Mentioned by CN Traveller
The best outdoor restaurants in London to book now
"It's part of London's vast culinary mythology, and it feels a bit like stepping back in time to Covent Garden's theatrical heyday. J Sheekey offers a cornucopia of the city's freshest seafood in a darkly lit, brass embellished ambience which is perfect for highbrow romancing or laid back business dealings. Start with scallops in a halfshell with garlic and chilli for £17.50, and move on to a grilled Dover sole with bearnaise for £39.50."
"One of London's properly iconic restaurants, Sheeky's have been serving up seafood to Londoners for over 100 years. The setting, tucked in an unassuming passageway linking Charing Cross Road to St Martin's Lane, means it's always been popular with London's theatre folk, popping in here post-performance as well as other A-listers. Here's where you'll find local thespians enjoying the restaurant's classic fish pie and oyster platters."
"If it’s enduring love you’re looking for, J Sheekey’s passion for prime seafood has burned for more than 100 years. The West End restaurant has hosted many a star of nearby stages over the last century, and images of some of those famous faces line the walls. The Champagne bar makes a glamorous spot for two to linger, accompanied by shellfish aplenty and J Sheekey’s famous selection of oysters."
"The Michelin starred restaurant is the jewel of Moorgate’s South Place Hotel, thanks to the exquisite touch of Executive Chef, Gary Foulkes. Foulkes’ way with fish and seafood is one of the best you’ll find in the capital, from the Japanese take on turbot – it’s served with Japanese mushrooms, salsola and an unami-fuelled bonito dashi to the tongue tingling raw Orkney scallops served with blood orange, citrus yoghurt and Greek basil. The tasting menu is a must-try for any special occasions and did we mention the restaurant has a gorgeous sweeping terrace too?"
"What: Stunning views come as standard at this Michelin starred seafood restaurant in the City, which is located the seventh floor of South Place Hotel. The precise cooking on show at Angler elevates beautiful ingredients to dizzying heights. Dishes on the regularly changing a la carte menu might include John Dory with bacon and sardines, and roast monkfish served with parsnip cream, while there’s also the option to go all-out and opt for the lengthy tasting menu.Where: South Place Hotel, 3 South Place, EC2M 2AF"
"No prizes for guessing the thrust of this restaurant atop the South Place Hotel in the city. Led by executive chef Gary Foukes,Angler is all about sustainable British seafood, as well as all manner of other robust British ingredients (look out for the rabbit and squid Bolognese)."
"Scott’s started out as an oyster bar in 1851, but it has since evolved into one of Mayfair’s iconic restaurants, and a reliable ‘banker’ for date nights, meetings, or even solo visits at the bar for oysters and champagne. Dover sole rightly remains a Scott’s classic, served either simply grilled or with a silky meunière sauce, expertly filleted at the table by one of the slick front of house. It ain’t cheap, but a fine fish such as this deserves the royal treatment it gets here."
"The terrace at this Mayfair establishment has long been a spot where you'll find yourself sitting downwind from unrepentant smokers like Ronnie Wood or Charles Saatchi and getting your photo taken by passing paparazzi."
"Not to be confused with the American aviation specialists, these guys are all about seafood, in fact they are the self-professed “seafood experts.”. We’re not disagreeing having popped into many of their London outposts (they boast five from Battersea to Borough) for a glass of bubbles and a plate of oysters on many occasions over the years. Check out their daily changing specials showcasing the best of British seafood straight off the boats at Brixham Market or order the Full House seafood platter for the perfect long lazy lunch."
"At its best, seafood relies on unpredictability, freshness trumping all, so calling this shoal of restaurants across London “dependable” might come across the wrong way. That said, a reliable supplier is a good one, and Wright Brothers — which gets much of its catch from its own wholesale operation — offers up daily specials alongside dishes served everyday. Whether fish soup and rouille, a pint of Atlantic prawns, or Cornish sardines on toast, it’s quality fish treated well."
"What:Wright Brothers has earnt such a name for itself in the Capital over the past few years that is now has no less than five outposts. Still renowned for serving up some of London’s best oysters, other top shouts at Wright Brothers include a smoky mackerel pate, buttery potted shrimps and sublimely handled turbot, or you can choose from a range of daily specials.Where: Various locations"
"Fried haddock sandwiches are basically the fish finger butty glow-up we never knew we needed. As well as seafood, Orasay in Notting Hill are delivering fresh, sophisticated meals like pot roast duck leg with a soy, orange, and honey sauce and burrata with wild garlic and baby peas. Crucial information: there are batched cocktails for two you should probably order as well."
"Head to Little Venice for an authentic taste of the Mediterranean. The Summerhouse is a bright, unfussy restaurant with a tantalising seafood-heavy menu. It affords canal-side seating, perfect for whiling away summer weekends watching the boats float by."
"Brought to you by the Goodman Restaurant Group, the people behind the Burger & Lobster restaurants, this restaurant champions the beasts of land and sea – the finest beef and Norwegian Red King Crab. The crab comes from the Norway King Crab company in Bugøynes, a small town on the Northern Norwegian/Russian border that benefits from the behemoths of crustacians. While the meat is handpicked from around the globe – everything from USDA Nebraska’s 150-day corn fed Chateaubriand to A5 Grade Japanese Wagyu Sirloin."
"Hidden in Marylebone, there is a secluded terrace where those in the know go for decadent platters of fruits de mer and glasses of champagne. For the cooler months, flare heaters provide ample warmth for the Beast experience, where king crab and Angus steak are always a highlight."
"What:Beast is the kind of pricy restaurant only people with serious money frequent. Vast wooden tables, which stretch the length of the dining room, ensure that any meal at Beast feels like a banquet. Steaks are the main draw but don’t overlook the seafood."
"What: Uncomplicated, simple serves are the order of the day at The Oystermen, which started life as a pop up. The small kitchen at the Covent Garden restaurant produces delightful treats such as anchovies on toast, smoked cod roe with lavash bread, and, of course, oysters. However, it’s not just about the small plates here; more substantial fish dishes such as Scottish cod with chestnut purée also come expertly cooked.Where: 32 Henrietta Street, WC2E 8NA"
"There is a tiny red alarm button in our brain labelled ‘BOUGIE FUN’ that we mentally hit every single time we have oysters. As all seafood fans know, oysters, octopus, and clams, are all dishes that taste exponentially better when you eat them outside in the sunshine. We have no idea why, it’s just a fact."
"Looking for some eclectic offering of fashion while you catch your favorite movie and sip a hot coffee?. Brunswick Shopping mall offers all this and more. Set in the most culturally exciting area of London, in Bloomsbury, Brunswick lets you indulge in some serious retail therapy."
"A city farm that's home to most species of farm livestock and where the focus is on rare breeds. Stansfeld Road, Beckton, London, E6 5LT. Tube: Canning Town Station"
"St Sepulchre is dominated by its grey 15th century Gothic tower. Captain John Smith, the famous Governor of Virginia, rescued by Pocahontas, was buried here in 1631. But St Sepulchre also has darker associations."
"In a nutshell: All day NYC-inspired spot in Peckham Where is it?. Unit 5, 12-16 Blenheim Grove, London, SE15 4QL Why should you care?. The team that brought us Salon and Levan are opening a second Peckham spot."
"Smack bang amid Duke of York Square, one half-expects dazed shoppers to bounce off Vardo’s glass walls like so many exceedingly coiffedpigeons. And yet, inside this purpose-built pavilion, all is serene. An evolution of the Caravan concept, much of the menu will be familiar to the mothership’s regulars,butwithin these surrounds, even long-standing Caravan classics such as seasoned rice with hot-smoked salmon, miso mayonnaise, pickled ginger, furikake — taste that little bit better."
"Situated at the heart of Chelsea’s Duke of York Square is Vardo. This stylish restaurant serves up flavours inspired by countries across the world in a relaxed, modern environment. Their fully retractable 360-degree wall to floor windows are a first in the UK and allow diners to enjoy their meals in an indoor-outdoor setting."
"Brunch , Bakery/Cafe"