London’s best outdoor bars and drinking terraces

A longstanding al fresco spot on the banks of the Lea Navigation in Hackney Wick, this pizzeria and brewery one of London's best spots in the summer. Sipping beer, crowds spill out on to the banks of the Lea, with families of fowl and narrowboats tootling past – this is proper East End bucolic.

Head deep into this Tottenham industrial park and find independent brewery Pressure Drop. The large warehouse has a compact bar and, out the front, rows of benches teeming with beer bods expounding their knowledge and imbibing the brewery’s best.

Paradise Row is a fitting name for this stretch of Bethnal Green railway arches filled with bars and eateries. Sager + Wilde leads the field as an all-day restaurant with a focus on excellent wine. Save it for classy summer sipping. The terrace is ideal for alfresco dining, accompanied by world wines and clever twists on classic cocktails.

Make like you're in a swanky city somewhere in the sun-dappled Med at this chic courtyard spot. You'll find Carrubo just south of Borough Market, and its got a decent menu of non-booze cocktails as well as a fair amount that's a little stronger. Try the Picante, made with chilli and coriander infused tequila, lime juice and agave. Hungry? Nip next door to wood-fired open air resto In Horto. 

This youthful drinking spot with a banging soundsystem is right at the foot of Peckham’s Bussey Building. Knock back a hefty rum beside dumpsters filled with tall sunflowers – it’s the ultimate summer Peckham aesthetic.

The sprawling Five Points space is ideal for a sunny day spent supping their own Five Points Pale and JUPA - a rather juicier pale ale - all served straight from the tank. Food here is always impeccable too, with From The Ashes bbq masters now in permanent residence. 

One of London's finest buildings has a terrific bar on their river-facing terrace. San Miguel are in charge of the booze, with cerveza as well as spritz and beer cocktails, sangria and on offer, and there's food from Spanish-English chef Jimmy Garcia.

An indie brewery and open air taproom which benefits no end from its next door neighbours – live fire restaurant Acme Fire Cult. They offer a short version of their menu, alongside cocktails, cans and 10 taps pouring fresh beer that's brewed on site.  

Into cycling? This vermouth-peddling/pedalling bar and all-day café in Coal Drops Yard is a mass of classic Italian bike memorabilia. Crucially, it offers a cute little terrace complete with heaters for chillier London nights. There’s no truer taste of summer than a spritz – and this bar does them by the dozen.

A Hackney Wick bar and kitchen, Number 90 boasts a great canalside location. Expect DJ line-ups, a tempting burger menu and craft beer from east London’s finest. 

Peckham's al fresco drinking scene continues on apace with this spot that features an open fire BBQ grill and two (two!) cocktail bars. There's also a gallery, live music and regular DJs, making the 600-capacity garden terrace perfect for a rowdy al fresco summer. This summer food will come from the excellent Ruben's Rubens, who'll be slinging meat and veg BBQ trays and pulled mushroom and pulled pork buns.

Tottenham's party-centric hifi music bar has a pretty decent terrace out front for sinking banana mai-tais, coriander martinis and rum punch. You'll find it on an industrial estate, so feel free to make a bit of noise, too.  

The drinking-focussed offshoot of the boombastic, 1970s-styled Dear Jackie restaurant at the Broadwick Soho hotel, Bar Jackie's terrace plops you pretty much in the middle of the pavement. Perfect then, for Soho people-watching while you sink yet another cocktail named after a Federico Fellini movie. Choose from La Dolce Vita with gin and lavender, an 8 1/2 with Aperol, or a non-alcoholic Amarcord. There's also an all-day aperitivi menu of snacks, pasta and Italian classics. 

The club and rave-cave hangout space under the party-ready railway arches of Hackney’s aptly named Bohemia Place has neon lights, palm trees, day beds and a roster of hip DJs, which make a session spent here feel not entirely unlike a clubbing holiday. East London's largest outdoor terrace, it's 4000 sq ft - oof.

You might think that Gordon's is all about exposed brickwork, flickering candlelight and low basement vaults, but in the summer, the stretch outside near-ish the river is just as charming. Sink wine in the sun as damn near close to the very middle of town as it's possible to get.