Best Beer Gardens In King's Cross

What more could you want than canal-side views paired with scrumptious BBQ food? This is exactly what you'll find at Rotunda, the modern restaurant offering an AstroTurf-laden beer garden in which you can devour fresh, seasonal food with a focus on gate-to-plate dining. Browse the award-winning wine list and pick your tipple, then begin with pulled Texel lamb and feta croquettes, before moving on to large plates of smoked aubergine with harissa and pearl couscous drizzled in cashew and turmeric cream. 

What better place to sit back and relax with an ice-cold brew than in the garden of Babel Beerhouse? People-watch by finding a seat outside in your own wooden booth, surrounded by ribbons of golden lights, then sink your teeth into burgers topped with smoked cheddar cheese and house slaw, pizzas featuring BBQ pulled pork and dirty waffle fries, loaded with bacon and sour cream. Aside from Citrus Session IPAs and Portobello Pavement Press Cider, you can also sip on classic cocktails like a Tommy's margarita. 

The Lighterman is a contemporary, all-day pub sat in Granary Square alongside the canal, featuring three pretty floors and wrap-around terraces. It's the perfect spot to meet friends and soak up the sun, either looking out over the canal up high or nestled beside it under parasols, surrounded by greenery. Expect to devour British plates such as pea and broad bean risotto, Cornish hake and chips, plus seared yellowfin tuna salad, all while sipping on biodynamic wines, because when it comes to beer gardens, this King's Cross menu is certainly one of the best.

Campfire is part of the Two Tribes Brewery experience that is more than just your regular taproom. It offers an outdoor space with a unique beer garden that's a suntrap during the warmer months and able to be covered up and turned into a cosy hideaway during the winter. At its core is a firepit, perfect for gathering around and enjoying ales and lagers made at their brewery only moments away. Menu-wise, you can look forward to food from Taco Collective and tuck into two Mexican-inspired eats for £9, or three for £12.

On the prowl for an outdoor pub in King's Cross? This stunning Spanish haunt comes out on top. Camino is visually stunning, with a hollow, domed ceiling letting in natural light, featuring wooden panelling and dangling foliage. The spacious courtyard is equally as picturesque and tranquil - with winding vines of fairy lights, wooden seating and heaters, it's a lovely spot to gather with friends and tuck into tapas, like free-range Ibérico ham, artisan cheese, tortilla de patatas and prawns cooked in extra virgin olive oil, garlic, chilli and white wine. Wash everything down with a sangrita, or a La Copa Roja Vermouth, served on the rocks with an olive and slice of orange. 

A Victorian pub with rich coloured walls and an authentic gothic bar, lit by globe pendants, The Racketeer is a real gem of a bar that's got the Dickensian vibe perfected down to a T. If you wander through its quirky interior, you'll find a secret garden out back, featuring pretty white patio chairs and lots of lush greenery. Who could resist drinking some house cocktails in such a charming setting? Whether it's the Pod Pea vodka-based Green Door or the pear-flavoured Pick Pocket that takes your fancy, pull up a seat and settle down for the afternoon.

Ascend to The Fellow's beer garden to enjoy a craft beer with your friends; both heated and covered, it makes for a great hideaway anytime throughout the year. It fronts colourful art and leafy foliage, as well as plenty of tables to gather around to enjoy some seasonal food. Leave room for fish finger baguettes, tempura cauliflower bites and sriracha-glazed chicken wings, followed by classic cocktails, like an Aperol spritz.

The Somers Town Coffee House is a unique little pub located on Chalton Street. It's decked out with wooden tables and a bookcase, behind which exists a collection of themed dining and meeting spaces. Downstairs is where a cosy cocktail den takes over, but outside beckons revellers to take a seat street-side in its garden, under a pinstripe parasol and beside potted plants, to bask in fresh air and ice-cold sips such as red wines and craft beers. Food is served from 8am, and includes delicious British classics, such as sausages and mash served with beer onions and gravy. 

One of the best King's Cross beer gardens has to be Drake and Morgan's offering. Outside you'll find rows of patio seats and floral decor opposite trees and sky-scrapper buildings. Visit for a midday bite to eat with work colleagues or an evening meal with friends - whatever the occasion, this pretty restaurant can cater to it with its expansive menu (think burnt-end pork bites and tomato and mozzarella arancini), alongside elegant cocktails. From the Pinkster gin-based Summer Cup Collins to the Pacific Margarita, there's something for everyone (including lots of sun, hopefully). 

When it comes to cosy outdoor terraces in King's Cross, Granary Square Brasserie is a winner, offering an all-day dining feast alongside elegant interiors for workers in the city and students alike. Its patio overlooks the fountains of the square, and far out across the canal up to Coal Drops Yard. Take a seat on one of the cushioned chairs, under a navy blue parasol, and tuck into international plates, like salt and pepper squid or chargrilled halloumi with mixed grains, and wash it down with an IPA or its signature martini, featuring Aker English dry aperitif, lemon and pickles.