Welcome to DLUXE’s guide to the best food and drink on offer in Coventry, produced by food writer and blogger Eat with Ellen in conjunction with Visit Coventry. This month’s focus is on outdoor dining, giving you all the al fresco options in and around the city.
Summer is here, and with it the promise of sunshine, al fresco lunches, warm evenings, long cocktails and crisp, cold beers. While the past year has brought many negatives, one positive is the addition of so many bars, restaurants and cafes with great outdoor space, giving more options than ever when it comes to drinks or dining outside, even if the sun fails to shine.
Whether it’s a long, lazy lunch outside, or a quick coffee in the sunshine, Coventry really does have something for everyone. Whether it’s a breakfast or burgers, cocktails or a Caribbean feast, you can find something to suit any taste or budget and still enjoy it in the open air. In the city centre, you can enjoy a Brazilian meal courtesy of Las Iguanas, while Bella Italia and Pizza Express will give you an al fresco fix of your favourite Italian flavours.
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The Slug & Lettuce is offering a special outdoor menu complete with small plates, as well as a bottomless brunch. If you’re after a bit of a celebration, and The GD on Medieval Spon Street offers everything from brilliant burgers to stunning Sunday roasts.
For flavours from around the world, get a taste of the Caribbean courtesy of Leave it to Esmie at FarGo Village or tuck into authentic Korean barbecue food outside at Jinseon Korean BBQ Restaurant & Bar. And don’t forget Turtle Bay, which launches this August.
For drinks on the terrace, Cathedral Lanes in the heart of the city centre is home to The Botanist and the Cosy Club, both with outdoor terraces to enjoy a tipple or two.
Also in the city centre, Wetherspoon pub, The Spon Gate has plenty of outdoor seating to accommodate drinkers, while brand new bar Dhillon’s Spire Bar – the creation of popular local brewery Dhillons – is already proving a hit at its home in the Christchurch Spire on New Union Street, offering great beers in a historical landmark with the option to enjoy drinks in its courtyard. Another new open air spot is the rooftop terrace, Generators Bar, at the recently-opened Telegraph Hotel, where you can enjoy cocktails and drinks teamed with tapas overlooking the cityscape.
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For special occasions Gourmet Food Kitchen offers an al fresco supper club in FarGo Village where you can enjoy a fine dining menu in the open air. Another fine dining option just outside the city centre is Earlsdon Supper Club, where you can enjoy tasting menus of unique dishes – many of which are made with ingredients grown or foraged by chef Tobias himself. For a sweet-toothed special occasion, Coombe Abbey just outside the city is the perfect place for afternoon tea or lunch on the terrace in its beautiful grounds.
If you’re after something more casual, Coventry has plenty of street food options, with more on the horizon for this summer. A brand new 340-seat space dubbed ‘Factory’ is set to open at FarGo Village, bringing together street food traders and offering a new roof terrace and covered canopy.
Also at FarGo Village, Twisted Barrel Brewery & Tap House offers open air tables to enjoy some of their own beer as well as wines, spirits, ciders, soft drinks and bar snacks. For street food in another great setting, Coventry Dining Club is back showcasing some of the Midlands’ best traders in the stunning setting of Cathedral Square. Slightly out of the city centre Good Food Cartel serves up authentic Mexican food at the Hearsall Inn to enjoy with drinks outside.
If it’s an open air party you’re after, head to Tiki bar Samoan Joes with its very own cocktail garden, while Coventry’s award winning LGBT+ venue The Yard also has outdoor seating and plenty of entertainment as well as drinks, karaoke, games nights and more.
All this is just the tip of the iceberg. Coventry’s dining scene has never been better, and that includes plenty of outdoor opportunities. So strap in and get ready for a summer of fun!
