Lido Cafe

With its sage-green decor, imposing pillared facade & stunning views of the perennially pretty Serpentine, Lido Café is simply too good for tourists alone. Despite its contemporary interior, there’s a feel of the past about the place – thanks in part to sepia prints of swimmers dotted along the walls & ever-present views of the Serpentine bridge. Most of the action takes place on the large waterside terrace, where dog-walking locals, city dwellers & polyglot foreigners stop off for a well-deserved G&T, a cuppa & piece of cake, or something more substantial – perhaps slow-cooked chicken with chorizo & butterbean stew, veggie pizzette or cod & chips with tartare sauce. The homemade house sundaes are not to be missed either – try the lemon-meringue version on a hot summer’s day.