55 Outdoor Dining And Drinking Areas In London To Enjoy The Sunshine

Summer is almost upon us and yes, the sun sometimes shines enough to enjoy London's offerings of the best rooftop bars and restaurants.

After such a stretched out winter, we're celebrating the great outdoors of the capital and booking several days out with friends and family for cocktails and dinners overlooking the skyline.

Some of our favourites? The Rooftop at The Trafalgar St. James, Sabine at St Paul's and The Terrace at The Standard. We seriously encourage you to enjoy London's rooftops, come wind or shine - they're quite something.

We've rounded up the best spots in the capital for drinks and dinner with an outdoor area.

One of London’s most iconic and beloved theatres also has a secret terrace, didn’t you know? The Lane, situated just behind the theatre, is a passageway lined with trees and leafy green plants home to tables for drinks and snacks for theatre dwellers and passers by. Part of the Theatre Royal’s £60m makeover by Andrew Lloyd Weber himself, this is an ideal central London drinking and eating spot that’s hidden away from the crowds too.

Wines include favourites like Whispering Angel while snacks offered include potted shrimp and crudités. If that’s not enough to tempt you, east London favourite chef Lily Vanilli’s gluten free chocolate cake and salted caramel chocolate brownie are on the menu too.

Sabine is hidden away in the city of London with stunning views of St Paul's Cathedral. Inside is plat-filled, creating a botanical garden vibe, and the retractable roof means it's ideal even for the most unpredictable weather.

One service Sabine offers is a DIY cocktail, with the mixologists asking for your usual preferences when it comes to flavours and spirits and concocting a unique cocktail designed to suit your individual palette.

With views overlooking Trafalgar Square Big Ben and The London Eye, guests at The Rooftop are invited to enjoy a delicious menu of small sharing plates and grilled dishes inspired by Japan and Korea, as well as lip-smacking cocktails. We suggest asking for the Coupette (vodka, lychee, aloe vera, lime juice and raspberry shrub) to start followed by the Shittake bao bun, octopuse takoyaki and prawn tempura, and then the grilled salmon teriyaki and mapo togu with chargrilled stem broccoli and Sesame seeds.

The London branch of the cult hotel chain, which opened in 2019, is also home to a cosy, chic and green terrace. A bonus is the beautiful views over the Kings Cross St Pancras building.

This latest addition to the Big Mamma Group family (of Gloria and Circolo Popolare fame) opened last year and is an ode to Florence. There are two ivy-filled terraces and yes, the Insta-worthy tableware is available throughout. Remember to take a selfie in the rainbow neon toilets.

The locally-famed Thameside venue - and its popular beer garden - is an extremely popular venue come any day with a hint of sunshine.

The hotel's popular pub has transformed its space into a city gin garden, with a cover in place just in case the British summer turns on punters. The food offering - including dishes like buttered lobster roll with onion rings - is overseen by Michel Roux Jr.

The huge outdoor space at the Hope and Anchor on Acre Lane features long, open-air tables and 12 bookable huts which all have their own heaters and TVs.

For some of the best views in central London, you can book the Oxo Tower's terrace bar for coffee, afternoon tea or its six-course tasting menu.

The latest offering from the team behind Flat Iron Square is St Felix's place. Found under a railway arc, it has a lovely garden space.

With over 500 seats and 40 food and drink vendors, Mercato Metrapolitano is one of the biggest outdoor dining and drinking spaces in London.

Lost In Brixton is the South London gem where you can eat food from any Brixton Village restaurant by ordering on their app. Sip cocktails as you wait for Franco Manca pizza or tapas from The Tapas Room.

The spouse to celebrated London cocktail club and gin specialist Mr Fogg, is found at Broadgate Circle by Liverpool Street

Moments away from Battersea Park, this pub is the ideal post-sunbathing spot. Even better, if you have a dog, the Duke of Cambridge has newly created a 'doggie roast' so your pup doesn't miss out while you enjoy your Sunday roast in the sun.

Found in Wapping's Tobacco Dock, with impressive panoramic views of the City is Skylight. Why not book one of their outdoor summer games - croquet, ping pong, shuffle-board and more - while you wait for your bevs?

The gorgeous views across the river are enough to attract you to this east London venue but the extent of the craft beer available is enough to keep you coming back.

This vast outdoor space of Vinegar Yard has canopy covers for the rain so that you can enjoy street food from vendors like Baba G's and Nanny Bill's whatever the weather.

At one of London's biggest heated beer gardens, The Prince, there is plenty of beer on tap and a new cocktail menu. While you're at it, grab some grub from one of their resident food traders: Filth&Co, Boludo Latin street food and Rudie's jerk shack.

The cult eatery is a plant-filled paradise with it's sun-drenched Fitzrovia terrace.

Arguably one of London's best known hotels, it's also home to a terrace garden complete with heaters, lots of greenery, decadent signature cocktails and an Italian menu where dishes include wild mushroom truffle arancini, and smoked ricotta and roast pumpkin ravioli.

Sat on the bank of the River Thames (and therefore boasting exceptional views) at the recently refurbished Battersea Power Station is Mediterranean restaurant Fiume.

It might be set in the heart of the city, but you won't feel like it up on the Devonshire Terrace.

Hidden away on an industrial estate just behind the high street, this working gin distillery offers guided tours and tasting sessions and it's also a great place to have an outdoor drink.

South London's famous restaurant is an all-day bar-bistro with a Kiwi twist in a shabby-chic former Edwardian laundry.

The Thameside terrace of the Sipping Room offers calming views, summer vibes and creative cocktails from its dedicated outdoor bar. With the British weather known to have let us down in the past, blankets and hot water bottles are also available should they be needed.

The Japanese eatery has space for 50 outdoor diners and has heaters to make the udon noodle experience even cosier should there be a chill.

Set on the rooftop of the bustling Oxford Street flagship store, Alto is an ideal spot to eat some pasta, have a cocktail and admire the views after a heavy day of shopping.

The famous London hotel is also home to a 'best kept secret' garden and a food menu with dishes including a smoked salmon and caviar toasty and a whole Cornish seabass.

Found at the Bloomsbury Hotel is Dalloway terrace, a backstreet blink-and-you'll-miss-it quaint terrace restaurant in the heart of the West End. It's a great place for brunch, an afternoon drink (or tea) and dinner in our opinion.

Sister venue to Elephant & Castle's Mercato Metropolitano is their smaller Mayfair site. Behind Mercato, there is now Mercato Mayfair Caffe, located in Brown Hart Gardens, which is an excellent location for after work drinks.

For those missing a slice of Portugal, rustic Bar Douro City draws inspiration from traditional Portugese cuisine. Dine on croquetes de alheira (smoked Portuguese sausage) and bacalhau a bras (salt cod hash) as you dream of being further afield.

The North London restaurant opens its doors for dinner from 5pm to 11pm at the Chapel Bar. Guests can enjoy Italian food and drink in a plant-filled outdoor setting with a covered roof to ward off any unsuspecting rain.

For al fresco dim sum dining, Yauatcha City can be found in Liverpool Street’s Broadgate Circle. The food is authentic Cantonese dishes with modern twist and the drinks menu is made up from 38 types of tea, plus more. This summer their terrace is in collaboration with iconic rose wine Whispering Angel.

The newest addition to Hackney's lively hangout spot on the River Lea, Two More Years has DJs every weekend and food from Burger and Beyond. As east London as it gets, there's an extensive menu of natural, organic and biodynamic wines and ice-cold craft beer from sustainable brewery, Purity.

Set in the heart of East London, the hotel's Garden Bar is on an open roof and terrace where guests can sip cocktails and delight in the group's new, refreshed menu featuring dishes like 'mac 'n' cheese plus' (with lobster thermidor) and 'Mama's burger' which comes with raclette. This June and July, they're partnering with Malfy Gin to serve Malfy Gin Cocktails at just £7 on Monday to Friday between 4pm to 7pm.

Standing outside the Aqua restaurant group (home to Kyoto and Nueva), there's definitely no indication that the venue has a bustling rooftop bar complete with a terrace smack bang in the centre of Soho. But it does! Found just off Oxford Street, the venue is an ideal outdoor venue to catch up with friends in the heart of London.

Home to beloved restaurants like Homeslice, Caravan, Vinoteca and Poke House, guests can take their pick and eat in the venue's covered terrace.

With riverside views of Tower Bridge, a trip out doesn’t get more ‘London’ than this. Bask in the glory of our capital city as you dine on a Sicilian menu, featuring saffron glazed monkfish, red prawn bucatini and even olive oil ice cream.

This East End icon, originally a Victorian power station, has reopened after nearly a decade being closed and brings industrial authenticity to Liverpool Street's skyscrapers. It’s all exposed brick and tall ceilings inside, and cocktails are named in honour of legendary East London parties from the early 00's.

A roast chicken isn't just for Sundays. At Cocotte, it's the main feature on the menu all week round with an array of sauces and delicious sides like truffle mac'n'cheese. The big umbrellas will protect you from any unexpected downfall.

Canal-side bar Number 90 is a Hackney institution, and it's new open-air space ‘The Yard’ let's you dip into an epic selection of al fresco DJ sessions every Friday to Sunday. Why not pop into it's on-site sister venue Studio 9294 for a night of everything from live music and club nights, to comedy and cabaret?

Catching a heatwave on this refurbished rooftop will have you thinking you're on holiday . And on the chillier days, the Orangery room will cover you from the breeze. Sip expertly made margaritas as you tuck into gobsmackingly good mussels with pancetta.

The Heron Tower location offers panoramic views of London on one of the highest outdoor dining terraces in Europe. Soak up the views while sipping on cocktails like the tropical Lychee Cooler with Grey Goose Le Citron vodka, elderflower cordial, lychee water and coconut cream. Don't forget to try the Japan, Brazil and Peru inspired dishes such as Shrimp Tempura with snap pea julienne, spicy mayo and black truffle vinaigrette.

Welcome to your new favourite summer spot. In an 18th century townhouse, The Maine is the super glam brasserie and club on Hanover Square with a newly opened terrace. Designed in collaboration with Brady Williams, think striped awnings, elegant wicker furniture and plenty of greenery. It even has it's own Champagne and cocktail bar and raw bar serving a variety of oysters, shellfish, tartares and crudos.

London’s highest public garden has teamed up with Malfy Gin, for an Amalfi-inspired gin pop-up at its City Garden Bar on Level 36. Open every Wednesday to Sunday evenings from 6.30pm until the end of September, transport yourself to an alfresco haven complete with lemon trees and Italian blooms. Try Malfy Lemon and Fever-Tree lemon tonic or Malfy bloody orange paired with Fever-Tree aromatic tonic for a taste of la dolce vita.

On the colourful India-inspired decking, sip on spiced infused cocktails like the Assam Manhattan or Coconut Kir cocktail. The lamb sheekh kebab, tandoori achari cauliflower or old Delhi style chicken curry is a must, plus there's even bottomless brunch every weekend.

Michelin star Brat has long been a cult favourite in East London, and its Climpson's Arch outpost is in the perfect summer courtyard. The Wales-meets-Basque-country daily menu showcases native seasonal produce sourced from some of the best producers in the UK and includes Brat favourites like whole roasted turbot, spider crab and grilled breads. There are even cocktails on tap, including fermented Bloody Marys, Pineapple Tepaches and their signature Espresso Martini, made with coffee roasted on-site.

One of last year’s most buzzed openings, Sessions Arts Club is housed in an impressive 18th century Grade II listed building in Clerkenwell. Bringing together the best of art design and food, chef Florence Knight offers a British, French and Italian menu, while artist Jonny Gent's on-site art gallery hosts new artwork and events each week.

From Two Tribes Brewery, Campfire is an open air, live cooking space, featuring exclusive brews and entertainment as well as hosting residencies and chefs takeovers. Part community hub, part entertainment space, Campfire brings together some of the most exciting names in music and food.

INO is a modern Greek restaurant in Soho from the team behind Marylebone's OPSO. Think small plates designed to share, like their Taramasalata with bottarga and egg yolk (a must) and the Octopus Taco with onion crisps and smoked tomato. The terrace is the perfect spot to hit after an afternoon of shopping or a pre-theatre nibble. There's even a bottomless brunch serving American classics with a Greek twist, such as Mac and Cheese cooked over charcoal with generous shavings of truffle and groviera or handmade onion marmalade pork sausages with a side of tzatziki, plus ‘Sunny side up eggs' with lemon and oregano chicken.

Dying to go to Tulum? Paddington's Pergola is the next best thing this summer with a Mexico inspired takeover. Soak up the rays on the rooftop as you dine on burgers at Filth & Co., tacos at Dos Mas Tacos or fish at Crudo Cevicheria, before you take a spin on the dance floor.

Found in the heart of Spitalfields Market, Coqbull have just launched their Summer Sessions, taking place 3-8pm every Saturday. The terrace will come alive with a record pop-up shop, vinyl DJ sets from East London artists and a pop-up cocktail and beer bar serving everything from Aperol Spritz to Beavertown Neck Oil. Of course, their signature rotisserie chicken makes an appearance, cooked right in front of you on the terrace for that BBQ feeling.

This summer, Hawkes and Absolut are taking over Big Chill's terrace are be bringing the Hawaiian tropics to London. Famous for their signature London-made Pineapple Cider, Hawkes provide cocktails like a zingy, frozen Pineapple Punch or their Dead and Berried cider. Prefer something more refreshing? Absolut's Mango Vodka is used in their Porn Star Spritz.

Previously Altitude, this summer is the first time that the Mondrian's rooftop (and pool!) has been open to the public. Inspired by 1970s LA and Hollywood pool parties, Laurel's on the Roof is a day-to-night watering hole infused with glamour. Expect Californian inspired everything, from lobster rolls to Sherry Cobler cocktails.

Dine alfresco at Hackney's favourite Italian, Ombra, on their terrace with views of Regents Canal. Indulge in moreish cured meats and fresh, silky pasta dishes, like their Tonnarelli dish, a thick, unctuous pasta with gambero rosso (Sicilian red prawns). Pairing with one of their regional spritz like the wine-spiked Sbaglito is a Milan-inspired must.