Secret gardens
Summer is when London’s most extraordinary al fresco hotspots come alive
WORDS | STEPHANIE HIRSCHMILLER
GREENHOUSE EFFECT: Saf
Shoreditch’s brilliant botanical eatery, Saf, has created the UK’s first ever fully sustainable al fresco bar: a greenhouse nestled in the restaurant’s outdoor courtyard. Cocktails are crafted from ingredients grown on the bar itself: “You can’t get much fresher than that,” says mixologist Joe McCanta.
The greenhouse is bursting with an eclectic mix of borage, bergamot, hops and six different types of mint (from pineapple to chocolate). Then there’s Moreland cucumbers, goji berries, Alpine strawberries (tiny and super sweet), English lavender and honey berries (a cross between a blueberry and a grape).
Stars of the cocktail list (£7-£9.50) are the Zen Martini (goji berry-infused vodka, jasmine green tea syrup, yuzu and orange zest) and the quintessentially British Rhubarb Triangle (rhubarb with fresh Alpine strawberries, basil, rum and a drizzle of white balsamic vinegar). Much of the greenhouse’s produce finds its way on to the food menu as well – executive chef Chad Sarno uses ground-breaking food preparation techniques where most dishes are cooked below 48°C.
152-154 Curtain Road, EC2, +44 (0)20 7613 0007, www.safrestaurant.co.uk
FLIGHTS OF FANCY: Harvey Nichols
Harvey Nichols’s Fifth Floor Terrace has just launched its new installation – a martini bar collaboration with Tanqueray No. Ten Gin. Take in views of the rooftops of Knightsbridge while savouring the brand’s quadruple-distilled brew. Order the Evolution of the Martini Cocktail Flight which features three classics served in dinky miniature glasses. There’s the aromatic Martinez with orange bitters and maraschino; the French-style 1903 with zesty orange undertones and then the Perfect Ten with citrus and juniper flavours accentuated by camomile. Drinks will be served at your table from an Art Deco trolley and should you require a little sustenance then executive chef Jonas Karlsson has devised a menu which can be matched to the cocktails.
109-125 Knightsbridge, SW1, +44 (0)20 7235 5000, www.harveynichols.com
WHATEVER THE WEATHER: Caponata
This new Sicilian restaurant in Camden is a real family affair. Sisters Victoria Bumbalo and Charlotte Caird and their husbands have striven to make the venue as eco-friendly as possible with solar-thermal panels for hot water, organic paint, wood-wool ceiling coverings and parquet floors made from timber off-cuts.
The restaurant is linked to adjoining live music venue, the Forge, via a stunning double-height glazed courtyard complete with a living wall. The only one of its kind in the UK, ferns and vibrant Virginia creepers climb 6.5 metres high and the entire module is made from recycled materials.
The wall itself acts as living insulation and can even help filter the air. So rain or shine, diners can check out performances from music to spoken word while enjoying the likes of goat’s cheese-cake on sage biscuit with beetroot coulis; halibut fillet with capers and oysters and dark chocolate cones filled with banana and passion fruit mousse (starters from £7, mains from £13.50, desserts from £5).
3-7 Delancey Street, NW1, +44 (0)20 7387 5959, www.caponatacamden.co.uk
PICTURE PERFECT: The Berkeley
London’s most fashionable new outdoor space has got to be The Berkeley’s summer rooftop cinema. On Friday nights from 10pm, you can experience the hotel’s brand new Midnight Movies, Martinis & Manicures package (£85), in a rooftop courtyard with panoramic views over Hyde Park and lined with tropical palm trees.
You’ll lie back on luxury sun loungers – wrapped in cashmere blankets from Mulberry should you get the summer chills – and watch screenings of super-chic fashion documentaries from The September Issue to Valentino: The Last Emperor.
Manicurists from the hotel’s spa will be on hand to apply Chanel’s new summer polishes while mixologists from the Blue Bar downstairs will shake you up a signature martini. Homemade popcorn and tubs of ice cream complete your viewing pleasure.
Wilton Place, SW1, +44 (0)20 7235 6000, www.theberkeley.co.uk
CHAMPERS & SMOKES: The Langham
After it’s massive £80 million restoration, the Langham’s notable addition to its summer scene is a pop-up cigar terrace. Set within the venue’s brand new exterior courtyard off Portland Place, it’s an oasis of tranquillity but just a stone’s throw from Oxford Circus.
There are raised beds and planters, replete with the box hedges, bay trees and seasonal blooms of a classic English garden, setting the scene for the humidor’s wide selection of cigars and a Laurent-Perrier champagne bar. And if you’re stuck on which Cohiba to order with your Cuvée, a team of dedicated sommeliers will be happy to advise. Champagne from £15 a glass; cigars from £2 for a Cohiba Club to £35.90 for the Siglo V1 Tobos.
1c Portland Place, Regent Street, W1, +44 (0) 20 7636 1000, www.london.langhamhotels.co.uk
PARK LIFE: Inn the Park
Oliver Peyton’s Inn the Park café in St James’s Park is designed by Hopkins Architects – the team behind Glyndebourne Opera House. Nestled on the edge of the lake, the grass-topped building blends seamlessly into the landscape and the façade of Austrian larch, sourced from sustainably managed forests, has been left untreated to weather over time.
The turf-covered roof garden itself is a perfect extension of the park and forms a superb vantage point. While taking in the views of Duck Island and all the way to the London Eye, park-goers can enjoy delicious cocktails (£7-£8.50) such as a Ginger & Lemongrass Mule (infused lemongrass vodka, lime juice and ginger beer) or a Cucumber & Mint Martini (gin with mint and cucumber, organic apple juice and a hint of lemon).
St James’s Park, SW1, +44 (0)20 7451 9999, www.innthepark.com
