Socialising in winter: the best outdoor dining London has to offer

CENTRAL

Dalloway Terrace, Fitzrovia

With its foliage installations in keeping with an Instagram-friendly depiction of the seasons, Dalloway Terrace is a sleek, elegant dining spot for any occasion. Its heated terrace promises to keep diners warm while they sip cocktails or tuck into something delicious, snuggled in their very own winter wonderland.

Chiltern Firehouse, Marylebone

With its roaring fire and stylish, fully rain-proof awnings, dining in Chiltern Firehouse’s courtyard has serious appeal right now (and that’s before we salivate over the latest menu by head chef Nuno Mendes). What’s more, it’s reserved for walk-ins, making it a great option if you and a group (of up to six) are looking for somewhere last minute.

Neal’s Yard, Covent Garden

If it’s a quick coffee and/or a bite of something wholesome you’re after, look to the colourful courtyard of Neal’s Yard. Grab a coffee and croissant from Jacob the Angel (owned by The Barbary team and perched right next door); a bowl of the most delicious porridge in all of London – truly – from 26 Grains; a plate of something grainy and plant-based with a smoothie from Redemption Bar or the Wild Food Café; or nab a table and enjoy a gourmet pizza from Homeslice. Whatever you sip or nibble, Neal’s Yard offers a chance to socialise outdoors in a setting sure to boost your mood.

NORTH

Acoustic Brasserie, Stoke Newington

There’s something distinctly European about the scattering of tables outside both branches of Acoustic Brasserie (one on Stoke Newington’s Church Street, the other by Newington Green). Both offer all-day dining and are ideal, buzzy locations for enjoying a celebratory brunch (glasses of mimosas and Bloody Marys are clinked practically from first orders). Dinner is served too, but you’ll want to wrap up warm and order a bottle (or two) from the restaurant’s extensive wine list.

The Towpath Café, De Beauvoir Town

Tucked away on the De Beauvoir stretch of Regent’s Canal is one of London’s most charming outdoor dining spots. The Towpath Café is ordinarily open from March to November, but for the first time ever this year is staying open for December too, in order to meet demand.

The Café offers an ever-changing seasonal menu of stews, salads, roasts, cakes and more to satisfy its loyal following of regular customers as well as lucky walkers, joggers and cyclists who chance upon it. There are no reservations, so turn up early to catch the brunch or lunch sitting at this tiny spot. There are partially covered and heated tables to the back of the café, while on bright, crisp days, a seat close to the water’s edge is more desirable. And if you like what you eat, you can purchase a copy of the café's new cookbook, Towpath Recipes & Stories, featuring recipes from co-founders Lori De Mori and Laura Jackson.

Caravan, King’s Cross

Any branch of New Zealand-inspired restaurant group Caravan is a safe option for a top-notch coffee, brunch, dinner or cocktail session. The ‘well-travelled’ menu caters for the healthy crowd and gourmands alike. While the industrial-chic decor at the King's Cross branch is usually all part of the charm, our shift into Tier 2 this winter makes it all about the heated, covered patio – for which you'll want to book well in advance.

SOUTH

Borough Market, London Bridge

Covered, but with a canopy so high it’s still technically outdoors is very much Borough Market’s USP right now. Whether you simply wander through it with a Monmouth coffee or a steaming mulled wine (the smell of which is already floating around the market), or manage to get a table at the likes of pasta parlour Padella, fine-dining spot Flor, earthy local Stoney Street, or Elizabeth Haigh’s Singaporean venture Mei Mei, neither your taste buds nor your moral compass will be disappointed. Us? We’re eyeing up the seats outside chef Nicholas Fitzgerald’s new taqueria Tacos Padre.

Brixton Village and Market Row

Not only does a trip to Brixton Village and Market Row – SW9’s duo of covered markets adjacent to one another – offer a chance to embark on a culinary venture around the world in a year that’s seen little by way of physical travel, you can enjoy the offerings in a weather-proof space without breaking the Tier 2 rules. Enjoy a brew at local favourite Federation Coffee, one of the best pancakes in town from Senzala Creperie, or a wine-soaked celebration of seasonal ingredients at Salon. These are three of our favourites but there are many, many more restaurants here, including the original branches of Honest Burger and Franco Manca, and vibrant Caribbean hotspot Fish, Wings and Tings.

Forza Wine, Peckham

Located a stone’s throw from Frank’s and the Bussey Building is Peckham’s most polished rooftop offering: wine and small-plates joint Forza Wine. A swift lift ride up to its breezy, open quarters and you’ll see why the venue is popular for work meetings, post-work tipples (do try an orange wine) and full-on dinners alike. The Italian-led menu boasts a ream of delicious, carefully thought-through small plates.

WEST

Mazi, Notting Hill

Anyone who’s dined under the vine-twisted pergola of Mazi’s courtyard on an iffy summer’s day will know just how swiftly the awnings are rolled out in the event of rain. Expect a similar, if not even more attentive, service now winter has arrived, while the restaurant offers a secluded spot to tuck into some of the best modern Greek dishes you’re likely to find this far from its shores. The fish roe mousse tarama comes with the most delicious charred and herby bread this writer has ever eaten, and the loukoumades with lavender honey are also not to be missed.

Petersham Nurseries Café, Richmond (and Covent Garden)

Few outdoor dining options are quite as authentically pretty as the flower-flooded glasshouse cocooning the Petersham Nurseries Café. Under the heated pagola and surrounded by the sweet, soft scents of bougainvillea and jasmine, you can tuck into a rotating menu of seasonal dishes boasting ingredients plucked from the site’s own vegetable patches. While the original Richmond branch is an ideal treat after a bracing walk in nearby Richmond Park, the Covent Garden branch’s courtyard is equally as picturesque and perfect for a spot of indulgent respite from the busy streets outside.

The Ivy Chelsea Garden, Chelsea

Leave any scepticism at the door (though remember to dress ‘smart casual’), because The Ivy Chelsea Garden is currently one of the best spots for a celebratory meal in west London. Hunker down among the signature blue and white striped furniture, clink your glasses and be warmed by the amber glow of the fire (if you’re not seated near enough to it, don’t worry; there are heaters above the tables too). Ivy and other foliage creeps up the walls of this floral paradise, punctuated by roses, wisteria and the odd seasonal bloom. The à la carte menu offers brasserie favourites while a separate menu caters for vegetarians and vegans.

EAST

Pophams Bakery, Hackney

We could wax lyrical about the exquisitely flavoured, generously stuffed pastries of Pophams Bakery, but let us tell you instead that the Hackney outpost has a sweep of communal outdoor tables which make the branch an ideal pitstop for a weekend coffee and croissant with a side of socialising. For dinner, meanwhile, diners can tuck into some of the most delectable pasta dishes you’ll find in London (and in a city that’s also home to Padella, that’s high praise). At the time of writing, plans are in place for the outdoor dining area to be fully covered and heated by mid-November.

Sagar and Wilde, Bethnal Green

Boasting a menu of rustic Italian fare, craft beers and an extensive wine list, Sagar and Wilde has long been popular with east London gourmands, but never more so than post-lockdown, when the expansive spread of outdoor tables fronting its Bethnal Green branch became some of the hottest seats in town.

A question mark hung over what would happen once the weather turned, but the innovative team behind the restaurant provided the answer (and comfort) with the erection of a marquee, decked out with foliage and strung with fairy lights. The space is, unsurprisingly, virtually booked up until Christmas, but it's worth checking for cancellations.

Allegra, Stratford

Perched on the seventh floor of the Stratford Hotel, Allegra restaurant is one of the best-kept secrets of London’s gastronomic scene. Designed by Studio Copenhagen (whose credits include Noma2) and owned by Chiltern Firehouse founder Harry Handelsmann, the restaurant – which opened a year ago – is a work of art. And did we mention Chiltern Firehouse’s former head chef Patrick Powell is at the helm of the kitchen? While its E20 postcode may have proved a deterrent for some in the past, its wrap-around, fairy-lit, fully covered terrace is likely to attract a host of foodies looking to indulge in some destination dining within the boundaries of the new restrictions.

Powell has also recently launched a gourmet brunch menu featuring the likes of truffled croque madame with baked ham and confit egg; and Cornish crab with potato latke, pickled fennel and sesame.

Skylight at Tobacco Dock, Wapping

Head straight into the whimsical wonders of winter at Skylight, Wapping's highest party playground which has been frozen over once again this winter to offer us an al fresco rooftop ice rink and 'urban après-skate bar'. One for energetic crowds, the venue is the place to head to sip, skate, get competitive in an ice hockey shoot-out or snuggle up under the heated pergola or with a blanket in the Snug bar (on level 9) – all while soaking up some of the best views in town.