We’ve scoured London for places where, but for the lack of rain splashing on your plate or getting frostbite over your starters, you could be eating outdoors. So here’s our list of restaurants with retractable roofs, much like Wimbledon, as well as covered courtyards and conservatories.
Central and West London
Spring
Somerset House, New Wing, Lancaster Place, London WC2R 1LA
Where: By Waterloo Bridge
Almost Alfresco feature: Skye Gyngell's new restaurant features a beautiful covered courtyard space called The Atrium complete with potted trees - very romantic for the evening but also a lovely bright spot for lunch on a sunny day.
Terrace Grill & Bar at Le Meridien
21 Piccadilly, London W1J 0BH
Where: Just off Piccadilly Circus
Almost Alfresco feature: This central London spot’s had a major facelift and faces out over the teaming tourists on Piccadilly. So you can watch others dashing about in the rain as you tuck into your food or work your way through the Gin Bar list.
Find out more about Terrace Grill & Bar at Le Meridien
Clos Maggiore
3 King Street, Covent Garden, WC2E 8JD
Where: Covent Garden
Almost Alfresco feature: The Conservatory room here has a fully retractable glass roof when the weather is good but a flick of the switch gives you Centre Court-style protection.
Find out more about Clos Maggiore
The Wallace Restaurant
Hertford House, Manchester Square, London W1U
Where: Inside Hertford House, Marylebone
Almost Alfresco feature: Set in the majestic covered courtyard of Hertford House and dotted with trees and sculptures, this Oliver Peyton restaurant bills itself as offering “al fresco dining in a sublime setting protected from both the elements and the bustle of the West End”.
Find out more about The Wallace Restaurant
Daphne's
112 Draycott Avenue, SW3 3AE
Where: South Kensington
Almost Alfresco feature: Given a makeover recently this Kensington stalwart is a light, bright space. Alternatively, sit by the front when the concertina doors are all pulled back and you’re practically eating at a pavement table.
Aubaine Mayfair
31 Dover Street, London W1S 4ND
Where: Mayfair
Almost Alfresco feature: This Dover Street spot has a lovely covered terrace at the back, you’d never know was there, which seats up to 25 and is filled with pot plants, so it looks like a proper garden room.
Find out more about Aubaine Mayfair
The River Cafe
Thames Wharf, Rainville Road, London W6 9HA
Where: Hammersmith
Almost Alfresco feature: Snag a table either close to the windows (or under the covered part of the terrace) and gaze out towards the river over your meal to take your mind off your, almost assuredly, massive bill.
Find out more about the River Cafe
Wright Brothers Soho
13 Kingly Street and G7/G8 Kingly Court, Carnaby, London W1B 5PW
Where: Soho, close to Carnaby Street
Almost Alfresco feature: It’s actually open to the elements in part, but if you pick the right table outside in the courtyard you’re covered from all but the most persistent rain.
Find out more about Wright Brothers Soho
The Admiral Codrington
4th Flr, Canada Place London E14 5ER
Where: South Kensington
Almost Alfresco feature: The dining room at the back of the pub is not only home to one of the finest burgers in town, but a cunning glass retractable roof which can be opened up to make the most of any sunshine.
Find out more about The Admiral Codrington
East London
Blixen
65A Brushfield Street, London E1 6AA
Where: Spitalfields
Almost Alfresco feature: Set within the cavernous Spitalfields Market the garden is covered from the elements but still has the feel of an outside garden filled with plants, cacti and flowers. Enjoy the all day menu, but this is particularly great brunch.
Bourne and Hollingsworth
42 Northampton Road, London EC1R 0HU
Where: Clerkenwell
Almost Alfresco feature: Head for The Greenhouse section of this cavernous building with its cane furniture and hanging baskets to try chef Alex Visciano's crab salad or cod tempura.
Find out more about Bourne and Hollinsgworth Buildings
Le Coq d’Argent
No.1 Poultry London EC2R 8EJ
Where: Right next to Bank station
Almost Alfresco feature: The heated, covered terrace up on the roof at 1 Poultry means you can eat outdoors here whatever the weather. And, should the weather be unseasonably good, there’s a second terrace by the restaurant for sunny days.
Find out more about Le Coq d’Argent
Cigalon
115 Chancery Lane. London WC2A 1PP
Where: Chancery Lane, near High Holborn
Almost Alfresco feature: By rights this Provencal restaurant tucked away off Chancery Lane should be dark and gloomy, but its greenhouse glass roof turns it into a perfect lunchtime spot for local lawyers.
Cinnamon Kitchen
9 7 Boundary Street, London, E2 7JEDevonshire Square, London EC2M 4WY
Where: The City
Almost Alfresco feature: The terrace at Vivek Singh’s City restaurant looks just like an outdoors spot, but it’s actually in Devonshire Terrace so you’re protected from the London rain by an almost-invisible glass roof.
Find out more about Cinnamon Kitchen
Dishoom Shoreditch
7 Boundary Street, London, E2 7JE
Where: Shoreditch
Almost Alfresco feature: The enclosed verandah at Dishoom takes over the whole of the courtyard. But once the clear walls are retracted and the canopy removed you're almost entirely alfresco.
Find out more about Dishoom Shoreditch
Plateau
4th Flr, Canada Place London E14 5ER
Where: Canary Wharf
Almost Alfresco feature: This D&D restaurant has two terraces which are open to the elements at the side, but covered so unless the rain’s horizontal (always entirely possible) you’ll be safe from a bit of a drizzle eating here.
South London
The Wheatsheaf
24 Southwark St, City of London, SE1 1TY
Where: Borough Market
Almost Alfresco feature: The heated (and covered) terrace - for when the weather turns cold - has a couple of real selling points. The first is the live departure board from London Bridge – very handy when deliberating having ‘just one more’ before catching that last train home. The second is the converted VW campervan serving up whiskey ribs, burgers and steaks..
Find out more about The Wheatsheaf
The Blueprint Cafe
Design Museum London SE1 2YD
Where: Shad Thames, near Tower Bridge
Almost Alfresco feature: Jeremy Lee may have moved on, but Head Chef Martyn Moody is now in charge of the kitchen. Enjoy his sharing dishes close to the terrace where the glass roof and floor to ceiling windows give you cracking views over the river.
Find out more about The Blueprint Cafe
Petersham Nurseries
Church Lane, Off Petersham Road, Richmond, Surrey TW10 7AG
Where: Richmond, in meadows by the Thames
Almost Alfresco feature: With dirt floors and the occasional raindrop making its way through the glasshouse roof, you practically are eating outdoors.
Find out more about Petersham Nurseries. And read our recent Test Drive.
Roast
The Floral Hall, Stoney Street, London SE1 1TL
Where: Borough Market
Almost Alfresco feature: The upper part of the dining room here in the Floral Hall enjoys views clear across to St Pauls and over the market. (Interesting fact – this part of the building had previously been part of the Opera House in Covent Garden and was brought here following the Opera House redevelopment).
North London
106 Islington High Street, London N1 8EG
Where: Islington
Almost Alfresco feature: The beautiful garden room, rather than the food which is perfectly fine, is the main draw to this longstanding Islington restaurant. If the weather’s good eat in the garden, if not, there’s loads of room under the conservatory roof.
Find out more about Frederick's
89 Regent's Park Road, London NW1 8UY
Where: Primrose Hill
Almost Alfresco feature: The back part of the restaurant is glass-roofed and full of hanging baskets in an attempt to recreate that Greek tavern feel. A couple of bottles of Retsina down and you could almost believe it.
Photo of The Admiral Codrington courtesy of Eatlikeagirl.