The Art Of Luxury’s Top Summer Terrace Dining Spots

Now the sun is finally showing signs of appearing it’s time to hit the terraces for a crisp Rosé, G&T or cocktail and soak in some much needed vitamin D! See here a selection of our best options for 2019 and one slightly rogue choice at the end should the rain clouds put in an appearance again….

California Terrace at M Victoria

M Restaurants has brought the sun-soaked, beach lined shores of California to the heart of Victoria this summer! The terrace has been decked out with palm trees and surfboards and they are serving chilled Californian wine straight from the rolling hills of Napa valley under sky blue parasols. The summer terrace is available for al fresco dining, relaxing with drinks or group bookings, perfect for a relaxing weekend in the sun with friends or after work drinks. Available at the terrace is the Taste of California menu to accompany the very best in Californian wines from El Dorado, Santa Barbara, all the way to Sonoma and to the vines of Los Carneros and the world-famous Napa Valley. M have carefully selected some of the best dishes from the menu to not only complement but enhance the selected wines. These include a fresh Avocado escabeche with fennel, pink grapefruit and yuzu caviar, Butter-poached mullet with honey nut squash, mustard emulsion and shellfish oil and to finish, Poached nectarine with almond, coconut yogurt and lavender.

Acqua di Parma Terrace at Sartoria

Throughout June and July, Sartoria’s elegant Libare Bar and Terrace has been transformed into a summer retreat with the help of Italian luxury fragrance brand, Acqua di Parma. The space has been decorated with orange trees and fragrant candles from the Acqua di Parma Blu Mediterraneo Home Collection for a heady combination that conjures the spirit of the Mediterranean in the heart of Mayfair and provides the perfect backdrop for enjoying Sartoria’s Blu Mediterraneo inspired cocktails and cicchetti from chef patron, Francesco Mazzei. He has carefully crafted an Acqua di Parma menu of three cicchetti and three aromatic cocktails, each inspired by an individual fragrance from the Blu Mediterraneo line.

The Bergamotto di Calabria scent is realised in an aromatic and zesty cocktail that mixes Italicus bergamot liqueur with Sipsmith Gin, refreshing cucumber water, lemon and mint. Arancia di Capri sees Solerno blood orange liqueur combined with lavender and vanilla infused Aperol and topped with Prosecco. Lastly, inspired by the Chinotto di Liguria fragrance, the bittersweet Ligurian Negroni completes the cocktail trio and mixes rosemary infused Averna with Campari, topped with a dash of chinotto tonic water and garnished with a heady combination of dried orange and rosemary. Cicchetti to pair includes Polpette di vitello ed erbe fini (veal and fine herb meatballs), inspired by the key notes of basil and Italian lemon in Acqua di Parma’s Mirto di Panarea scent. Meanwhile, ‘Nduja roast scallops with fig compote highlight the sweet, spicy notes of fig and pink pepper in the Fico di Amalfi fragrance, and a summery vegetarian offering of Avocado tartare with flaked almonds, pays homage to Mandorlo di Sicilia and Sicily’s abundance of fresh green almonds.

The Courtyard at The Stafford London

One of London’s best kept al fresco secrets has got to be the beautiful Courtyard hidden at the back of The Stafford Hotel. Sheltered from the hustle and bustle of Mayfair and St James’s, The Courtyard is located through the Hotel’s historic American Bar. The perfect spot to relax in the sun after work, there is an extensive list of fine wines chosen by longstanding master sommelier, Gino Nardella. Alternatively, The American Bar is renowned for their cocktails, be that an expertly mixed classic gin martini or a more creative serve from their newly launched cocktail list – The American Dream. To eat, Culinary Director Ben Tish has crafted a short menu of small plates and nibbles inspired by the flavours of the Mediterranean and North Africa. When the weather permits, he will also be firing up the Big Green Egg and serving up a selection of seasonal BBQ dishes. Sample plates include English asparagus with romesco sauce, Grilled ribeye steak with chermoula and crispy onions, or a Spice roasted cauliflower with sheep’s cheese salad, honey walnuts and radish.

Siren at The Goring

Technically not a terrace granted, however newly launched Siren at The Goring certainly brings the outdoors in. Perfect for unpredictable British summer nights, guests can admire the gorgeous greenery and herb garden at The Goring without fear of getting rained on. Designed by the inimitable Russell Sage, the main restaurant space of Siren is a large glass sunroom tucked around the back of the Belgravia hotel, offering panoramic views of the peaceful garden. With chef Nathan Outlaw at the helm, the menu is a celebration of the Cornish coast, offering simple seafood dishes such as Lobster and asparagus tart, Fisherman’s squid and scampi stew and a Gooseberry pavlova with custard ice cream.

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