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The restaurants across the city that offer shelter from the storm
In London, the rain, alas, will always come. And while outdoor dining persists as a very welcome holdover from COVID-19, that has changed the face of the London restaurant experience, it is not just a fair weather pursuit.
Hence, this map: The best places to eat outside in London when it’s raining. Which is to say, the places in London that have covered outdoor space to safeguard all manner of restaurant indulgence, with heating to boot.
Read MoreThis Newington Green favourite is serving its large, awning-protected terrace quality, unfussy plates of Spanish sunshine newly guided by a shift towards grocery supply. Tapas are heavy on tinned fish and friends, while larger, Galician plates based on meat (Iberico pork) fish (octopus) and autumn produce (late season tomatoes) catch the eye.
Chef Tomos Parry’s Basque-inspired restaurant continues to occupy the covered yard outside Climpson’s Arch in London Fields. It is here, undercover, fans of the brand can enjoy its famous grilled turbot and smoked potatoes, plus new dishes like a hefty cast iron pot of chicken rice and grilled mussels with nubs of the restaurant’s own fresh chorizo.
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Chef Mitshel Ibrahim’s Ombra has added a dinner tasting menu at £65 per person alongside its rank of Italian dishes that regulars will recognise. A fine terrace has fresh decking, ample space, an awning, and some extra coverage to protect against the rain.
One of London’s best Thai grills has retained its covered terrace on Redchurch Street, giving dozens of diners the chance to eat its celebrated dishes: Fish sauce chicken wings; soya chicken; stir-fried Cornish vegetables; delectable laabs made with a variety of meats and in a variety of styles; and exceptional lardo fried rice.
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The covered, heated terrace at this Shoreditch barbecue don comes into its own in the rain, when brisket buns with pickled chilli and slowly smoked, fall-apart meats offer warming shelter from the storm.
The front terrace here is open to the elements, but the backroom-outdoor-glass-roof section of this Maida Hill legend is the perfect place to listen to rain drumming overhead as a soundtrack to grilled souvlaki, fall-apart kleftiko, and smooth tarama that was repping whipped smoked cod’s roe well before it became the hottest small plate in town.
At Master Wei, chef Wei Guirong’s restaurant in Bloomsbury, the focus is on the Xi’an region’s flour-foods, mianshi: peerless biang biang noodle dishes, with vegetables or beef and hot chilli oil; fine liang pi, cold skin noodles with a cool, piquant, umami-rich dressing; and the chef’s inimitable “burgers” with a cumin-spiced beef or pork filling. Plenty of space, to order all of this, on the awning-covered terrace on Cosmo Place.
The covered terrace is a coveted people-watching spot at Anna Tobias’s debut restaurant in Bloomsbury. Cafe Deco, which began life as a traiteur and sandwich shop, feels like an institution despite its short time on this earth so far, largely due to the consummately elegant cooking coming out of Tobias’s kitchen.
The covered market in Spitalfields features countless food traders. The best of those are John and Yi Lee’s Dumpling Shack, the purveyor of delicious shengjianbao, crispy fried spring onion pancakes, dan dan noodles, and prawn wontons. Elsewhere, check out another outlet of Bleecker Burger, and Pleasant Lady Jian Bing.
This Fitzrovia institution’s covered awning has long been a place to gather with one of the best flat whites in the city, as locals, cyclists, and celebrities journey in over the morning; it’s even more satisfying when sheltering from the rain.
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The three picks of the City’s architectural restaurant thoroughfare are as follows: Japanese udon specialists Koya, JKS Restaurant’s Indian barbecue spot Brigadiers, and Bleecker for one of the city’s finest cheeseburgers. The Arcade is totally covered and each restaurant has its own terrace.
One of London’s great restaurants, perhaps its finest Italian restaurant, is in possession of the city’s truly great garden terraces, which overlooks ... the River Thames. Stylish parasols here are the only protection from the elements, so check the weather before booking. #DrizzleProof
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One of London’s best Neapolitan pizzerias: Pellone respects the classics with care, but the more adventurous and modern “Pizze Le Pizze Gourmet” section is perhaps what sets it apart: the white pizza with mortadella with pistachio pesto and the “Toto” — a base topped with mozzarella, yellow tomatoes, Italian sausage, and provolone are fine places to start. A cosy outside section is covered by the restaurant’s rain-resistant awning.
Also featured in:
Inside the covered Brixton Market, find one of London’s best places for Trinidadian dal puri roti, filled with curried mutton, or vegetables — pumpkin, string beans, chickpeas and potatoes — and kuchela (a delicious hot, spiced green mango condiment). Elsewhere, there’s Jamaican jerk chicken, stewed oxtail, and coconut curry prawns, served with rice, peas, mango chutney, and coleslaw.
Awnings and umbrellas aplenty on this Herne Hill pavement, stood to attention to protect bijou but unfussy plates from the elements — perhaps a classic whole sole with sauce vierge, or an assembly of mushroom, courgette, and Pecorino. The brown butter panisse with aioli is an extremely necessary side order.
Endo Kazutoshi’s — casual — Westbourne Grove paean to sushi is perhaps the sleekest, most elegant rendition of “casual” to open in London in a good while, and the only one to offer caviar as a side. Much like his revered tasting menu restaurant in White City, everything pivots on impeccable quality nigiri and sashimi — the richest of which are offered aburi style for a whisper of char as a counterpoint. But there’s also A4 wagyu, and temaki for a sense of fun.
Also featured in:
Chef Budgie Montoya is the reigning champion of lechon in London. This, the chef’s second restaurant-proper, having made his name on the pop-up and supperclub circuit, arrives on the borderlands between Mayfair and Soho. Montoya is currently cooking at the peak of his powers, with a shift to a set menu allowing him to add even more control to his bountifully elegant approach to modern Filipino cooking.
With a small heated tent just off Broadway Market, udon specialist Koya’s third London restaurant is ideal for a windswept Japanese breakfast or lunch. Miso broth laden with ginger pork, strips of ginger, watercress, udon, and spring onion is the fortifying, steadying stuff of dreams, while a side of brisk tsukemono or saucy negi fried chicken can’t be ignored.
This Newington Green favourite is serving its large, awning-protected terrace quality, unfussy plates of Spanish sunshine newly guided by a shift towards grocery supply. Tapas are heavy on tinned fish and friends, while larger, Galician plates based on meat (Iberico pork) fish (octopus) and autumn produce (late season tomatoes) catch the eye.
Chef Tomos Parry’s Basque-inspired restaurant continues to occupy the covered yard outside Climpson’s Arch in London Fields. It is here, undercover, fans of the brand can enjoy its famous grilled turbot and smoked potatoes, plus new dishes like a hefty cast iron pot of chicken rice and grilled mussels with nubs of the restaurant’s own fresh chorizo.
Chef Mitshel Ibrahim’s Ombra has added a dinner tasting menu at £65 per person alongside its rank of Italian dishes that regulars will recognise. A fine terrace has fresh decking, ample space, an awning, and some extra coverage to protect against the rain.
One of London’s best Thai grills has retained its covered terrace on Redchurch Street, giving dozens of diners the chance to eat its celebrated dishes: Fish sauce chicken wings; soya chicken; stir-fried Cornish vegetables; delectable laabs made with a variety of meats and in a variety of styles; and exceptional lardo fried rice.
The covered, heated terrace at this Shoreditch barbecue don comes into its own in the rain, when brisket buns with pickled chilli and slowly smoked, fall-apart meats offer warming shelter from the storm.
The front terrace here is open to the elements, but the backroom-outdoor-glass-roof section of this Maida Hill legend is the perfect place to listen to rain drumming overhead as a soundtrack to grilled souvlaki, fall-apart kleftiko, and smooth tarama that was repping whipped smoked cod’s roe well before it became the hottest small plate in town.
At Master Wei, chef Wei Guirong’s restaurant in Bloomsbury, the focus is on the Xi’an region’s flour-foods, mianshi: peerless biang biang noodle dishes, with vegetables or beef and hot chilli oil; fine liang pi, cold skin noodles with a cool, piquant, umami-rich dressing; and the chef’s inimitable “burgers” with a cumin-spiced beef or pork filling. Plenty of space, to order all of this, on the awning-covered terrace on Cosmo Place.
The covered terrace is a coveted people-watching spot at Anna Tobias’s debut restaurant in Bloomsbury. Cafe Deco, which began life as a traiteur and sandwich shop, feels like an institution despite its short time on this earth so far, largely due to the consummately elegant cooking coming out of Tobias’s kitchen.
The covered market in Spitalfields features countless food traders. The best of those are John and Yi Lee’s Dumpling Shack, the purveyor of delicious shengjianbao, crispy fried spring onion pancakes, dan dan noodles, and prawn wontons. Elsewhere, check out another outlet of Bleecker Burger, and Pleasant Lady Jian Bing.
This Fitzrovia institution’s covered awning has long been a place to gather with one of the best flat whites in the city, as locals, cyclists, and celebrities journey in over the morning; it’s even more satisfying when sheltering from the rain.
The three picks of the City’s architectural restaurant thoroughfare are as follows: Japanese udon specialists Koya, JKS Restaurant’s Indian barbecue spot Brigadiers, and Bleecker for one of the city’s finest cheeseburgers. The Arcade is totally covered and each restaurant has its own terrace.
One of London’s great restaurants, perhaps its finest Italian restaurant, is in possession of the city’s truly great garden terraces, which overlooks ... the River Thames. Stylish parasols here are the only protection from the elements, so check the weather before booking. #DrizzleProof
One of London’s best Neapolitan pizzerias: Pellone respects the classics with care, but the more adventurous and modern “Pizze Le Pizze Gourmet” section is perhaps what sets it apart: the white pizza with mortadella with pistachio pesto and the “Toto” — a base topped with mozzarella, yellow tomatoes, Italian sausage, and provolone are fine places to start. A cosy outside section is covered by the restaurant’s rain-resistant awning.
Inside the covered Brixton Market, find one of London’s best places for Trinidadian dal puri roti, filled with curried mutton, or vegetables — pumpkin, string beans, chickpeas and potatoes — and kuchela (a delicious hot, spiced green mango condiment). Elsewhere, there’s Jamaican jerk chicken, stewed oxtail, and coconut curry prawns, served with rice, peas, mango chutney, and coleslaw.
Awnings and umbrellas aplenty on this Herne Hill pavement, stood to attention to protect bijou but unfussy plates from the elements — perhaps a classic whole sole with sauce vierge, or an assembly of mushroom, courgette, and Pecorino. The brown butter panisse with aioli is an extremely necessary side order.
Endo Kazutoshi’s — casual — Westbourne Grove paean to sushi is perhaps the sleekest, most elegant rendition of “casual” to open in London in a good while, and the only one to offer caviar as a side. Much like his revered tasting menu restaurant in White City, everything pivots on impeccable quality nigiri and sashimi — the richest of which are offered aburi style for a whisper of char as a counterpoint. But there’s also A4 wagyu, and temaki for a sense of fun.
Chef Budgie Montoya is the reigning champion of lechon in London. This, the chef’s second restaurant-proper, having made his name on the pop-up and supperclub circuit, arrives on the borderlands between Mayfair and Soho. Montoya is currently cooking at the peak of his powers, with a shift to a set menu allowing him to add even more control to his bountifully elegant approach to modern Filipino cooking.
With a small heated tent just off Broadway Market, udon specialist Koya’s third London restaurant is ideal for a windswept Japanese breakfast or lunch. Miso broth laden with ginger pork, strips of ginger, watercress, udon, and spring onion is the fortifying, steadying stuff of dreams, while a side of brisk tsukemono or saucy negi fried chicken can’t be ignored.
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