In this edition of The 360 Edit, the team share their favourite London foodie spots for summer 2024.
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The clouds are parting, the winds are dissipating and the sun is sneaking its way back into our busy city lives. Summer is the perfect time to check out new restaurants, bars and pop-ups, and London is one of the best cities in the world to do just that. This month’s picks are a mixed bag, with one editor opting for a beer garden in Dalston, while another says a rooftop terrace in Soho offers the finest of all skyline views. Which to visit? That’s up to you.
The Understudy, South Bank
I spent much of my 20s in The Understudy’s brutalist courtyard, snacking on chips and drinking rosé with friends while enjoying a spot of people-watching.
Come July, it becomes home to the iconic open-air National Theatre River Stage, which features critically acclaimed drag, dance, circus and theatre acts — my favourite kind of summer entertainment. The bar is home to a range of street food vendors, offering everything from Middle Eastern-style flatbread wraps and pizzas to fully loaded cheeseburgers. Nothing screams summer like washing that all down with a pint of Kerb lager or glass of crisp sauvignon blanc.
- Beth Finney, contributing editor
Sunday in Brooklyn, Notting Hill
I’ve just returned from a trip to New York and am desperately trying to cling on to the city’s amazing vibes. Sunday in Brooklyn (which originated in Williamsburg, my favourite spot in NY) is the perfect place for this.
I like to head down on a Sunday morning for a stack of their mega-sweet chocolate pancakes, though if you opt to go for dinner, you can take advantage of the incredible cocktail list, which includes a rum-based tipple in an adorable bear-shaped glass — just ask for the Honeybear on Holiday. Sunday in Brooklyn gets extra props from me for its Westbourne Grove location —perfect for a post-meal stroll past the nearby pastel houses and cute shops selling trinkets.
- Layla Turner, content editor
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Dalston Curve Garden, Dalston
Just to the left of the famed Peace Mural is Dalston Curve Garden — where the term ‘beer garden’ is taken rather literally.
This wild green space, dotted with a rainbow of flowers, is free to enter if you just fancy walking along the winding pathway or sitting and relaxing, but there also happens to be a fully functioning bar stocking many locally made beers, wines and ciders, along with a cafe for hot drinks, small bites and sweet treats.
It’s usually a little less raucous than a traditional pub garden, I’ve found, and as night falls (it’s open until 10pm Thursday to Saturday), hanging lights illuminate the trees, creating a festival-like vibe throughout the space.
- Mattie Lacey-Davidson, editor
Fenchurch Restaurant, City of London
Combine a Caribbean-inspired menu with a gorgeous view of the city and I’m there. The backdrop of this place is only rivalled by its flavourful menu, where you can sample small plates of everything from jerk salmon with fresh spring onions to seabass with smoked oysters, or opt for grilled favourites like whiskey barbecue wings and sirloin steak.
It’s a sophisticated spot that sits on Sky Garden’s 37th floor, but the restaurant is by no means excessive. The vibe is welcoming and warm, and the location makes it the perfect spot for a dinner with friends or an impromptu after-work tipple. If you’re opting for the latter, the newly launched Flourish cocktail really is summer in a glass.
- Anna Evdokimou, deputy editor
Read more: The best rooftop bars in London right now
Yasmin, Soho
This summer, I’ll definitely be heading to rooftop terrace restaurant Yasmin in Soho. Located on the sixth floor of members’ house 1 Warwick, the restaurant, bar and terrace was previously only open to members, but as of this spring, it’s open to outside bookings, too.
The menu is Middle Eastern-inspired, and I’m particularly keen to try the sumac-cured salmon with coal-roasted aubergine and mushrooms with black garlic mayo, which sounds incredible. Also available to hire out for private events and parties, I foresee many a warmer night spent enjoying dinner and drinks on Yasmin’s terrace.
- Katie Sipp-Hurley, assistant editor
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