The best patio restaurants in Austin.
Austin eats outside whenever it can, which is most of the year. These are the patios worth choosing the restaurant for, from a heritage oak on South Congress to a backyard with porch swings down south.
- 01
Aba
South Congress · $$$Austin’s signature patio: a multi-level terrace around a century-old heritage oak, Moroccan lanterns overhead, mezze below. The patio is first-come.
Visit site → - 02
Perla’s
South Congress · $$$Widely called Austin’s prettiest patio: oak-shaded on the South Congress strip, oysters and people-watching. Walk-in only.
Visit site → - 03
Fresa’s
Bouldin Creek · $$An expansive oak-shaded patio with misters and fans, chicken al carbon, and a to-go window. A classic Austin patio.
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- 04
Lenoir
Bouldin Creek · $$$A backyard wine garden with lanterns in the live oaks and oilcloth tables, tucked behind a tiny Bouldin bungalow.
Visit site → - 05
Moonshine Grill
Downtown Austin · $$The patio is in the name: a snug, tree-shaded courtyard in one of Austin’s oldest building compounds, plus a famous brunch buffet.
Visit site → - 06
Odd Duck
South Lamar · $$$A South Lamar patio with downtown views and Bryce Gilmore’s seasonal small plates.
Visit site → - 07
The Little Darlin’
South Austin · $$A huge far-south backyard with picnic tables, porch swings, a second outdoor bar, and a stage. Dog- and kid-friendly.
Visit site → - 08
Salty Sow
East Austin · $$A covered, dog-friendly patio plus the tented ‘Pig Pen,’ with nose-to-tail gastropub plates in Cherrywood. Dinner only.
Visit site → - 09
Caroline
Downtown Austin · $$A dog-friendly downtown patio with a rooftop bar and lawn games above, for when the date is really a hang.
Visit site → - 10
Corinne
Downtown Austin · $$Billed as the biggest patio on its block, with fire pits, an outdoor bar, and a downtown view.
Visit site → - 11
Doc B’s Restaurant
Domain Northside · $$A canopied, heated, misted, dog-friendly Domain patio with daily live music.
Visit site → - 12
Culinary Dropout
Domain Northside · $$A big indoor-outdoor Domain patio with cornhole, ping pong, and live music.
Visit site → - 13
Mandola’s Italian Kitchen
The Triangle · $$Umbrella tables around a fountain in the Triangle plaza, with counter-service Italian. Modest, but pleasant.
Visit site → - 14
Hopfields
North Campus · $$A comfortably spaced North Campus patio, French brasserie food, and a forty-tap craft beer wall.
Visit site →
The things we passed on are part of the value. Documented for editorial discipline.
- Corner RestaurantA hotel corner spot with sidewalk seating, not a destination patio.
- Ember KitchenA stunning interior in the Seaholm plant, but the draw is indoors, not a patio.
- Chuy’sAbout a dozen outdoor tables. A fine patio, not a great one, and a chain.
- The Cheesecake Factory & PluckersChains without a patio identity.
- Roaring ForkA real downtown patio, but it overlaps the others here.
- What restaurants in Austin have the best patios?
- Aba, Perla’s, and Fresa’s are the prettiest, and The Little Darlin’ is the best backyard. Most are on the south side.
- Where can you eat outside in Austin?
- Nearly everywhere, but the standouts are the oak-shaded patios on South Congress and South First, plus the Domain’s canopied, heated patios for cooler months.
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