The 15 Best Patios for Eating and Drinking Outside in Dallas

Community’s long-awaited relocation is finally complete, and the brewery is now housed in a 70,000-square-foot facility with a two-story taproom, restaurant, and a spacious beer garden. The latter is stocked with tables, colorful chairs, and beer barrels to rest your pint glass. But first, fill up said glass with Mosaic IPA, Texas Lager, or a seasonal brew from the rotating list.
How to book: Stop by for first come, first served seating.

This cozy al fresco hangout is the newest addition to Bishop Arts, sitting adjacent to Paradiso and hailing from the same seasoned team. The airy space sports a handful of couches and chairs, a large shade tree, and a small bar pouring aperitif-style cocktails and an interesting selection of sparkling wines. The food menu includes Oysters and Poached Shrimp with kimchi and yuzu cocktail sauce, plus Fried Artichokes, French Fries, and a Charcuterie Board—all the essential patio snacks.
How to book: Stop by for first come, first served seating.

This ambitious new restaurant is stunning, both inside and out. Between the main dining room, three private dining rooms, the tequila-heavy bar, and the cigar bar, there’s a lot of ground to cover. But when fresh air is calling your name, the patio is the place to be. Tile floors, wooden tables, green furnishings, and potted succulents create an airy atmosphere in the heart of the city, while heaps of tacos and Margaritas complete the picture-perfect scene.
 

The old Jake’s Burgers spot on Henderson has received new life via Mayer’s Garden, transformed into an indoor-outdoor hangout with big garage doors that open onto the sunny patio. That sizable yard has umbrellas when it’s sunny and heaters when it’s cold, so there’s never a bad time to sit outdoors and work your way through the menu of beers, wines, seltzers, and garden cocktails like Aperol Spritzes or Rosemary Palomas. Pair your drink with sandwiches, tacos, and house Nuggies—aka chicken or portobello nuggets available with a variety of dipping sauces.
How to book: Stop by for first come, first served seating.
 

This collaboration between Uchi and Austin’s famous Franklin Barbecue has quickly made a name for itself thanks to smoked meats, rice bowls, sandwiches, and fresh salads. But for this exercise, we’re most interested in the broad wraparound patio. Settle into a picnic table with a few friends, split a handful of dishes, and fill all available surfaces with drinks, including draft beers, batched cocktails, build-your-own highballs, and boozy slushies. The Frozen Gin & Tonic and frosty, bourbon-spiked Vietnamese Coffee serve as important foils to the impending heat.
How to book: Stop by for first come, first served seating.

A spectacular mural by James Welling sets the stage for a serene patio experience at the art-filled HALL Arts Hotel. A part of the patio features a semi-enclosed space while another portion lets the gentle breezes surround you while you bask in the shadows of downtown buildings. From happy hour to dinner, the Napa-inspired cuisine, handcrafted cocktails, and fine wines from the Hall family’s own vineyards will make you want to sit and stay awhile.

You don’t need to be a guest of the Virgin to get in on the fun. Head to the fourth floor terrace to find the Pool Club, an indoor-outdoor oasis rife with cabanas, loungers, daybeds, downtown views, and, yes, a pool. Whistle-whetting consists of beers, wines, and umbrella drinks, with a generous Sunday through Thursday happy hour featuring all those for less money than usual. If you want to make the most of your environs, try This is the Lei, a Tiki-style rum drink served in a fresh pineapple, then soak up that heady mixture with Beef Cheek Steam Buns, Chicken Lollipops, and Margherita Flatbread.
How to Book: Reserve via SevenRooms.

Tex-Mex and patios go together like beans and rice. Or beer and guac. Or salted rims and Margaritas. We could go on, but instead we’ll just mention that Blue Cenote’s patio has plenty of seating, friendly greenery, and fans to keep the air circulating. Sit for a spell the next time you need to escape the crowds wandering throughout Bishop Arts—or whenever you crave a cold beer and a Shrimp Cocktail the size of your head.
How to book: Reserve via Google.

Urban Taco’s spacious 1,000 square-foot patio offers an inviting space for people watching over a 32-ounce fishbowl margarita with three frozen flavors in one vessel while noshing on an avocado ceviche tower. Half-price margaritas, mojitos, and cheap beer during their weekday happy hour will tempt you further to try out this spot before or after a day of shopping.

Located on the outskirts of Deep Ellum near Expo Park, Thunderbird comes from Kim Finch, founder of popular dives Single Wide and Double Wide. The adults-only dog-friendly patio is home to picnic tables, fire pits, and fun pop-up events throughout the year. Highlights include specialty cocktails like the Rattletrap, a peanut butter whiskey drink that harkens back to the local practice of dropping peanuts in Dr. Pepper. Cheap beers go nicely with the $4 Little Buddies (mid-shelf shots of whiskey and tequila), and there are two happy hours to occupy your time. The first runs weekdays from 4 to 7 pm, while the second is weeknights from 11 pm to 2 am. Sop up the booze with old-school Southern classics like Ritz Crackers with Pimento Cheese, Bologna Sandwiches, and Frito Pies.
How to book: Stop by for first come, first served seating.

Al Biernat’s is an institution, but its patio is a product of COVID-era necessity. The outdoor addition is an elegant space befitting the classy establishment, replete with white tablecloths, plants, and a fountain. Enjoy a lazy brunch with Brioche French Toast, Eggs Benedict, and Mimosas, or host a power lunch over salads and sandwiches. Then take it up a notch come dinnertime with a Chilled Seafood Tower, a Tomahawk Ribeye, and a bottle of fine wine. Yes, you can do all those things indoors, but everything tastes better with a side of fresh air.

Taking over the beloved tri-peaked building that once housed Char Bar, the new tenants have created a fun-loving atmosphere and a casual menu of sliders (Wagyu Beef, Pork Belly, Hot Chicken), crispy Onion Rings, and boozy milkshakes. The white picnic tables and evergreen-hued fake grass are a bright spot along the busy Greenville strip, beckoning you over for lunch, dinner, or a post-drinks snack.
How to book: Stop by for first come, first served seating.

Located inside the posh Ritz-Carlton, Fearing’s and the attached Rattlesnake Bar are favorites among well-heeled travelers and locals alike. Head out back, and that’s where things really get interesting. Nestled among mature oak trees and lush landscaping, the recently updated patio has tables for dining, a full-service bar for drinks, and an oversized brick fireplace, plus a stage that hosts live music on Fridays and Saturdays. All of the above goes swimmingly with Lobster Tacos, Mesquite-grilled Steaks, and chef Dean Fearing’s famous Tortilla Soup.

Top Chef contender John Tesar’s signature steakhouse gave its already-nice patio a breezy makeover in 2020. Grab a seat outdoors and request one of his famous burgers, a flight of bacon, or a 240-day Dry-aged Bone-in Ribeye with a glass of wine from the 300-strong list. With each passing minute, you’ll sink into the surroundings and forget where you really are—a hotel restaurant at a busy intersection.

This all-weather escape has a vaulted glass ceiling and trees lining the patio. So, it’s a lot like hanging out in a greenhouse, but with more pizza, copious wine, and a lot less humidity. The massive selection of vino on tap gives you the option to taste your way through different regions, or focus exclusively on different reds, whites, and bubbles—by the glass or the bottle, depending on how your day went.