London is bracing for another wave of summer heat, and food lovers are being spoilt for choice when it comes to cooling down in style. From refreshing Asian-inspired salads and functional wellness smoothies to free soft-serve giveaways and breezy terrace dining, some of the city’s most exciting venues are serving up the ultimate heatwave escape.
Here’s your guide to the best spots across London (and beyond) to eat, drink and chill this summer.
Cooling Asian-Inspired Salads at HUŌ and ULI
If you’re looking for something light, fresh and full of flavour, both HUŌ Belsize Village and ULI Notting Hill are serving up a summer-ready selection of vibrant Asian salads designed for hot-weather dining.
The menu includes standout dishes such as Miso Aubergine, Noodle & Cucumber Salad, the ever-popular Bang Bang Salad (available with chicken or tofu), Duck Salad with watermelon and cashew nuts, and Spicy Soft-Shell Crab Salad.
These dishes are available across HUŌ’s Chelsea and Belsize Village sites, as well as ULI’s Notting Hill and Marylebone restaurants, both known for their clean, modern approach to pan-Asian cuisine.
Free Soft Serve Giveaway in Shoreditch with eddys x The After School Cookie Club
Sweet tooths are in luck this summer as sustainable edible spoon brand eddys teams up with cult bakery The After School Cookie Club for a limited-time giveaway.
On Thursday 18 June from 4:30pm, the first 75 visitors will receive free soft serve at the Shoreditch bakery, served using eddys’ edible spoons—designed to be eaten after your dessert. Early arrivals will also be treated to exclusive merch including tote bags.
It’s a one-day-only event and expected to draw crowds thanks to its sustainability twist and summer-perfect timing.
Functional Smoothies & Coffee Slush at Okja Liverpool Street
The new Okja bakery is fast becoming one of the city’s most talked-about wellness-focused food spots.
Alongside plant-based pastries, Okja has launched a range of “functional smoothies” designed to support everything from skin health to mental clarity. Highlights include Glass Skin, Brain Food, Golden Hour, and Gut Feeling blends.
Their summer drinks menu also features Maple Cereal Matcha, Hojichai (a modern hojicha twist), and the signature Coffee Slush—ideal for a cooling caffeine hit during peak heat.
Terrace Dining at Bintang Kentish Town
London’s oldest Filipino restaurant, Bintang Restaurant, has launched a new summer terrace just in time for the warm weather.
Known for its fusion of Filipino and wider Southeast Asian flavours, the menu includes calamansi chilli wings, pork belly bites, beef sisig, oxtail kare kare and oak smoked chicken inasal.
Guests can also enjoy signature cocktails like the Clarified Ube Colada and Pandan Old Fashioned while soaking up the sunshine. Bintang also offers London’s first Filipino brunch, featuring dishes such as Ube French Toast and Tocino burgers.
Seafront Cocktails & Rooftop Views at Pearly Cow
For those heading further afield, Pearly Cow offers some of the most scenic summer drinking spots in the UK, with venues in Brighton and Margate.
In Brighton, guests can enjoy cocktails on the terrace overlooking the iconic West Pier, with DJ sets running on Friday evenings and signature serves like the Boozy Cow—a Wagyu beef fat-washed bourbon cocktail.
Meanwhile in Margate, the rooftop bar overlooks the golden coastline, with drinks such as the Seaside Martini, Sage Soirée, and refreshing alcohol-free options like Rhubarb & Jasmine Soda.
Both venues also offer the “Two Tides” happy hour with 50% off cocktails during selected times.
Noble Inns’ Outdoor Gardens & Beer Terraces in Islington
North London’s Noble Inns has reopened its popular outdoor spaces across three of its most loved venues.
At Bistro Sable in N1, a newly opened garden space offers a relaxed dining experience perfect for long summer lunches. Nearby, The Pig and Butcher’s terrace is ideal for a sunny pint, while The Albion boasts one of Islington’s largest beer gardens, complete with French windows opening onto a 450-square-metre English country-style garden.
It’s a classic London summer setup—sunshine, long drinks and laid-back hospitality.
Why London Dining is Built for Summer Right Now
From wellness-led menus and Asian fusion salads to rooftop cocktails and seaside terraces, London’s hospitality scene is leaning heavily into outdoor living this season.
Whether you’re staying central or heading to the coast, these venues offer plenty of ways to stay cool while enjoying some of the city’s most creative food and drink offerings.
