September can bring some lovely late-summer sunshine, making it the perfect excuse to squeeze in a few more weeks of al fresco dining in London before autumn properly arrives.
If a final European escape isn’t on the cards, London does a pretty good job of bringing the holiday to you. From Italian-inspired terraces and Greek feasts to Spanish paella by the river, a celebration of South East Asian food and culture, and plenty of French Champagne, you can indulge with delights from around the world this month without leaving the city. Here are our choices for making the most of these final al fresco days.
Sale e Pepe Terrazza
Sale e Pepe Terrazza has transformed one of central London’s oldest private courtyards into an Italian Riviera-inspired garden, and the largest al fresco terrace restaurant in the West End. Food comes in the form of Southern Italian sharing plates, including calamari, truffle arancini, zucchini fritti and plenty of pizza. At the heart of it all is a St-Germain bar pouring spritzes alongside Negronis, spicy watermelon margaritas and some excellent European wines. If you didn’t make it to Italy this summer, then it’s worth a pit stop here for lunch.
Clio
For a taste of Greece without leaving Marylebone, Clio’s restaurant, opened in spring 2026, has a secluded terrace on Chiltern Street. Head chef Louis Korovilas’ menu leans into the best bits of Greek hospitality and is very much designed for sharing. Start with sea bass crudo or mazara red prawn saganaki, before ordering plates of grilled octopus, monkfish kebab or Cornish lamb shoulder for the table. The drinks list also continues the Mediterranean theme, with Greek wines and cocktails including a Greek Negroni and mastiha espresso martini.
Cicoria by Angela Hartnett
For another Italian spot, but with a little more of the evening buzz of Covent Garden, head up to the fifth floor of the Royal Ballet and Opera. Here, Angela Hartnett’s Cicoria has a rooftop terrace, making it a great spot for an early evening dinner while the area comes alive below you. Its set menu is also particularly good value at £29 for two courses or £35 for three, with dishes including buffalo mozzarella with braised flat beans and mint, roasted plaice with capers and lemon, and fennel and lemon risotto. Finish with vanilla soft serve and strawberries as the sun goes down.
Tower House Restaurant & Bar
Tower House in Richmond is home to a sprawling 100-seat riverside garden, making it an idyllic spot to soak up the last of the summer sunshine. The tiered terrace is filled with greenery, from grape vines winding their way up pergolas to lantern-lit trees and seasonal flowers, all overlooking the Thames. From Nick House and executive chef Theo Hill – the team behind Notting Hill’s Gold – the menu centres around the open-fire kitchen, with seasonal vegetables alongside dishes such as Iberico pork chop and chargrilled squid.
Sam’s Riverside
Another reason to head west: Sam’s Riverside has one of Hammersmith’s loveliest positions, with its terrace sitting right on the Thames and looking across to Hammersmith Bridge. The restaurant has also partnered with Pommery, meaning the views can be enjoyed with a delicious glass of champagne. Food-wise, Sam’s brasserie menu ranges from oysters to parmesan churros and crab toast, risotto primavera and pan-fried sea bass. Order a bottle of bubbles, settle in and make the most of those last summer rays by the river.
CelebrASIA at Battersea
London’s largest free South East Asian festival, CelebrASIA, returns from 11–13 September, bringing more than 40 restaurants and food traders to Power Station Park. Returning favourites include Eat Lah and Old Chang Kee, while this year’s newcomers include Ro Vietnamese and Bija Coffee, alongside one-off collaborations such as MamaPen x From the Ashes BBQ, and Mandy Yin x Chick ’n’ Sours. Food is only part of it: expect live music and dance, cooking classes, an artisan market, talks and plenty more across the three days.
Theo’s on the Terrace
Overlooking the Royal Parks, Theo Randall’s terrace brings a taste of the Italian Riviera to Park Lane. Colourful awnings are inspired by Sicilian majolica tiles, while food is served on ceramics sourced from Vietri on the Amalfi Coast. The menu continues the Italian theme, with wild mushroom arancini and bruschetta, followed by grilled yellowfin tuna, seafood tagliatelle and freshly churned gelato. Add an Italian spritz or Della Vite cocktail and it’s a lovely spot to make the most of the September sun.
Rosewood London
Another hidden courtyard worth discovering before summer disappears is at Rosewood London. This year, the hotel has teamed up with cult London pizzeria Dinner for One Hundred to turn the space into a European-inspired piazza, complete with an outdoor bar and Gozney Dome oven. Their signature pizzas including the MacGyver with Spanish chorizo and whipped feta, sit alongside Mediterranean dishes from Holborn Dining Room such as burrata with grilled peach and lobster linguine. Perfect for lunch or aperitivo hour, order a Pick Me Up Slushie in the form of a frozen espresso martini to finish.
SUSHISAMBA Covent Garden
SUSHISAMBA’s Covent Garden piazza has turned bright yellow this summer for the Veuve Clicquot Sun Club. Inspired by the champagne house’s signature colour, it’s a suitably sunny setting for squeezing every last drop out of summer. A limited-edition cocktail list includes the Jasmine Whisper and Samba Soleil, while SUSHISAMBA’s signature taquitos come with crispy yellowtail, lobster or tuna and can be paired with Veuve Clicquot. Grab a table outside, order a glass of champagne and enjoy the bustle of the piazza around you.
Pippin’s at Templeton Garden
Pippin’s at Templeton Garden is one of Earl’s Court’s loveliest spots for a late-summer lunch, with a terrace overlooking the hotel’s secluded garden. The seasonal menu focuses on British produce, with dishes including Carlingford oysters and heritage beetroot. On Fridays and Saturdays, the Secret Garden afternoon tea takes inspiration – and some ingredients – directly from the garden, with seasonal savouries and sweets, plus the option to add a glass of Nyetimber. Borrow a picnic blanket and find a spot on the lawn.
Brindisa: Paella at the Power Station
For a taste of Spain this September, Brindisa Tapas Battersea is serving Paella at the Power Station every weekend until 27 September. Just one pan is cooked each day and served from 1pm until it’s gone, with weekends alternating between traditional Paella Valenciana, filled with chicken, rabbit, green beans and saffron, and their seafood Arroz Meloso with Argentinian red prawns. Portions cost £16 and are best enjoyed on the Thames-side terrace with Spanish wine, sherry or vermouth.
TOZI Pizzeria & Cicchetti Bar
Staying in Battersea, TOZI Pizzeria & Cicchetti Bar has a large terrace that looks directly onto the Power Station. Their menu is built for sharing: grilled king prawns with vegan ‘nduja and seared tuna with blood orange, followed by pizzas including lobster with roast datterini tomatoes or a very indulgent four-cheese number. Malfy Gin provides the drinks, while live music every Thursday gives you an excuse to make an evening of it.
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Sarah Jackson is a dining contributor at Citizen Femme. A Londonophile, she has previously lived in Dubai and Copenhagen, building her career in international communications. When not discovering the capital’s hottest new restaurants and bars, she loves to jet off for a European city break, always with the next meal in mind.
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