SUNS OUT, 7 HOT TERRACES

The sun is finally shining (sort of, almost!) So, here’s a roundup of our absolute favourite outdoor spots to grab a bite to eat, sip a cocktail and soak up the sun this spring.

Toklas on the Strand is home to one of central London’s largest, most peaceful garden terraces. Surrounded by flourishing foliage you can be transported away from city life, enjoy a specially curated al fresco menu from Head Chef Yohei Furuhashi, and try some of their natural, low intervention wines.

Prawn on the Lawn’s second Padstow restaurant, Barnaby's, will take up residency at Trevibban Mill Vineyard and Orchard for Summer 2023. Their mouthwatering menu will be largely centred around fish, with the addition of locally sourced meat and veg dishes heavily influenced by Mediterranean and Middle Eastern flavours.

Padella Shoreditch has an all-year-round heated terrace that provides strong ‘summer in the city’ vibes. Here you can munch on the hype dish Pici cacio e pepe and a curated list of cocktails from the indomitable Mr. Lyan Studio - including £2 Padella Negronis at select times during the week.

St. JOHN Marylebone serves up all of the synonymous flavours you’d expect from St. JOHN, plus a list of their revered own-label wines and cocktails. It is the perfect spot to enjoy long lunches with friends in the sunshine, or beneath the awning when the weather isn’t as kind.

Ottolenghi’s latest opening in Chelsea is home to a picturesque terrace on the peaceful foodie thoroughfare of Pavillion Road. The space is designed for multiple purposes; a quick coffee to begin the day, a sun trap to sit and have lunch, or an al fresco cocktail to toast the weekend.

Outside Dishoom Canary Wharf on the Verandah is the place to be this summer. Dishoom’s newest café can be found nestled in a corner of Wood Wharf overlooking the water where you can delight in a brand new Chef’s Special: Malai Lobster.

Acclaimed Turkish chef Esra Muslu’s restaurant Zahter offers seating on the streets of Soho making it the perfect location for a work lunch or an end-of-the-day treat. This chic Carnaby spot challenges expectations of Turkish cooking in the capital, providing a fresh perspective and new flavours.

At Pophams London Fields, customers who bag a much-desired spot outside on Richmond Road can enjoy pastries in the morning, and freshly-made pasta accompanied by natural wine in the evening on the expansive terrace.

The sun’s appearance is truly something to celebrate, and there is no better way to do so than at Carousel Fitzrovia. Carousel will be reopening their French doors to their quiet haven behind bustling Oxford Street, with outdoor sun-trap seating to enjoy outside the Wine Bar.