London’s hottest places to eat out this summer

This classic French venue updates its menu regularly and serves only seasonal ingredients. With four locations across London, you won’t have to miss out on this fresh and flirty menu. Start your day off right with brunch and cool off with a smoothie or shake. Grab a charcuterie and chill in this unfussy yet classy environment with a colleague, family member or friend. And definitely keep an eye out for those specials – Monday through Thursday – taking you from cured beef to lobster in just five days. Whatever your plans for this place are, book a table to try it out and you’ll be back. We definitely were.

Ringing in the summer season at this leafy oasis just makes sense. With its main location in East Dulwich and pioneered by Melissa Harwood, lover of all fresh ingredients, Spinach focuses on freshness. With its light and airy aesthetic, and hints of greenery, it feels like the perfect summer garden. Book the private room or dine outside to get Spinach’s full effect. Spinach keeps it fresh and exciting with revolving menus, each dish offering its own veggie-based quality ingredients. Bookings are highly recommended.

Canary Wharf really comes into its own when the sunshine arrives, with a summer calendar chock-full of food and drink pop-ups, and arts and culture performances, as well as big screens that show all the exciting sporting events. While you are rather spoilt for choice by the area in terms of eateries, one of the most popular spots for lunch or dinner when the temperature rises has to be Oysteria. Here, you can indulge in the freshest seafood that will transport you straight to the shores of the Med. We recommend pairing your plate with a crisp white wine or champagne and nabbing a spot on the terrace for ultimate summer vibes.

Love beer, bees and Bermondsey? Make your way to Hiver Taproom for a bit of it all. Hiver uses honey from local beekeepers so we can enjoy the crisp, fresh flavour of its beers while saving the bees! The subtle aroma of the honey makes Hiver’s beers the perfect way to kick off your sweet summer. Escape the heat within the industrial style interiors or grab a cold one and enjoy the sun just outside. The open concept of this fun and stylish venue makes it a perfect place to enjoy the weather with some friends and maybe get chatting and meet some new ones.

With its array of colourful and ornamental lamps and sumptuous upholstery, Balham’s Tagine feels like stepping into one of Morocco’s atmospheric lounges. The menu features all the delights that you tend to crave in such a warm climate too, from mezes and salads that you can graze, to a selection of tagines that are sure to awaken your taste buds. All the flavours of the cuisine can be balanced with one of the restaurant’s cooling concoctions, including the Mint Sahara — fresh mint shaken with lemon juice and topped with soda — and the Idjassa, which consists of fresh pear puree and kiwi shaken with apple juice and a dash of orange blossom.

It’s no wonder that tacos are a staple in one of the world’s warmest locations — they’re tasty, can be eaten in just a few bites using your hands, and they usually come accompanied by an ice-cold margarita… Breddos in Clerkenwell is so revered that the guys behind it have taken their recipes all around the world, and have even opened a second outpost in Oslo. The menu is inspired by traditional taquerias that they visited while travelling in America and Mexico but is created using the best British produce for the best result possible. In addition to these signature tacos, you’ll find impressive mains such as aged onglet with grilled spring onions, jalapeno and guacamole, as well as a generous selection of tequila and mezcal cocktails.

This rustic neighbourhood eatery in Crouch End is just the spot to make you feel like you’re on holiday in a gorgeous Italian village for a few hours. There are large windows to let the sunlight flow through and even an upstairs terrace complete with tumbling foliage. The sharing menu revolves around seasonal dishes from all over Italy, so you’ll always find something delicious that you recognise, from a bruschetta or octopus salad to start, to a traditional ragu or fragrant pesto for the main event. There’s also a refreshing selection of cocktails, including classic spritzes and a house negroni that’s a must try.