Already dreaming of your next holiday? If you can’t make it to Madrid or San Sebastian this year, we’ve got the next best thing – five tapas bar terraces that are perfect for summer. We can’t promise glorious sunshine, but you definitely won’t leave hungry.
At Camino’s Shoreditch restaurant, you can dine al fresco all year round on their 40-seater heated terrace. We’re big fans of their jamon croquetas and the arroz negro – creamy black rice with squid, cuttlefish ink and alioli. At the weekends, you can round up your mates for tapas brunch with bottomless cava or sangria for £35 a head. If you can’t get a table, you can also dine al fresco at Camino King’s Cross and Monument.
Enjoy the flavours of the Spanish coast at Tapas Brindisa’s Shoreditch restaurant, where the menu is inspired by their travels from Cádiz to Catalonia. Choose from classic rice dishes like arroz negro or the seafood-studded paella marinera, or stick to tapas classics like pan con tomate, gambas al ajillo, and padron peppers sprinkled with rock salt. Somehow, it tastes even better when you dine al fresco, gin and tonic in hand, on their terrace. Outdoor dining is also available at Tapas Brindisa in Soho and Battersea.
We’re big fans of José Pizarro’s tiny tapas bar in Bermondsey, but it’s much easier to get a seat at his City restaurant and the food is just as good. It’s well suited to leisurely lunches and after-work dinners, plus in warm weather you can dine on the terrace overlooking Broadgate Circle. If you’re a seafood fan, don’t leave without trying the hake with salsa verde or the squid ink and prawn croquetas.
If you don’t have time for a Spanish city break, a visit to Iberica’s Cabot Square terrace might be the next best thing. It’s open all summer long and serves sharing platters, seasonal salads, and meat and seafood from their Josper grill. If you’re looking for somewhere to catch up with friends over a jug of sangria, this is the place. You can also dine al fresco at Iberica Victoria, just a short stroll from Buckingham Palace and St James’s Park.
Tucked away from the bustle of Carnaby Street, Dehesa is a great choice for date night or a light lunch after hitting the shops. Their menu has Italian influences as well as Spanish, so there’s an interesting wine list and excellent cheese and charcuterie on offer. After a few bar snacks, you can share tapas-style dishes like pil pil tiger prawns, sea bream a la plancha, and courgette flowers filled with goat’s cheese and drizzled with honey. On sunny days, their terrace is a prime spot for people watching.
Visit OpenTable to discover more of London’s best Spanish restaurants, plus al fresco dining destinations to enjoy all summer long.
Updated April 2021.
