More Maps

17 Essential Late-Night Restaurants in Los Angeles

13 Stellar Places to Eat Brazilian Food in Los Angeles

13 Essential Arts District Restaurants in Los Angeles

More in Los Angeles See more maps

A Handy Guide to Al Fresco Dining in Los Angeles

by Matthew Kang@mattatouille May 14, 2013, 8:34am PDT

10 comments / new

View as Map

by Matthew Kang@mattatouille May 14, 2013, 8:34am PDT

10 comments / new

One of L.A.'s great strengths is the nearly year-round sunny weather, which makes for a perfect place to enjoy meals al fresco, or outdoors. Thusly, many restaurants dedicate a large part of their floorspace to accommodating patios. It also doesn't hurt that a lot of the market-driven cooking and freshly-shaken cocktails are conducive to dining under the sun (under umbrellas) or even under the stars late into the night. Below, Eater presents a handy guide to the best al fresco dining in Los Angeles.

Read More

If you buy something or book a reservation from an Eater link, Vox Media may earn a commission. See our ethics policy.

Sirena

Reminiscent of the former glory of Pane e Vino, this lovely patio behind Sirena is one of the best new places to dine al fresco in the city. There have been some chef changes of late so the food might be a little uneven - best to stick with tried and true classics like grilled octopus salad or whole roasted branzino.

Open in Google Maps

8265 Beverly Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90048

Visit Website

Mr Chow Malibu

The second outpost of Mr. Chow's LA operation, this terrific setting for high-end Chinese has a great patio to enjoy outdoor dining throughout the summer. They also serve lunch on the weekends for the summer.

Open in Google Maps

Malibu, CA 90265

Visit Website

Venice Beach Wines

This local favorite has a swell patio that overlooks Rose Avenue, one of the most happening blocks in the city. This wine bar is a great place to nosh on small bites while sipping a glass of beer or wine.

529 Rose Ave, Venice, CA 90291

Visit Website

Also featured in:

An Updated Guide to Al Fresco Dining in Los Angeles

AOC

After taking over the previous spot Il Covo, AOC now has one of the most charming patios in the city, a completely enclosed area that feels like an Italian villa, not the middle of the city. Chef Suzanne Goin is still preparing market-fresh cuisine like wood-fired clams while sommelier Caroline Styne pairs them with terrific glasses of wine.

Open in Google Maps

8700 W 3rd St, Los Angeles, CA 90048

Visit Website

Alcove Cafe & Bakery

This popular eatery in Los Feliz has an expansive patio that's great during the day or even late into the evening. The food and baked goods are probably a little unremarkable but with such a nice place to sit it's hard to complain.

Open in Google Maps

1929 Hillhurst Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90027

Visit Website

Chosun Galbee

While not quite as open as a traditional patio, this outdoor part of Chosun Galbee is great for Korean barbecue fans that would rather not smell like smoke at the end of the meal. Hanbok-wearing servers come around and prepare the grilled meats right before your eyes.

3330 W Olympic Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90019

Visit Website

Also featured in:

The Sycamore Kitchen

Though surrounded by brick wall and concrete, this patio is a great place to enjoy coffee or tea and some of the best baked goods and sandwiches in the city, all conceived by the Hatfield's crew. The turkey sandwich and double BLT-A are especially worth ordering.

143 S LA Brea Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90036

Visit Website

Also featured in:

Sadie Kitchen and Lounge

Though the great cocktails by barman Giovanni Martinez are great enjoyed next to the bar, the patio is really where the action is at Sadie. The southern shrimp & grits and 8oz Sadie burger are menu standouts, along with the Tuscan black kale salad with butternut squash and blueberries.

1638 N Las Palmas Ave, Hollywood, CA 90028

Visit Website

Also featured in:

An Updated Guide to Al Fresco Dining in Los Angeles

A-Frame

Roy Choi's ode to Hawaiian and Asian cuisine was inspired by picnic dining, and the dishes follow suit by being finger-friendly courses that are best consumed by your hands. The swordfish tacos, beer-can roasted chicken (fried chicken on the weekends), and hoisin ribs are the best things to get, in addition to the fantastic double-patty burger.

12565 W Washington Blvd, Culver City, CA 90066

Visit Website

Also featured in:

Paichẽ

Ricardo Zarate's newest venture, an homage to the fusion of Japanese and Peruvian flavors, sits just a stone's throw away from the ocean, where cool breezes will make the patio one of the best places in the city this summer.

Open in Google Maps

13488 Maxella Ave, Marina del Rey, CA 90292

Visit Website

Café Gratitude

Both the Rose Ave and this Larchmont location of Cafe Gratitude boast great patios, where diners can dig into a homemade veggie burger or a macriobiotic bowl with sea vegetables. Wash it down with a freshly made glass of juice.

Open in Google Maps

639 N Larchmont Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90004

Visit Website

Wilshire Restaurant

Another one of the great enclosed patio spaces in the city, Wilshire Restaurant has a magical evening ambiance, where diners can enjoy chef Nyesha Arrington's cuisine. Her strength is seafood, with things like the hamachi crudo with ponzu and yuzu koshu, or the loup de mer with golden raisins.

Open in Google Maps

2454 Wilshire Blvd, Santa Monica, CA 90403

Visit Website

Little Next Door

This cute French bistro on West Third feels a bit like Paris, a little more casual than the Little Door. There's escargot, charcuterie, Nicoise salads, and moules frites, all paired with champagne or other beverages for a great summer night's dinner.

Open in Google Maps

8142 W 3rd St, Los Angeles, CA 90048

Visit Website

Goldie's

The patio sits to the side of this design-minded restaurant on West Third, where every market-driven dishes can be enjoyed from morning until evening. There's bircher muesli for breakfast, diver scallops with kohlrabi for lunch, and hand cut tagliatelle with dungeness crab for dinner, along with great cocktails.

8422 W 3rd St, Los Angeles, CA 90048

Visit Website

Also featured in:

Sunny Spot

Roy Choi's take on Jamaican cuisine is a great place to enjoy a meal under the sun. The brunch has a delicious spicy shrimp and grits while dinner features things like jerk chicken, baby back ribs, and roasted lamb. Cocktails are stellar too, with the Death in the D.R. boasting Dominican rum, lime, honey, absinthe, and champagne.

Open in Google Maps

822 Washington Blvd, Marina del Rey, CA 90292

Visit Website

Dominick's

Chef Brandon Boudet's old-school Italian, with pastas like spaghetti and meatballs or whitefish picatta are great when enjoyed in the confines of Dominick's patio.

Open in Google Maps

8715 Beverly Blvd, West Hollywood, CA 90048

Visit Website

Il Cielo

Arguably one of the most enjoyable patios in the city, the romantic ambiance tends fills up quickly with diners on dates. There are even rose petals and candles galore.

Open in Google Maps

9018 Burton Way, Beverly Hills, CA 90211

Visit Website

Drago Centro

A recent addition to this large Italian restaurant in the Financial District, the patio is a congenial place to enjoy happy hour or a casual lunch with co-workers. The pastas are all handmade and the cocktails are worth ordering in twos.

Open in Google Maps

525 S Flower St, Los Angeles, CA 90071

Visit Website

Barney Greengrass

Perched over Beverly Hills, this underrated aerie has great smoked and cured fish, like the white fish or lox, especially when placed over bagels and spread with cream cheese. There's a near unobstructed view of the Hollywood Hills that makes this a great al fresco spot.

Open in Google Maps

9570 Wilshire Blvd, Beverly Hills, CA 90212

Visit Website

Polo Lounge

Newly redesigned and updated for this century, Polo Lounge is still one of the ultimate places in LA to see and be seen.

9641 Sunset Blvd, Beverly Hills, CA 90210

Visit Website

Also featured in:

Scarpetta

Located on the edge of a fully conceived park in the middle of the Beverly Hills Triangle, this patio at Scott Conant's Scarpetta makes the hours waste away, with glasses of prosecco and bites like burrata with roasted cauliflower, yellowtail crudo, and of course the signature spaghetti as the perfect companions.

Open in Google Maps

225 N Canon Dr, Beverly Hills, CA 90210

Visit Website

Also featured in:

Perch

This restaurant and lounge towering over Pershing Square in Downtown is one of the most remarkable places to enjoy an outdoor drink or dish in the city.

Open in Google Maps

448 S Hill St 13th F, Los Angeles, CA 90013

Visit Website

Eveleigh

Still a hot spot on the Sunset Strip, the quality of the cocktails never seem to wane here, with a constant flow of innovative bartenders mixing and shaking behind the bar. The food is pretty good too.

8752 W Sunset Blvd, West Hollywood, CA 90069

Visit Website

Also featured in:

Ray's & Stark Bar

A tremendous spot to enjoy a midsummer night's dinner (or a midday lunch), Ray's presents chef Kris Morningstar's elegant, simple comfort fare in constant view of museum-goers.

5905 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90036

Visit Website

Also featured in:

Loading comments...

© 2023 Vox Media, Inc. All rights reserved.

Link copied to the clipboard.

Sirena

8265 Beverly Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90048

Reminiscent of the former glory of Pane e Vino, this lovely patio behind Sirena is one of the best new places to dine al fresco in the city. There have been some chef changes of late so the food might be a little uneven - best to stick with tried and true classics like grilled octopus salad or whole roasted branzino.

Open in Google Maps

8265 Beverly Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90048

Visit Website

Mr Chow Malibu

Malibu, CA 90265

The second outpost of Mr. Chow's LA operation, this terrific setting for high-end Chinese has a great patio to enjoy outdoor dining throughout the summer. They also serve lunch on the weekends for the summer.

Open in Google Maps

Malibu, CA 90265

Visit Website

Venice Beach Wines

529 Rose Ave, Venice, CA 90291

This local favorite has a swell patio that overlooks Rose Avenue, one of the most happening blocks in the city. This wine bar is a great place to nosh on small bites while sipping a glass of beer or wine.

529 Rose Ave, Venice, CA 90291

Visit Website

AOC

8700 W 3rd St, Los Angeles, CA 90048

After taking over the previous spot Il Covo, AOC now has one of the most charming patios in the city, a completely enclosed area that feels like an Italian villa, not the middle of the city. Chef Suzanne Goin is still preparing market-fresh cuisine like wood-fired clams while sommelier Caroline Styne pairs them with terrific glasses of wine.

Open in Google Maps

8700 W 3rd St, Los Angeles, CA 90048

Visit Website

Alcove Cafe & Bakery

1929 Hillhurst Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90027

This popular eatery in Los Feliz has an expansive patio that's great during the day or even late into the evening. The food and baked goods are probably a little unremarkable but with such a nice place to sit it's hard to complain.

Open in Google Maps

1929 Hillhurst Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90027

Visit Website

Chosun Galbee

3330 W Olympic Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90019

While not quite as open as a traditional patio, this outdoor part of Chosun Galbee is great for Korean barbecue fans that would rather not smell like smoke at the end of the meal. Hanbok-wearing servers come around and prepare the grilled meats right before your eyes.

3330 W Olympic Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90019

Visit Website

The Sycamore Kitchen

143 S LA Brea Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90036

Though surrounded by brick wall and concrete, this patio is a great place to enjoy coffee or tea and some of the best baked goods and sandwiches in the city, all conceived by the Hatfield's crew. The turkey sandwich and double BLT-A are especially worth ordering.

143 S LA Brea Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90036

Visit Website

Sadie Kitchen and Lounge

1638 N Las Palmas Ave, Hollywood, CA 90028

Though the great cocktails by barman Giovanni Martinez are great enjoyed next to the bar, the patio is really where the action is at Sadie. The southern shrimp & grits and 8oz Sadie burger are menu standouts, along with the Tuscan black kale salad with butternut squash and blueberries.

1638 N Las Palmas Ave, Hollywood, CA 90028

Visit Website

A-Frame

12565 W Washington Blvd, Culver City, CA 90066

Roy Choi's ode to Hawaiian and Asian cuisine was inspired by picnic dining, and the dishes follow suit by being finger-friendly courses that are best consumed by your hands. The swordfish tacos, beer-can roasted chicken (fried chicken on the weekends), and hoisin ribs are the best things to get, in addition to the fantastic double-patty burger.

12565 W Washington Blvd, Culver City, CA 90066

Visit Website

Paichẽ

13488 Maxella Ave, Marina del Rey, CA 90292

Ricardo Zarate's newest venture, an homage to the fusion of Japanese and Peruvian flavors, sits just a stone's throw away from the ocean, where cool breezes will make the patio one of the best places in the city this summer.

Open in Google Maps

13488 Maxella Ave, Marina del Rey, CA 90292

Visit Website

Café Gratitude

639 N Larchmont Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90004

Both the Rose Ave and this Larchmont location of Cafe Gratitude boast great patios, where diners can dig into a homemade veggie burger or a macriobiotic bowl with sea vegetables. Wash it down with a freshly made glass of juice.

Open in Google Maps

639 N Larchmont Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90004

Visit Website

Wilshire Restaurant

2454 Wilshire Blvd, Santa Monica, CA 90403

Another one of the great enclosed patio spaces in the city, Wilshire Restaurant has a magical evening ambiance, where diners can enjoy chef Nyesha Arrington's cuisine. Her strength is seafood, with things like the hamachi crudo with ponzu and yuzu koshu, or the loup de mer with golden raisins.

Open in Google Maps

2454 Wilshire Blvd, Santa Monica, CA 90403

Visit Website

Little Next Door

8142 W 3rd St, Los Angeles, CA 90048

This cute French bistro on West Third feels a bit like Paris, a little more casual than the Little Door. There's escargot, charcuterie, Nicoise salads, and moules frites, all paired with champagne or other beverages for a great summer night's dinner.

Open in Google Maps

8142 W 3rd St, Los Angeles, CA 90048

Visit Website