Brunch is like Marmite. Except that nobody seems to offer Marmite for brunch, which is weird. The point is: if you love brunch, then this guide is an easy sell. But if you don’t, then it may be a little harder. That’s where the sun comes in. It’s hot, it’s beautiful, and it’s making you look at soft-boiled eggs in a whole new way. How could you not want to eat brunch outside? Especially at the 14 spots below.
the spots

If you’re looking for a spacious front terrace and a menu that ranges from pancakes to pizza, then Caravan’s King’s Cross branch is a solid choice. The outside space is big, with some great tables for group, but it is competitive, thanks to views across Granary Square and the enormous something-for-everyone menu.
The garden at Juliets “looks like a Moroccan courtyard that demands at least four glasses of sparkling wine” and yes, we are quoting ourselves now. The Tooting café is not your average brunch spot. There are flatbreads, cheese-covered hash browns, and a cannily named and cannily delicious ‘hungover sauce’.
Snackbar’s SnackMuffin consists of a pork sausage patty, American cheese, a fried egg, and brown sauce. Sounds familiar, right? Add this McJoy to the Dalston café’s very cute patio space, and you’ve got the makings of an excellent outdoor brunch.
Granger & Co.
Avo toast! A picturesque west London road! Handfuls of coriander, everywhere! You can find it all at the Chelsea location of Granger & Co, the Australian all-day café, and there’s a solid amount of tables and chairs out front.
On our mental list of ‘very nice and tasty Australian all-day cafés’, Brunswick East is very close to the top. The semi-hidden courtyard in Dalston has a buzzy atmosphere on most weekends, especially a sunny day, and their menu ranges from eggs etc, to okonomiyaki. Call ahead to book, especially if there are a few of you.

Vardo is a Grand Designs-looking all-day restaurant from the same people as Caravan. The enormous open windows look out onto the King’s Road and there are tables outside too. Menu-wise it’s very tempting: sourdough pizzas, pork schnitzel, burnt-broccoli grain bowls, and more.
Another roomy spot on Granary Square, the King’s Cross location of Dishoom has a handful of seats out front on their ‘terrace’. You’ll have to be organised to guarantee an outside table, but those logistics are all worthwhile when you’ve got a bacon and egg naan in front of you.

Jolene’s anzac cookies - an oat, golden syrup, and coconut shavings mix of sweet wonder - are the most recent thing we’ve enjoyed sitting on the benches outside this Newington Green bakery, wine bar, and the Modern House-worthy restaurant. There are toasties, pastries, and plates too, but it is a bench, not table, situation.

For a while it felt like being in the queue for Circolo was just as worthy of look-at-me content as being in the glitzy OTT trattoria itself. We’re not sure that’s the case now, but if you really want to make someone or other jealous, then you want to bag a table in their garden area for brunch. Throw some baked eggs, a pizza, and something boozy into shot, and you’ve got a winner.

No, eating Hand’s feta-topped shakshuka on one of their many picnic benches will not suddenly transfer you to the Med. But considering you’re in Stratford, not Santorini, you’ll be pleasantly surprised by how lively and neighbourhood-y this new-build bit of east London feels.

In the all-important balance of aesthetics and quality that every brunch-goer is concerned about, Campania firmly ticks both boxes. The cosy Italian spot on Columbia Road has a dozen or so artfully rickety tables out front, perfect for enjoying poached eggs and sweet tomato salads on toast. Be warned, it’s a competitive scene.
If you’re looking for a low-key, two-to-four person brunch catch up, then Farm Girl’s Notting Hill back garden is a fine choice. The menu is full of lighter options, like salads, acai bowls or sandwiches too, so if you’re not looking for anything too heavy, it’s good for that too.