London’s best outdoor summer bars & restaurants!

If you’re not watching the UEFA championships, or going to watch the Olympics, here are some bars & restaurants our local Londoners love to hang out at!

1. Café 1001 (by Phoebe Ferris-Rotman
“The boho and versatile venue opens at a very early 06:00 for breakfast and soups, jacket potatoes and sandwiches are on offer for lunch and dinner. Live music attracts a younger crowd with indie bands on Tuesday and jazz on Wednesday. Bands play in the smaller room at the back on Sunday and a dj spins tunes on Friday and Saturday.”

2. The George Inn (Deanna Romano)
A typical English Inn, the George Inn (pictured above). Just look at the architecture of the surrounding buildings and if you’re not careful you’ll imagine yourself transported back in time. Local Deanna Romano says, “Hidden down in one of the many alleyways in Borough, the George welcomes you with a huge cobble stoned courtyard area which is always full of punters during summer.”

3. London Fields Brewery (by Andrew Sidford)
“The London Fields Brewery is, as you might expect, a small independent brewery in London Fields. They produce hand crafted ales in a railway arch, my favourite of which is probably the Session Ale, although I am also rather partial to London Fields Gold. The beers themselves are well worth recommending, but what separates London Fields Brewery is the fact that they have special ‘events’ on Saturdays in the courtyard outside the arch!”

4. Primrose Hill (by Deanna Romano)
Technically this isn’t a bar or even a café. No it’s a view, and according to local Deanna Romano it’s the best view of London. And this spectacular view has many bars and cafés for you to choose from during summery days.
“Come the weekend in summer, alfresco dinners and punters from the pub spill out onto the pavement, creating a lively yet relatively relaxed atmosphere.”

5. Albion Cafe (by Matt Bramford)
“Serving a great range of traditional English food with modern flair, the menu includes my firm favourites bangers and mash and fish and chips, as well as a huge range of stews and salads. I prefer sitting outside [...]“

6. Bertie and Boo (by Charl Asuit)
“The place is full of character as the quirky interiors bring you back to your school days with the multi-coloured wooden desks and chairs. Outside, you are invited to unwind on the red and blue fabric deck/beach chairs.”

7. Kitchen and Pantry (by Deanna Romano)
“With the steady invasion of coffee chains it can be a struggle to find independent coffee shops in London. However bypass some of the usual suspects which line Portobello Road, then turn into Elgin Crescent where you’ll find Kitchen and Pantry. Furnished with big brown comfy sofas and wooden kitchen tables – it is buzzing with chatter, the grinding of coffee and the hum of soulful music.”

8. The Regent (by Phoebe Ferris-Rotman)
“My favourite part is the beer garden at the back. Half the space is covered and there is plenty of seating.”

9. St Christopher’s Place (by Charl Asuit)
Again, this is not a bar or cafe, but a great collection of bars, cafes and restaurants along an alive-with-music street!
“Alfresco is the main dining theme at St Christopher’s place. [...] Rain or shine, hot or cold, St Christopher’s Place is perfect to catch up with old friends and meet new ones.”

10. Jack’s (by Phoebe Ferris-Rotman)
“Thick ice-cream milkshakes, pancakes made from imported batter mix and real maple syrup make it distinctively Yankee and it’s no wonder, as the owner’s wife is half American. At night candles are lit, alcohol is served and burgers, salads and daily specials are served. It has recently expanded to include a back room and also currently has a patio which is one of the area’s highlights in the summer.”