolute gem. Of course there’s always something to have a look at inside Somerset House too.
Somerset House, Strand, London WC2R 1LA; tomskitchen.co.uk
Serpentine Bar & Kitchen’s waterside terrace
14Serpentine Bar and Kitchen, Hyde Park
When the sun comes out Londoners take to the parks. The Serpentine Bar and Kitchen is in the middle of Hyde Park, right next to the Serpentine Lake and the views are spectacular. Not only does it offer clear views the swans and boats, but it is also a great spot for people watching – picnic makers, roller bladers and dog walkers alike. There’s a Gin Bar, great cocktails a hot dog BBQ, a wood fire pizza oven and a whole range of British classics to tuck into.
Serpentine Road, Hyde Park, London W2 2UH; benugo.com
Dock Kitchen’s summery terrace
15Dock Kitchen, Kensal Green
An old Victorian Wharf building in the Portobello Dock complex was converted into this restaurant as part of an urban regeneration project, and the results are one of the best restaurants in the area. The views out over Grand Union canal are a great accompaniment to this globe-spanning menu, featuring Sri Lankan, Indian, Korean and British cuisine.
Portobello Docks, 342-344 Ladbroke Grove, London W10 5BU; dockkitchen.co.uk
The Ivy Chelsea’s garden
16The Ivy Chelsea Garden, Chelsea
The Ivy Chelsea has only just opened but we predict that come summer it will be heaving. The beautifully decorated terrace and orangery is as stylish as a garden could get, and being part of The Ivy family, you’re in safe hands when it comes to food and drink. Cocktails and an all-day British menu are available in the alfresco space, which is adorned with fountains, climbing ivy and beautiful antique furniture abound, this the kind of place you will want to spend several hours.
197 King’s Road, Chelsea, London SW3 5EQ; theivychelseagarden.com
Opening soon:
Frank’s Cafe, Peckham (photo by Oskar Proctor)
17Frank’s Cafe, Peckham
Frank’s Peckham (on top of a multi-storey car park) will be doing its thing again this summer from the 26 May until September. And it you’re not sure what it’s thing is, think great cocktails, relaxed vibe and sunny views.
10th floor, Peckham multi-story car park, 95A Rye Lane London SE15 4ST; frankscafe.org.uk
18Dalston Roof Park, Dalston
Described as an ‘urban utopian oasis’ with views of the London skyline, this multifaceted project will re-open on the 1 May. Membership for the season is £5, which grants you unlimited entry into the Roof Park’s events – film screenings, music, street food and more. Its Facebook page will keep you up to date with what it’s got planned.
The Print House, 18-22 Ashwin Street, London E8 3DL; bootstrapcompany.co.uk
65A Brushfield Street, London E1 6AA; blixen.co.uk
19The Culpeper, Spitalfields
Having grown most of its own herbs and vegetables on the roof for some time now, Culpeper is no stranger to making the most of its urban environment. This summer its team will be opening their rooftop garden to the public and it is set to be a great spot. Already an excellent place for the list of natural wines and the menu offerings, such as pancetta with snails, wild garlic and Jerusalem artichokes, the fact that you will soon be able to eat and drink these things in a garden above the city only makes things better.
40 Commercial Street, London E1 6LP; theculpeper.com
Boulestin’s terrace
20Boulestin, Green Park
If French cuisine and a bit of fresh air is the order of the day, you really can’t go past Boulestin’s hidden courtyard without stopping in. Opening again soon as the weather warms up, this elegant courtyard is a great place to catch a bit of R&R and a fine-dining experience just moments away from St James’s Street. In terms of food, think seasonal menus featuring French dishes like gratin and confit duck accompanied by an excellent wine list.
5 Saint James’s Street, London SW1A 1EF; boulestin.com
21Blixen, Spitalfields
At the corner of Spitalfields markets sits Blixen – the latest from the team behind the popular Riding House Café. With this promising start, as well as excellent food and a lovely alfresco garden space opening up in a few weeks, Spitalfields diners can expect great things from this one.
Proud Camden’s terrace opens soon
22Proud, Camden
Boasting an impressive list of past performers, including Jessie J, Calvin Harris and The Kooks to name a few, Proud in Camden is something of an icon and will this year launch the Secret Garden Bar – a haven of cocktails, Mediterranean tastes, live music and a whole lot of fun above the busy Camden Market. The walls of the Secret Garden are covered floor-to-ceiling in vibrant plants, just the spot to work your way through a list of exciting cocktails. There is always something happening at Proud, be it a live band, a club night or a jazz singer, so check out the website to find out what’s coming up.
The Horse Hospital, The Stables Market, Camden Market, Chalk Farm Road, London NW1 8AH; proudcamden.com
23Orrery, Marylebone
In June, this luxury French restaurant will reopen following refurbishments on the interiors – think vintage mirrors, mahogany wood and leather upholstery. The rooftop terrace hasn’t been forgotten in this makeover, and diners can now expect a quaint Provençal garden with a tailored alfresco menu and wine list.
55 Marylebone High Street, London W1U 5RB; orrery-restaurant.co.uk