Top 10: Summer Terraces You Need to Visit in London This WeekBy Angelica Malin
Guys, it’s sunny in London and this calls for one thing: a visit to an outdoor terrace. Grab yours pals, your sunnies and get ordering an Aperol Spritz. Here’s the best outdoor spaces you need to visit in London this week:
1. For a Tranquil Terrace: Dalloway Terrace
The Lowdown: Nestled in the heart of Bloomsbury and named after the eponymous character created by Virginia Woolf, this indoor-outdoor all-day dining terrace is one of Central London’s best kept secrets. Open throughout the year, it offers the peace and charm of a secluded secret garden in the autumn and winter, and the perfect alfresco hideaway in the spring and summer.
Eat and Drink: Dine under the London sunshine for breakfast, lunch or dinner, with a fully retractable roof and heaters making it the perfect spot for enjoying British Summertime, or tuck in to their brand new afternoon tea whilst enjoying an exciting menu of classic cocktails.
Gimme More: The chefs freshly bake their Guinness bread daily, and we’ll throw this out there now – it’s one of the best bread baskets in London. Warm, slight sweet bread with lashings of butter. Nom.
Where: 16-22 Great Russell Street, London WC1B 3NN
2. For an Enchanted Terrace: Forest on the Roof
The Lowdown: Forest Restaurant and Bar offers a spring and summer inspired menu on the roof of Selfridges, bringing an abundance of fresh, locally grown, foraged ingredients – with the team championing and celebrating the finest British produce.
Eat and Drink: Forest transports you high above the chaotic streets of London to a secret escape poised on top of the world’s best department store. Step out of the dedicated express lift to be welcomed by a ‘living wall’ of plants and a spring-like forest in bloom, the restaurant is stylishly decked with bright pops of spring colour, botanical prints and natural plants.
Gimme More: Selfridges’ destination sun terrace is decked out with floral themed potting sheds, bringing the feel of an English Country garden bursting into spring, making this a must-visit roof top destination this season.
Where: Selfridges Roof Top, 400 Oxford Street, W1A 1AB
3. For a Wine Terrace: German Gymnasium
The Lowdown: Situated around the outside of grade II listed German Gymnasium at Kings cross, the summer vine terrace features a special menu of German wine, created in partnership with Wines of Germany.
Eat and Drink: Pop along to enjoy a glass of classic and crisp German Riesling, or an elegant and mineral German Pinot Noir, paired with dishes from the terrace menu. Get stuck into the baked camembert with olive oil and chilli, or try the KX currywurst topped with spiced tomato sauce, and served with triple cooked chips.
Gimme More: The team at German Gym knock up a good burger – US beef, dry cured crisp bacon, cheddar, romaine lettuce and crispy onions. Yes, please.
Where: 1 King’s Boulevard, London, N1C 4BU
4. For an Alfresco Dining Terrace: Gallery Mess
The Lowdown: Gallery Mess at the Saatchi Gallery is a popular dining destination for its beautiful setting, charming atmosphere and excellent food. With exposed brickwork, vaulted ceilings and display of art, the listed interior provides the perfect location for a long leisurely lunch, dinner or drinks.
Eat and Drink: The seasonal menu and extensive bar selection is provided by award-winning caterer and restaurant operator, rhubarb. We recommend ordering the spring lamb rump with Israeli cous cous and Provençal vegetables, or for something on the lighter side, there’s the chicken Cesar salad. And veggies don’t you worry, opt for the ricotta and basil tortellini with Swiss chard, artichokes and toasted pine nuts.
Gimme More: On Sundays they roll out their brunch menu full of the classics. Think, granola and yogurt, beans on toast, and Eggs Benedict.
Where: King’s Rd, London SW3 4RY
The Lowdown: A Scandi-inspired casual dining restaurant, bar and café, KuPP located canal-side at Paddington, brings a nuance of the Nordics. Dine under the rays in the outdoor eating area complete with a view of the water.
Eat and Drink: Dig into a menu that is designed for grazing, sharing and social eating made with carefully sourced British and Scandinavian produce. It would be rude not to try the Norwegian Gravadlax with sour cream, lemon on rye bread, and the well-loved Leksands Knacker crisp bread topped with Hansen & Lydersen Smoked Salmon, lemon and capers.
Gimme More: Let’s not forget about the open rye sandwiches, our pick is the soft boiled egg and heirloom tomato with seeded mustard mayo.
Where: 53, 5 Merchant Square, Paddington W2 1AS
6. For a Sun Drenched Terrace: Le Pont de La Tour
The Lowdown: Riverside restaurant, Le Pont de la Tour has launched a St Tropez-themed terrace; Pont Tropez brings a slice of Provence to the Thames. Don your nautical stripes and head for their outdoor terrace which offers cracking views of Tower Bridge and beyond.
Eat and Drink: Head chef Frederick Forster has created a selection of light dishes to be served on the terrace including a seafood platter for two, San Daniele ham with pesto and garden leaves, and a signature dessert of lemon cream with poached rhubarb, ginger sorbet and viola flowers.
Gimme More: Alongside the food menu, the cocktails masters have whipped up a selection of floral cocktails. The Pink Opague wins hands down – Tanqueray gin and apricot liqueur shaken with peach, agave syrup, lavender springs and shaken with a dash of orange blossom. Ooo-er.
Where: 36D Shad Thames, London SE1 2YE
7. For an East London Terrace: Vintage Salt
The Lowdown: Vintage Salt is a seafood restaurant, terrace and bar located on Liverpool Street. Serving the best of seasonal British seafood and meats, Vintage Salt brings a slice of the Cornish village atmosphere to the streets of London.
Eat and Drink: Enjoy shrimp burger with spicy tartare, smoked haddock fishcake with soft poached egg, and whole Cornish lemon sole, with lemon and herb butter. And the salt cod fritters with wild garlic mayo is sensational. For those with a sweet tooth, rhubarb and custard sundae, chocolate fudge, and ice cream all feature on the menu.
Gimme More: The newly opened terrace also serves a range of signature cocktails. The Vintage Salt is a blend of Courvoisier VS, pear brandy, passion fruit and cinnamon
Where: Dashwood House, 69 Old Broad Street, London EC2M 1QS
8. For an All Year Terrace: The Parlour
The Lowdown: The Parlour is a funky cocktail bar and restaurant that can be found in the park pavilion on Canada Square in Canary Wharf. An all-day bar with a distinct quirky style and seasonally tempting food, this secret garden-inspired lounge with timber panelling is a must for cocktail lovers.
Eat and Drink: Parlour is open for the early birds and the late night owls. We say, get down for their brekkie menu featuring avocado on sourdough with chilli and poached eggs, blueberry pancakes and maple syrup, and smoked salmon with scrambled eggs.
Gimme More: They have an outdoor mixology table, ideal for those who want to mix and muddle for themselves.
Where: The Park Pavilion, 40 Canada Square Park, London E14 5FW
The Lowdown: Adam Byatt’s Trinity in Clapham has undergone some serious renovations over the past year – with the outdoor seating area now finally finished. The terrace boasts a small number of tables all with cushioned seating and snazzy tablecloths.
Eat and Drink: The menu changes with the seasons, but expect dishes such as; crispy trotters with sauce gribiche and crackling, big eye tuna carpaccio topped with melon, almonds and basil, and butter poached lobster served alongside pickled girolles, coco beans, lemon and vanilla.
Gimme More: The tarte tatin with prune and armagnac ice cream is a sharing pud for two people, and it’s worth every penny.
Where: 4 The Polygon Clapham, London SW4 0JG
10. For a Rooftop Terrace: Shoreditch Sky Terrace
The Lowdown: The Shoreditch Sky Terrace is one of London’s most chilled out new rooftop spaces. Set atop the recently opened, trendsetting Courthouse Hotel Shoreditch, this glorious addition to the East London scene offers amazing panoramic views across London’s cityscape and beyond.
Eat and Drink: Even if you aren’t a hotel guest, you can still lap up the views with an expertly made cocktail in hand. There’s a menu of light bites and nibbles available on request. And if that’s not enough, prepare yourself for DJ sets and banging beats.
Gimme More: Canary Wharf, The Shard, Heron Tower, Crystal Palace, the ArcelorMittal Orbit and the BT Tower are just some of the iconic sights visible from here.
Where: Courthouse Hotel Shoreditch, 335-337 Old Street, London EC1V 9LL
