Outdoor bars in London: our favourite al-fresco spots
The warmer months are finally upon us, which means long sunny afternoons are best spent al-fresco – in some of the best outdoor bars in London, to be precise. The capital city is home to some of the country's best beer gardens and rooftop bars, and London's best outdoor bars are no different. We know it can be hard to choose which bar to visit, especially in a city as sprawling as London, so we've gathered a list of our favourite spots the city offers, all tried and tested by our team.
One of the best places to start is by the River Thames. Bars that claim an enviable spot along this winding waterway often spread out onto terraces and pavements as the weather improves. Nurse a cocktail under the shadow of the Shard in East London, or head towards the leafy suburbs where the absence of skyscrapers makes grabbing a sunny spot for the entirety of an afternoon even easier. Canal-side pints are best served with pizzas in Hackney, while some of the most stylish London hotels also hide sheltered terraces for those drizzly yet balmy drinking sessions. These are the hideouts you'll find us at this summer.
The best outdoor bars in London
Matt RussellCrate Brewery
There are many brilliant breweries with outdoor tables around London these days, but Crate in Hackney Wick remains a firm favourite. Set in an old factory on the River Lea, the crowd from the industrial bar spills outside most evenings, and the waterside tables fill quickly. Stone-baked pizzas are flying out of the oven and DJs are on until late on Friday and Saturdays when it starts to feel like a party. To guarantee an outdoor spot, head down early and work your way through their selection of craft beers. Look out for their boat, Alfred Le Roy, often moored outside and with plenty of tables on board.
Address: Crate Brewery, Unit 7 Queen's Yard, London E9 5EN
Website: cratebrewery.comRotunda
Soak up spicy margaritas and sharing platters of Mexican-inspired delicacies at Rotunda's alfresco terrace. Their grass-clad, outdoor space fringes the banks of Regent's Canal that meanders lazily through this part of North London, barges and boats bobbing by. As well as a farm-to-fork ethos when it comes to food, the drinks list is also seasonal, mixing cocktails, beers from Camden Town Brewery, Pressure Drop, Beavertown, Five Points and Brewdog, and a thoughtful wine list with a romantic lilt.
Address: 90 York Wy, London N1 9AG
Website: rotundabarandrestaurant.co.uk
Flat Iron Square
Scurry a little way along Southwark Street away from the hubbub of Borough Market and you’ll find a welcoming setting for an al-fresco drink and a casual supper. Cruise the street food stalls serving snacks such as pizza slices or fragrant Lebanese pitas and sample the beer from the onsite brewery. There are DJs every weekend, plus they show sports on the big screen too (tennis fans take note, this is popular for watching Wimbledon). Tables in the garden can be booked, and there’s plenty under cover so some rain shouldn’t stop play.
Address: Flat Iron Square, 45 Southwark Street, London SE1 9HP
Website: flatironsquare.co.ukEast London Liquor Company
Tucked in beside their sprawling London distillery in Bethnal Green, the bar at the East London Liquor Company enjoys a prime waterfront location, with visitors milling between the converted warehouse and the outdoor bar beyond. Here, whisky or gin cocktails are the tipple of choice, and the crowd one who have an elevated appreciation for the high-quality, hand-crafted spirits.
Address: 221 Grove Road, Bow Wharf, London E3 5SN
Website: eastlondonliquorcompany.comThe Leather Bottle
Yes, technically The Leather Bottle in Earlsfield is a pub, but its outdoor space feels more akin to a bar during the summer, where it's terrace – decked in beach huts – feels decidedly more upmarket and discerning than your average boozer. Grab a bite from the burger shack and, should the weather follow its historic British tendency to turn at the slightest notice, simply cuddle up under the heaters and stay put.
Address: 538 Garratt Lane, Earlsfield, London SW17 0NY
Website: leatherbottlepub.co.uk
Charlie MckayDouble Standard
To escape the fray of Euston Road, duck around to the back of The Standard Hotel to find their surprisingly calm and discreet bar terrace. While most people head straight to the rooftop, the ground floor 1970s-inspired Double Standard bar is one of the best secret outdoor bars in London – more casual and fun, serving slushy Aperol spritzes and Piña Coladas and souped-up American diner food. Best of all, it's the neighbourhood's best place for a weekend brunch session – punchy bloody marys are the drink of choice, so don’t say we didn’t warn you.
Address: The Standard Hotel, 10 Argyle Street, London WC1H 8EG
Website: standardhotels.comVermuteria
When aperitivo time comes around, there’s no better place to be than Coal Drops Yard. In a cosy corner, this Turin-inspired bar and eatery stocks over 30 varieties of vermouth and is on a mission to show how special the humble spirit can be. Drinkers and diners spill out onto the tables in the covered courtyard from lunch until close for authentic spritzes, sipping on aged sticky vermouth and snacking on crab toast and salty anchovies bites.
Address: Vermuteria, 38/39 Coal Drops Yard, London N1C 4DQ
Website: vermuteria.cc
Paul Marc MitchellGordon’s
It couldn’t be a list of outdoor bars in London without this classic institution. These days Gordon’s is almost a date night cliché with its romantic candlelit arches and couples making eyes at each other over cheeseboards, but their long narrow terrace with tables alongside the park is still one of the nicest spots around to share a bottle. If things get drizzly, much of the outdoor space is sheltered – thankfully, as the atmospheric inside isn't designed for crowds. Cheers!
Address: Gordon’s, 47 Villiers St, London WC2N 6NE
Website: gordonswinebar.comVicinity
‘Just so London,’ was how the revellers at the table beside ours encapsulated Vicinity, a laid-back bar and restaurant in the heart of Tower Hill. And, as it turns out, the description is a hard one to fault, given the prime views over London Bridge and the distinctive skyline of the capital beyond, separated from the outdoor terrace only by the River Thames itself. At sunset, table-side fire pits illuminate the space and cast a feeling of magic across the water, while during the day, the inviting collection sofas and cushion-stacked chairs make for a welcome respite from sunny city life.
Address: St Katharine's Way, London E1W 1LD
Website: vicinitylondon.co.uk
Sager + Wilde Paradise Row
Known for their expertly-curated wine list, Sager + Wilde is where East London’s oenophiles go for a glass or two. Unlike the original bar on Hackney Road, this second larger outpost in a railway arch in Bethnal Green has a buzzy outdoor terrace and serves a tasty menu of Italian snacks, charcuterie platters and comforting bowls of pasta – all the perfect accompaniment to a good bottle of red. There’s an awning for protection from the elements and the bars in the neighbouring arches also have terraces out the front too which makes for a lively atmosphere.
Address: Sager + Wilde, 250 Paradise Row, London E2 9LE
Website: sagerandwilde.comHush
Places for a quiet outdoor drink are few and far between in Mayfair so Hush is a welcome refuge, especially after a shopping spree in nearby Bond Street or wandering around the galleries of Saville Row. Set in the lovely traffic-free lanes near New Bond Street in a courtyard of a Georgian townhouse, this is a truly charming garden perfect for a pre-dinner cocktail. Go for the smoky mezcal Negroni which has a splash of coffee liquor as a guaranteed pick-me-up or a cocktail with chorizo-infused gin if you’re feeling peckish.
Address: Hush Mayfair, 8 Lancashire Court, London W1S 1EY
Website: hush.co.uk
Smokey Kudu
Smokey Kudu might seem more at home in Mayfair or Soho, but Peckham’s first swanky cocktail bar has settled right into its south London home just a few doors down from its sister restaurant Kudu. With a seasonal South African-inspired menu and ingredients like mushroom-infused mezcal and kumquat liqueur, this is the kind of place where you should forget the classics and be adventurous. Inside, the bar is opulent with a pink marble bar and chandelier but the outdoor terrace feels just as classy.
Address: Smokey Kudu, Arch 133 Queen's Road, Peckham, London SE15 2ND
Website: kuducollective.com
David ClarryStrongroom
Bars come and go in Shoreditch but Strongroom, which opened back in 1997, has stood the test of time thanks to, for the most part, its ample outdoor space. Through a discreet arch on Curtain Road, there’s a large courtyard full of long picnic tables reminiscent of a bustling German beer hall. There are music studios upstairs as well as live music in the bar downstairs most nights which means the crowd is often made up of musicians, creatives and generally a less pretentious crowd than at most other Shoreditch watering holes.
Address: Strongroom, 120-124 Curtain Road, London EC2A 3SQ
Website: strongroombar.comThe Lighterman
The Lighterman has one of the most enviable vantage points in King’s Cross, overlooking the canal. Perch on one of the two terraces by Granary Square – ideal for watching passers-by play in the fountains and spotting impressively dressed fashion students from nearby Central Saint Martins – or grab a table down by the water on Regent’s Canal towpath to watch the world slowly wander by. There’s also food all day too so you can come for everything from brunch to a late supper.
Address: The Lighterman, 3 Granary Square, London N1C 4BH
Website: thelighterman.co.uk