It can feel like sunshine is a rare thing on this island we call home, so when the sun finally comes out, few of us opt to stay indoors.
Summertime, with her golden rays and blissfully long days, is made for dining alfresco and if you’re lucky enough to have a garden in London, the warm weather means you’ve got an extra room in the house to make use of: the garden.
But, if you’re planning evenings of dining outside for as long as you can, you’re going to want to do it in style. After all, a little ceremony can bring joy to meals of all kinds, even a simple lunch of a light salad or cheese sarnie.
If you’re one to host, an outdoor dining set can prove to be an idyllic setting for upcoming birthdays, barbecues and all sorts of events. Add tablecloth, seat cushions and outdoor dinnerware and brace yourself for the avalanche of compliments and admiring looks.
There’s a dining set for every size and style of garden, from those blessed with acres of space, to intimate ones with owners who want to maximise every inch of their patios.
And shopping for one is a breeze when you’ve got ES Best in your corner. We’ve unearthed the internet to find the best options to buy now and invest in good times this summer - and beyond.
See our edit of the best outdoor dining sets below
Moda Furnishings Talia 2V Extended Corner Sofa and Dining Set with Footstool
Seats: 10
Fancy a bit of theatre with your dinner? Head to Moda Furnishings, where you can pick up this dramatic dining set from the Talia collection, complete with an integrated fire pit to keep you toasty on chillier nights.
The set includes a smart six-seater sofa, a matching bench and a footstool, giving you greater lounging settings. You can get 10 of your favourite faces around the ceramic glass top table, and there’s no need to get in a bother if the heavens open - the cushions are wrapped in 100 per cent weatherproof fabric.
Buy now £5370.00, Moda Furnishings
Outsunny 11pc Patio Furniture Rattan Dining Set Garden Wicker Table Chairs Seat
Seats: 10
There’s no need to agonise over your guestlist with this generous dining set in your back garden - invite them all over for your next garden party and have plenty of space to seat up to 10 of your friends and family. Fashioned with rattan-effect weave over durable metal frames, it’s a timeless look that you can keep in play for many summers to come.
Buy now £591.99, Mano Mano
Homebase Rowly 8 Piece Garden Dining Set
Seats: 8
A classic rectangular table with tempered top glass forms the centrepiece of this dining set, which comes with a set of six reclinable chairs. It’s clear to see that comfort is part of every stage of the design process, from the plump cushions to the canvas parasol to offer shade or shelter as the weather dictates.
Buy now £800.00, Homebase
Argos Home Rope Cube 8 Seater Patio Set
Seats: 8
A compact option is ideal for smaller outdoor spaces. There’s no need to miss out on weekend brunch in a garden setting thanks to Argos which offers this eight-seater dining set. When packed away, it measures just 110 x 110 x 75cm, somewhat of a magic trick when you consider it holds four stools and four chairs under the square table.
Buy now £450.00, Argos
Hadleigh 6 Seater Garden Dining Furniture Set In Navy By Hectare
Seats: 6
The classic pattern of a monochrome stripe lends itself well to all sorts of furnishings - including on outdoor dining seat cushions. Spend your days in the garden even in temperamental weather thanks to the parasol, included in the set alongside powder coated steel chairs and a table with a hard wearing tempered glass top.
Buy now £594.99, Amazon
So’home Reims 6 Seater Garden Dining Set - Grey
Seats: 6
Form and function unite beautifully in the Reims Dining Set which includes six contemporary twisted polystring chairs complete with seat cushions, designed to sit around a wood top table. Set on a powder coated aluminium frame, your purchase will come in four packages so make sure you have plenty of space ahead of its arrival.
Buy now £2069.10, La Redoute
VonHaus 4 Seater Faux-Wood Garden Table & Bench Set
Seats: 4
Made for small families or groups, this four seater dining bench set with a matching table is a blank canvas that you can dress up or down as the occasion suits. If you’re looking at all that wood and mentally sighing at the hours of maintenance it’ll require, think again. Both table and benches are finished with a synthetic faux-wood material, resulting in a luxurious effect without continuous care. What’s more, both benches tuck neatly under the table, allowing you to reclaim your space when you’re not using it. Tidy.
Buy now £349.99, VonHaus
So’home Lazio 4 Seater Garden Dining Set
Seats: 4
Looking plucked straight from a chic London restaurant terrace, this dark grey four-seater dining set doesn’t need much to make it look dressed up - welcome news to anyone who likes the idea of hosting but not always the effort of one. It’s built for British weather, with a weatherproof rope weave around the chair frames and showerproof cushions in a matching grey for added comfort.
Buy now £974.25, La Redoute
Wicker Rattan Patio Conversation Set with Tempered Glass Table
Seats: 2
Small but perfectly formed, this stylish rattan bistro set gives you licence to make the most of your small garden or balcony. The tempered glass top table has just enough room for a couple of cups of coffee and a plate of snacks, or wine with Italian-style aperitivo.
Buy now £139.99, Mano Mano
Ikea NÄMMARÖ
Seats: 5
The NÄMMARÖ outdoor series by Ikea features a range of mid-century modern silhouettes paired with coastal-hued cushions which come in both beige and white. We love the practicality of this value for money set in partiuclar, which comes with armed chairs and an easy to tuck-away bench.
Buy now £269.00, Ikea
Outdoor Garden Patio Foldable Firwood Beer Table Bench Chair Set - Wood
Seats: 4
This foldable plywood dining set from The Range is a fantastic solution for smaller gardens which experience inclement weather more often than not. If you find yourself folding away your furniture more than you’re opening it up, but still require a decent outdoor set for those warmer months - this is your solution. Bring the look of your favourite local coffee shop home with the chic industrial-inspired aesthetic.
Buy now £95.99, The Range
June Antique Bronze Set
Seats: 6
This oval-shaped, cast-aluminium set from Lazy Susan is the perfect family and friends-ready outdoor dining set. The large, rounded table makes for easy socialising, while the wide-backed and armed chairs allow for some comfortable space. Rust and rot-proof, this set is truly maintenance free and can sit pretty in your garden all year around. The vintage-inspired aesthetic will make feel like you’re dining in the French Riviera, only in the UK.
Buy now £1049.95, Lazy Susan
Miri 6 Seater Wooden Garden Dining Set
Seats: 6
Can’t get enough of the rattan furniture trend, but want something a little more unique? This wooden slat dining set features six, woven-back chairs for a subtle and luxurious design feature. Crafted from sustainably sourced wood with an oil-stain teak finish and galvanized steel hardware, this set is as durable as it is stylish. Your pals will think you’ve pulled this set from a celebrity home in the Hollywood Hills, not Homebase.
Buy now £850.00, Homebase
