THE BEST AL FRESCO SPOTS IN CHELSEA

With hopes still high that the “Spanish Plume” will deliver a heatwave over the summer (or at least warm and sunny conditions over the May Bank Holiday), we can’t wait to start enjoying long, leisurely lunches eaten with the sun on our shoulders and sunglasses on our faces, or to make the most of balmy summer evenings by sipping cocktails en plein air.

So, with high hopes for clement weather ahead, here are the best al fresco restaurants in Chelsea breakfast, lunch, dinner or cocktails – from the laid back to the truly lavish.

Whether it’s a blossom-trimmed cocktail on the terrace outside Gallery Mess at the Saatchi Gallery, an ice cream or a glass of rosé on Pavilion Road or an hours-long lunch at the Ivy Chelsea Garden, we’ll see you out there…

GRANGER & CO.

Bill Granger’s Chelsea restaurant brings Australia’s fresh and innovative approach to dining to Pavilion Road, with treats like yellow fish curry on the menu and secret terrace that we love for afternoon cocktails. Try the Honeydew Bellini – it’s sublime.

237 Pavilion Road, SW1X 0BP

GALLERY MESS

Gallery Mess’s terrace at the Saatchi Gallery has opened for the summer, with plenty of tables overlooking the Square where you can settle in for a Champagne afternoon tea or cocktails adorned with the prettiest spring blooms.

Duke of York’s HQ, King’s Road, SW3 4RY

APRIL’S CAFE

One of our favourite places to stop for lunch, April’s is set on the mezzanine level of the extremely tempting Boutique 1 store, and offers tasty and light options like the cured salmon, beetroot, horseradish and gem salad. Those celebrating a new purchase can enjoy a glass of champagne or an April’s house cocktail.

Boutique 1, 127 Sloane St, SW1X 9AS

HARVEY NICHOLS 5^th FLOOR TERRACE

Take the lift directly to the 5^th floor, or shop your way up, for one of our longest standing al fresco favourites. This month, Casamigos (the tequila brand co-founded by George Clooney and designed for purity to avoid hangovers), is taking over the Fifth Floor Terrace at Harvey Nichols. It will be transformed into a beach bar with summer-inspired sharing plates and tequila cocktails. Try nachos with guacamole, and avocado ice cream alongside a tequila Negroni or Old Fashioned.

109 – 125 Knightsbridge, SW1X 7RJ (enter from Sloane Street for the express lift)

THE TERRACE AT NO. 11 CADOGAN GARDENS

Hands down, one of our favourite places in London. And one of the best kept secrets too. Sink into a chair on the sun-drenched terrace for lunch or stop in for an exceptional afternoon tea. The bar does a pretty mean line of cocktails too – handy for a post-shopping reward.

11 Cadogan Gardens, SW3 2RJ

MANICOMIO

For seasonal and modern Italian cuisine, we adore Manicomio. White table cloths and old fashioned good service make this spot a real treat. Want something a little more relaxed? Next door’s Manicomio Café is a great choice for breakfast, lunch or evening cocktails.

83-85 Duke of York Square, SW3 4LY

COLBERT

Right on the corner of Sloane Square, Colbert pulls off relaxed glamour and consistent quality with its French bistro menu from breakfast through to late dinners. Oh, and it’s ultra convenient for a bite before or after a show at the Royal Court.

50-52 Sloane Square, SW1W 8AX

POLPO

Nibble on Venetian cicheti – small plates – in the heart of the stylish Duke of York Square. Our favourites? Stuffed fried olives or moreish arancini. Something larger? The classic beef and pork meatballs or the crab and chilli linguine are our go-to choices, usually washed down with an Aperol Spritz.

81 Duke of York Square, SW3 4LY

IVY CHELSEA GARDEN

One of the hottest scenes in London come summer, the garden is the place to be seen and one of the nicest spots in the city to spend a sunny afternoon. It’s a tranquil escape from the bustle of the King’s Road, with jeroboams of rosé to offer tempting refreshment.

195 -197 King’s Rd,  SW3 5EQ

PAVILION WINE

There’s just one table outside Pavilion Wine but it’s where in-the-know locals gather on sunny evenings to sample some of the incredible wines on offer by the glass and chat with the store’s knowledgeable wine experts about their latest finds.

255 Pavilion Rd, SW1X 0BP

ICE CREAM UNION

After supplying ice creams to London’s most forward-thinking chefs for the past 12 years, Ice Cream Union opened its first shop on Pavilion Road last August. Drop in for a cone of Honeycomb – a trademark flavour – made with honey from The London Honey Company.

166 Pavilion Rd, SW1X 0AW

THE BOTANIST

This bustling hotspot is open seven days a week for breakfast, lunch, dinner and drinks. It has recently been renovated to gloriously new levels of glamour. But, as pretty as the interior is, we love nabbing a seat outside to watch the world go by.

7 Sloane Square, SW1W 8EE

COMPTOIR LIBANAIS

The Duke of York outpost of the chain of Lebanese restaurants has oodles of outdoor seats and a menu packed with tasty Middle Eastern salads, mezze for sharing and a list of addictive homemade lemonades.

53-54 Duke Of York Square, SW3 4LY