Best Restaurant Patios for Outdoor Dining in Los Angeles

Fiona Chandra

Even though Los Angeles has the fortune of great weather all year round, we still anticipate and enjoy our summers as much as the East Coasters do. Angelenos flock to restaurant patios for weekend brunch and for a night out under the stars. Luckily, we have many exceptional restaurants with exquisite patios from West Hollywood to the Westside, Downtown and beyond. Here are Entertainment Voice’s picks for L.A.’s ten best spots for al fresco dining this summer.

A.O.C.
Suzanne Goin’s wine bar is already a beloved mainstay in L.A., but the move to the 3rd street location made it even more of a dining destination. The chic outdoor dining area offers a Cali-European feel in the middle of West Hollywood. Brunch highlights the wonderful seasonal produce of California, paired perfectly with Christiaan Rollich’s craft cocktails.

Redbird
The long-awaited new restaurant from Chef Neal Fraser is a beautiful gem inside the Vibiana Cathedral. The patio, which serves as its main dining room, is perfect for a romantic candlelit dinner surrounded by Vibiana’s spectacular architecture and greeneries. The retractable roof makes the patio weatherproof, but it opens up on clear and warm nights. A date night calls for one of their Veal Fraser and Pastry Chef Jashmine Corpuz’ inventive desserts.

Chateau Marmont
Celebrities aren’t the only ones drawn to the idyllic garden of this iconic Hollywood hotel, but dining among the greeneries and the architecture evoking a French chateau will make you feel like a glamorous Old Hollywood movie star. The possibility of a celebrity sighting is only a bonus on top of Chef Carolynn Spence’s seasonal Californian cuisine.

Cecconi’s
The white and pastel blue hues of Cecconi’s décor lends the restaurant a bright and spacious feel, both inside and on the patio, enclosed by a line of trees. You also don’t need to spend a fortune to step on the marble floors of this modern Venetian restaurant; their happy hour offerings of $4-7 food and drinks makes Cecconi’s the perfect place to spend a lazy afternoon in West Hollywood.

Gracias Madre
This West Hollywood vegan hot spot draws vegans and carnivores alike with boldly flavored modern Mexican food and great agave cocktails. Beyond its stylish, high-ceilinged interior is a patio warmed by a blazing fireplace. Trees and potted plants shade both the private and communal tables accented with colorful cushions.

Nobu Malibu
No L.A. summers should be spent without dining by the beach and a drive to Malibu to dine with an ocean view is a must. Make your way to Nobu, one of the best restaurants in Malibu, and snatch a table on their patio, set just above the sandy beach and gentle waves. All tables provide a great ocean view, and you can catch one of the best sunsets in L.A. while noshing on some fresh catch of the day.

Terrine
Walk through this brasserie’s elegant French style dining room to the back patio for a more casual setting under the canopy of a large Javanese bishop wood tree. Dine under the sun during brunch with dishes like fried chicken and grits, or cozy into a candlelit table in the evening and dine under the stars with Chef Kris Morningstar’s foie gras terrine. You can also gather a group of friends and head over to the patio lounge for drinks.

Cliff’s Edge
This Silverlake gem has constantly been named as having one of the most romantic patios in Los Angeles and one look will show you why. A large, ancient tree in the middle casts a romantic shadow over the white linen covered tables as colorful cushions line the benches. The warm ambiance fits perfectly with the seasonal and rustic yet sophisticated menu prepared by Chef Vartan Abgaryan.

Sunny Spot
Escape to the Caribbean with Sunny Spot and its brightly colored interior and furniture. Located only steps away from Venice Beach, this restaurant exudes island charm. On warm days sit on the sunny patio and enjoy Roy Choi’s take on Cubano sandwich or jerk chicken accompanied by refreshing cocktails from mixologist Brian Butler and his team.

Café Pinot
Café Pinot offers a respite from the bustling noise of downtown Los Angeles with their patio located in the courtyard of L.A. Public Library. You can view downtown’s metropolitan skyline while dining peacefully among trees and the library’s water fountain. Café Pinot’s seasonal Californian-French cuisine makes this restaurant a popular lunch destination in downtown.