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With summer in full swing, there’s no better time to enjoy lunch/dinner/drinks alfresco. From chic rooftop bars to charming central spots, the city offers plenty of terraces perfect for a sunny day. Here are our top ten picks for terraces to visit in London this July.

1. Yasmin, Soho

The Lowdown: Located on the sixth floor of members’ house 1 Warwick, rooftop restaurant, bar and terrace, Yasmin, offers panoramic views of Soho’s skyline and serves Middle Eastern-inspired dishes and cocktails from Executive Chef Tom Cenci. And you don’t have to be a member to dine here.

Eat and Drink: Think fresh, flavourful Middle Eastern plates like Sesame seed hummus topped with golden raisins and olive oil; Whipped sheep’s cheese, hot honey and isot biber; and Sumac-cured salmon, smoked yoghurt, citrus, and chilli. Stunning.

Where: 1 Warwick Street, London W1B 5LR

2. Barge East, Hackney

The Lowdown: With the summer months stretching ahead of us, enjoy the sunshine and alfresco vibes at Hackney Wick’s sustainability-forward floating restaurant, Barge East, and its beautiful canal-side gardens and terrace.

Eat and Drink: Order from the street kitchen’s new summer menu, with plates including Burrata with marinated heritage tomatoes and garden pesto; Cornish salt and pepper squid with soy-marinated watermelon and rocket; and Ethical Butcher chicken wings dosed in Dessar’s hot sauce and blue cheese sauce.

Where: River Lee, Sweetwater Mooring, White Post Lane, London E9 5EN

3. Sea Containers x Laurent Perrier, South Bank

The Lowdown: Sea Containers has teamed up with Champagne house Laurent Perrier to launch its new, floral-adorned summer terrace. With pretty special views of the River Thames, there’s plush sofas, and fancy deckchairs to kick back in.

Eat and Drink: Alongside a special Laurent Perrier cocktail menu, don’t miss out on the champagne and oyster bar, offering a summery selection of bites including fish and chips and ice cream. It’s the perfect spot to enjoy the season’s best under the London sunshine.

Where: 20 Upper Ground, London SE1 9PD

4. Lahpet, Covent Garden

The Lowdown: If you need a break from the crowds of tourists in London’s theatre district, make a beeline for Lahpet’s hidden terrace.

Eat and Drink: Grab a bite to eat pre-theatre with a mix of small plates such as Split pea tofu fritters with a tamarind dip, and Tea leaf salad alongside larger plates like Fried bream in tomato, shallot and garlic soy glaze and King prawn curry.

Where: 21 Slingsby Pl, London  WC2E 9AB

The Lowdown: Brasserie-style restaurant 65a sits on the edge of the iconic Spitalfields Market, offering an elegant yet uncomplicated menu of classic dishes, peppered with French inflections.

Eat and Drink: Bringing laid-back, French-inspired dining to Spitalfields, the menu boasts plenty of summery starters, nibbles and salads. Expect everything from Moules frites to Steak tartare, Pear and endive salad to Confit duck with a puy lentil jus.

Where:65a Brushfield St, London E1 6AA

6. Pastaio, Soho

The Lowdown: The terrace at Stevie Parle’s popular pasta joint Pastaio in Soho is the place for bowls of silky, hand-made pasta and a slice of sunshine.

Eat and Drink: Located just off Carnaby Street, Pastaio serves a range of seasonal antipasti, regularly changing mains and sharing pasta for the table, alongside wines on tap, seasonal prosecco slushies and house-made limoncello. Order the cacio e pepe and thank us later.

Where: 19 Ganton St, Carnaby, London W1F 9BN

7. The Laundry, Brixton

The Lowdown: Looking for an al fresco option south of the river? Look no further than The Laundry, Brixton’s favourite neighbourhood bistro and wine shop. Outside, the Parisian-inspired terrace is kitted with rattan chairs and bistro tables, with blankets and heaters to take you from day into evening.

Eat and Drink: There’s everything here – breakfast and brunch (ft the likes of Spiced tofu scramble, slow-roasted tomatoes, sourdough toast and The Laundry Cumberland sausage brioche bap, bacon, cheddar & Bloody Mary ketchup). The all day menu includes Chicken caesar salad, lardons, croûtes; Bavette steak, café de Paris butter and fries; and Prawn linguini.

Where: 374 Coldharbour Ln, London SW9 8PL

8. Trivet, Bermondsey

The Lowdown: Trivet, the two Michelin-starred Bermondsey restaurant from Chef Jonny Lake and Master Sommelier Isa Bal, is home to a large street-side terrace, with space for up to 25 diners to enjoy relaxed, sun-filled meals on summer afternoons and evenings.

Eat and Drink: The menu includes the likes of Crispy chicken wings with honey mayonnaise and herby panko;wimbl Hot tongue bun with anchovy mayo, pickles and blackcurrant mostarda; and Cured sea bass and red gurnard, with toasted barley and cornsilk, all available to enjoy alongside charcuterie, cheeses and homemade French fries with onion ketchup.

Where: 36 Snowsfields, London SE1 3SU

9. Fatto a Mano, King’s Cross

The Lowdown: Set in St Pancras Square, the terrace at Fatto a Mano Pizza & Beer is a relaxed al fresco spot,  designed for tucking into damn delicious Neapolitan pizza in the sunshine.

Eat and Drink: Alongside classics such as Margherita Buffalo, Salsiccia e Friarielli and Napoletana, Fatto a Mano offers contemporary twists such as its much loved Lasagna Pizza – topped with beef ragu, bechamel, smoked provola, mozzarella, parmesan, basil– or monthly specials such as the Tonno, Burrata and Pesto Rosso.

Where: Unit 1, 3 Pancras Sq, London N1C 4AG

10. JOIA Rooftop, Battersea

The Lowdown: JOIA Rooftop, the vibrant bar and terrace on the 16th floor of art’otel London Battersea Power Station, has returned for summer 2024, to offer a second season of sunshine, small plates and sundowner cocktails.

Eat and Drink: New additions to the menu include a selection of  Portuguese sandwiches including a Cuttlefish bun served in a squid ink roll with coriander mayonnaise, a traditional Bifana sandwich with marinated Iberico pluma and mustard – a much-loved delicacy in Sá Pessoa’s native Lisbon –  as well as and a classic Prego steak sandwich.

Where: 15th Floor, 1 Electric Blvd, Nine Elms, London SW11 8BJ