The Best Outdoor Venues in London This Summer

Al-fresco options in London are popping up everywhere. Rooftop bars and beer gardens have traditionally been our go-to outdoor haunts, but there has been a recent shift towards proper outdoor dining. You can go for a lavish meal, a cheeky drink or even watch a movie at the venues below. You can even catch a big-screen sporting event while topping up your vitamin D.

Located on the sixth floor of member’s house 1 Warwick, rooftop restaurant, bar and terrace, Yasmin, offers panoramic views of Soho’s skyline and serves Middle Eastern-inspired dishes and cocktails from Executive Chef Tom Cenci, alongside an extensive cocktail and drinks list. Launched in spring 2023 and designed by interiors studio Fettle, Yasmin was available exclusively to 1 Warwick members, however, this spring 2024 it has opened for the first time to non-members, with members still taking priority. In keeping with 1 Warwick’s aesthetic, Yasmin boasts a chic yet sophisticated interior, inspired by the ever-evolving surrounding neighbourhood of Soho.

The ultimate open-air film experience, Rooftop Film Club started as a single rooftop in London’s Shoreditch in 2011 and has now expanded globally with two venues in the UK (Peckham and Stratford) and seven venues in the US (Miami, San Diego, Fort Worth, LA, Houston, NYC and Chicago). Sold out crowds enjoy sunset film screenings under the stars using state of the art projectors, high quality wireless headphones and comfy chairs, all coupled with the best food and drink on offer. Londoners have a choice between Stratford (Roof East)or Peckham, with each venue offering a unique view of the city.

Set to open in Bethnal Green in Spring 2025, Umbrella Cider House is London’s only working cider house from the team behind The Sun Tavern, Discount Suit Company, and The Umbrella Workshop. Visitors can expect a range of quality ciders, including Umbrella London presses made with bittersweet Dabinett apples and fruit juices sourced from a single British countryside location. The clean, tart rhubarb cider blends dessert apples and freshly pressed rhubarb, offering a delicate fruity aroma and pale rosé hue, while the blackcurrant cider combines blackcurrant and cherry for a sweet yet refreshing sharp finish. Umbrella Cider House will also serve local East London beers on tap from Two Tribes, wine by the glass, bottled cocktails from The Umbrella Workshop, and guest food from East London’s favourite traders. The venue will host live entertainment, sport screenings, cider tastings, and, with its spacious 60-capacity al-fresco terrace, will be a perfect spot for Londoners to visit during the summer months.

Outdoor dining and barbecues go hand in hand and live-fire restaurant Acme Fire Cult boasts one of London’s best al fresco dining spots. The terrace allows guests to watch the chefs at work at the grill, whilst sipping beers from sister brewery 40FT and tucking into the famed coal roast leeks with pistachio romesco, Highland Bavette with seaweed-peppercorn sauce and the weekend meat platter. It is also the perfect spot for large groups to enjoy outdoor dining at its finest and in keeping with our temperamental British summers, the terrace can be covered and blankets are on hand for those chillier evenings.

All 3 London Berberè branches have coveted sun filled outdoor dining areas with Kentish Town catering for 22 covers, Tottenham Court Road 30 covers and the largest of them all, a 50 cover patio side terrace in Clapham offering 50 covers. What’s better than imagining you’re sat in an Italian piazza, complete with award-winning 24 hour proofed sourdough pizza, Berberè’s signature deep fried dough balls with toppings including ‘Nduja, burrata and basil and honey and grated aged smoked ricotta – all finished with Italian staple, an Affogato. Sit back and enjoy the sun with an ice cold beer from a local brewery or a Campari spritz.

Cult Mexican restaurant Corrochio’s offers a rain-safe al fresco terrace in the heart of Dalston – complete with greenery and Mexican memorabilia picked up by Daniel Corrochio and Amy McQuarrie on their travels around Daniel’s homeland. Tuck into Mexican favourites including the Tostada de Camarón, the pork carnitas Vampiros and La Americana Tortas, a take on a traditional Mexican sandwich made with soft telera bread and a base of avocado, tomato and cheese . Corrochio’s also serves an excellent weekend brunch and hosts a weekly Taco Tuesday with the must-try grilled cactus taco. Then when the sun goes down, there is also the team’s subterranean agave bar CINCO next door, the perfect spot for a night cap.

Here’s a cracking find in London Bridge that spills out into Holyrood Street and turns it into a Mexican oasis. The original Tigre Tacos truck is parked up serving tacos and tostadas, and the Nine Lives cocktail bar on wheels will be serving drinks. Not many people know about this one yet, so you might be one of the first.

Another takeover is occurring in Mayfair, where the ever-elusive Mr Fogg is setting up operations just outside his permanent residence. The secret garden is a Victorian paradise, with plenty of calming features to help transport you away from the busy streets nearby. The venue can seat more than 100 guests at a time, and if you do visit, don’t miss the speciality cocktails on the menu.

One of the best things about London at the moment is seeing al-fresco dining really take off. Soho has turned many of its streets into a vast network of inviting outdoor food courts, and people are flocking from all over the city to eat here. Head chef Malin de Silva may only have a small terrace to play with, but his modern Sri Lankan menu and summer cocktails are some of the best you will find in the heart of London.

Fancy delicious small plates in affluent west London? Check out Dinings SW3, a modern Japanese restaurant in a quiet mews that many Londoners have heard of but not many have been able to visit. The courtyard space gives it a unique homely quality and the food is prepared by executive chef Masaki Sugisaki, who combines his Japanese upbringing and the considerable time he’s spent in the UK to create some incredible dishes.

There’s a lot to take in at the Elephant and Castle Mercato Metropolitano venue, but luckily, there’s also a lot of space to play with. One of the newest additions is an on-site microbrewery, which goes nicely with the Jim and Tonic gin distillery also located on the premises. Finding venues with enough seats to accommodate everyone who wanted to socialise outdoors has been a major problem since lockdown restrictions were lifted, but when you have 500 seats and 40 vendors, it seems there’s plenty going on here to keep everyone satisfied.