Top terraces & beer gardens in South Bank

If you want to sit outside this summer, South Bank is the place to be!

From fancy rooftops to secret gardens, here's our ultimate guide to where to drink and dine outdoors.

Near Blackfriars Bridge

OXO Tower Restaurant, Bar & Brasserie

When it comes to rooftop riverside views, there are few venues that can compete with this rooftop restaurant and bar on the top floor of the iconic OXO Tower. There’s a choice of seasonal set menus and a la carte options, or you can just drop by and enjoy their signature cocktails while marvelling at the views of St Paul’s.

The Doggetts Coat & Badge

While the unusual 1970s pub exterior is a bit of an acquired taste, you can’t fault the location of this terrace, perched right on the river embankment walls! In addition to the pavement terrace out front, there’s a second beer garden in the back (with TVs if you need to keep your eye on the sports), plus a balcony terrace upstairs available for events.

Sea Container Restaurant

The elegant Sea Containers Restaurant has teamed up with St-Germain so you can soak up gorgeous views across the Thames, while enjoying a classic Hugo Spritz on their fancy riverside summer terrace. If you prefer to have a drink and take a stroll, the award-winning cocktail bar Lyaness also has a pop-up summer kiosk serving cocktails to go.

12th Knot

An exclusive rooftop location on the 12th floor of Sea Containers London from which to enjoy sky-high city centre views while DJs spin the beats. This summer their Saturday Sessions (kicking off in the early afternoon and continuing long after sunset) are powered by Laurent-Perrier Champagne so you can look forward to some tip-top bubbly-based drinks on the menu.

Gabriel’s Wharf

Limin’

An authentic taste of the Caribbean in the heart of South Bank. Limin' (pronounced 'Lime-in') is a Trinidadian expression that refers to relaxing in good company with food, drink, music and lots of laughter. When the warm weather kicks in, this place more than lives up to its name with its own mini-beach terrace built for enjoying fruity rum punch, jerk chicken and socca tunes.

Gourmet Pizza Company

This small pizzeria’s prime riverside views, bustling atmosphere and delicious pizzas all combine to make it the perfect casual dinner venue. The outside deck – partly covered – adds to the continental feel and a prime location that faces onto the Queen's Walk and Ernie's Beach makes it a great place for people-watching.

Paradiso

Occupying a prime corner spot overlooking Ernie’s Beach there’s a choice of terraces on the ground floor and upper level from which to enjoy the sun while dining on gourmet burgers with all the toppings. If both terraces are full, there’s also a casual pop-up beer garden that spreads out into the Gabriel’s Wharf courtyard.

The Mulberry Bush

A down-to-earth and cosy pub and restaurant right behind Gabriel's Wharf, this Young’s pub is a handy spot for afterwork drinks with bifold doors that allow the pub to open right out onto the pavement.

At the National Theatre and the BFI

The Understudy

The Understudy’s huge beer garden terrace comfortably accommodates hundreds of punters in the height of summer, with extra pop-up bars and food trucks courtesy of street food specialists KERB providing plenty of sustenance. A buzzing spot on hot summer evenings, The Understudy's long tables and colourful deckchairs are synonymous with a South Bank summer.

Forza and Forza Taps

The chic terrace wine bar at National Theatre, Forza Wine, expands its al fresco space with a second terrace, Forza Taps, seating 60. While Forza serves the full ‘Italianish’ food and wine menu, Forza Taps on the terrace below operates on a casual walk-in-only basis and serves snacks, including Arrosticini, Forza’s playful take on Abruzzo’s famous kebab-like skewers.

BFI Riverfront Bar & Balcony Bar

An all-weather venue tucked in below Waterloo Bridge and overlooking the famous South Bank Book Market. More than just a spot to buy drinks before going into the cinema to watch a film, this spot is a destination in its own right. If the terrace downstairs is full, from 4pm head upstairs to the lesser-known, open-air Balcony Bar which presents a great place to escape the crowds while taking advantage of their excellent Happy Hour (daily 2-4-1 on wine and prosecco from 4pm-6pm).

Queen Elizabeth Hall

Wahaca

Housed in eight recycled shipping containers arranged across two overhanging levels alongside the Southbank Centre’s Queen Elizabeth Hall, Wahaca Southbank serves up their award-winning Mexican street food with fantastic views of life on the Thames floating by. There's also a pop-up bar counter and a food truck outside if you're pressed for time and want something to go.

Queen Elizabeth Hall roof garden

In the spring and summer one of South Bank’s most peaceful green spaces, located on top of the Queen Elizabeth Hall (accessed via the famous yellow staircase) opens to the public. From late afternoon a small pop-up container bar serves drinks and light snacks. This surprisingly spacious wildflower rooftop garden offers plenty of quiet spaces to relax under the trees with a book, as well as wonderful views over the river- particularly special at sunset.

Jimmys BBQ Club

The BBQ Club pop-up by Jimmy Garcia is always a summer favourite, parked in prime position between the Southbank Skatepark and the river Thames. The signature riverside BBQ Club Cabana serves a sit-down six-course tasting menu incorporating tableside Big Green Egg barbecues, while there’s also a separate Bar & Grill serving up casual street food and drinks from a spacious beer garden.

TEN

This cute little summer pop-up cocktail bar is nestled alongside the BFI Southbank and Waterloo Bridge looking over the action of the Queen’s Walk. Specialising in artisanal cocktails, it’s a pretty spot to sit and enjoy a refreshing spritz on a hot day.

Royal Festival Hall

Beany Green

This quirky little container bar opposite Las Iguanas serves good coffee and also has a handful of chairs and bar stools to sit outside and enjoy a coffee, craft beer and cocktail while you soak up the atmosphere.

Comptoir Libanais

Offering a wide array of mezze classics, plus delicious main dishes, moreish desserts like baklava and a super refreshing range of homemade soft drinks. Their Mandela Walk terrace looks right onto the Royal Festival Hall entrance making for a handy pre-show dinner spot.

Honest Burgers

The popular burger chain’s Southbank Centre branch has a small terrace that opens onto Mandela Walk (overlooking Royal Festival Hall). It can get super busy at weekends so terrace seating is not always guaranteed - but definitely worth trying for!

Cote Brasserie

Fresh and seasonal French-brasserie-inspired cuisine, served in a relaxed all-day dining environment. Tucked in between Comptoir Libanais and Honest Burgers, the restaurant terrace is just as popular as its neighbours – especially for pre-concert meals.

Flat Iron

A brilliant terrace that’s traffic free, surrounded by plants and with added shade for those super hot days, this restaurant terrace on Festival Square at the back of Southbank Centre is a no-brainer if you are looking to dine outdoors and eat steak. Even better yet - all diners get a free soft serve ice cream for dessert.

Seventy5th

Located on the 5th floor of the Royal Festival Hall this deceptively large balcony looks right out onto the river and is handily protected from the elements while still being very much al fresco. Open from breakfast right through to evening drinks, it’s a lesser-known spot to enjoy coffee, lunch or drinks away from the crowds below.

Near the London Eye

Between the Bridges

Spreading out between Jubilee Gardens and Hungerford Bridge, Between The Bridges is one of London's biggest pop-up beer gardens! The complex encompasses several indoor all-weather bar areas arranged around a huge central courtyard where you can take your pick from a choice of food trucks like Patty & Bun and CDMX Tacos. Making things even more inviting, there’s also a £5 pints happy hour on Thursdays and Fridays from 4pm-9pm, plus a busy programme of events that includes DJ sets, live music and a monthly pop-up craft market.  

The Thirsty Farrier

This quirky pop-up bar is the perfect photo-op, sitting with a prime view of Big Ben and the London Eye. Fashioned from a salvaged vintage horsebox, the bar serves up classic British summer cocktails like Pimm's and elderflower G&Ts.  A small ‘cocktail garden’ faces right onto the river and is a great spot to kick back and admire the sunset with a drink.

Locale

Grab a seat at the friendly Italian bistro Locale on Belvedere Road behind County Hall, and indulge in a happy hour sundowner or a strong morning espresso. The restaurant opens out onto Forum Magnum Square, a super quiet car-free piazza making it a handy spot for families who want to sit outside but want to be away from both pedestrian crowds and traffic.

Cucina di Mama

Located just around the corner from Locale, Cucina di Mama is another easy-going Italian restaurant serving up a family-friendly pizza-pasta menu and quiet pavement dining that’s neatly contained away from the traffic.

Troia

Located next door to Cucina di Mama, this Middle Eastern spot offers a very similar terrace set up as its neighbour but this time with grilled meats and mezze on the menu.

Near Waterloo Station

BrewDog Waterloo

Next to the entrance to the Leake Street graffiti tunnel, in addition to dozens of TV screens, duckpin bowling lanes and other entertainment to keep you busy this huge bar at The Sidings also has a streetside terrace that shares a space with The Grind coffee bar.

Nando’s at The Sidings

You can never go wrong with a cheeky Nando’s and this branch next to the BrewDog bar at The Sidings offers indoor and outdoor space for indulging in classic peri peri chicken with all your favourite sides.

Azzurro Italian Kitchen & Bar

This all-day Italian restaurant and bar occupies one of the distinctive railway arches that curve out of Waterloo Station next to the charming Paddington Bear mural. The station itself is just across the road while the Southbank Centre’s is two minutes' walk away. For those warm al fresco evenings, there’s a large streetside terrace that wraps itself around the front of the restaurant and stretches down underneath the railway bridge.

The Black Penny

Located between the towering WeWork building and the Jubilee Gardens, this popular café is known for its excellent all-day brunch menus and bounteous salads. It can get super busy inside, although happily enough there’s lots of extra terrace seating that offers a blissfully shady spot to sit outside on the hottest days of the year.

Off-the-beaten-path