Food served on a wooden outdoor table in the city Food served on a wooden outdoor table in the city

The best outdoor restaurants in Soho

Daniel Sheppard, Content Writer UK, Thatsup Daniel Sheppard, Content Writer UK, Thatsup
Daniel Sheppard

Being one of London's most bustling and vibrant areas, Soho is a fab place to people-watch, and it's also a bit of a culinary hotspot. In the area, you'll find plenty of restaurants with outdoor seating that are great for watching the world go by whilst you indulge in a tasty meal. If you're interested in outdoor dining in the heart of the city, we've got some great suggestions. This is our guide to the best outdoor restaurants in Soho.

  1. Outdoor restaurants in Soho
    1. 1
      Aqua Kyoto Outdoor terrace in Soho with epic views
    2. 2
      Ham Yard Restaurant Relax in the heated courtyard
    3. 3
      Ember Yard Great for people watching
    4. 4
      Pastaio Pasta al fresco
    5. 5
      Prix Fixe Brasserie Ideal for a pre-theatre meal outdoors
    6. 6
      Dishoom Food worth queuing for
    7. 7
      Ugly Dumpling Original dumplings
    8. 8
      Tapas Brindisa Small Spanish dishes
    9. 9
      Aqua Nueva Spanish food and London skyline
    10. 10
      The Ivy Stylish all-day dining
    11. 11
      Yasmin Welcoming rooftop restaurant in Soho
    12. 12
      Kolamba Authentic food from Sri Lanka
    13. 13
      Bistro1 Mediterranean set menus
    14. 14
      Mother Mash Hearty comfort food
    15. 15
      Kapara Middle Eastern debauchery
    16. 16
      Bao Bao street party
    17. 17
      Dehesa Soho's largest heated corner terrace
    18. 18
      Govinda's Long-standing vegetarian restaurant
    19. 19
      40 Dean Street A Soho mainstay with outdoor seating
    20. 20
      Daroco Suspend time on a pleasant Soho terrace

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Outdoor restaurants in Soho

Aqua Kyoto – Outdoor dining in Soho
Aqua Kyoto
Aqua Kyoto – Outdoor dining in Soho
Aqua Kyoto
Aqua Kyoto – Outdoor dining in Soho
Aqua Kyoto
Aqua Kyoto – Outdoor dining in Soho
Aqua Kyoto
Aqua Kyoto – Outdoor dining in Soho
Aqua Kyoto
Aqua Kyoto – Outdoor dining in Soho
Aqua Kyoto
Aqua Kyoto – Outdoor dining in Soho
Aqua Kyoto
Aqua Kyoto – Outdoor dining in Soho
Aqua Kyoto

Aqua Kyoto

Outdoor terrace in Soho with epic views

Slick and stylish Aqua Kyoto specialises in high-end Japanese cuisine in an ultra-modern setting. As well as the luxury interior, there's an outdoor terrace with fab views. A broad range of menus are available featuring elevated dishes like sushi and sashimi, wagyu beef, and tempura. Cocktails and wine are served and you can visit just for drinks.

Ham Yard Restaurant & Bar – Outdoor dining in Soho
Ham Yard Restaurant & Bar
Ham Yard Restaurant & Bar – Outdoor dining in Soho
Ham Yard Restaurant & Bar
Ham Yard Restaurant & Bar – Outdoor dining in Soho
Ham Yard Restaurant & Bar
Ham Yard Restaurant & Bar – Outdoor dining in Soho
Ham Yard Restaurant & Bar
Ham Yard Restaurant & Bar – Outdoor dining in Soho
Ham Yard Restaurant & Bar
Ham Yard Restaurant & Bar – Outdoor dining in Soho
Ham Yard Restaurant & Bar
Ham Yard Restaurant & Bar – Outdoor dining in Soho
Ham Yard Restaurant & Bar
Ham Yard Restaurant & Bar – Outdoor dining in Soho
Ham Yard Restaurant & Bar
Ham Yard Restaurant & Bar – Outdoor dining in Soho
Ham Yard Restaurant & Bar
Ham Yard Restaurant & Bar – Outdoor dining in Soho
Ham Yard Restaurant & Bar

Ham Yard Restaurant

Relax in the heated courtyard

With interiors by acclaimed British designer Kit Kemp, Ham Yard Restaurant & Bar is a great pick for design fans. In addition to the eclectic interiors, there's a spacious heated courtyard for eating outside. Food is all about fresh seasonal ingredients and British produce. Dishes are served all day, including breakfast and afternoon tea, with a full range of drinks, including cocktails, to go along as well.

Ember Yard – Outdoor dining in Soho
Ember Yard
Ember Yard – Outdoor dining in Soho
Ember Yard
Ember Yard – Outdoor dining in Soho
Ember Yard
Ember Yard – Outdoor dining in Soho
Ember Yard
Ember Yard – Outdoor dining in Soho
Ember Yard
Ember Yard – Outdoor dining in Soho
Ember Yard
Ember Yard – Outdoor dining in Soho
Ember Yard
Ember Yard – Outdoor dining in Soho
Ember Yard

Ember Yard

Great for people watching

Ember Yard specialises in grilling over flames, with Spanish and Italian influences on the menu. The interior is moody, modern, and romantic, and there are also some outdoor tables under the restaurant's canopy where you can sit and watch the Soho crowds go by. A curated selection of small and large plates to share, like croquettes and grilled octopus, are on the menu. Set menus are available for bigger groups.

Pastaio – Outdoor dining in Soho
Pastaio
Pastaio – Outdoor dining in Soho
Pastaio
Pastaio – Outdoor dining in Soho
Pastaio
Pastaio – Outdoor dining in Soho
Pastaio
Pastaio – Outdoor dining in Soho
Pastaio
Pastaio – Outdoor dining in Soho
Pastaio
Pastaio – Outdoor dining in Soho
Pastaio
Pastaio – Outdoor dining in Soho
Pastaio
Pastaio – Outdoor dining in Soho
Pastaio
Pastaio – Outdoor dining in Soho
Pastaio

Pastaio

Pasta al fresco

Pastaio strives to give diners the best plate of pasta they've ever had. The interior is modern with bold colours and there are also outdoor tables on the bustling Soho street. Start your meal with fresh focaccia or antipasti like burrata before moving on to a generous plate of pasta with sauces like carbonara or artichoke and lemon. Prosecco slushies are served here too.

Prix Fixe Brasserie – Outdoor dining in Soho
Prix Fixe Brasserie
Prix Fixe Brasserie – Outdoor dining in Soho
Prix Fixe Brasserie
Prix Fixe Brasserie – Outdoor dining in Soho
Prix Fixe Brasserie
Prix Fixe Brasserie – Outdoor dining in Soho
Prix Fixe Brasserie
Prix Fixe Brasserie – Outdoor dining in Soho
Prix Fixe Brasserie
Prix Fixe Brasserie – Outdoor dining in Soho
Prix Fixe Brasserie
Prix Fixe Brasserie – Outdoor dining in Soho
Prix Fixe Brasserie
Prix Fixe Brasserie – Outdoor dining in Soho
Prix Fixe Brasserie

Prix Fixe Brasserie

Ideal for a pre-theatre meal outdoors

Charming French restaurant Prix Fixe Brasserie has a focus on set menus, although à la carte dishes are available too. It's a particularly popular spot for pre-theatre dining. The candlelit interior with live piano music is cosy and pavement tables are also available outside. Expect classic French dishes paired with an international wine list.

Dishoom

Food worth queuing for

Some of London's most in-demand Indian cooking comes from Dishoom. There are numerous locations around the capital but the Carnaby branch has a sleek interior as well as some outdoor tables. You'll typically encounter a queue for tables, but once you're in, you'll be rewarded with tasty Indian classics, including breakfast dishes.

Ugly Dumpling

Original dumplings

Vibrant restaurant Ugly Dumpling specialises in dumplings but not with the kind of fillings you might expect. This creative spot cooks up dumplings with fillings like cheeseburger, Thai green curry, or taco fillings. There's a bright colour scheme both inside and out and the pavement tables are great for watching the world go by.

Tapas Brindisa

Small Spanish dishes

Sample Spanish small plates at Tapas Brindisa. The Soho restaurant has a clean and contemporary look as well as covered tables for outdoor dining. You'll find a wide variety of classic tapas dishes on the menu from small bites like Padron peppers or marinated anchovies to meat and cheese platters. Pre-theatre dining is available here too.

Aqua Nueva

Spanish food and London skyline

Enjoy an al fresco Spanish meal at Aqua Nueva. Sit outside on one of the roof terraces and you'll get fab views of the skyline too. This modern Soho restaurant is relaxed and style-conscious. Various menus are available, including brunch and pre-theatre meals. Expect tempting small plates and croquettes designed for sharing.

The Ivy

Stylish all-day dining

Head to The Ivy Brasserie in Soho for casual all-day dining with a contemporary menu packed with global influences. The interior is bold and stylish, but there's also relaxed seating on the outdoor terrace. Menu options include the likes of shepherd's pie, monkfish and prawn curry, and linguine. There's also a lavish private dining space here.

Yasmin

Welcoming rooftop restaurant in Soho

Once a private members' club eatery, Yasmin Ever After is now a public dining destination under the esteemed chef Tom Cenci, inspired by his time in Istanbul. Patrons can enjoy a variety of Middle Eastern-inspired snacks and sharing dishes, including sesame smoked duck with black za'atar and grilled corn salad, and lamb rump skewers with coal-roasted aubergine, yogurt, and smoked oil, all complemented by signature cocktails. The rooftop location boasts ample outdoor seating and an inviting indoor dining space.

Kolamba

Authentic food from Sri Lanka

Discover the cuisine of Sri Lanka at Kolamba. This bustling restaurant serves authentic food in a relaxed setting with exposed bricks, low lighting, and lots of plant life. There's a pavement terrace for outdoor dining too. Brunch is served at weekends and the menu features dishes like aromatic curries, battered cuttlefish, and traditional dhal.

Bistro1

Mediterranean set menus

Bistro1 serves eclectic Mediterranean dishes. The cosy interior is decorated with colourful traditional lanterns, and there are also outdoor tables on the pavement. Set menus are offered for lunch and dinner, as well as burgers and meat from the grill. This place is particularly popular for lunch and pre-theatre dining, with choices like pasta and moussaka.

Mother Mash

Hearty comfort food

Head to vibrant restaurant Mother Mash when you're craving comfort food. The Soho restaurant's exterior is bright green and there's a classic interior as well as pavement tables for al fresco meals. It's all about pie or sausages and mash here. Take your pick from nine types of mash, a variety of pies and sausages, and hot gravy to drench it all in.

Kapara

Middle Eastern debauchery

Former Le Cordon Bleu and Ottolenghi chef Eran Tibi brings a “dirty Tel Aviv fantasy” to Soho with Kapara. The all-day and all-night restaurant features an al fresco terrace, subterranean private dining and a debaucherous soundtrack. Showcasing the chef's skills through a seductive menu of Israeli dishes and drinks, Kapara promises a vibrant space for indulgent dining and drinking.

Bao

Bao street party

Nestled in the heart of Soho, the original Bao has been collecting Michelin Bib Gourmand accolades for years. After-work crowds flock to this hotspot, eager to savour Taiwanese-inspired small plates like beef cheek and tendon nuggets, alongside the legendary steamed milk buns that have made Bao a household name across the city. In warm weather, this is an outdoor Soho restaurant in the truest sense of the word, with hungry patrons not just sitting at the tables, but grabbing a bun to go and hanging out on the street.

Dehesa

Soho's largest heated corner terrace

Dehesa serves cuisine inspired by Spain and Italy. Not only is the food here ideal for sunny days, but the Soho restaurant's pavement tables are great for al fresco dining. There's a sleek contemporary interior as well. Enjoy seasonal small plates made for sharing, all prepared with artisan ingredients. Wines and signature cocktails are on offer too.

Govinda's

Long-standing vegetarian restaurant

Govinda's opened in 1979, making it one of London's oldest vegetarian eateries. This bustling restaurant has links to the Hare Krishna movement and focuses on nutritious and delicious food that's free from cruelty. It's a popular place that often gets busy, but there are indoor and outdoor tables to accommodate the crowds. Meat-free Indian and European dishes are served.

40 Dean Street

A Soho mainstay with outdoor seating

A beloved fixture in Soho for nearly 20 years, 40 Dean Street is practically synonymous with quality Italian cuisine. This family-run gem boasts a warmly decorated, intimate dining space alongside a charming pavement seating area, creating a welcoming setting for an authentic Italian feast. From freshly made pasta and risottos to wood-fired pizzas, guests can savour every bite while sipping on timeless cocktails like a Negroni or Aperol Spritz.

Daroco

Suspend time on a pleasant Soho terrace

Daroco, a lively and renowned Parisian establishment, brings its authentic Italian flavours to Soho in a stylish and refined setting. The London outpost draws inspiration from the Renaissance, blending marble, brass, and wood to create a grand dining space beneath its distinctive mirrored ceiling. The outdoor terrace is equally inviting, however. Guests can enjoy Italian classics like handmade pasta and wood-fired pizzas.

Outdoor dining in Soho – About the guide

The best outdoor restaurants in Soho - Our guide to the best outdoor restaurants in Soho is updated regularly. If you know of a great restaurant with outdoor seating in Soho that we haven't featured in our guide, feel free to get in touch. Please let us know if you see any mistakes in our guide to outdoor dining in Soho. Have you visited any of the places mentioned in the guide? Don't forget to write a review on Thatsup.

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