A taste of the outdoors
Soak up some sunshine and delight your tastebuds in the best al fresco dining spots in Mayfair and Belgravia.
As the temperature rises, our thoughts turn to outdoor dining – from lazy weekend lunches beneath the welcome shade of a parasol to post-work aperitifs on a balmy summer evening. Whatever the time of day, Mayfair and Belgravia have plenty to offer to the sun-starved gastronome.
If you’re keen to catch a few rays of sun over a tasty breakfast, why not visit the Mount Street Deli for a freshly baked croissant or a plate of scrambled eggs with smoked salmon? With tables available on a quiet terrace overlooking Mount Street, it’s the perfect spot to flick through the morning newspapers and prepare for the day ahead.
More time on your hands? It’s only a short stroll to Hyde Park, so you might like to order one of the deli’s specially made picnic hampers, packed with salads, sandwiches and patisseries: delicious served with a glass of champagne.
Head back up Mount Street towards Berkeley Square for the chance to sample some of the area’s finest seafood at celebrity favourite Scott’s. Seated beneath an awning and surrounded by greenery, you can enjoy a selection of oysters while watching the world go by. The summer menu features seasonal ingredients such as beetroot, fennel and radishes, along with refreshing desserts such as elderflower ice cream with strawberries.
Belgravia is no less rich in its culinary offering. Daylesford Organic is a popular choice for an al fresco lunch, with visitors flocking to the Pimlico Road terrace to taste the fresh organic produce. On an especially hot day, you may prefer to relax inside the cafÈ, where the marble counters have a naturally cooling effect.
For those in search of fine dining, nearby restaurant La Poule au Pot offers classic French cooking in a large outdoor seating area. Voted ‘best for romance’ in the Hardens UK Restaurant Guide for several years running, the restaurant recreates the charm of rustic France. Traditional dishes such as boeuf bourgignon and tarte tatin are served in generous portions, using only the finest ingredients, while the wine list is as extensive as you would expect from an establishment that prides itself on its Gallic roots.
If you’re a cocktail aficionado, you’ll be spoilt for choice at The Thomas Cubitt, the Elizabeth Street gastropub where visitors can commonly be seen with a drink in hand, sitting at an outdoor table or spilling onto the street. With a drinks menu that features eccentricities such as the ‘Basil Fawlty’ – Belvedere vodka, apple juice, passionfruit and basil syrup – you’ll be tempted to stay until closing time. Fortunately, there’s no shortage of fine food to soak up all that alcohol: take your pick from the bar menu, which features simple, wholesome dishes such as a steak, ale and caramelised onion pie, or the more formal ‘dining room’ menu. Subtle combinations such as courgette flower with goat’s curd will delight even the most discriminating palate.
With so many al fresco dining opportunities on offer, there’s only one thing that visitors to Mayfair and Belgravia can’t rely on: the British weather.
Mount Street Deli, 100 Mount Street, London W1K 2TG
020 7499 6843
www.themountstreetdeli.co.uk
Scott’s, 20 Mount Street, London W1K 2HE
020 7495 7309
www.scotts-restaurant.com
Daylesford Organic, 44b Pimlico Road, London SW1W 8LP
020 7259 050
www.daylesfordorganic.com
La Poule au Pot, 231 Ebury Street, London SW1W 8UT
020 7730 7763
www.pouleaupot.co.uk
The Thomas Cubitt, 44 Elizabeth Street, London SW1W 9PA
020 7730 6060
www.thethomascubitt.co.uk