Al Fresco Dining – London’s Best Restaurants with Gardens
As we soak up a few welcome rays of sunshine this week, why not celebrate the arrival of springlike weather with an al fresco meal? Many of the capital’s restaurants have open-air terraces and gardens where the unrelentingly wet weather so far this year will fade to a distant memory. Here are some of the best in Notting Hill and beyond:
Beach Blanket Babylon
An elegant place in a refined part of town, since its opening in 1990, Beach Blanket Babylon has become a Notting Hill destination. Housed in a Georgian building with grand Baroque interiors, the restaurant is perfect for large dining parties as well as more intimate lunches. A place to see and be seen, Beach Blanket Babylon has hosted celebrity guests from Rita Ora and Selena Gomez to Prince William and Kate.
Ledbury Rd, Notting Hill beachblanket.co.uk
Gold
Portobello Road’s Gold opened back in 2019, and is known for great ingredients, prepared simply. The décor is lush greenery, pale wood furniture, cushioned banquettes and zinc-topped tables, and the kitchen is headed up by ex-River Cafe chef, Theo Hill. Dishes are listed in five categories: Raw, Cheese & Charcuterie, Salads, Vegetables and Plates, and diners are encouraged to mix and match, sharing a selection of plates. The menu changes seasonally, and a lovely roof terrace is open in the summer.
Portobello Road, goldnottinghill.com
Julie’s
Julie’s in West London opened in 1969 and guests felt like they were on a film set. Mick Jagger, Tom Cruise, and Kate Moss were regularly seen here, and Tina Turner danced on the table. Last year the restaurant relaunched under new ownership and captures the bohemian and eclectic spirit of the neighbourhood as much as it ever did. Now serving modern French brasserie cooking, diners can choose between a private dining room and bar, a basement dining area, and a glamorous alfresco terrace.
Holland Park juliesrestaurant.com
The Princess Royal
The Princess Royal is part of the mini chain of smart London pubs scattered through Marylebone, Mayfair, and Chelsea. The menu is Mediterranean seafood made with British produce, and outside, there’s a spacious terrace and a garden, making it a perfect summer spot for long lunches and after-work drinks.
Hereford Rd, Notting Hill cubitthouse.co.uk
Dalloway Terrace
One of the capital’s most Instagrammable outdoor restaurants is Dalloway Terrace, the flower-bedecked balcony of the Bloomsbury Hotel. Covered and heated, it’s popular year-round, but it’s particularly idyllic on a sunny day. Seasonal dishes include burrata with heritage tomatoes, asparagus and pea risotto, and crab linguine.
Great Russell St. dallowayterrace.com
The Hari Bar & Garden Terrace
The Hari Bar & Terrace is the perfect spot to relax after a busy day in the capital. The Garden Terrace is The Hari’s unique outdoor space with living ivy walls, beautiful flowers, a retractable roof, and heaters. Idyllic for long lunches in the sunshine, the garden terrace is an oasis from the bustling streets of Belgravia. Enjoy sharing plates of truffle arancini and calamari, or larger plates of cheeseburgers and falafel wraps, with art-inspired cocktails, wine, and champagne.
Chesham Place thehari.com
Coppa Club
Whatever the weather, Coppa Club’s riverside igloos are always popular. Their new spring look involves woven wicker chairs, bamboo lanterns and linen throws beneath suspended botanicals. For up to six people, the igloos offer an à la carte menu with a selection of seasonal European dishes including fresh pasta and sourdough pizzas.
Three Quays Walk, Lower Thames St. coppaclub.co.uk
The River Café
A genuine London institution and widely considered one of the best outdoor restaurants in town, The River Cafe has barely changed since Ruth Rogers and Rose Gray launched it back in 1987. Perched beside the Thames in Hammersmith with a private riverside terrace, the Italian menu is seasonal, though some signature dishes remain constant, such as the chargrilled squid with chili and rocket, and the Chocolate Nemesis dessert.
Thames Wharf, Rainville Rd rivercafe.co.uk
The Ivy Chelsea Garden
This ever-popular spot in Chelsea has one of the prettiest outdoor restaurants in town. Think idyllic English garden packed full of flowers and foliage, with a glasshouse available for private dining. Enjoy Ivy classics like the shepherd’s pie, chicken Milanese and traditional fish and chips, or pick from the plant-based menu, all alongside a wide selection of wines and cocktails.
King’s Rd, Chelsea theivychelseagarden.com
The Apollo Arms
Clapham’s The Apollo Arms is a well-loved pub with a secret garden decked with festoon lights, planters, and olive trees. A special Garden Menu has options including big bowls of summer salads (from Caprese to Caesar) and pub classics like beer-battered haddock and flat iron steak. On a Sunday, their Roast caters for meat eaters and veggies alike.
Clapham Old Town apolloarms.co.uk
Petersham Nurseries
Since 2004, this greenhouse-style restaurant in Richmond has offered a unique dining experience. Beneath a canopy of bougainvillea and jasmine, it has led the way in eco-friendly dining, with much of the produce coming from the organic family farm in Devon. Seasonal menus are inspired by Italian cuisine, focusing on simple, fresh dishes presented beautifully.
Off Church Ln, Petersham Rd, Richmond petershamnurseries.com
