3 al fresco eats to have on your radar
The weather gods finally treated us to a taste of warm weather over the weekend.
Summer hits different in London, and there’s nowhere I’d rather be than washing down something tomato/asparagus/watermelon-based with an aperol spritz on a roof terrace.
Today feels like a slightly sad return to reality. But here’s hoping this is just an interlude to what we all desperately need: a long, hot summer.
Until then, these are some of my favourite outdoor spots to bookmark for when the sun graces us with its presence once again…
TT Rooftop

Can’t get a reservation at Forza Wine? Look no further than TT Rooftop.
Newly reopened, this multi-floored space is perfect for al fresco dinners. The head chef is ex-Oren, so you know the food’s going to be good. The menu is a pretty classic small plates affair and you can’t really go wrong with anything on it.
The focaccia is a must order (mainly because it’s basically the size of a loaf of bread). The hummus is some of the silkiest I’ve ever had and goes perfectly with salty baby cucumbers. The barbecued chicken thighs transport you to Greece for a hot minute and the seabass crudo is bound to hit the spot on a scorching day.
After dinner, head down to the cellar bar for a cocktail, or choose a drink from their ground floor shop where they occasionally host whiskey tastings and cocktail masterclasses.
Snackbar

Nestled between a nail salon and a charity head office on a not-so-charming strip of Dalston, you’d probably walk straight past Snackbar. If it weren’t for the bright yellow exterior, that is.
Inside is a lovely little cafe with seating out the back for summer brunching. There’s only a handful of tables in what feels like someone’s back garden, but if you time it right, you’re in for a treat.
If you’re there for breakfast, get the Lox plate (Papo’s Bagels’ everything bagel with smoked salmon, chive cream cheese, tomato, pickled beetroot + caperberries). Their lunch menu kicks off at 12pm, when you should order the kimchi croque madame, caesar salad (easy on the lettuce, heavy on the parmesan) or the jalapeño and cheddar cornbread – or all three.
And if you can’t get a seat outside, sitting at the window counter inside makes for some excellent people watching over some dill pickle hash browns and a frozen marg.
Allotment Kitchen

Come Saturday lunchtime in July, when you want to feel as far away from inner city London as possible, this is the place to be.
The Allotment Kitchen has brought farm-to-fork food to the doorstep of Stepney City Farm. Odds are it’ll be pretty busy any day when it’s not raining, but there are plenty of tables amongst the foliage to choose from. Grab one and join the queue at the till to order your food.
The menu changes regularly but it’s one of those places where you’ll probably want everything on the list. Expect things like flatbread with bavette steak and wild garlic mayo, butternut squash beans on sourdough, spring panzanella salad with Wye valley asparagus, and gnocchi with cavolo nero pesto.
If you’re still hungry after lunch, pick up a homemade cake from the counter inside to graze on while you explore the farm and the farmer’s market next door.
Plus, they’ve restarted AK Lates just in time for summer. Tuck into a locally sourced feast alongside wine and seasonal cocktails while the sun sets. Book via the link in their instagram.
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