The best London drinking spots for avoiding the crowds

The madding crowds are more madding than ever in the heat. Avoid them at these refreshing urban oases.

Petersham Nurseries, Covent Garden

The original Petersham Nurseries is gorgeously bucolic but it’s also in Richmond, so practically in the countryside. Petersham 2.0, however, is an oasis of petal-peppered calm in the middle of the West End. Even better, it is serving cocktails for the first time from its gorgey La Goccia Bar, built from large leaves dipped in molten bronze and layered to create a thicket of foliage. Bar staff uniforms are equally lovely: white and navy shirts designed by Bruta, embroidered with colourful flowers and veg. There are floral, low-ABV and tea cocktails galore, but one you must try has to be a Tempus: a modern Manhattan but better. The bourbon has stayed put but kirsch is used in place of vermouth while sweetness slips in via crème de cacao liqueur. The result is like very good cold brew coffee, all fruity, coffee, chocolatey lushness. Chase with a basket of fritti (deep-fried chicken or anchovy-sage morsels) to prevent inelegant inebriation.

27-31 King Street, WC2E 8JB, petershamnurseries.com

Alto by San Carlo, Oxford Street

Escape the hot, sticky crowds of Oxford Street and jump in the special lift to the fifth floor at Selfridges — you’ll be whizzed to the department store’s rooftop and to a cool glade of trellised flowers, chic Italian nibbles and gorgeous ladies who rosé. Phew. The wine list at Alto by San Carlo is all-Italian, bar the healthy choice of champagne; a bottle of Piedmontese Gavi di Gavi sunk leisurely alongside salty fritto misto topples most other summer-in-London activities. It’s not just crowd-pleasing calamari and Chianti, either — hit the roof deck on 27 June for a delizioso one-off dinner of artichoke rigatoni with anchovy caviar, and prawn, veal and liquorice risotto by Michelin-starred chefs from Milan to Florence and Rome.

Oxford St, W1A 1AB, sancarlo.co.uk

Giant Steps, Hackney Wick

The fave of analogue music buffs, Dalston’s Brilliant Corners has grown up into a big — giant, in fact — canalside space. Giant Steps is a collaboration with the Analogue Foundation; more importantly, it’s got a banging booze playlist. Magnums of natural rosé sit alongside white Negronis and mezcal Margaritas on tap; and barbecued asparagus and lamb chops with labneh are on offer from the likes of Brawn and Morito.

Dace Rd, E3 2NN, giant--steps.com