London’s winter terraces are lovely places to pass an evening in the colder months. Here are ten of our favourites.
The city is coming alive with winter fun, but that doesn’t mean you have to give up going al fresco. In fact, so long as you’ve got a blanket, maybe a nice sheepskin over your seat and a heat lamp pointed at you, being outside on a winter’s evening can be a lovely experience.
Many of London’s venues have cottoned on to this and are decking out their terraces to suit the festive mood of the city. They’re putting on special menus of cocktails and new dishes that you shouldn’t miss.
We’re very impressed with the effort this year. At PocketSquare they’ve created some of the most outrageous drinks we’ve seen in a long time, all inspired by the famous markets of the east end, and another fave spot of ours, Acme Fire Cult are firing up their famous outdoor grill.
Grab your coat and let’s get to it…
Best Winter Terraces in London
Smith & Whistle Winter Vineyard
Mayfair
A favourite among the locals of Mayfair, and one that’s worth visiting even if your address doesn’t boast Green Park as a neighbourhood attraction, Smith & Whistle always turn out a good winter terrace.
This year they’ve teamed up with Pommery Champagne and will be going with a vineyard theme complete with hanging vines and (you guessed it) plenty of bubbly.
The place is dripping in gold and looks super luxurious, which makes it the ideal setting to tuck into a magnum or two if you ask us.
The Winter Bar at St Martin in the Fields
St Martin in the Fields
The Winter Bar is one we always try to visit when the winter draws in. It’s basically a giant marquee put up in a private courtyard in the city centre, that then gets filled with good vibes and plenty of Christmas cheer.
They do some great cocktails, including a marg’ with a festive twist of chilli and hot sauce to warm you through and a Blood Orange Negroni which never fails to hit the spot.
On top of that, they run some really wholesome workshops like gingerbread decorating workshops to help get you in the mood and bring the community together.
Number One Park Lane
Mayfair
If you fancy a really ritzy experience from your winter terrace, Number One Park Lane should be an address to remember.
The terrace is part of the InterContinental London Park Lane, one of the most glamorous hotels in London. Being as intercontinental as they are, they look across to the Swiss Alps for inspiration, turning their spot into an apres-ski hotspot serving everything from fondue to schnitzel.
As for drinks, the cocktails here are especially good. We especially like the look of the White Snow – a concoction of cinnamon-infused vodka, cocoa curaçao and among other things, pistachio syrup. See you there with a few of those on our table.
PocketSquare
Whitechapel
There’s nothing like relaxing on a winter terrace with a good view and PocketSquare has views for days. They’re a popular rooftop bar as things go, but come winter they decorate in style, bringing in specialist designers to really make the place shine.
This year they’ve got florist Elizabeth Marsh on hand. She’s taken inspiration from Columbia Road Flower Market and filled the terrace with vibrant greenery and festive flowers to bring a little life to the dark winter months.
The cocktail menu also pops off. Expect extravagant, original creations made especially for the season. This year they pay homage to famous east London Markets like nearby Whitechapel and Spitalfields, with each drink inspired by the things you’ll find on the stalls there and telling a story of London’s history.
Look out for the Masalas, inspired by Whitechapel Market’s produce and loaded with mango liqueur and ginger syrup, orange and pineapple, oh and lots of gin for good measure.
Dalloway Terrace
Holborn
Dalloway Terrace is a spot we like to hit for a relaxing drink all year round but the place really comes into its own during winter. The place looks stunning already with the deep reds of Virginia Creeper along the walls, but with the added sparkle it’s something else.
Each year they choose a new theme for their winter terrace and run wild with it. This year they’ve gone for the Maison Belle Époque, home of the legendary Perrier-Jouët Champagne.
Expect splashes of the Art Nouveau and glugs of high-end champers as well as an almond panna cotta that’s got its roots in the Maison Belle Époque’s famed kitchen.
Sicilian Winter Terrace at Fiume
Battersea
With gorgeous views of the River Thames on one side and impressive views of Battersea Power Station on the other, the Fiume Sicilian Winter Terrace is always one worth hitting for a bit of visual drama.
They get things nice and toasty with heat lamps and blankets and do their best to bring the warmth of Sicily to freezing-cold London.
That means a range of cocktails that draw on Italian flavours and hearty dishes that do the same. It also means an entire menu of food given over to the truffle. Need we say more?
Market Halls Winter Rooftop Terrace
Victoria
Market Halls have thrown their hat in the ring by decoration and (maybe most importantly) weatherproofing the rooftop garden at their Victoria location. You’ll find the place kitted out with cosy blankets and heat lamps to keep the cold at bay, as well as a rooftop bar with some pretty top-notch views.
Now, there is one more pretty obvious perk: you’ll have run of a wide range of food to choose from. We recommend hitting Black Bear Burger. It’s one of our favourite burgers in the city – in fact, we love it so much that even just typing out these words is making our stomachs growl.
Acme Fire Cult
Dalston
A favourite restaurant of ours all year round, Acme Fire Cult know how things ought to be done during winter too.
They kit their outdoor terrace out with shaggy blankets and sheepskin rugs and get to work on an outdoor grill to do what they do best: pushing the boundaries of live-fire cooking.
Chef Andrew Clarke works magic on the grill and if you haven’t eaten his food already, sipping on a winter beer they’ve made in partnership with St John (yes, that St John) wouldn’t be a bad place to start if you ask us.
GNH Bar and Terrace at the Great Northern Hotel
King’s Cross
The Great Northern Hotel seem to have really hit the nail on the head this year. They’ve knocked up a whole menu of warm, boozy drinks for you to sip on while you relax on their winter terrace.
To do so they’ve teamed up with Rabbit Hole Whisky and turned the fruits of that partnership into a rather delicious-sounding Hot Toddy, and an even more delicious-sounding take on the espresso Martini.
As for the terrace itself, we saw it the other day and it’s decked out with no end of evergreen garlands and Christmas decorations. We had to rush past, but on a cold December night it was more than tempting to nip in for a drink.
Skylight Peckham
Peckham
Whether it’s for a boozy brunch or a slap-up dinner, we love a trip to Skylight Peckham, and it looks like we’ll be making a return trip very soon for their winter terrace. They’ve really pushed the boat out this year…
Yes they’ve decked the place out with a festive glow-up, yes they’ve got one of the best views of London you can find, but they’ve also got a snow machine. They’ll be making it snow daily at 7pm in the run up to Christmas with extra sessions at 2pm on weekends. How’s that for magic?
Just make sure none of it lands in one of the candy-cane cocktails we’re sure you’ll be sipping on.
