When the sun peeks through the clouds and Londoners ditch their coats for Aperol-ready attire, there’s only one thing to do: head outside. Whether you’re craving coastal calm, Mediterranean flair, or rooftop revelry, the capital has a terrace, garden, or sky-high suntrap for you. Here’s your ultimate guide to London’s best al fresco spots for summer 2025 – where cocktails flow, menus dazzle, and the vibes are always sun-soaked.
Eataly’s Aperol Spritzeria Terrazza – Bishopsgate
Where Italy meets London – via Aperol.
Step into a citrus-hued daydream as Eataly’s Aperol Spritzeria returns with its buzzing terrace, Aperol van, and the undeniable scent of summer. From triple-cooked Patata Fritta to velvety Tonnarelli Cacio e Pepe, this is a Roman holiday disguised as lunch. Don’t miss the bottomless brunch, where 90 minutes of free-flowing prosecco and spritz meets one glorious carb-fest.
What to sip: Aperol Spritz, Campari Negroni, or an Elderflower Bellini.
Vibe: City centre piazza meets Italian hillside aperitivo.
Engel Terrace at The Royal Exchange – The City
Schnitzel, spritzes and Champagne in the Square Mile.
Tucked among the neoclassical grandeur of The Royal Exchange and just steps from the Bank of England, Engel Terrace is The City’s answer to continental al fresco with a Germanic twist. This two-level suntrap is perfect for unwinding with a stein of beer and a gourmet hot dog – from the classic Der Klassiker to the fiery Der Hot Hot Hot Dog laced with Buldak sauce. Prefer bubbles? Head down on Saturdays for a Champagne brunch with half-price bottles and city skyline views.
What to sip: A magnum of rosé or a well-earned stein.
Vibe: Bavarian beer garden meets historic London glamour.
Cocotte – Shoreditch
Chic, sunny, and chicken-obsessed.
Cocotte’s terrace is Shoreditch’s answer to a brunch lover’s prayer. Imagine biting into a croissant waffle crowned with chilli-basted chicken and a fried egg – yes, brunch just got sexy. Or dig into truffled fries and rotisserie chicken with cocktails that scream Côte d’Azur.
What to sip: La Vie En Rose – rosé, pomegranate, mint… and pure summer.
Vibe: French farmhouse chic, but make it East London.
Pergola Brixton Rooftop
Tequila in the clouds.
Swap office views for tequila slushies and DJ beats at Brixton’s buzziest rooftop. With food from Jalisco, bottomless brunches and sundowner deals, this Mexican-inspired fiesta is your new go-to for high-altitude hedonism.
What to sip: Frozen coconut margarita, please and thank you.
Vibe: Tulum rooftop meets South London soul.
HERA – Stratford
Greek sunshine, no EasyJet required.
New kid on the block HERA is throwing its hat into the al fresco ring with a sprawling terrace, mezze magic and some of the capital’s most creative cocktails (see: a vodka melon mix with a jelly watermelon on the side). It’s sunshine dining at its finest.
What to sip: Helen of Spice (think spicy marg with mythological energy).
Vibe: Mykonos meets East London.
Sam’s Riverside & Sam’s Waterside
Two Sams, one riverside dream.
By the Thames in Hammersmith or the Grand Union Canal in Brentford, Sam’s delivers waterfront glamour with a British twist. Expect oysters, seared tuna, and sunsets that make you forget the Jubilee Line even exists.
What to sip: Champagne, obviously.
Vibe: Polished riverside romance, minus the pretension.
samsriverside.co.uk samswaterside.co.uk
Altos Tequila Terrace at The Sipping Room – Canary Wharf
A mezcal lover’s Mecca.
Enter through a floral archway and into tequila paradise. Overlooking the quay, this vibrant terrace is perfect for sipping peach frozen margaritas while pretending your inbox doesn’t exist.
What to sip: Tommy’s Margarita or fiery Agua Picante.
Vibe: West Coast Mexico meets East London finance.
Bokan – Canary Wharf
Cocktails at the top of the world.
Perched 39 floors high, Bokan’s rooftop gives you all of London – The Shard, The Gherkin, even the Thames – in one panoramic swoop. Add gourmet bar bites and artisan cocktails and you’ve got a front-row seat to the skyline.
What to sip: Something bubbly and sky-worthy.
Vibe: Sophisticated, sky-high serenity.
No.3 Rooftop at Smiths of Smithfield – Farringdon
Seafood with a skyline.
Seared scallops and chalk stream trout get the fine-dining treatment on this rooftop terrace with killer views of St. Paul’s. It’s upscale without the attitude.
What to sip: A crisp white wine or citrus-spiked spritz.
Vibe: Laid-back luxury with cathedral cameos.
The Brush x Lillet Terrace – Hoxton
Lillet, light bites and lazy afternoons.
This collab brings Parisian charm to the East End, with Lillet cocktails and sun-drenched plates that whisper “just one more round.” A post-work gem.
What to sip: Lillet Rosé, of course.
Vibe: French café meets East London cool.
Cinnamon Kitchen City – Liverpool Street
Spice up your summer.
Hidden behind glass and steel is a terrace bursting with the colours, flavours and aromas of India. Dive into bold small plates and cocktails that punch above their weight.
What to sip: Mango chilli mojito, with a side of sunshine.
Vibe: Urban oasis with a spicy kick.
Bala Baya – Southwark
Hidden courtyard, maximum flavour.
From prawn baklava to brisket doughnuts (yes, really), Bala Baya’s intimate courtyard takes you on a Tel Aviv-inspired culinary trip without leaving the postcode.
What to sip: A chilled rosé and a big smile.
Vibe: Under-the-radar and totally worth discovering.
Kapara – Soho
Middle Eastern feast meets city sizzle.
Big terrace energy in the heart of Soho. Come for the pita and ribs, stay for the people-watching and next-level energy.
What to sip: A fruity fizz with a spicy twist.
Vibe: Non-stop party meets Middle Eastern hospitality.
Marquess of Anglesey – Covent Garden
Pints and performances.
This rooftop terrace delivers sweeping views of London’s theatreland, perfect for pre-show pints or post-matinee cocktails.
What to sip: An IPA or a negroni, depending on your curtain call.
Vibe: Pub tradition meets West End buzz.
The Riviera Terrace by Drake & Morgan – King’s Cross
Zest, sunshine, and spritz supremacy.
Lemons dangle, cocktails clink, and there’s even a Malfy gin cart. Enter a lemon-scented Mediterranean escape where you could win a trip to Paris – if you ever want to leave.
What to sip: Italicus Spritz with a side of duck bao.
Vibe: Amalfi Coast meets King’s Cross.
Great Northern Hotel x The Botanist Gin Terrace
Gin lovers, this one’s for you.
Botanicals, blossoms, and cocktails that blur the line between mixology and art – GNH’s terrace is a classy hideaway right by the station.
What to sip: The Hot Fuzz (gin, kiwi, apple, and champagne).
Vibe: Grown-up garden party with train-track proximity.
Rick Stein Terrace – Barnes
Seafood dreams by the river.
The riverside courtyard at Rick Stein Barnes is a haven of calm, Cornish seafood, and Chardonnay. Long lunches just met their match.
What to sip: A glass of something coastal and crisp.
Vibe: Coastal Cornwall, London postcode.
TOZI Pizzeria & Cicchetti Bar – Battersea
Boulevard bustle, Negroni hustle.
Overlooking Electric Boulevard, TOZI is an all-day hangout made for people-watching, pasta twirling, and spritz sipping.
What to sip: A seasonal spritz and whatever’s Negroni-adjacent.
Vibe: Milan café culture with Battersea buzz.
The Engineer – Primrose Hill
Secret garden meets gastropub gold.
Hidden in leafy NW1, The Engineer’s walled garden is a sunny sanctuary for those who like their lemon tarts with a side of chorizo scallops.
What to sip: A crisp rosé or a killer Old Fashioned.
Vibe: Rustic charm with a gourmet wink.
SESTA – Hackney, Wilton Way
Natural wine, live-fire flair, and East London edge.
Hackney’s most stylish new streetside hangout has arrived in the form of SESTA – a 16-cover summer terrace. This critically acclaimed wine bar and restaurant offers seasonal small plates bursting with bold, inventive flavours – from Cajun ham chou farci with smoked eel to devilled ox heart skewers with pickled magnolia. The surroundings? Planters spilling over with herbs and flowers, glasses clinking with vibrant natural wines, and that unmistakable Wilton Way buzz.
What to sip: A chilled glass of low-intervention French red.
Vibe: Creative, intimate, and effortlessly cool – Hackney through and through.
Wildflowers – Newson’s Yard, Belgravia
A floral hideaway with Mediterranean flair.
Newly opened for summer, Wildflowers’ Courtyard is a hidden gem in Belgravia’s Newson’s Yard – a fully covered, flower-filled, and made for leisurely lunches. The Mediterranean-inspired menu features elegant small plates like Norfolk asparagus and Cantabrian anchovy toast. For mains, choose between Spaghetti alla Vongole or grilled Iberico pork chop – best paired with a chilled Amalfi Spritz under a canopy of blooms.
What to sip: Amalfi Spritz, naturally.
Vibe: Elegant, tranquil, and perfumed with petals – a secret garden for grown-ups.
The Loggia at RH England – The Cotswolds
A countryside escape with wood-fired flavour.
Just outside the capital, The Loggia at RH England is where summer dreams and Cotswolds charm collide. Set within the elegant grounds of RH in a beautifully curated open-air space, this relaxed terrace offers rustic pizzas hot from the wood-fire, artisan charcuterie boards, and views straight out of a period drama. Highlights include the indulgent Truffle Pizza layered with cream and shaved truffles, and the hearty Sausage Pizza with caramelised onions and Portobellos.
What to sip: One of nine new cocktails – start with an Aperol Spritz, end with a martini.
Vibe: Elegant countryside lunch meets Vanderpump Villa.
