Summer Dining in Mayfair

1 Introduction

Hot weather and the centre of a busy city like London are not conducive for an alfresco relaxed lunch and dinner. Sitting on a lovely Mediterranean terrace is the perfect scenario for most of us. However, if you continue reading, I’m out to prove you can enjoy some lovely food and be in the centre of  London in my favourite area Mayfair. 

London has been slow to embrace al fresco dining, but over the past decade, we have seen an explosion of outdoor eating areas and roof gardens.

2 Restaurants 

Let me take you on a journey to some of my favourite places to enjoy the weather and good food. As always, I will give you some of my  favourites and  options that suit all budgets and 

If you are feeling flushed, here are a few suggestions for fine-dining restaurants offering great outdoor options.

Michelin-starred Spanish Sabor (Heddon Street) or Italian Sartoria on Savile Row could be ideal choices for a Mediterranean vibe. Both offer tables outside and transport you to the Med via great food.

If you fancy seafood, take look at the legendary Scots Restaurant on Mount Street or Bentleys Oyster Bar and Grill on Swallow Street.

Fancy something spicy? How about Ivy Asia on North Audley Street or the Michelin-starred Indian restaurant Jamavar? It has a lovely secluded terrace at the front.

For a more traditional, modern European feel, Gordon Ramsays Heddon Street Grill has a large front terrace and excellent people-watching location. Finally, Michelin-starred Pavyllon/Bar Antione has a lovely courtyard garden.

Easier on the pocket but excellent restaurant is Piccolino, also on Heddon Street. It offers a large dining terrace to sample excellent Italian cuisine. It is well worth a visit. In fact, the pedestrianised Heddon Street is a great place to stroll on summer nights. It has the feel of a small Mediterranean street packed with plenty of excellent al fresco dining choices.

Ristorante Frescobaldi, serving classic Italian cuisine on New Burlington Place, offers secluded dining at the front. With a Mediterranean feel, CHUCS on Dover Street has a small terrace, which is perfect when the sun is shining. 

Indian restaurant BiBI offers a leafy terrace where you can enjoy some of the most innovative Indian cuisine in town.

Three hotels that offer summer dining are the iconic Connaught Hotel, Claridges and One Mayfair’s Dovetale restaurant, which has a large outdoor courtyard. Claridges have recently opened the Terrace which is a lovely space to enjoy some of Claridges legendry dishes including their famous C.F.C, Claridges Fried Chicken.

Finishing off my recommendations are two great value-for-money options. Firstly, Sofra on the exclusive South Molton Street. This pedestrianised street is ideal for summer dining, which Sofra has taken advantage of and has a large outside dining area. The prices do not reflect the exclusivity of the street, and Sofra offers a two-course steak and fries for £16.50.

Another Mayfair favourite is the Mayfair Chippy on North Audley Street; the ever-popular fish and chip shop has a few outside dining tables, but be warned it is always super busy.

There are only a few dining roof terraces in Mayfair, but I have two that I highly recommend. Both offer great value and quality food.

First off Mercato Mayfair (next to the Mayfair Chippy on North Audley Street) is a sustainable food hall in a converted Church, with plenty of dining options. The food hall has a roof terrace with plenty of tables, but only on a first-come, first-serve basis.

The Windmill pub on Mill Street has a small roof terrace. The Windmill is a traditional pub serving pub grub classics and is one of my favourite pubs in Mayfair. 

3 Shepherd Market

Shepherd Market has a unique vibe. It is an area of Mayfair packed full of restaurants, bars, and pubs. On warm days and balmy nights, the market becomes one big Al Fresco dining and drinking area with a great atmosphere. 

A few pointers: Try dining outside Kitty Fishers. There are only two tables, and the main restaurant only has nine in the dining room, so booking is essential. Noble Rot is also highly recommended. Check out their daily lunch menu: three courses for an eye-watering £26.

Also, Sofra has a restaurant in Shepherd Market with a few tables where you can enjoy the buzz of Shepherd Market.

4 Open Spaces

So, what if you fancy a picnic? Mayfair has a few good options. Apart from being surrounded by two of the best parks in London, Green Park & Hyde Park, venture into Mayfair and discover the peace and calm of Berkeley Square and Grosvenor Square. Both offer greenery and plenty of Park benches to chill out in the sun. Also I must mention a small garden oasis, Mount Street Gardens. This stunning garden is just the place to enjoy so outdoor eating. A little tip: less than a minute’s walk from the Garden is Mayfairs Farm shop. Pop in and pick up some freshly made sandwiches and great coffee, or if it is a cold drink, they offer cider and wine produced from their Somerset farm and vineyard.

Hopefully, this has inspired you to head to Mayfair when the sun is shining and fancy eating lovely food with a chilled glass of your favourite tipple.

To discover more about the culinary scene in Mayfair, visit our website, and to become part of the inner circle, sign up for our free newsletter.