Al Fresco à la LoveIOM

TT might be over, but our attitude towards the good life is not! This year, with the return of relative normality to the Island, we are determined to continue to enjoy all the Island has to offer throughout the rest of the summer (which incidentally has only just begun). This means we are dedicating ourselves to eating and drinking (responsibly, as always) outdoors whenever possible (SPF 50 head to toe), so it falls to us to provide a nice comprehensive guide on where to dine al-fresco this summer!

💗 Northern Merchants

Good Stuff & Saffron Fine Dining

OK so, Good Stuff and Saffron doesn’t actually have outdoor seating as such, but they do provide takeaway and they’re perfectly located to grab a meal and head to a picnic bench by the Courthouse or even on the beach!

💗 Southern Merchants

The George

The Heron & Brearley pub in the centre of Castletown boasts some of the best outdoor seating there is. In the suntrap of the square, you can enjoy every meal and a wide variety of drinks, all under the sun with a view of the castle. Who needs a holiday, anyway?

Secret Pizza

Leading the way on the Isle of Man in the indoor/outdoor eating game, Secret Pizza are (not so secretly) a great place to grab a covered pizza under their fairy light awning in the centre of Castletown. Head there for pizza, beer, wine, cocktails and good vibes, as their sign says.

Foraging Vintners

Literally (locally) famous for their outdoor, right on the beach seating, when you think summer nights on the Isle of Man, you think Foraging Vintners. A glass of their fizz (as seen being sprayed all over the likes of Conor Cummins, Michael Dunlop and Peter Hickman on the TT podium), under the afternoon sun whilst the waves roll in the background, we challenge you to find better on the Med.

Bradda Glen Café & Restaurant

Offering views across Port Erin bay with Foraging Vintners in the distance, Bradda Glen has a spectacular decking on which you can dine and drink under the Port Erin sunshine. Now you just have to decide what to eat from their extensive menu – the hardest decision.

💗 Western Merchants

Roots

On the Peel seafront, you’d be remiss not to take your Roots bagel out to one of the several benches adjacent the café. With views out over Peel Castle and the breakwater, and sunshine all day, you can’t not sit out to eat in the Sunshine City when the weather allows.

The Highwayman

Found in New Peel, The Highwayman is another great H&B pub with a lovely outdoor terrace for dining outdoors. Since the sun sets in Peel, you even get more hours of garden time here than you do elsewhere in the Island.

Close Leece Farm

Tucked away in St Johns, Close Leece Farm has a lovely outdoor space with a patio and swings to enjoy between tucking into delicious Manx produce. Far from the main road, the peace and tranquillity is unmatched.

With Love and Hugs

With Love and Hugs are now operating as a mobile afternoon tea service! You simply order with them in advance, and they will bring the whole afternoon tea, china and crockery included, to you! This just leaves you to decide where you want to eat al-fresco. If it were us, we’d be going to the arboretum at St Johns!

💗 Eastern Merchants

The Shed

It goes without saying that The Shed has great outdoor seating. Whether you use their own promenade seats and benches, the public benches, the picnic benches, the grass or the beach, you aren’t short of places to have a Frozzd ice lolly whilst topping up the vitamin D levels under the Laxey sunshine.

La Mona Lisa

Another brand new al fresco offering, La Mona Lisa have opened an all wooden outdoor space where you can eat or have a couple of drinks before coming in for your meal, or indeed after! It’s like a little slice of Italian countryside right in the village.

The Laxey Glen

The Laxey Glen is blessed with being able to takeaway to eat amongst the trees in the Glen, as well as a large outdoor patio with several picnic benches to eat and drink on licensed premises under strings of fairy lights. Wherever you pick, the peace and the fresh air of the glen is the perfect pair to the delicious food.

💗 City Centre Merchants

Cycle360

Perhaps not the first place you’d think when you’re thinking about outdoor eating, but Cycle360 has a lovely little patio that sits just to the right of the building. In the fairly open business park, there’s plenty of opportunity to sun yourself with a Buddha bowl and a coffee after a morning of cycling!

Update! Cycle 360 have massively invested in their outdoor space - check it out on Instagram!

Horse and Plough

H&B have another great outdoor seating offering in the business park. An outdoor patio with children’s play equipment, this is a great pub to soak in the sun with good pub grub after work if you spend the week in a nearby office or live in the nearing estates.

Oris de Master’s Snack Shack

At the Sea Terminal end of the promenade, Oris De Master’s Snack Shack is a great spot to eat outside of a day time. Whether you stay close on the picnic benches, or venture further down the prom or into one of the sunken gardens, the opportunities are plenty!

BrezhVannin Creperie

Recently re-opened, what better way to live out your French fantasies than by grabbing a crepe from the hatch and eating it sat under the midday sun? With sweet and savoury on offer, you’ll be spoilt for choice but at least the decision on where to eat them is easy – straight to the Quay.

Tuck Inn

Again whilst this is a takeaway and there a picnic bench outside, the Tuck Inn is in the centre of town so plenty close enough to lots of great places to enjoy your chippy al fresco. A short stroll from Nobles Park and Douglas Sea Front, whether you’re a beach or a field picnic person, the Tuck Inn is ideally located to suit all.

Freshly Squeezed, Aloha

Freshly Squeezed and Aloha are both city centre takeaways and as such, both are good to grab breakfast or lunch to eat in the sun. Freshly Squeezed is best placed for heading straight to Douglas Prom, whilst Aloha is closer to the Quay.

Henderson & Glass

Another addition to the Douglas outdoor seating offering, H&G have some tables to enjoy their food, cocktails and coffees in the sunshine in the centre of town. This is the perfect spot to rest between shopping or to begin a night out!

Aura Bar and Bistro

Indian food consumed whilst sat out on the sunny Douglas Prom? Yes we like the sound of that. Aura have a small patio in front of their restaurant sectioned off for customers to enjoy their dinner in the open air. You definitely deserve to visit.

The British, JC’s Bar, Vino

We’re not sure we even need to explain the outdoor seating situation of The British, JC’s and Vino. If you’re lucky enough to bag an outdoor table, you get a sun-trapped seat to eat and drink at as the Quay life passes you by. If you don’t grab a table, arguably you get better vibes by milling out across the road (which is pedestrianised for the summer evenings!) where you can follow the evening sun round with your plastic pint. It’s as close to Barcelona as we can get, and there’s no chance of a cancelled flight! Win win.

Oscar’s

With some pavement patio seating available, this is the spot to go if you want a perfectly made margarita (or mocktail version) in the sun in the Isle of Man. With lots of footfall, there’s plenty of people watching and sightseeing to be done, to really live out the main character life.

The Cat with No Tail

H&B really knock it out the park with their outdoor seating at The Cat. Catching the last of the after work sun, the vast numbers of picnic benches are perfect for a drink and dinner with friends sat amongst the rolling hills and in sight of Snaefell. If you’ve got kids in tow, they’ll love the play area too.

The Forge

A little out of Douglas, The Forge has a great outdoor space to enjoy whilst you feast, next to the babbling river, amongst the wildlife and greenery. It might be near the main road, but you wouldn’t know, it feels secluded and special.

Do you know someone who loves the terrace dining lifestyle? Someone who’s always first to get the Instagram shot when you go to eat out or on holiday? Why not gift them a LoveIOM Gift Card to go and enjoy the al-fresco energy in the Island?

You can buy a card here or have a look at where else they can spend here!