Plateau
There are two terraces at Plateau, adjacent to the main restaurant and the bar and grill. They come into their own in summer especially the one where the barbecue is in full swing with a hearty menu of steaks, lobsters, spicy burgers, king prawns and marinated chicken. Open for both lunch and dinner, depending on the weather of course. A great place for private parties, or to watch the major sports events, when you can snack on canapés with a barbie theme. Canada Place, Canary Wharf, London E14, 020 7715 7100
Addendum
This is a gem tucked away from the throb of City central. The light, airy bar has additional seating for 20 on the pavement outside facing a pretty garden square and the mighty Willis building. There are funky jazz nights on Thursdays in June and July, 6.30 - 8.30pm and a very good menu of bar food (not the old predictables). The real gastro experience is the main restaurant where chef Darren Thomas conjurs up superb fine dining with a hint of the unpredictable. (Zander with nettle risotto, cocks combs and broad beans anyone?) 1 Seething Lane, London EC3, 020 7977 9500
Le Pont de la Tour
The plutocrats' favourite goes green this month with a five-course Summer Garden menu focused on seasonal vegetables. Head Chef James Walker, a keen amateur gardener, has teamed up with the RHS "Grown Your Own Veg" campaign. He aims to give his favourite garden produce a starring role instead of just a walk-on part. Bag a table outside for the full fresh-air experience. Butler's Wharf, 36 Shad Thames, London SE1, 020 7403 8403
Mews
Less than a year old but already a favourite with the Mayfair crowd, this four-storey restaurant, cocktail bar and lounge has colonised the cobbled courtyard for summer lunches in the sunshine. Go for terrific, ambitious cooking, traditional Sunday roasts, and an astonishing Champagne list including Salon 1996 and Jeroboams of Krug and Cristal. From 25 June - 8 July, Mews enters into the spirit of Wimbledon with wall-to-wall astroturf, line markings, tennis nets and cute staff in Lacoste outfits. 10-11 Lancashire Court, New Bond Street, London W1, 020 7518 9388
Babylon
A south-facing terrace high above London looking onto an English woodland garden complete with ducks and flamingos, great cocktails and the delicious sizzle of outdoor charcoal-fired barbecues - it could only be Babylon restaurant at the Roof Gardens. This summer, in addition to the main menu and the shellfish bar, the barbecue menu will be available for lunch Monday - Friday and for dinner Monday - Thursday. 7th Floor, 99 Kensington High Street, London W8, 020 7368 3993
Summer Alfresco Bar and Food
Spurred on by success with the winter ice rink, the Natural History Museum has opened a summer-long alfresco restaurant and bar on the lawns outside the main entrance. It's much smarter than the family-orientated area within the museum, and likely to attract a cool crowd. There is a raised floor of wooden decking, removable side panels for hot days, and large parasols. Drop in for lunch, tea and dinner or for easy plates of grazing food and drinks. All wines available by the glass and there are chic cocktails with premium spirits like the Brazilian Sagatiba cachaça. It is open from 12noon - 10pm Monday to Saturday and from 12noon - 6pm on Sunday. You can make reservations for dinner on 020 7942 3938. Cromwell Road, London SW7.
Green's
Regulars at the toffs' favourite, Green's Restaurant and Oyster Bar, won't go without their favourite food in the summer season. An excellent selection of picnics and hampers can be collected from the restaurant or delivered anywhere in London. There are formal picnics with bone china, linen napkins and crystal glasses, but individually packaged picnics in waxed card boxes and cool bags are very popular and disposable. Choose jumbo prawns, free range chicken, quails eggs, whole lobster, smoked salmon with soda bread or traditional bangers with mustard. Ideal for all outdoor events especially Test Matches, race meetings and Wimbledon. 36 Duke Street, St James's, London SW1, 0207 820 3576 www.greensevents.co.uk
Four Seasons
Lucky guests at the Four Seasons hotel in Park Lane can book a personal picnic hamper via room service and turn an excursion into a feast. What better way to enjoy landmark fixtures of the English Season than with smoked salmon, roast beef, strawberries and Champagne rustled up by a great chef? It's worth checking in just for the opportunity. Hamilton Place, London W1, 020 7499 0888
Harrods
Superior picnics are available from Harrods this summer with a wide range of dishes like chicken in lemon grass and coriander with oriental noodles or duck and apricot en croute. Everything is provided from cutlery and wine glasses to water, bread and butter and Harrods Chardonnay or Claret. The great outdoors made easy. 020 7730 1234
Theo Randall
New kid on the block Theo Randall takes advantage of his prime spot on Park Lane to launch Picnic in the Park. Wicker hampers are filled with delicious Italian specialities like poached langoustine with Sicilian lemons, seared beef with Parmesan, aged Balsamic and pine nuts, or apricot and almond tart. There are picnics for couples, families or groups. Children have their own Dick Whittington-inspired picnic wrapped in a red and white handkerchief and tied to the end of a stick ready for hiking to the nearest park. 020 7318 8747
Fresh air dominates the menu this month. Al fresco dining, summer food and picnics on one side, the imminent smoking ban on the other. No prizes for guessing the winner.
Put it out...
Thursday 28 June. Controversial journalist and broadcaster Andrew Neil hosts The Last Smoke dinner at the Four Seasons hotel in Mayfair to mourn the imminent smoking ban. This cigar and whisky extravaganza with fine cooking from head chef Bernhard Mayer costs £135 a head. 020 7499 0888
The legendary Cigarette Girl at Quaglino's will disappear from 1st July. No more cheeky short skirts and old world glamour. The current, and last Cigarette Girl is Elizabeth Masnerova from the Czech Republic who is studying here for a degree in jazz. Catch her while you can. Iconic Q-shaped ashtrays, designed by Terence Conran, can have a new life as salt and pepper pots. 16 Bury Street, London SW1, 020 7930 6767
Wednesday 27 June. Cigars, fine wines and a menu fit for Tory grandees at the Up in Smoke black tie dinner at Wiltons. £180 per person. 55 Jermyn Street, London SW1, 020 7629 9955
Tuesday 26 June. Thumbing its nose at the smoking ban, and taking advantage of an open air roof terrace, Orrery is hosting an evening of fine Havana cigars. Experts including Simon Chase of Hunters and Frankau will be on hand to educate the novice and reassure the committed cigar smoker that the end of the world is not nigh. 55 Marylebone High Street, London W1, 020 7616 8036
