Franco’s brings back rosé terrace in St James’s for 21st summer

Franco’s, one of London’s longest-established Italian restaurants, has reopened its rosé terrace on Jermyn Street in St James’s for the summer season, marking the 21^st consecutive year the venue has dedicated its outdoor space to the pink wine. The terrace, which seats up to 25 guests, now offers more than 60 rosés from producers across Europe and beyond, curated by head sommelier Paolo Pellegrino.

Founded in 1945, Franco’s has operated on Jermyn Street for more than eight decades. The restaurant’s terrace overlooks the boutiques and galleries that line the street and sits a short distance from Piccadilly and the Royal Academy of Arts.

The new wine list features bottles from Provence, Italy, Greece, Spain and England. It includes established producers such as Domaines Ott and Pascal Jolivet, lesser-known wineries including Villa Calicantus and I Garagisti di Sorgono, and also a range of small-production Italian rosatos. According to the restaurant, the list has been compiled to reflect a variety of rosé styles, from Provençal wines to fuller-bodied Italian rosatos intended for pairing with food.

To accompany the wine list, Franco’s has added a sharing section to its à la carte menu. Among the new dishes are Roasted Sicilian Peppers with Goat’s Cheese, Tempura Courgette Flowers with Ricotta and Mint, Hand-dived Scallops with Garden Peas and ‘Nduja and Calamari Fritti with Amalfi Lemon Aioli. Existing menu options remain available, such as Octopus Carpaccio with Fennel and Orange, Linguine with Lobster and Pan-fried Sea Bass with Herb Gnocchi and Barba di Frate. For dessert there’s Tiramisu and Calvados-poached Pears with Chocolate Mousse.

“For this year’s rosé terrace, I wanted to create a list that encourages discovery,” said Pellegrino. “Alongside renowned producers from Italy and France, we’ve included smaller wineries crafting exceptional rosés through both innovative and traditional approaches.”

He added that the selection prioritises character-driven wines and lesser-known regions over widely available rosé brands, offering customers an opportunity to try examples chosen for their character, craftsmanship and sense of place, rather than familiarity.

Food Desk

The rosé terrace is now open for the summer season at Franco’s, 61 Jermyn Street, London SW1Y 6LX. For further information or to book a table, visit the restaurant’s website here.