An insider's guide to the idyllic terraces U must visit this summer...

Summer Festival Terrace

This summer, Vivek Singh’s modern-Indian restaurant Cinnamon Soho (on Carnaby Street’s Kingly Court), has joined forces with Ryan Chetiyawardana, aka Mr Lyan, to launch a ‘green’ Summer Festival Terrace. Following a successful collaboration at Cinnamon Bazaar earlier this year, Ryan and Vivek are teaming up again to combine their principles of reducing and reusing food and drink waste to help the environment and encourage Londoners to waste less. Popping up this June, the sustainable al fresco terrace features a range of Mr Lyan's ‘Upcycled & Recycled’ cocktails alongside a selection of Vivek’s signature street food served in recycled dishes, ensuring nothing goes to waste. The space has been decked out with salvaged furniture and materials, making the Summer Festival Terrace the eco-friendliest spot to kick back and relax this summer.

Fever Tree Garnish Garden

Jason Atherton has launched an English gin garden at British restaurant, Temple and Sons. Created in partnership with award-winning premium mixer company, Fever Tree, the terrace provides a verdant escape in the city. Reminiscent of an English country garden, the Temple and Sons terrace has been transformed with the addition of grass, lemon trees and abundance of botanicals. The space features a trellis with shelves stacked with different varieties of herbs and fruits as part of the ‘Fever Tree Garnish Garden’. After selecting from an extensive and considered list of 50 British gins, you are guided to the garnish shelves to pick your own selection of garnishes to add a personalised touch to each drink. Open throughout the summer months, the Temple and Sons gin garden is a welcome green space in the heart of the city for gin connoisseurs and novices alike to toast to the summer in style.

GQ Bar Pop-Up on The Terrace

The Terrace at Rosewood London is home to the inaugural pop-up GQ Bar. The hotel’s picturesque Edwardian courtyard provides a little-known secluded sanctuary just off High Holborn. Launching in June and open from breakfast through to late-night drinks, The Terrace is a peaceful suntrap in 'Midtown'. Linked to Rosewood London’s bustling British brasserie, Holborn Dining Room, The Terrace provides seating for up to 24 covers in a relaxed lounge-style bar. Expect white parasols, taupe cushioned furniture, and lush greenery with cocktail garnishes ripe for the picking. The all-day menu of bar bites promises a mix of dishes from Condé Nast International’s Director of Restaurants, Gary Robinson, and the Holborn Dining Room’s chef, and includes favourites from Holborn Dining Room's menu (such as Monkshill farm scotch egg; rabbit and bacon en croute with pickled vegetables; and grilled octopus with native breed chorizo and aioli). Open. 7am until 11.30pm, Sunday 10.30 pm.

Mondrian London Summer Terrace

The summer terrace wraps around the Thames-side of the Sea Containers building, with riverside views looking onto St. Pauls and The City. Featuring a restaurant terrace as well as a more casual dining and drinking area, the space also includes a bespoke Grey Goose Boat which seats up to 10 guests, and is available for private hire. Serving a special summer menu of American and British seasonal dishes that reflect the transatlantic feel of the hotel, such as ‘Giant Ceviche Tacos’, ‘Grilled Lobster with garlic chive butter’ and ‘Truffle Flatbread’, in addition to some favourites from the Sea Containers Restaurant A La Carte menu - washed down with summer themed cocktails. The terrace is fully heated, with heady citrus notes from the planted trees and cosy cushions and throws for the changeable British weather. Picket fencing lines the dining area and blue and white fabrics, fitting of the nautical Riviera theme. Open: 8am – 10pm, daily.

Coppa Cabanas

Next to the Tower of London on the banks of the River Thames, Coppa Club has a large south-facing terrace overlooking Tower Bridge and has installed timber-framed cabanas for the summer. Seven standalone “cabanas” and a huge hexagonal bar have sprung up on Coppa Club’s riverside terrace this summer, replacing the winter igloos. Right on the River Thames, the custom-made timber cabanas offer knock-out views of London’s iconic Tower Bridge, HMS Belfast and The Shard. With wisteria and roses growing up the pergola structures, the Mediterranean-style cabanas are furnished with outdoor sofas, wicker armchairs, festoon lighting, space heaters and individual Sonos speakers, giving the terrace an atmospheric garden feel. Three of the cabanas can be reserved for private use with space for up to 8-10 people and two have a number of smaller tables for more intimate groups. Right next to the outdoor bar, the other two cabanas are designed as riverside lounges, reserved for walk-ins only. As well as plenty of very pale rosé, the riverside bar serves a summer cocktail and dining menus. 

The Secret Garden at Four Seasons Hotel London

Escape the hustle and bustle of the city in this residence-style garden, designed with a new ‘Hennessy Lounge’ on its ground floor complete with cosy Hennessy sofas complemented by white begonia flowers, blue salvia and agapanthus. The Veuve Clicquot Champagne terrace (returns) on the Secret Garden’s first floor, surrounded by hydrangea, canna lily and more begonias designed by Four Seasons Floral Designer, Rosalind Ackerley. Chef de Cuisine, Eliano Crespi has devised a tapas style sharing menu featuring street food from around the world with Mediterranean, Italian and Indian flavours alongside seasonal summer cocktails and signature serves. The Secret Garden is open daily from 12:00 noon until 11:00 pm and operates a no-booking policy.

Ideal For

Drinks with a view