Best Outside and Alfresco Bars in London

Although they’re increasingly common in other parts of town, rooftop bars are as rare as prolonged sunny spells in Soho – which makes Aqua Spirit’s open-air chill-out a poseur's paradise for blue-sky drinkers. Frequently themed according to the season, its terraces and cocktails are as smartly turned out as the venue’s fashion-conscious clientele: in 2016, the autumn highlight was the Hanging Gardens of Kyoto, a cute installation that followed hot on the Louboutin heels of summer's Veuve Clicquot Rosé garden. When the weather inevitably throws a tantrum, shelter indoors at the carousel bar, retreat to one of the kimono silk-lined booths and get stuck into a list of east-west Daiquiris, Saketinis and Shanghai-style classics such as Nippon Negroni, plus some Eurasian street food. Prices are more haute couture than bargain basement in this new incarnation of Dickins & Jones department store.

Don’t be deceived by the tiny entrance of this Caledonian outpost: follow the tartan carpet to an enormous first-floor expanse and breathe in cigar smoke on the terrace overlooking Cabot Square’s fountains. Then ascend again to another vast dining room and a long bar, replete with whiskies. The selection of Scotch whisky is among London’s finest; ask the friendly, knowledgeable bar staff for recommendations. Otherwise, choose something from the well-priced, mainly European wine list, sit back and relish the vivacious atmosphere.

Whether you're warming up before a trip to the theatre or simply chilling on the terrace with something suitably intoxicating, the bar at this boutique Soho hotel is a "buzzy fun place with good service". As a chic, urbane oasis, it combines spicy tones and jazzy 1950s graphics with a thoroughly upbeat drinks list – think modern wines by the glass or carafe, fizz from small producers and plenty of zingy cocktails. We like the sound of Rosemary Vesper, and Black Mamba (Portobello Road gin, homemade spiced blackberry coulis, lemon and honey), as well as the Smoke 'n' Bubbles (mezcal, agave, lime and Champagne). If you fancy a nibble, pick from various melts, sliders and small plates (beer-battered oysters, for example) – plus 'profitabombes' such as pistachio custard, white chocolate and orange brittle for those of a sweet disposition.

Billed as a ‘bar, club, art collective’, the Queen of Hoxton is also a great East End night out. Welcome to every design student’s fantasy world, complete with window etchings, graffiti and an edgy discotheque downstairs – not forgetting the legendary summer roof garden and bar (now with an all-weather cover). This year’s fun in the urban adventure playground will include BBQs, screenings of cult movie classics, a ‘headphone disco’ and a Sunday ‘sunbathers club’ compete with paddling pools and hot tubs. Otherwise, play table football in the main bar, catch some stand-up comedy or one of the diverse live bands, and place you orders for garlic king prawns, calamari or fajita platters. The staff will even rustle up cocktails for the Mixmag and Dazed posse – perhaps a CoCo caipirinha or pear crumble.

In any other location, this hotel's bland boxy bar would be unmemorable, but the 12th-floor lounge's 360-degree panorama of historic London and its modern skyline is a mesmeric sight. Against such a dramatic backdrop, Skylounge's extensive twin decked terraces are a picture-perfect spot to enjoy sun-soaked lunches and seasonal cocktails that twist the classics. Tawny port and a splash of Prosecco inform American Hustle (a Woodford Reserve Manhattan), Sky at Night (a vodka and sloe gin cup) is a fair summer cooler, while Marshmallow Alexander is a wintry sweet treat. Elsewhere, mezcal-based The Last of the Oaxacans is a fine fix for all seasons. Regular pop-up bars and rum shacks add a blast of colour, and DJs play at Ibiza-style chill-out sessions. Blankets and heaters are on hand should Mother Nature try to spoil the party.

Indian culinary star Vivek Singh's standalone cocktail lounge next door to Cinnamon Kitchen is a City hotspot, popular for office celebrations, first dates and after-work bashes. Its vision of spice-toned comfort is more modern-day Mumbai than Bollywood bling, but its tailor-made for indulging in Instagram-pretty east-meets-west cocktails with names like Emerald Elephant and Mystical Journey. If Rose Pink Sari and Lady Yang (a lychee and lavender-foamed vodka Martini available by the glass or pitcher) sound a touch too camp, the bartender will happily knock out a bourbon-based White Bullet or a hair-raising Chilli Black Mango (whisky, fireball, mango juice and spicy vanilla sugar topped with dried mango and a hint of black pepper). Reasonable prices extend to the roster of affordable 'bazaar street food' – think hot-and-sweet shrimp skewers, KFC (Kerala fried chicken) or grilled aubergine with sesame and peanut crumble

Impossibly glamorous (and sometimes impossible to get into if you haven't booked) the exclusive rooftop bar at ME London piles on the wow factor with its minimalist monochrome decor and views over the City skyline. On warm days, the prime spots are the white leather sofas by the rooftop edge: perfect for alfresco posing. House cocktails run from the Mexican (a refreshing blend of El Jimador Tequila, cucumber, mint and agave) to South Pacific (Leblon cachaça, kiwi, elderflower and apple juice), while the Champagne list is reassuringly extensive (and expensive), with bottles of Bolly for £100 and jeroboams of Cristal 1999 weighing in at a cool £5,000. Meanwhile, aficionados can pair Cognac or whisky with a Montecristo No.4 from the cigar menu. Daytime eats include risottos, salads and burgers, with dainty tapas on offer when the lights go down.

Built in 1850, this is perhaps the pick of the pubs on that picturesque stretch of the Thames from Chiswick Village to Hammersmith Bridge. In 2018, a major refurb on a nautical theme further upped the appeal of this riverbank villa. Drop in for quality cask-conditioned beers by owners Young’s and Beavertown; sensibly priced wines such as a super Slovenian white Pinot; paired gins and tonics; and in a cosy upstairs lounge, Monkey Shoulder Old Fashioned or a Little Bird Negroni from a bijou bar. On fine days, nothing beats dining alfresco on the Ship’s pretty front terrace or on its smart upstairs verandah, where tables (annoyingly) are non-reservable. Choose from numerous veggie and beefy brunch options, Brit pub-grub staples, sharing platters and Sunday roasts. A private dining room accommodates up to 40, though the pub’s lawn was filled with five times that number on a hot Bank Holiday weekend.

If this sweet cocktail lounge were in the West End rather than deep in leafy Chiswick, there’d be queues outside for a table. In the wrong hands, tiki can look tacky, but here a Polynesian/Californian-inspired interior – a mismatch of jungle succulents, jingly-jangly prints, jumble-sale kitsch and covetable retro and rattan furniture – is an exercise in how to nail 1950s beachcomber boho with panache. Priced £9-£11, house cocktails might include Salted Caramel Vodkatini, Raspberry Flirtini and Little Bird’s eponymous signature (a tropical sparkler made with vanilla and ginger-infused rum, passion fruit, cassis and French fizz). Graze on elegantly presented small plates in the charming sun-trap patio garden: Angus beef sliders; charred cauliflower with red pesto and sour cream; tuna tartare, avocado and corn chips; cherry and bitter chocolate profiteroles; or coconut pannacotta with pineapple salsa.

This three-floor, sky-high restaurant and bar is far sexier than its Novotel wrapper suggests. In contrast to the cheery primary colours of the hotel’s foyer, Bo¯kan is an understated, dimly-lit evening destination which takes its design cues from the Dockland’s rusty, industrial past. Floor 39 is home to a large alfresco drinking terrace and whisky-focussed bar, while below is another bar where you’ll find a lengthy cocktail list. Cheaper than many of London’s other high-rise bars, we found the seaweed-garnished Wharfinger cocktail (cognac, mastic liqueur, bitters and vermouth) to be just as well-made as its Central London rivals. The kitchen is the domain of French chef Aurelie Altemaire, who spent a decade at Joël Robuchon working her way up to head chef. Touches of her home country can be detected across the international menu, from oysters with chanterelle mushrooms and a whole crispy squid stuffed with ratatouille, to its predilection for cheese and charcuterie. We particularly enjoyed the beef tartare, dotted with colourful and peppy sauces and imbued with welcome crispness via shards of sesame brittle. Prices are fair considering the restaurant’s altitude, although the super-polite service was occasionally slow on our visit. The wine list is overly fussy in its organisation, but an obvious effort has been made to provide interest and quality – something we would apply to Bo¯kan as a whole.

A covered all-year roof terrace, regular alfresco classic film screenings, generous happy hours and weekend house parties for sharp-dressing honeys are among the reasons to make a beeline for this buzzy mid-market hive. You can also retreat to the main bar (one floor below) for well-constructed drinks including Pear Mojito, Lychee Rose Martini and the signature Golden Bee (a tropical cooler made with Jose Cuervo Reposado Tequila, banana liqueur and apple). Otherwise, Champagne zooms all the way from house Moët & Chandon (£60) to astronomical 2007 Cristal rosé, while bottled hooch and mixers start from £120 – as the cost of your cocktail is driven by its base spirit, you'll need to order carefully if you want to avoid being stung in the pocket. To eat, sharing platters (sushi etc) can be ordered in advance.