The best Canary Wharf terraces to enjoy this summer

It’s the ultimate spot for al fresco dining in the city

Home to London’s largest collection of outdoor public art, more than 120 stores, luxury buildings to live and work in, and an eclectic events programme, Canary Wharf has become a vibrant lifestyle destination. The arrival of some of the city’s biggest restaurant names, like Hawksmoor, Dishoom, ROKA and Blacklock, has established the neighbourhood as one of London’s foodie hotspots too.

A unique mix of water and greenery – 20 acres of landscaped parks, gardens and squares, including the impressive Eden Dock, Crossrail Place Roof Garden, and the Green Flag Award-winning Jubilee Park – in the area make Canary Wharf one of the best places to enjoy al fresco dining and soak up the best of summer.

Given its Docklands location, Canary Wharf is blessed with a lot of waterside space, and many restaurants have taken full advantage of that by opening terraces that overlook the water. At Wood Wharf, you can enjoy Bombay-inspired dishes from Dishoom, plant-based world cuisine from mallow and a taste of the West Coast at Feels Like June. Not content with facing the water at Wood Wharf, Hawksmoor and Marceline sit on floating pavilions that are actually on the water. And just down on South Dock is Roe, the sustainable modern European restaurant from the Fallow team, with room for hundreds of covers inside and even more on its expansive riverside terrace.

Crossrail Place Roof Garden is one of the largest of its kind in London, and at either end of the impressive space, you’ll find Big Easy and Pergola on the Wharf overlooking North Dock. If you’re tucking into racks of ribs and fresh lobsters at the former, you won’t fail to spot the giant hook-a-duck bobbing around outside the Fairgame terrace – it’s the perfect place to celebrate (or commiserate) after a few rounds of games inside the funfair. And if you’re sipping on some waterside wine at Humble Grape or enjoying gelato at Barbarella, you might also spot some open water swimmers in Eden Dock.

ROKA, Ivy in the Park, Boisdale of Canary Wharf and Caravan might not boast waterside locations but they do offer up Japanese fireside cooking, Art Deco elegance, whisky cocktails and global flavours with views of Canada Square Park, the fountains of Cabot Square, and the people in Reuters Plaza. So not only is there a restaurant for every occasion in Canary Wharf, there’s a terrace too.

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