An outdoor terrace? In winter? In the UK? After the trials and tribulations of being forced to eat outside during the pandemic, the thought of shivering through another night on the town might not seem like your idea of fun. But hear us out, because, with plenty of experience now under their belts, London’s top hospitality venues are stepping up to the challenge of creating cosy chalets and heated rooftops that make for a memorable date night or perfect festive spot for dinner with friends. Here’s our guide to the best winter terraces in London for 2024…

Oasis Bar and Terrace, Canary Wharf

Having opened its doors earlier this summer, Oasis Bar and Terrace has already made a name for itself as a chic alfresco haven in the heart of London’s financial district. A popular choice for post-work drinks, date nights, and catch ups with friends, the spacious bar is nestled in Canada Square, offering a serene escape to refresh, refuel and relax. This winter, the space will be transformed into a cosy hideaway, festooned with sparkling lights, Christmas trees and glittering baubles, just moments away from the skating action on the ice rink beyond.

Downstairs, discover an array of draught beers, artisanal cocktails, and wines, served from the 18-metre bar (the longest in Canary Wharf) before venturing upstairs to enjoy a panoramic view of Ice Rink Canary Wharf. Festive menu highlights include luxury s’more hot chocolates, mulled wine glass kettles, and festive plates featuring crunchy Florentines, halloumi and cranberry, Santa’s Sabich pita pockets – brimming with roasted chestnuts with eggplant, tahini and pomegranate – and, of course, plenty of mince pies.

Canada Square Park, E14 5AB, visit myoasisbar.co.uk

The Hari, Belgravia

From 15 November, Belgravia bolthole The Hari will transform its Garden Terrace into a sparkling winter wonderland, complete with decorations by London-based florist Atelier Emmanuel. With frost-touched foliage and traditional yuletide booms, the winter terrace provides a welcome respite from the bustle of Sloane Square and Knightsbridge where festive shoppers can indulge in an array of warming cocktails curated by The Hari Bar team. 

Sheltered from the elements with a retractable glass roof, the terrace also welcomes little ones to stop by the hotel’s postbox to deliver their Christmas wish lists directly to Father Christmas himself. The hotel’s authentic Italian restaurant, Il Pampero, will be offering a range of specially curated festive and children’s menus, showcasing seasonal ingredients with an Italian spin, such as tacchino natalizo, a flavourful turkey roulade with Italian sausage stuffing. Plus, there’s not a Christmas pudding in sight, replaced instead by traditional pandoro and mandarin tiramisu. Bellísimo.

20 Chesham Place, SW1X 8HQ, visit thehari.com

Circe, Waterloo

Circe’s rooftop bar will transform into an Aurora-themed wonderland this winter in partnership with Hotel Chocolat, who will be serving up a delicious chocolate cocktail menu. Expect unique serves including the Salted Caramel Chocottini – an infusion of Amaretto and Hotel Chocolat’s salted caramel liquor – and the Midnight Mocha Martini, a chocolatey take on the traditional espresso martini. The food menu will feature warming dishes such as mozzarella and truffle arancini made with white and portobello mushrooms, sage and onion-crusted succulent chicken strips served with gravy mayo, and the staple of every christmas feast: pigs in blankets with a honey mustard dressing. 

117 Waterloo Road, SE1 8UL, visit circesrooftop.co.uk

Coq d'Argent, Bank

Bank’s favourite French rooftop terrace will be transformed into Lodge d’Argent from 11 November, bringing the charm of après ski to The City. Decked out like a traditional French mountain chalet, complete with furry blankets, expect plenty of sharing plates and hot drinks to keep you warm during your festive merrymaking. Menus take their cues from the French Alps, and include artisanal charcuterie with all the trimmings, wild mushroom tartiflette, and pommes frites with black truffle mayonnaise. 

1 Poultry, EC2R 8EJ, visit coqdargent.co.uk

The Athenaeum Hotel, Piccadilly

Overlooking frosty Green Park, the spacious outdoor terrace at the five-star Athenaeum Hotel invites guests to linger over a festive tipple or two while enjoying enchanting snow window displays depicting the winter adventures of Arthur, the hotel’s cuddly teddy bear mascot. From festive cocktails to design-your-own hot chocolates, the al fresco haven has been furnished with plush cushions and blankets to provide a cosy locale from which to soak up the festive buzz of the city. The boozy hot chocolates steal the show, featuring a range of different flavours and plenty of topping choices, including marshmallows, nuts and candy canes. Think Black Forest – hot chocolate, Glencadam PX, Antica Formula, Cherry Heering finished with cherry cream – and Hazelnutcracker topped with Nutella cream. 

If hot chocolate isn’t your thing, pick from an array of fizzy festive cocktails, such as the Merry in Mayfair – Hayman’s gin, mulled wine reductions, grapefruit cordial topped with Gusbourne Brut – and Sleigh the Day: vodka, Lillet Blanc, Choya Umeshu, pickled plum topped with Gusbourne Rosé. Chin chin. 

116 Piccadilly, W1J 7BJ, visit athenaeumhotel.com

The Alpine Lodge at Vicinity, Tower Bridge

Nestled under Tower Bridge, just outside Vicinity restaurant, the Alpine Lodge is one of London's newest winter bars, perfect for after-work drinks or cosy date nights. Bringing a true taste of après ski to the heart of the capital, the lodge is decked out in faux fur, snow-dusted alpine trees and even a ski lift for that all-important Instagram opportunity. Serving warming winter tipples, such as mulled wine, cider, boozy hot chocolates, and a new menu of indulgent dishes including loaded rosti potato bites, currywurst and alpine cheese, enjoy a true taste of the slopes while savouring unparalleled panoramic views of Tower Bridge.

St Katharine's Way, E1W 1LD, visit vicinitylondon.co.uk

Dalloway Terrace, Bloomsbury

Since opening in 2017, Dalloway Terrace's seasonally-changing terrace has become an Instagram staple, adjoined to The Bloomsbury hotel. The restaurant, named after Bloomsbury local Virginia Woolf’s best-known character, has been transformed into a sparkling winter wonderland with snow-capped fir trees, frosted pinecones, and seasonal foliage in partnership with Italicus Rosolio di Bergamotto.

Drink it all in with expertly crafted cocktails that blend festive flavours, ranging from the refreshing Bergamot Americano combining Italicus Rosolio di Bergamotto with pink gin, Lillet Blanc, and soda water, to the Peperoncino Margarita made for those seeking some spice, featuring tequila, Calabrian chilli peppers, agave and lime. Seasonal fare includes the decadent afternoon tea, as well as warming plates of mushroom and artichoke risotto with winter black truffle, Portland fresh crab linguine, and treacle tart with calvados ice cream and candied pecans.

16-22 Great Russell Street, WC1B 3NN, dallowayterrace.com

Ham Yard Hotel, Soho

This winter, cosy up with hot martinis on the roof terrace at Ham Yard Hotel courtesy of its latest collaboration with Sipsmith. The Winter Gin Garden, situated on a hidden terrace on the fourth floor of the five-star hotel, is normally reserved for guests but will be opening its doors to all from 6 November until Christmas. Each ticket (£24) includes a welcome Milk Punch – a clarified blend of Sipsmith London Dry Gin, ruby Port, lemon and Ham Yard’s bespoke tea – plus another drink of choice from the bespoke cocktail menu, which allows guests to sip through the centuries with gin riffs on all the classics.

Highlights include the 17th century Hot Buttered Gin – a twist on the much-loved hot buttered rum with a Sipsmith gin and berry – and the 21st century-inspired Ginicillin: a warm variation on the Penicillin where peaty whisky is replaced with homemade applewood and smoked lemon drizzle gin. To complement your drinks, pick from an array of hot snacks cooked to order on the terrace's Big Green Egg and wood-fired oven, ranging from cacio e pepe truffle flatbread to toasted s’mores with toffee apple and cinnamon crackers.

1 Ham Yard, W1D 7DT, firmdalehotels.com

Corinthia London, Embankment

Featuring twinkling lights, crackling fireplaces and warming cashmere blankets, Corinthia London's cosy courtyard garden is the place to be this winter. Open now, the hotel’s al fresco restaurant serves an Italian-inspired menu by executive chef André Garret featuring classic raclette, venison ragu rigatoni and warm potato rosti with confit duck, as well as a selection of hot chocolates and warming spiced cocktails.

Whitehall Place, SW1A 2BD, corinthia.com

The Berkeley, Knightsbridge

Feast Off-Piste will land at The Berkeley's rooftop from 14 November until the new year as part of an exclusive collaboration with Feast Events. The immersive dining pop-up will feature an authentic alpine menu to be enjoyed from the comfort of custom-made ski gondolas, including traditional Swiss raclette, tartiflette with freshly shaved truffle, a milk chocolate fondue – with edible candles among the items to dip – and gingerbread s’mores to finish.

With unrivalled views of London’s skyline, diners can toast the festive season with a supplementary winter cocktail menu and champagne by Laurent-Perrier. Cocktails include Black Forest Espresso Martini, Aperol Negroni Sour and Blackberry Margarita – and when you're ready for more, simply press the ‘ring for Champagne’ bell within each gondola.

Wilton Place, SW1X 7RL, the-berkeley.co.uk

The Sipping Room, Canary Wharf

Escape to an enchanting woodland wonderland at The Sipping Room by Drake and Morgan, boasting three heated bookable igloos, exquisite Monkey 47 cocktails and an alpine winter terrace overlooking the water at Canary Wharf. Decorated with evergreen woodland wreaths, the igloos – each with space for 10 seated or 25 standing guests – are the perfect sheltered winter snug in which to dine on festive canapes and seasonal cocktails. Our favourite? The vibrant Tanger-Lini, mixing Monkey 47 Gin with Disaronno, tangerine purée and sparkling wine.

West India Quay, 16 Hertsmere Road, E14 4AX, drakeandmorgan.co.uk

Luca, Clerkenwell

With a magnificent outdoor fireplace, a retractable roof and the option to hire the entire space as a private dining room, the winter terrace at Luca in Clerkenwell is undoubtedly one of the best in the capital. The epitome of shabby chic, with exposed brick walls and a mosaic floor, food by Robert Chambers (formerly of Locanda Locatelli and The Ledbury) is equally stylish. Think upscale Italian classics such as parmesan fries, monkfish crudo and tortelli of delica pumpkin and amaretti with sage and pickled chilli.

88 St John Street, EC1M 4EH, luca.restaurant

The Happenstance, St Paul's

Unwind with an aperitivo or two at the Alpine-inspired Après Garden Terrace at The Happenstance. Created in collaboration with St-Germain, the terrace has been dressed top-to-toe with winter foliage and fairy lights, offering a heated haven for after-work drinks or al fresco dining. Indulge in a selection of cocktails including the Ginger Hugo, with St-Germain, prosecco, ginger ale, cinnamon syrup and mint, or try the Alpine Negroni with St-Germain, JK gin, Campari, chilled mulled wine and walnut bitters. Seasonal dishes to feast on include wild mushroom arancini, 12-hour braised ox cheek and an apple and winter berry crumble.

10 Paternoster Square, EC4M 7DX, drakeandmorgan.co.uk

Read more: The best luxury hotels for a magical Christmas break