As spring awakens, so do our appetites for dining outdoors.
For all its inclement winter days, London more than makes up for it come May and June, when the city beings to spill outdoors onto rooftops, terraces and sun-bathed patios. Here are five of the best places to dine al fresco across the city.
The Lighterman, Granary Square
Thanks to Coal Drops Yard’s assorted tangle of shops and restaurants, the chunk of King’s Cross that sprawls over the canal is now built up and bustling. But from The Lighterman’s upstairs balcony, just above the water’s edge, all is serene. The menu leans distinctly gastropub — shrimp scampi, chicken schnitzel with rocket and parmesan, tuna steak, truffle flatbreads — but with a Mediterranean edge that lifts fresh produce into something slightly higher end. A glance indoors at the industrial-chic decor serves as a quick reminder of the area’s heritage, while the view of the canal winding away from Granary Square lures one’s mind to faraway places.
Read more: Pooch-to-table dining? These are the 10 best dog-friendly dining spots in London
The Culpeper, Spitalfields
Seated at sylvan wooden tables, ensconced between towering juneberry and crab apple trees, dining at The Culpeper’s woodland garden feels more like popping over to your friend’s allotment than an east London pub terrace. Silver birch and hazel trees, calendula, mint and wild strawberry woodruff speckle the surroundings, but the setting isn’t just for show; much of the menu’s produce comes straight from the rooftop or the Culpeper farm in Deptford. This year’s seasonal highlights include grilled baby leeks in romesco sauce, made with agroforestry almonds, grilled half Soanes chicken with chanterelles and black garlic.
Read more: Chef Justin Tsang’s top five East and Southeast Asian restaurants in London
ULI, Notting Hill
When the sun shines in Notting Hill, it really shines. And on the corner of Ladbroke Road, ULI’s foliage-framed terrace makes the most of it. As funk music softly scores your meal, the menu brings together a fusion of classics and dishes inspired by Thai, Chinese, Malaysian and Singaporean influences. Wet the palate with spicy scallops and Vietnamese summer rolls — fresh, crunchy and served with a sweet chilli dipping sauce. Then, move onto the creamy, spicy coconut curry (prawn, chicken or tofu) or triple-cooked Dover sole with asparagus, garlic and chilli. Pair all with a Rising Sun cocktail — woki sake vodka, prosecco, raspberries, blackberries — or keep it classic with a sake.
Read more: London’s best beer gardens to embrace the sunshine this spring
Bistro Sablé, Islington
On the unassuming corner of a triangular junction in N1, Bistro Sablé’s nod to cosy Parisian dining gives it the feel of the kind of homely local you’ve been visiting with your family for years. Everything on the menu is rich and indulgent; onions, butter, succulent meat and fish served in a berth of sauce, salad on the side. The French onion soup starter is genuinely something to write home about, and the rotisserie chicken with vin jaune makes for an eye-catching main — almost rivalled only by the fillet au poivre (steak with creamy peppercorn sauce) topped off with an entire Roscoff onion.
View this post on Instagram
Taverna Ermou, Marylebone
Inside Taverna Ermou — the sister restaurant to its Athens original — cosy corners, white walls bathed in low light and wooden accents evoke a distinctly Greek taverna. Sitting outside and watching Soho go by isn’t quite the same as being in the Greek capital, but on a sunny day, it comes endearingly close. Start with a familiar but zesty Greek salad, accompanied by generously garlic-spiced pita.
Feature image: The Culpeper/ Ola Smit
