London’s Best Secret Courtyard & Garden Dining Spots
When the weather is kind enough to play ball, we’re the first to embrace al fresco dining. Here we’ve rounded up the best London courtyards and gardens you can find hidden around the city, from iconic hotel favourites to new openings.
Richmond Hill Hotel
A slice of Mexico has arrived on Richmond Hill in the form of the new Tequila & Taco Terrace at 144 On The Hill. Designed for long, sunny afternoons, the terrace leans fully into fiesta energy — tacos loaded with slow-cooked meats, fresh vegetarian options, bowls of guacamole for the table, and tequila cocktails designed to stretch into the evening.
The best part? You’re moments from Richmond Park afterwards, making this one of the more leisurely summer setups in the city.
Where: 144-150 Richmond Hill, Richmond, Surrey TW10 6RW
Restaurant: www..144onthehill.co.Uk
Hotel: www.richmondhill-hotel.co.uk
Orrery
High above Marylebone High Street, Orrery’s newly renovated terrace has been reimagined with a distinctly Mediterranean mood. Partnering with Renais Gin, the rooftop now leans into long, languid afternoons with botanical cocktails, oversized sofa seating, and blankets ready for when the evening cools.
It feels polished but relaxed — the sort of terrace that encourages you to stay for another drink purely because leaving would ruin the atmosphere.
Where: 55 Marylebone High Street, London, W1U 5RB
Website: www.orrery-restaurant.co.uk
2 Chesham Hotel
Chesham Street, the Chesham Lounge Bar & Terrace unfolds behind the hotel’s elegant façade like a drawing room that happens to be open to the sky. Draped in greenery and softened by natural light, it feels less like a restaurant terrace and more like the private garden of a particularly well-connected friend.
The setting rewards those who seek it out: seasonal plates, an understated yet finely tuned bar, and the kind of unhurried service that lets an afternoon drift pleasantly into evening. There is no jostling for tables, no background roar of traffic — only the quiet luxury of time, sunshine and something chilled in hand.
This is one of Belgravia’s most refined outdoor addresses, and one of its best-kept secrets.
Where: 2 Chesham St, London SW1X 8DT
Website: www.2cheshamhotel.com
Madison
Madison has always understood the appeal of a rooftop in summer, but this year it’s leaning fully into escapism. In partnership with Casamigos, the terrace is transforming into a tequila-fuelled, Ibiza-meets-Mexico setup overlooking St Paul’s.
Expect DJs, orchestral sunset sessions, and a new “Create Your Own Margs” experience designed for exactly the sort of evenings that accidentally become very late nights. With that skyline view, it’s difficult not to settle in properly.
Where: 1 New Change, London, EC4M 9AF
Website: www.madisonlondon.net
The Lanesborough
Hidden behind the grandeur of Hyde Park Corner, The Garden Room at The Lanesborough feels worlds away from the traffic outside. Surrounded by greenery and open from midday through to late night, it’s one of Knightsbridge’s more polished hidden terraces.
The menu, overseen by Executive Chef Shay Cooper, keeps things light and elegant — ceviche, lobster rolls, steak sandwiches — while cocktails, cigars and impossibly old Cognacs push it firmly into indulgent territory.
Where: Park Corner, Hyde, London SW1X 7TA
Website: www.oetkerhotels.com
The Stafford London
The courtyard at The American Bar at The Stafford is the kind of place London does best: discreet, elegant, and quietly difficult to stumble upon accidentally.
Tucked behind the hotel just moments from St James’s, it’s all sun-dappled tables, classic cocktails and a pace that encourages you to stay longer than intended. One of central London’s true hidden gems.
Where: 16-18 St James’s Pl, London SW1A 1NJ
Website: www.thestaffordlondon.com
The Beaumont Mayfair
The Beaumont’s terrace feels less like a terrace and more like a private pocket of Mayfair. Hidden amongst flower displays and tucked away from the street, it’s intimate, polished, and ideal for a martini in the sunshine.
There’s seasonal dining on offer too, though the atmosphere alone makes it worth seeking out.
Where: 8 Balderton St, Brown Hart Gardens, London W1K 6TF
Website: www.thebeaumont.com
Bar Jackie
At street level beneath Broadwick Soho, Bar Jackie brings a brighter, more playful energy to courtyard dining. Aperitivo snacks, cornetti, Negronis, and homemade gelato all spill out onto the terrace, creating the sort of scene that feels made for people-watching.
A little flamboyant, intentionally glamorous, and very Soho.
Where: 20 Broadwick St, London W1F 8TH
Website: www.broadwicksoho.com
Flute
Technically a rooftop, but hidden enough to deserve inclusion. Sitting above Broadwick Soho, Flute combines wraparound skyline views with maximalist interiors and one of the more transportive terraces in central London.
Come for long lunches in the sun, stay for cocktails and crudo as Soho lights up below.
Where: 7th floor, 20 Broadwick St, London W1F 8TH
Website: www.broadwicksoho.com
The Montague on the Gardens
Overlooking private gardens in Bloomsbury, The Montague’s terrace offers something increasingly rare in central London: genuine quiet.
It’s understated rather than flashy — afternoon teas, evening drinks, classic British dishes — but that’s exactly the appeal. A hidden pocket of calm moments from the West End.
Where: 15 Montague St, London WC1B 5BJ
Website: www.montaguehotel.com
Stanley’s
Hidden behind The Chesterfield Mayfair, Stanley’s feels like a members’ club courtyard you accidentally discovered.
Leafy, secluded and softly elegant, it’s built for long lunches and evenings that drift naturally into cocktails. One of Mayfair’s more charming hidden outdoor spots.
Where: 151 Sydney St, London SW3 5UE
Website: www.chesterfieldmayfair.com
Bbar
Just moments from Buckingham Palace, Bbar hides beneath one of London’s largest living walls — and somehow still feels under the radar.
The terrace is leafy, relaxed and surprisingly removed from Victoria’s usual pace, making it ideal for spontaneous drinks or a lingering lunch after a walk through the nearby parks.
Where: 43 Buckingham Palace Rd, London SW1W 0PP
Website: www.bbarlondon.com
The Riviera Terrace at The Churchill Bar
The Riviera Terrace at The Churchill Bar leans fully into South of France fantasy. Inspired by Churchill’s connection to the Côte d’Azur, the terrace serves spritzes, oysters, tuna tartare and Riviera-style sea bass in a setting that feels distinctly less London than Marylebone usually allows.
A very strong option for summer aperitivo energy.
Where: 30 Portman Square, London W1H 7BH
Website: www.hyattrestaurants.com
Taj 51 Buckingham Gate Suites & Residences
At the centre of Taj 51 Buckingham Gate sits an ivy-covered courtyard anchored by a restored Victorian fountain — one of Westminster’s loveliest hidden outdoor spaces.
It’s peaceful, enclosed and surprisingly transportive, while the rooftop terrace above offers an even more secluded escape for private occasions.
Where: 51 Buckingham Gate, London SW1E 6AF
Website: www.taj51buckinghamgate.com
St Martins Lane London
This summer, St Martins Lane is introducing a new terrace in partnership with Champagne Pommery — all chilled bubbles, light seasonal plates and relaxed Covent Garden energy.
Designed for sunny catch-ups and post-work drinks, it’s shaping up to be one of the season’s more social hidden terraces.
Website: www.morgansoriginals.com
Scott’s Richmond
Scott’s Richmond already had the river. Now, its second-floor terrace adds panoramic views to match.
Overlooking the Thames, the space feels calmer and more tucked away than many of central London’s rooftops, pairing seafood, champagne and riverside sunshine in a way that’s difficult to argue with.
Where: 4 Whittaker Ave, Richmond TW9 1EH
Website: www.scotts-richmond.com
Il Gattopardo
Il Gattopardo is one of the city’s best-kept secrets. Nestled in the back streets of Mayfair, this Italian restaurant excels at interiors as much as cuisine. Inspired by ‘La Dolce Vita’, this richly decorated space typifies retro Riviera glamour. Out back, you can also find The Terrazza, which offers all the glorious natural light of eating outside, minus the wind and rain.
As for the menu, we strongly recommend booking in for a long Sunday lunch with the sea bass carpaccio (served with green tomato, pink peppercorns and spring onions dressing) to start, followed by the Astice half lobster linguine with lobster reduction – it’s the best pasta our Editor’s had in years. For dessert, you can’t go wrong with a refreshing glass of Sgroppino (lemon sorbet whisked with Italian sparkling wine and Italicus).
where: 27 Albemarle St, London W1S 4HZ
Website: www.gattopardo.restaurant
