After what felt like the longest ever winter, Londoners are finally being rewarded for their patience with blue skies and warm weather. To celebrate, we’re trading basement bars and cosy pubs for sun-soaked terraces that epitomise the art of al-fresco. From urban hideaways to breezy riverside destinations, these are the best outdoor restaurant terraces in London.

As Hyde Park Garden prepares for its final summer before an exciting new chapter begins next year, there has never been a better time to settle into one of London's most coveted al fresco dining spots. Overlooking the greenery of Hyde Park, the terrace brings together a seasonal British menu from the team behind Dinner by Heston Blumenthal, celebrating some of the restaurant's most iconic dishes alongside the very best summer produce. Expect the legendary Meat Fruit, signature triple-cooked chips and the much-loved Tipsy Cake, complemented by Isle of Wight tomato salad, native lobster rolls and Hereford beef. Pair it all with a glass of Whispering Angel or Garrus from Château d'Esclans and enjoy one last summer lingering beneath the trees before this much-loved terrace evolves into its next incarnation.

Despite its tourist-trodden Strand location, the raised Toklas terrace feels worlds away from the hustle and bustle of central London. Potted plants and colourful chairs transport diners to sunnier climes – which is fitting given the restaurant’s Mediterranean-leaning menu, which features summery staples such as scallop crudo and Amalfi lemon sorbet.

This neighbourhood eatery has long been Earl's Court's best-kept secret, adored by locals and guests of Templeton Garden alike. But word is getting out. Its sun-drenched terrace, surrounded by lush greenery, and its thoughtful seasonal menu are no longer being overlooked, and rightly so. Championing the very best of British produce and celebrating the joy of familiar flavours with fresh perspectives, Pippins is relaxed, inviting and the sort of tranquil comfort that only comes from sunshine on your face, a club sandwich in hand and a perfectly chilled cocktail from the St-Germain Spritz Bar.

This summer, you wouldn’t be mistaken for confusing the Scotts Richmond Terrace with a botanical garden, as a partnership with Silent Pool Gin has brought the traditional English garden to your riverside dining table. There is no better way to enjoy a dozen Jersey oysters, yuzu-dressed yellowtail sashimi, or an array of shellfish bathing in garlic butter than framed within a sheltered nook of wisteria-draped pergolas, citrus trees, and wildflowers. It is the suntrap we are all desperately searching for, and with its retractable roof, it offers a slice of the outdoors even on slightly dubious weather days. The Thames below offers ample people-watching opportunities and can be paired with an equally floral concoction such as The Bee’s Knees or The Silent Bloom Spritz for the ultimate enjoyment of Richmond’s offerings. It provides all the shelter without sacrificing a glimpse of the British summer, because, as we all know, if you blink, you’ll miss it.

With the heat very much in full force and all of us guilty of mentioning how hot we are at least five times a day, the only way to survive a London summer is by firmly planting yourself in the shade with something cool and glorious in hand. Fortunately, SUSHISAMBA is more than happy to oblige. At its Covent Garden restaurant, the team has partnered with the ultimate summer staple, Veuve Clicquot, to transform its vibrant alfresco piazza into the perfect warm-weather retreat. And with temperatures soaring, no one is craving anything too heavy. Instead, opt for a selection of tempura rolls, tuna crispy rice and, if you're doing it properly, a Champagne and taquitos pairing. That's how we'll be seeing out the heatwave.

The return of Nick Jones to London's restaurant scene was always going to attract attention, but Café Clement feels refreshingly understated. Sitting inside the newly opened St. Clement at 180 The Thames, this all-day café from Jones and chef Danny Bohan, whose 25 years in the kitchen include time alongside Rowley Leigh, Rose Gray and Ruth Rogers, is built around the sort of cooking that never goes out of style. Find a spot on the south-facing terrace overlooking the garden square and settle in for an unhurried lunch, perhaps beginning with a croque monsieur before moving on to a beautifully executed open lobster omelette, sea bass carpaccio or steak haché. The menu champions simple ingredients treated with care, proving that refinement needn't be complicated. It is the sort of neighbourhood café every Londoner wishes they had on their doorstep, and one you'll find yourself inventing excuses to return to.

On a sunny London day, there are few better places to be than The River Cafe’s iconic Thames-side terrace. Its white tableclothed tables are unreservable, making the thrill of securing one all the more satisfying. Start with a chilled glass of frizanti and no matter which of Ruth Rogers’ pared-back Italian dishes you order, be sure to leave room for the famous Chocolate Nemesis.

This summer, Mayfair is in full bloom as Nyetimber celebrates the launch of its English Summer Rosé with a sparkling terrace takeover at 34 Mayfair. The ‘Sparkling Mayfair Summer’ terrace transforms South Audley Street into a floral oasis, complete with pink canopies, blossoming trees and cascading roses, bringing the charm of an English garden to one of London’s most elegant postcodes. At the heart of the collaboration is Nyetimber’s beautifully illustrated English Summer Rosé bottle, which pairs perfectly with 34 Mayfair favourites, including Tuna Crudo, Yellowtail Sashimi and the restaurant’s iconic Lobster Mac & Cheese. It's the ideal setting for long lunches, golden-hour drinks and making the most of the fleeting British summer.

Rumour has it that the French Riviera has arrived in Mayfair this summer at none other than Mediterranean eatery Dovetale. In partnership with Minuty, the terrace has been transformed with blush-pink paper florals and a dedicated Minuty Rosé Trolley, evoking the long, sun-soaked evenings of Provence. Settle in beside the trolley and work your way through a trio of Minuty cocktails, including the Slow Berry Highball, Provençal Blush and Sunlit Margarita, for the ultimate summer sips. To accompany the drinks, a selection of small plates is available to keep the evening going well into the night. Think delicate courgette flowers, salted anchovies and smoked tomatoes scattered over a crisp rösti, bringing a taste of the Riviera directly to Mayfair. Minuty is synonymous with summer, so order a Rosé Spritz, sit back and do exactly what the season calls for.

With its mirrored ceiling and punchy interiors, Daroco’s 120-seat dining room is a maximalist’s dream. But outside on the foliage-fringed terrace, the vibe is more laidback, perfect for long, languorous lunches that will make you forget you’re in central Soho. Gather your closest friends and settle in with a selection of fresh pastas and wood-fired pizzas to share – plus a bottle or two of rosé, and don’t dare leave without sampling Daroco’s signature tiramisu.

British summertime is nothing without the obligatory barbecue, yet with the often unpredictable weather and the failings of so-called grill connoisseurs, it can frequently fall short of expectations. Parrillan, however, offers a welcome alternative, as the terrace reopens with an exciting new menu of seasonal dishes designed around the essence of Mediterranean summer and sociable cooking. Graze upon your selection of para picar, whether that be Padrón peppers or the croquette of the moment, before the tabletop grill appears and the cooking begins, without the complications. Perhaps you’ll try your hand at squid with ajillo, simple yet essential green asparagus, or the must-order Lagarto Ibérico with mojo verde. It is everything dining should be: fun, flavourful, and entirely on your own terms. Bulk it out with one of their seasonal arroz dishes, but enjoy it all with a side of cava, patatas bravas, and a terrace lined with olive trees.

What’s better than sipping champagne and slurping oysters in the sunshine? Not much, if we’re honest. Do just that at Bentley’s Oyster Bar and Grill, a stalwart of Piccadilly’s Swallow Street since its inception in 1916. The covered terrace is open year-round, but come in the spring or summer to experience it in all its glory. Settle in with a bottle of something crisp and white and tuck into some of the capital’s best wild seafood, from Cornish fish stew to Lobster Thermidor.

Tucked away in the back streets of Dalston, Acme Fire Cult is a live-fire restaurant (sorry, cult) centred around the art of barbecue. The kitchen is situated on the outdoor terrace, allowing guests to watch the chefs at work on the grill, while sipping beers from next-door brewery 40FT and enjoying dishes like coal roast leeks with pistachio romesco and Highland Bavette with seaweed-peppercorn sauce.

For a taste of Italy in the heart of the West End, turn your attention to Sale e Pepe Terrazza at The Langham, where one of Central London’s largest private courtyards is transformed into a hidden alfresco escape. Expect Southern Italian sharing plates, some of London’s best pizzas and a spritz-led aperitivo programme created in partnership with ST-GERMAIN, alongside playful serves including the Aperol Shakerato. The garden setting, meanwhile, channels timeless Italian charm thanks to a collaboration with renowned outdoor living brand Unopiù, so you might just convince yourself you’re enjoying an aperitivo beneath the shaded canopy of an olive grove.

Amongst the leafy surroundings in the heart of Belgravia sits the family-owned hotel, The Goring, an enduring symbol of British hospitality since 1910. More than simply a place to stay, this iconic address is an urban sanctuary that feels worlds away from London's frenetic pace. Find yourself on the veranda, surrounded by manicured lawns and tree-lined borders, a rare pocket of tranquillity in the capital. Settle in with a spot of afternoon tea or a glass of something special and enjoy one of London's finest sun traps. From your seat, you may even catch a glimpse of the action below. To celebrate 100 years of ping pong, The Goring has launched Cham'Pong, a witty, champagne-fuelled pop-up that swaps beer for Bollinger. Grab a bottle and take on a far more civilised version of beer pong, or simply enjoy watching balls bounce into coupes as an altogether more refined alternative to Wimbledon. The stakes are high, the rules are refreshingly loose, and laughter is almost guaranteed. Once you've settled in, it will be very difficult to pull yourself away.

Hidden away in the backstreets of Shoreditch and accessible only by ringing a buzzer on the garden gate, Rochelle Canteen gives off a distinctly in-the-know vibe, yet remains understated and unpretentious. Its charming terrace is the sort of place that makes you feel as if you’re on holiday – even if you’ve only travelled 30 minutes on the Overground. The menu changes daily but expect simple and unfussy veg-forward dishes like violet artichokes with peas and lardo.

If you are looking for exquisite seafood and crisp glass of white, those in the know are heading a stone's throw from Sloane Square, down the Pavilion road, and arriving at the almost fisherman's outpost The Sea, The Sea. The infamous pearl of Chelsea has jumped across the street, opening its doors as a larger bistro and continuing their loved fish shop. Trusted with supplying some of London’s favourite restaurants, and preserving its comittment to seafood straight from the source, everything loved form the previous location remains but upstairs s symphony of light envelopes the 40 dinning room which envies any Salcombe seafood stop. Utilising low impact methods delivering you hand dived scallops to line caught bass, the menu invited you to explore from each section whether that is a Langoustine and crab consommé, a Cuttlefish ragu or delicacies from the grill including a whole plaice with wild garlic caper. However with the sunshine peeking its head, there is no where better to be than outside on the terrace, spilling out from the becoming the late night seafood bar, and pairs perfectly with a dozen oysters or a seafood platter and watch the best of Chelsea go by.

Champagne has always felt at home in the sunshine, and nowhere proves it better than the return of the Veuve Clicquot Terrace at The Londoner. Tucked away in a secluded corner of Leicester Square, this Mediterranean-inspired nook invites you to while away the afternoon with long lunches, leisurely aperitifs and the satisfying clink of chilled coupes. Start with the Jamón Ibérico Croquettes before making your way through dishes that celebrate the season, from Yellowfin Tuna Carpaccio to Buttered Lobster Linguine. The true talking point, however, is the Champagne Art Gallery, an imaginative menu that transforms Veuve Clicquot's cuvées into an immersive tasting experience. For the indecisive, or simply the curious, the two curated tasting flights, The Discovery and The Elevation, offer the perfect introduction, revealing the nuances and character of each Champagne before rounding things off with the wonderfully playful Champagne Lolly. It is a terrace that captures everything we want from summer in the city: exceptional food, outstanding Champagne and every excuse to linger a little longer.

Everybody’s favourite city-centric manor has found another way to elevate its appeal this summer with the unveiling of its new terrace. Like a hidden piazza, the space exudes Mediterranean charm and has partnered with community-focused pizzeria Dinner for One Hundred to create a European-inspired destination in the heart of London. The secluded alcove offers a welcome escape from the bustle of the city, inviting guests to linger over a crisp St-Germain Spritz or a Basil Smash as golden hour light filters through the courtyard. Begin with the vitello tonnato or grilled peach burrata before your pizza, topped with fior di latte, emerges from the Gozney Dome oven. Crowd-pleasing dishes including indulgent lobster linguine and chicken Milanese further enrich the menu, before an affogato tempts even the fullest of diners.

Step into La Môme London at The Berkeley and you could be forgiven for thinking you’ve been whisked straight to the French Riviera. Overlooking Hyde Park, the new opening brings a little Dolce Vita to Belgravia, with Slim Aarons’ sun-soaked photographs, Mediterranean murals and warm wood and marble interiors setting the scene. The feeling is distinctly late-summer Riviera, as though you’ve just arrived by Riva boat and wandered ashore for an afternoon of good food, flowing drinks and the kind of leisurely hospitality that makes you want to stay a little longer.

The ever-trendy and eclectic De Beauvoir can feel slightly intimidating to venture into. Questions inevitably arise over whether your outfit is cool enough or whether you'll find yourself on the right side of the Overground that day. Fortunately, there's every reason to push those thoughts aside, as Albers is redefining what a neighbourhood restaurant can be. It is lively and unpretentious, yet quietly ambitious in its gastronomy. With founder Scott Pattinson at the helm, the intimacy of the space and the heart behind the food have been carefully cultivated to make every guest feel as though they are dining in someone's living room, where comforting classics are refined rather than reinvented. You might find echoes of a childhood favourite, a beloved pub staple or a dish that reminds you of home, each one celebrating the enduring appeal of nostalgia on the plate. After a couple of Clarified Piña Coladas or an Albers Martini’s, you may well find yourself spilling out onto the pavement to chat with an old friend, or perhaps a new one, before returning to your table for Comté cheese puffs, Lamb Rump and Meadowsweet Crémeaux. It is the sort of place that leaves you feeling entirely welcome and, before long, very much a part of De Beauvoir.

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