Diners' Choice: Great for outdoor dining restaurants in Essex

OpenTable

Updated June 05, 2025

Looking for the best restaurants that are great for outdoor dining in Essex? You’re in the right place. Each month, OpenTable analyzes nearly 2 million global diner reviews from the past four months. We sort the results by location and category to help you discover new favorite restaurants. It's a great partnership: you reserve, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!

Lot Bar & Restaurant

4.8

4.8 (1461)

£26 to £40

Contemporary European

Brentwood

About the restaurant

Lot Bar and Restaurant is a family run business offering freshly prepared food from 8am until 10pm daily. Whether you are looking for an informal breakfast or light lunch with friends or a 3 course celebration dinner in the evening or simply a drink in the bar after work, we have the best to offer locally.
We at Lot Bar and Restaurant take pride the quality of our ingredients, the high standard of presentation and excellent service. A seasonally changing breakfast and lunch menu offers everything you could want from a kitchen and our evening A la carte menu includes restaurant favourites as well as daily changing specials. On Sunday afternoons we offer the best Roast available. Our wine list, available from 11am, is curated by us to include the faithful, the unusual and the interesting.

Top review

paul

Dined 4 days ago

Fab as usual, good food and very good staff. Will go again

The Punch Bowl

4.8

4.8 (64)

£25 and under

Gastro Pub

Southend-On-Sea

About the restaurant

The Punchbowl is a 17th century gastro pub, located in the heart of rural Essex and the Crouch Valley and the South Essex Salt marshes.

We offer nose-to-tail style menu, with unpretentious dishes that focus on flavour. Everything is made in house - from bread to mayonnaise, and we use local, seasonal and organic ingredients. Our menu changes daily, as the season's best comes in, and always features day boat fish, meat, offal, rare breed steaks and excellent vegetarian cookery.

Our beautiful garden bar has a lawn and york-stone patio looking out across the farmland of Paglesham and the River Crouch. Throughout the summer we offer BBQ dining from our hand-cranked Asado and Rotisserie Grills.

Top review

David

Dined on Jun 25, 2025

We had a really nice lunch at the Punchbowl, it is pleasing to see it open as on previous visits to this part of Essex it has been closed. Food was excellent, very good beer from Wibblers Brewery and service was attentive and timely. i'm sure we'll be back. i dont usually do reviews but the Punchbowl deserved a good one!

La Petite Petanque

4.8

4.8 (40)

£25 and under

British

Southend-On-Sea

About the restaurant

A Beautiful Restaurant in the perfect setting
Open every day with three dining areas, including terrace seating
Serving Breakfast, Lunch, Afternoon Tea and Evening Dining Events.
For Afternoon Tea please call the restaurant to book and pay deposit.

Top review

WingVIP

Dined on Jun 22, 2025

Reliable spot with bowling green views. In a trendy conservation area. Certainly unique to Southend. Away from the usual seaside type of eateries. Hidden spot we go to here from east London. Food always fresh, locally sourced. Sunday roasts are a treat and one for the classic quiet ambience of the former bowling green clubhouse. Akin to what one expects from independent gastro pubs or bistros in Islington and Greenwich. Except prices are reasonable, the decor is definitely unique and you can go to the beach and amusements after. Must be my 5th time here now.

The Anchor Danbury

4.7

4.7 (1556)

£25 and under

British

Chelmsford

About the restaurant

The Anchor in Danbury is the epitome of an English Country Inn, boasting beautiful traditional beams, quaint shining brass and a warm welcoming atmosphere which has made this pub a firm favourite for many years.
We have a lovely large garden with a fun children's play area, great for keeping the kids entertained while you catch up with friends and family over a relaxing drink or with some great food.
- Four legged friends are welcome at the pub, please ask our friendly staff for confirmation on which areas can accommodate you as we do require that dogs are kept out of the main dinning areas.
- Please note reservations with a dog are necessary, and can only be taken over the phone on 01245 222457 stating you have a dog.
- If you have a pushchair/buggy we ask that you call to make reservation, due to limited space.

Top review

Carole

Dined 7 days ago

Staff were informative & friendly. Good knowledge as my niece is gluten free 🙂. On a very busy night the choice of specials was extensive & service great. Lovely ambience & a great night had by all .

The Cricketers Arms in Rickling Green

4.6

4.6 (609)

£25 and under

Gastro Pub

Saffron Walden

About the restaurant

RESTAURANT NOTE: Our outside tables are not bookable, they are available on a first come first served basis. Should you wish to reserve a table in our pergola, you must contact us directly please by phone 01799 619260 or email info@thecricketersarmspub.co.uk

Whether you’re after a comforting home - cooked meal after a long day at work or fabulous fine dining for a special celebration, we’ve got something for every occasion. Choose from our locally sourced, innovative menu and excellent wine list in our oak beamed bar or stylish restaurant.

Top review

Bridget

Dined 4 days ago

This is one of many family meals and as always the food, staff, service and ambience is fabulous 👌

The Anchor Inn - Nayland

4.6

4.6 (1998)

£25 and under

British

Nayland

About the restaurant

A traditional country pub with a warm welcome, The Anchor Inn offers a fine selection of cask ales and fresh, home-cooked food. Set in the beautiful village of Nayland, open fires and a cosy atmosphere make the Anchor a wonderful winter bolthole, and the banks of the River Stour provide glorious al fresco dining throughout the summer months.

Top review

Rosy

Dined 4 days ago

Lovely atmosphere, by the river on a beautiful evening. Very friendly, helpful young staff. Warmly recommend!

The Ship Stock

4.5

4.5 (279)

£25 and under

Pub

Chelmsford

About the restaurant

A charming village pub nestled in the heart of West Hanningfield on the unspoiled greenbelt of the Essex city, Chelmsford. This soul-soothing, local pub offers a fresh, seasonal menu coupled with local craft beverages, all of which can be enjoyed in our vintage, east-coast setting. Our alfresco lawn is the perfect oasis for any passing visitor or returning local. Take in the panoramic views of the rolling hills or stay warm by our log burner snuggled inside. Both are perfect watching the world pass by with a drink in hand.

Top review

Bev

Dined 6 days ago

Lovely pub with large garden and plenty of seating. Had Sunday Lunch which was lovely and great value. Will be back again

The Cricketers Mill Green

4.5

4.5 (138)

£26 to £40

British

Brentwood

About the restaurant

‘MORE THAN JUST A PUB! ‘
There's plenty on offer throughout the week at The Cricketers Mill Green near Ingatestone in Essex.

Set within a beautiful rural environment but easily accessible.

Now serving lunch & dinner 5 days per week including an extended Sunday Lunch service.
Please Note While Booking With Us, Dogs are allowed in the bar area however that are not allowed in the Dining Area.

Food is served in our Bar/Dining Area from our A La Carte menu which is served Wednesday to Saturday 12-3pm then 6-9pm. (last bookings 2.30pm)
Snack menu which is served Wednesday to Saturday 3pm-5.30pm (last bookings 5.30pm)
See our website for our menus.

We also have daily 'specials' so there is always something different.

We use locally sourced ingredients and all of our dishes are freshly prepared in our kitchen.

Top review

James

Dined 1 day ago

Food and service were excellent. Booked again for Sunday

The Rabbits Pub

4.4

4.4 (195)

£26 to £40

Gastro Pub

Abridge

About the restaurant

The Rabbits is a family friendly gastro pub & restaurant in the heart of the essex countryside. We pride ourselves on good friendly service and good quality homecooked food with our seasonal menus, we serve real ales, fine wines & premium spirits. We have a great beer garden where you can take in the picturesque views whilst not having to go too far to order any food or drink as this can all be done at our garden bar which is also playing background music around our garden, this is open Thurs-Sunday throughout the spring/summer weather permitting. There is a childrens play area and we also welcome dogs in our garden and inside the bar area. The Rabbits Team look forward to seeing you soon.

Top review

Pablo

Dined 6 days ago

I booked the gazebo but was too hot So we were sat in the main pub Food was lovely Service was good Apart from the flies trying to get a free meal 😅 Definitely visit again

Tom, Dick & Harry's

4.4

4.4 (32)

£26 to £40

Mediterranean

Loughton

About the restaurant

Tom, Dick & Harry’s brings something fresh and exciting to Essex.

Open every day from midday for brunch and lunch through to drinks and dinner in the evening, Tom, Dick and Harry’s offers a destination dining experience in the heart of Loughton. As well as the main dining room, there is a lounge area complete with baby grand piano, counter dining at the bar and two al fresco terraces. Small plates, Sunday roasts, extensive wine list, Michelin guide food, classic cocktails… all within a short walk to Epping Forest.

Top review

Nadya

Dined on Jun 20, 2025

Always having the best time at TDH’s, we were very well looked after by everyone, the food was really nice, fresh and tasty. This is a favourite restaurant of our family.

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