20 Best Outdoor Dining Restaurants
Read about these incredible outdoor restaurants to discover your next dining experience.
Tessa ZuluagaAuthor
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| BUILT FOR RESTAURANTSThere's nothing better than enjoying a delicious meal while taking in the beauty of the great outdoors. And for those states with harsh winters – you know how busy patio season can be. Guests love an outdoor dining experience, and since the COVID-19 pandemic, more and more restaurants have opened up a patio to enlarge their capacity.
In this article, we’ll outline 20 of the best outdoor dining restaurants in the United States.
Here are the 20 best restaurants for outdoor dining:
Coastal Fish Company - Memphis, TN
Bacari Silverlake - Los Angeles, CA
Farmhouse at Roger's Gardens - Corona del Mar, CA
Mala Ocean Tavern - Lahaina, HI
Coast Guard House - Narragansett, RI
C Level - San Diego, CA
Zaytinya - Washington, DC
The Front Yard - Los Angeles, CA
Cesarina - San Diego, CA
Ulele - Tampa, FL
Tavern on the Green - New York, NY
Latitudes - Key West, FL
Ruthie’s All-Day - Arlington, VA
Waterbar - San Francisco, CA
The Boathouse - Orlando, FL
Green Valley Grill - Greensboro, NC
La Mar Cebicheria Peruana - San Francisco, CA
Canoe - Atlanta, GA
Fleet Landing Restaurant & Bar - Charleston, SC
Hardware - North Aurora, IL
Coastal Fish Company - Memphis, TN
Coastal Fish Company sits on the edge of Hyde Lake in Shelby Farms Park, showcasing a picturesque location for diners to enjoy. This restaurant offers a unique fine-dining experience by having the freshest and best-sourced seafood prepared with new twists.
Bacari Silverlake - Los Angeles, CA
Bacari serves Mediterranean & Italian inspired small plates in its outdoor garden, under trees in the open air. This restaurant’s dessert menu even features “the best cake you’ve ever had”, with medjool dates, brown sugar caramel, and crispy bacon. They also have 4 other locations to enjoy: Bacari W 3rd, Bacari W Adams, Bacari PDR, & Bacari GDL (not pictured).
Farmhouse at Roger's Gardens - Corona del Mar, CA
Farmhouse is located inside Roger’s Gardens, a beautiful plant nursery. From farmers and fishermen to wine and spirits makers, this restaurant’s food is created by carefully sourcing only the best ingredients.
Mala Ocean Tavern - Lahaina, HI
Mala Ocean Tavern features some of the best oceanfront dining on Maui, overlooking the old Mala Wharf. Known for exceptional cuisine with a focus on locally caught fish and incorporation of unconventional ingredients, the pacific rim and Mediterranean-inspired menu has been drawing locals and visitors to Maui for years.
Coast Guard House - Narragansett, RI
Offering a stunning and unrivaled view of The Pier Districts’ historic Narragansett Bay, The Coast Guard House has attracted family and friends for generations. This restaurant offers an extensive raw bar and seafood menu.
C Level - San Diego, CA
It doesn’t get much better than this! Resting on stilts atop San Diego Bar, C Level overlooks the city skyline and Coronado. This restaurant serves chophouse fare, seafood, and specialty cocktails.
Zaytinya - Washington, DC
Zaytinya is inspired by Turkish, Greek, and Lebanese cuisines and served in a sleek & modern setting. It has two locations, this one in DC and one in New York City. The Washington DC Zaytinya has a beautiful patio where guests can enjoy small plates with a view.
The Front Yard - Los Angeles, CA
A unique neighborhood gathering place, The Front Yard, showcases LA's diverse flavors in a casual and comfortable setting. This restaurant serves everything from breakfast and weekend brunch to happy hour and dinner.
Cesarina - San Diego, CA
Cesarina honors the Italian matriarchy within the fabric of its mission: to create a convivial atmosphere that nurtures the community as a mother would.
This restaurant offers a lineup of daily fresh pastas, regional Italian entrées, plentiful vegan options, and a tableside dessert program inspired by their ‘everything made in-house’ credo. Its beautiful outdoor deck is especially scenic when decorated for the holiday season, as shown below.
Ulele - Tampa, FL
Ulele (pronounced You-lay-lee), located on Tampa's Riverwalk, celebrates the vibrant fusion of ingredients from Florida waters and land. Expect intricately flavored, visually appealing dishes prepared on the 10' diameter barbacoa grill.
Tavern on the Green - New York, NY
A Central Park staple, the historic Tavern on the Green has been capturing the spirit of New York City since 1934. In 2014, the Tavern was reopened with a completely redesigned space and menu. This restaurant serves classic cocktails, a robust wine list, and an elegant American cuisine.
Latitudes - Key West, FL
Latitudes offers an elegant beachfront dining experience. Start the day with classic egg dishes and tropical fruit, and then end it with fresh local fish and steaks with a bottle of wine from their well-curated list when the sun sets.
Ruthie’s All-Day - Arlington, VA
Ruthie’s All-Day is a family-friendly, all-day neighborhood restaurant and bar that serves coffee, breakfast, lunch, dinner, and weekend brunch. Ruthie’s has a menu with an emphasis on using locally sourced ingredients that are ever-changing based on the season.
Waterbar - San Francisco, CA
Waterbar features an extravagant, cascading oyster bar and dramatic floor-to-ceiling aquariums, which serve as the restaurant’s focal point. Featuring views of the waterfront and the Bay Bridge, this restaurant is perfect for al fresco drinks or landmark family celebrations.
The Boathouse - Orlando, FL
For waterfront dining, great food, and dream boats, The Boathouse in Orlando will get the job done. This restaurant is perfect to take your family to while on a vacation to Universal Studios.
Green Valley Grill - Greensboro, NC
At Green Valley Grill you can enjoy fresh seasonal Old World European and Mediterranean flavors from the wood-fired rotisserie and grill. This menu pairs well with their artisan cocktails, craft beers, and 500 wines. In fact, Green Valley is the only restaurant in Greensboro to receive the Wine Spectator “Best of Award of Excellence”.
La Mar Cebicheria Peruana - San Francisco, CA
Overlooking the Bay, La Mar Cebicheria Peruana has beautiful outdoor seating with a view and a unique menu. Offering a taste of Peru, La Mar’s signature menu items range from unique seafood, to meat, and vegetarian selections.
Canoe - Atlanta, GA
Canoe is tucked away along the peaceful banks of the Chattahoochee River, yet conveniently located in the Atlanta community of Vinings. Canoe offers flavorful menu items, such as their maple marinated duck breast entree.
Fleet Landing Restaurant & Bar - Charleston, SC
Housed in a 1940s retired naval building on the east side of the Charleston peninsula, Fleet Landing Restaurant features classic and contemporary Southern seafood fare in a beautiful setting. This dedicated, close-knit team’s passion is to provide the ultimate dining experience through hard work and energetic Southern hospitality.
Hardware - North Aurora, IL
Hardware is a sustainable gastropub located in North Aurora, Illinois. At Hardware, they strive to keep their carbon footprint to a minimum by growing their own produce and using reclaimed building materials. Fun fact: they have over 450 whiskeys from around the world!
Outdoor dining is a fantastic way to enjoy a meal while also taking in the beauty of your surroundings. With so many excellent options to choose from, it can be difficult to know where to start.
The 20 restaurants featured in this article represent some of the best outdoor dining options from around the country, with something to suit every taste and budget. Next time you're looking for a great meal outdoors, be sure to check out one of these impressive restaurants.
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