THE JOURNAL
Photograph courtesy of Untitled
A step up from rammed beer gardens in the British capital.
Blazing summer sunshine is an all-too-rare occurrence in London – which is all the more reason to make the most of it. Lukewarm lager in an overcrowded park, watery pints drunk among the throngs outside city pubs, and beer “gardens” that constitute little more than a couple of roadside picnic benches are certainly not the optimum means of soaking up those precious warm days before winter rolls around. Instead, look to the city’s finest outdoor terraces; home to exciting chefs, delicious – and cold – drinks and a lively atmosphere whether the unpredictable British climate intervenes or not. Prepare to take it outside with our pick of this year’s latest additions.
GIANT STEPS
Photograph courtesy of Giant Steps
**For an unrivalled sound system **
Giant Steps in Hackney Wick is set to become one of east London’s best weekend hangouts this summer. The 500-capacity terrace, which overlooks Regent’s Canal, is a collaboration between Dalston restaurant and music venue Brilliant Corners and analogue speaker specialists Analogue Foundation, who create sound systems by cherry-picking a mixture of vintage and contemporary technology. Every weekend until 19 September, the expansive outdoor space will host live jazz performances, late-night DJs, and film and sport screenings. The food – provided by a series of barbecue residencies from some of the capital’s best restaurants – is equally exciting. This month will see modern European cooking from Brawn, small plates singing with Mediterranean sunshine from Morito, and more.
Swan Wharf, Dace Road, E3 2NN
SEA CONTAINERS
Photograph by Mr Lateef Okunnu, courtesy of Mondrian
**For champagne lovers **
In honour of the 50th anniversary of Laurent-Perrier’s classic cuvée rosé, Sea Containers restaurant at the Mondrian London hotel has opened an open-air midsummer terrace in a coveted South Bank location, with views across the Thames. The menu is themed around the hotel’s famous blush-pink champagne, and the dishes are equally suited to hot days and balmy evenings as the vivacious rosé. Start with crab on sourdough toast or delicate seabass and seabream ceviche, then move on to poached pollock with black garlic and grilled turnip. Heaters and blankets mean you’ll want to stay past sunset.
20 Upper Ground, South Bank, SE1 9PD
THE NINTH
Photograph by Mr Charlie McKay, courtesy of The Ninth
**For Michelin-starred snacks **
If The Ninth in Fitzrovia has been lingering on your “must eat” list for a while, now’s the perfect time to get a taster of the critically acclaimed, but brilliantly easy going, restaurant. Guests seated on the sleek new outdoor terrace can try a pared-back version of the a la carte tasting menu – ideal for aperitivo hour or pre-theatre. Plates such as grilled Sicilian prawns in shio koji and crispy pig’s trotter with sauce gribiche demonstrate chef Mr Jun Tanaka’s masterful fusion of classic French techniques with Mediterranean flavours. Alongside the food, sip seasonal cocktails such as the Pesca Royale, with vodka, peach liqueur, white-peach purée and a dash of Angostura bitters.
22 Charlotte Street, W1T 2NB
AQUA KYOTO
Photograph courtesy of Aqua Kyoto
For seclusion in the city
Braving the crowds at Oxford Street would leave anyone feeling frazzled. Cue the tranquil summer rooftop terrace at Aqua Kyoto, which sits in the middle of central London but feels a million miles away. The space, with its hanging foliage, nods to an English country garden with a Japanese twist. Cocktails celebrate the new Tanqueray Lovage, a savoury, herbaceous gin based on a 19th-century recipe. The herbal theme continues in the food, too, with dishes centred around rare Japanese herbs – such as shiso and black edamame – grown in a micro “farm” in the restaurant’s kitchen. Try them in elegant dishes such as miyazaki beef with fermented garlic butter. From mid-June, a second, Balearic-island inspired terrace from adjacent sister restaurant Aqua Nueva will also open: expect relaxed Spanish small plates and vermouth cocktails.
30 Argyll Street, W1F 7EB
CHUCS
Photograph courtesy of Chucs
**For art fans **
Head to Hyde Park this summer for dinner with a dose of old-school Italian glamour. Classic Italian restaurant Chucs has opened a fourth London site at the Serpentine Galleries, set within the undulating curves of Ms Zaha Hadid’s landmark building, The Magazine. The terrace is a lovely spot for lunch outdoors, and while the architecture is contemporary, the food is timeless. Think pea and mint risotto, bigoli cacio e pepe and fat slabs of cocoa-dusted tiramisu, all washed down with plenty of negronis.
West Carriage Drive, W2 2AR
UNTITLED BAR
Photograph courtesy of Untitled
**For interesting cocktails **
Innovative mixologist Mr Tony Conigliaro’s Untitled, in Dalston, is a minimalist, concrete-clad bar with blown-up prints of 1980s icons on the walls. On-point drinks (start with the refreshing Waif, made with rose vodka, rhubarb and champagne) are paired with a thoughtful menu created by executive chef Mr Rob Roy Cameron, who cut his teeth at elBulli in Spain. Japan-inspired dishes include oyster with kumquat and yuzu, shiso-pickled pear, and soft, lamb-filled brioche that’s just the right side of fatty. And now, you can enjoy the elevated bar snacks and creative drinks at its new Japanese Moon Garden, flanked with a fragrant herb wall and foliage inspired by the grounds of Japan’s traditional temples. Yakitori skewers cooked on an open charcoal grill will keep cocktail drinkers sated, and on selected Sundays, guest chefs from London restaurants will be taking charge of the flames. Look out for appearances from hand-pulled noodle specialists Koya and Peckham bistro Aside in the coming weeks.
538 Kingsland Rd, London E8 4AH
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