The sun takes a different seasonal path
Earth's axis is tilted. As the planet orbits the sun, the daily solar path changes with latitude and season. NASA explains the seasons through that tilt, rather than distance from the sun.
Outside the tropics, winter usually brings a lower midday sun and shorter days than summer. Lower sun casts longer shadows from the same building. A terrace may therefore lose its usable sunlight even while the sun is still above the horizon.
A simple shadow example
For an isolated vertical object on level ground, shadow length is the object's height divided by the tangent of the sun's elevation. A 10-metre object casts a roughly 17-metre shadow at a 30-degree solar elevation, but roughly 6 metres at 60 degrees. This simplified geometry is not a prediction for a particular street: actual buildings have width and shape, and the ground may not be level.
Not every summer change means more sun at the seat
High sun can be blocked by a roof or overhang above the seating area. Trees also change with leaf cover, while parasols and awnings may be installed seasonally. A longer day therefore does not automatically mean more direct sun at every table.
Near the equator, the sun can pass north or south of a location depending on the date. Avoid transferring a European south-facing rule to tropical travel. In the Southern Hemisphere, the summer and winter months are reversed.
Compare three dates before making a habit
- Choose the time you normally visit, such as a weekend lunch.
- Compare a date in your local summer, winter and an in-between season.
- Look at the full visit interval, not just its starting point.
- Check for obstacles and weather that the building-shadow map does not represent.
Coffee in the Sun can help compare estimated building shadows by date and time. Trees, awnings and terrain are outside the model, and a sunny area in the calculation does not account for clouds. Verify the seating area in person.
Choose a seasonal favourite
It is reasonable to use different terraces through the year: a sheltered sunlit corner in a cooler season and a shaded, airy space in hotter weather. Check comfort and opening hours rather than pursuing the largest sunlit area at all costs.
Read how to find a terrace's sunlight window or why overhangs change the result.
