The Garden at The Berkeley, Knightsbridge

The Berkeley hotel launched pop-up restaurant The Garden at The Berkeley last summer. On a terrace at the side of the hotel, with views of neighbouring St Paul’s church, the space promises an intimate and informal Mediterranean atmosphere. Expect lots of garden lanterns, olive trees, cool beats and fresh summertime food. Dishes include T-bone steak with smoked shallot butter and chimichurri; grilled sardines with lemon and rock salt; and roast cauliflower with smoked almond purée. Though the charred octopus with lemon aioli has to be the menu highlight. This is an ideal place to sit back, relax and ease yourself into an evening out.

Wilton Place, Knightsbridge, SW1X 7RL

Visit The-Berkeley.co.uk

Stanley’s, Chelsea

Hugh Stanley’s debut restaurant opened in Chelsea last summer. Set back from the King’s Road, guests enter through a floral archway flanked by olive trees and tiered shrub planting into the flagstone courtyard area, which is inspired by an English country garden. Under the leadership of head chef Olivia Burt – who was a finalist on Masterchef: The Professionals last year – the menu focuses on seasonal produce showcasing the best of British ingredients. Brunch dishes include sourdough crumpet with Cornish crab and potted shrimps; crispy prawns served with sriracha emulsion; and salmon tartare with shiso and keta caviar.

151 Sydney Street, Chelsea, SW3 6NT

Visit StanleysChelsea.co.uk

Milk Beach, Queen’s Park

All-day Australian restaurant Milk Beach underwent a big expansion last year, which saw it double in size after taking over the adjacent restaurant. On the private mews of Lonsdale Road, Milk Beach features a large outdoor heated seating area with parasols for European-style alfresco street dining year-round. The menu draws inspiration from the diverse cultures that make up modern, coastal Australian cuisine with highlights including banana bread with espresso cream cheese; Smashed avocado, confit cherry tomatoes, whipped goats’ curd and pumpkin seed crumble; and folded eggs with crumpet, curried crab and fragrant herbs. 

19 Lonsdale Road, Queen’s Park, NW6 6RA

Visit MilkBeach.com

Mama Shelter, Shoreditch

Mama Shelter’s outdoor bar offers a chic, heated spot for drinkers and diners. In the centre of the hotel, the space comprises an open roof and terrace-style seating that is well suited to social distancing. Its popular brunch menu includes burrata with wild mushrooms, truffle and garlic toast; and pancakes with crispy bacon and maple syrup or berry compote and Greek yoghurt.

437 Hackney Road, Hackney, E2 8PP

Visit MamaShelter.com

La Poule Au Pot, Belgravia

French restaurant La Poule au Pot has a lovely outdoor terrace. As of 12th April, the terrace will be open daily from 11:30am until 10pm, with the kitchen open all day, should diners want to enjoy a long meal. Outdoor heaters will be in place for chilly days, as well as parasols. The current table d’hôte menu includes two dishes for £28 and three dishes for £32 and features a variety of traditional French specialties like onion soup and boeuf bourguignon. A list of specials will also be available, as well as an extensive wine list.

231 Ebury Street, Belgravia, SW1W 8UT

Visit PouleAuPot.co.uk

Circolo Popolare, Fitzrovia

Big Mamma’s wonderfully OTT trattoria in Fitzrovia now takes bookings. The outdoor terrace is surrounded by a flourish of colourful plants and trees, overlooking Rathbone Square. Book now for ‘Le Gran Carbonara’ or the crowd-favourite mafaldine al tartufo truffle pasta.
 
40-41 Rathbone Place, Fitzrovia, W1T 1HX
 
Visit BigMammaGroup.com

Petersham Nurseries, Covent Garden

With plenty of outdoor and open-plan space, guests at Petersham Nurseries’ Italian restaurant La Goccia can opt to dine indoors or al fresco in the secluded central courtyard. Surrounded by lemon trees and lit up in the evening by bulbs and candlelight, the garden will transport guests to an Italian courtyard where they can sip limoncello spritzes and Campari and sodas. Chairs and tables from the courtyard spill out onto King Street, welcoming locals and visitors alike to stop and have a scoop of homemade sorbet, ice-cream or granita.
 
Floral Court, Covent Garden, WC2E 9FB
 
Visit PetershamNurseries.com

The Ivy Chelsea Garden, Chelsea

We can’t wait to have a drink in The Ivy Chelsea Garden’s pretty garden. As you’d expect, the restaurant will reopen alongside the highest standards of health and safety, ensuring both guests and employees are dining and working in a safe environment: air filtration units have been fitted and dedicated members of staff have been appointed to ensure standards are maintained. Bookings are essential and can be made online.
 
197 King’s Road, Chelsea, SW3 5EQ
 
Visit TheIvyChelseaGarden.com

Darby’s, Nine Elms

Robin and Sarah Gill are gearing up to reopen their oyster bar, bakery and grill in Embassy Gardens, Nine Elms. Book a spot on its 20-cover terrace for dishes such as Cornish crab brioche roll with baby gem and roe mayo; and Lady Hamilton smoked cod, with vesuvio tomato, summer herbs and toasted bread. For anyone in need of breakfast, pastries and coffees, they’re available to takeaway through a hatch from 10am on Wednesdays to Sundays.
 
3 Viaduct Gardens, Nine Elms, SW11 7AY
 
Visit Darbys-London.com

Opso, Marylebone

Greek restaurant Opso launched a terrace last summer. The dining space winds its way around the restaurant and features tables for two, four and six diners, seating a maximum of 40. The terrace aims to transport guests to the streets of Athens via a fresh menu and selection of Greek wines made for warmer weather. We like the sound of the raw bar, where you can sample sashimi with thyme and lemon bitters; and taramas – Opso’s take on the classic cod’s roe dish, served with squid ink oil. Close by, the bar team are on hand to serve up ice-cold glasses of Greek sparkling wines, rosé and a selection of signature cocktails. 
 
10 Paddington Street, Marylebone, W1U 5QL
 
Visit Opso.co.uk

Dinings SW3, Chelsea

This popular mews restaurant fuses Japanese and European cuisines. Exec chef Masaki Sugisaki and his team have developed a style of sushi and sashimi that changes with the seasons, using the freshest seafood from Cornish day boats. They can also draw on a Josper oven to create a range of sumiyaki dishes. Alongside the main space there is a sushi counter, a kurabu (mezzanine area seating up to 24) and a beautiful secluded outdoor courtyard space, which will be specially set up for socially distanced dining.
 
Lennox Gardens Mews, Chelsea, SW3 2JH
 
Visit Dinings.co.uk

Casa Do Frango, Shoreditch

Algarvian restaurant group Casa Do Frango focuses on wood-charcoal grilled piri piri frango chicken, accompanied by other Portuguese favourites, including charred cauliflower, grilled chorizo and excellent pastel de nata custard tarts, made at the on-site bakery. Its 100-seater terrace at the group’s Casa Shoreditch is designed to accommodate al fresco drinking and dining. Ideal for anyone craving a summer holiday in the Algarve.
 
2 King John Court, Shoreditch, EC2A 3EZ
 
Visit CasaDoFrango.co.uk

Allegra, Stratford

Allegra will reopen with a heated terrace for up to 40 guests, a snug outdoor bar area and a garden. Making full use of its custom-made woodburning grill, the terrace menu focuses on simple produce-driven fire cooking, while a weekend brunch features elegant reinterpretations of modern classics. Expect to tuck into the likes of fried gnocchi cacio e pepe; oak-smoked trout with soft egg, shrimp butter and radish; smoked aubergine agnolotti with tomato and nasturtium; and roast chicken with aioli and caramelised lemon.
 
20 International Way, Stratford, E20 1FD
 
Visit Allegra-Restaurant.com

Lina Stores, King’s Cross

Lina Stores opened an outdoor restaurant on Lewis Cubitt Square last year. The 85-cover terrace is partially covered to protect from the elements and adhere to social-distancing advice with one-way entry and exit. Diners can feast on dishes of maltagliati verdi with spring mushroom ragu; and crab linguine with lemon, chilli and garlic; as well as Lina Stores favourites tagliolini with truffle and parmigiano; and veal ravioli with salsa verde.
 
20-21 Stable Street, King’s Cross, N1C 4DR
 
Visit LinaStores.co.uk

Gunpowder, London Bridge

Gunpowder has its own terrace, which overlooks Tower Bridge. At this Indian spot, guests can expect to order the likes of Nagaland House crispy pork ribs topped with spicy tamarind sauce, Karawari soft-shell crab and organic baby tandoori chicken in butter masala sauce, alongside refreshing Bow Barracks gimlets and Pani Puri margaritas.
 
4 Duchess Walk, London Bridge, SE1 2SD
 
Visit GunpowderLondon.com

Tavolino, London Bridge

Tavolino opened last July. The kitchen is headed up by Louis Korovilas, godson of Giorgio Locatelli and formerly head chef of Bancone. On the south bank of the Thames, Tavolino is split across two floors with floor-to-ceiling windows and comes with a 70-seater outdoor terrace with views of the City and Tower of London. Guests can order the likes of Tuscan fennel salami, lardo and parmesan bombolini and zucchini fritti. Each morning, Louis and his team will make their own pasta from scratch for dishes including silk handkerchief pasta sheets with walnut butter and Burford Brown yolk; tagliatelle, spicy ’nduja and pork ragu; and tomato, basil and Barilotto cheese made with buffalo milk in Salerno. 
 
2 More London Riverside, London Bridge, SE1 2DB
 
Visit Tavolino.co.uk

Parrillan, King’s Cross

Harts Group has four spots at Coal Drops Yard: Parrillan, Barrafina, Casa Pastor and Plaza Pastor. It’s Parrillan we’re especially interested in, as it comes with a large, partially covered terrace. The menu includes a selection of para picar – including pan con tomate, escalivada and anchovies de l’escala – and guests will be able to cook their own ingredients on the parrilla grills, including red prawns, Iberian pork and milk-fed lamb kidneys. There will also be rice dishes to share, including arroz negro with squid ink, buttifarra and artichoke, and arroz caldoso with lobster, langoustines and soupy rice. Best of all, the drinks menu sees the return of the dedicated G&T list – ideal for an outdoor celebration.
 
Stable Street, King’s Cross, N1C 4PW
 
Visit Parrillan.co.uk

Julie’s, Holland Park

A London favourite since 1969, neighbourhood restaurant Julie’s has reopened with revamped menus. Its elegant outdoor terrace provides the perfect spot for guests to socialise in the sun while enjoying seasonal dishes developed by chef patron Shay Cooper. These include English burrata with salad of Isle of Wight tomatoes and purple basil; brill fillet with cucumber, dill and Morecambe Bay shrimps; and passionfruit syllabub with caramelised white chocolate ice-cream.
 
135 Portland Road, Notting Hill, W11 4LW  
 
Visit JuliesRestaurant.com

The Nest, Marylebone

The treehouse craze arrived in the capital in the form of this recent hotel opening in Marylebone. All rooms are perched high in the city skyline and feature big bay windows that look out to some of London’s most iconic landmarks. The Nest is a spacious and open rooftop terrace, with uninterrupted skyline views and ample space, making it well suited to social-distancing measures. Open from lunch through to dinner, dishes include wild mushroom frittata; waffles with berries and cream; and stone-baked flatbreads.
 
14-15 Langham Place, Marylebone, W1B 2QS

Visit TreehouseHotels.com

The Standard, King’s Cross

The Standard’s beautiful sun-soaked garden terrace is set to reopen, too, alongside its cool ground-floor bar, Double Standard. One of the largest in the neighbourhood, the terrace is tucked behind the hotel. The space serves Aperol slushies and has a Moët Minis vending machine.

10 Argyle Street, King’s Cross, WC1H 8EG

Visit StandardHotels.com

Dalloway Terrace, Fitzrovia

Thanks to Dalloway Terrace’s indoor/outdoor concept with retractable roof and walls, guests can enjoy the heated terrace year-round. The al fresco restaurant is newly decorated each season, so we’re expecting great things for its big reopening – this time last year, it was transformed into a whimsical overgrown greenhouse, complete with cascading roses, sweet peas and tulips to create a serene English garden feel, courtesy of McQueens Flowers – so expect more of the same.

16-22 Great Russell Street, Fitzrovia, WC1B 3NN

Visit DallowayTerrace.com