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The best places to eat outside in Paddington Central

Dining by the Regent’s Canal

Soak up a few rays and see your friends for food & drinks at Paddington Central. 

Plan your night out some of London’s safest outdoor spots for cocktails, sharing plates, wine and good food… 

 

1. Cocktails and good food on the terrace at Smith’s Bar and Grill

25 Sheldon Square, London W2 6E

Smith’s Bar and Grill has always been the perfect place to catch up with friends outdoors with a year-round terrace that basks in sunshine and overlooks Regent’s Canal; it’s also just a few minutes’ walk from Paddington Station. Book for food or drinks (their buy-one-get-one-free cocktail menu features £10 seasonal classics and runs from 5.30-7.30pm every day) and enjoy a menu that features European delights cooked well (truffle tagliatelle, beer battered haddock fillet, tartare sauce and chips, crispy pork belly served with baby spinach, radish, tomato, red onion and lime dressing). 

Book a table at Smith’s Bar and Grill.

What visitors say: “Relaxed but vibrant, Smith’s Bar and Grill is a place for just about any occasion, providing friendly service and attractive surroundings with a modern but still traditional feel, welcoming young and old, friends, family and colleagues alike.” Square Meal

 

2. Meet for drinks at Vagabond Wines

6a Sheldon Square, London W2 6EZ

Reopening from Thursday 15th April, book a table at Vagabond Wines’ new outdoor area overlooking the canal. Grab a table outside and the team will be on hand to help you explore over 120 wines from their insider’s list from around the world plus an excellent selection of craft beers. With a small-but-perfectly formed menu which changes according to what’s in season their sharing roast hanger steak for two is served medium with parsnip crisps, roasted shallots, rocket with either blue cheese dressing, chimichurri or straight up while they also offer delicious plates of Bresaola, Oak Smoked Beef Rump, Westcombe cheddar and Truffle Mushroom and Mozzarella Arancini. Reservations are essential so put your name down pronto. 

Book a table at Vagabond Wines.

What visitors say: “Visited with a friend – brilliant concept based on a top up card… We also ordered some food: beetroot hummus, tataki beef, arancini and truffles for dessert. The food was delicious.” Trip Advisor

 

3. Enjoy brunch at Beany Green

6C Sheldon Square, London W2 6EZ

With safe spaced outdoor seating, Beany Green is the spot to gather much-missed friends and catch up over brunch. With specialist coffee, fresh juices and smoothies, the famous banana bread sandwich with mascarpone, berries and flaked almonds, bottomless prosecco or mimosas, smashed avocado on sourdough and sweetcorn fritters, this is a slice of Aussie sunshine slap bang next to Little Venice. 

Book a table at Beany Green.

What visitors say: “Absolutely delicious! Had the corn fritters and they were amazing! Great coffee also! Awesome friendly service and great atmosphere – this place has it all!” Google Reviews

4. Celebrate the weekend at The Union Paddington

4 Sheldon Square, London W2 6EZ

They’re back! One of the friendliest welcomes you can find at Paddington Central, great drinks and an outdoor area means you can kick back and relax enjoying the arrival of spring. They’ve also got a fantastic menu of carefully and sustainably sourced food including burgers with summer salads and slow-cooked chicken tacos, small plates of Italian hummus and matbutcha salad plus cask ales, classic gins and cocktails and a delicious wine list. Book your table now and embrace some warmer weather. 

Book a table at The Union Bar

What visitors say: “I really like the atmosphere of this place. Food was good and service, top notch (always smiling). Happy to be back.” Google Reviews

 

5. Float on the water at Darcie & May Green

Grand Union Canal, Sheldon Square, Paddington Central, W2 6DS

Stepping out of Paddington tube and seeing the welcome sight of Sir Peter Blake’s colourful designs on the Darcie & May Green barges cannot fail to raise anyone’s spirits. And from 12th April they’ll be opening up the rooftop so you can enjoy dining on the canal itself. They’ll be serving fancy bacon rolls (poached eggs, crispy onions, back bacon, holy f*ck 13.8 hollandaise, chilli on a paratha roti) or halloumi fries with pomegranate mint yogurt along with beer, cocktails and a huge welcome. It’s good to have them back. 

Book a table at Darcie & May Green

What visitors say: “Off the brunch menu, the baked aubergine fritters (which were crispy and deep-fried) with kimchi ketchup, poached eggs, avocado and corn salsa were delicious, as was the shakshuka: spicy tomatoes, creamy labneh and two beautifully wobbly eggs in a skillet. Even the desperately trendy ‘charcoal bread’ it came with turned out to be great, its smokiness adding a whole other dimension. Later, a slice of moist, delicious banana bread came topped with berries, mascarpone and a drizzle of super-sweet honey, and the coffee was flawless.” Time Out

 

6. Grab pizza outdoors at Zizzi

17 Sheldon Square, Paddington Central, W2 6EP

With a colourful outdoors area in the sun and menus that’ll cover your Italian cravings, bambini, vegans and vegetarians, Zizzi is the perfect stop for fun meals out. With antipasti, pasta, pizzas and salads plus sharing boards of delicious oven-baked chicken and pepper skewers, moreish spicy mozzarella and pea arancini, prawn zucchini bites and Zizzi’s delightful ‘little soul’ breads, we’ve missed this place a lot. 

Book a table at Zizzi

What visitors say: “Very polite staff. The food was fantastic, freshly made pasta della casa, very tasty pizza made with fresh ingredients. Very nice place.” Google Reviews

 

7. Grilled cheese from The Cheese Barge

Grand Union Canal

Open for the best-grilled cheese in London, this street food is an unmissable stop off for gooey, moreish British cheese served in pressed sourdough. Buy some freshly prepared creations then head to the amphitheatre in Sheldon Square to peoplewatch and enjoy your lunch alfresco. 

What visitors say: “The three-strong team was the image of efficiency as the orders came thick and fast – supply somehow always kept up with demand and boy were these boys in demand. We went for the goat’s cheese with honey, walnuts and rosemary butter – a sweet and savoury melt-in-the-mouth sensation with the rich flavours tripping over each other brilliantly in the mouth and squidging deliciously out between the toast – and the Cropwell Bishop stilton with bacon and pear chutney. This one was salty with a real bite from the blue, added meatiness from the pig and a little sugar to round it all off.

 

8. Catch some rays and good vibes at Huckster Sun Terrace

4 Kingdom St, W2 6BD

Huckster are ready to welcome spring and summer. With a new outdoor terrace designed to bring happiness, drinks, Sunday roasts and brunches to brilliant soundtracks, visit their calendar to find the perfect celebration to suit you and your friends. They’re doing everything from three-hour Aperol and endless wings slots to Divas-only night brunches featuring bottomless Pina Colada, RockGirl tunes and food including Sweet BBQ Chicken n’ waffles, Chicken Burger with fries, Cheeseburger with fries, Vegan Moving Mountains Burger with sweet potato fries or Chicken Salad with Salted Caramel Cheesecake or Chocolate Fudge Brownie served with ice-cream. Yum.

Book a table at Huckster

What visitors say: “Loved the 90s RnB brunch at Huckster, bottomless rum punch, a GREAT DJ and a two course meal. The staff were very friendly and super attentive which helped us make the most of bottomless! Will definitely be back to try another one of the brunches.” Google Reviews

 

9. Pergola is open for business

4 Kingdom St, London W2 6PY

Huge, delicious and with food ordered via your phone, this is one of the safest and most welcoming outdoor spots in London that’ll transplant you to a holiday backdrop – no flights required. With street food provided by talented chefs and well-stocked bars, this is the day/night out you’ve been dreaming of. (They’ll be holding a few tables back for walk-ins so even if you can’t book for your perfect date, arrive early and they’ll try to find you some space.)

Book a table at Pergola

What visitors say: “The venue brings the energy of south beach to London with its Miami themed décor, cocktails, music and a general good-feel vibe. There is an array of delicious cocktails on offer which are definitely worth a try (strongly recommend the ‘Italian 75’), after a few you will actually feel like you’re on holiday.” On In London

10. Fresh British seafood from The Grand Duchess on the canal

W2, Sheldon Square, London W2 6DL

The Grand Duchess deck is open so you can enjoy outdoor dining in pure style. Offering British fish served daily with a well-thought-out sparkling wine list, this is the perfect place for special occasions and to catch-up with much-missed friends and family. The majority of their fish comes from Kernowsashimi & Wild Harbour who represent a network of Cornish day boat fishermen and they also offer an a la carte menu with a nod to British classics such as English Asparagus, Goat’s Curd, Almonds, Mint and Lemon Dressing. We are there. 

Book a table at The Grand Duchess

What visitors say: “We visited as part of a London restaurant staycation in September and couldn’t have been happier. On arrival the boat wasn’t very busy so we had a perfect seat for two overlooking the canal – you can’t get better than that. Our server was super friendly and was happy to recommend dishes. We started with two Kingston black aperitif cocktails with some oysters and their home made soda bread with anchovy butter. So moreish! Then we chose an excellent bottle of Riesling to accompany the mains which are on a changing menu (I love these because you know on your next visit you get to try something different). The monkfish with chicken butter was out of this world! Mopped up with the home made chips… Just faultless. And then the seafood tortellini was delicate and perfectly cooked. For dessert the sticky toffee pudding was an obvious choice and one of the best I have had. The venue, the service, the location and of course the food were sublime and worth the £150 bill for two. Would love to return once we are able to do so.”

 

11. Peruvian-Japanese fusion on Ayllu’s terrace

25 Sheldon Square, Paddington Central, W2 6EY

Open for booking now, Ayllu’s heated terrace overlooks the canal and is the perfect escape from the hustle and bustle of London. The menu is full of classic Peruvian fusion dishes and begins with small plates such as guacamoles and pork bao buns while larger plates include Pan Fried Butterfish (smoked butterfish, cauliflower puree, quinoa, bacon, leek, burned apple puree and kiwi) and Beef Bao Buns (slow-cooked beef shin with teriyaki sauce, onion, coriander, basil, mint and aji roccoto mayo). And don’t forget the cocktail menu which is full of elegant delight.

Book a table at Ayllu. 

What visitors say: “This is the most delicious peruvian and Japanese fusion I have had in London. Food can’t be faulted! Service was very welcoming.” Square Meal

 

Last updated Wednesday 4 October, 2023