The Best Patios for Outdoor Dining in San Francisco

Good Good Culture Club, a project from former Liholiho Yacht Club chefs that’s as focused on equity as it is on delicious Laotian and Filipino-inspired flavors, also boasts an excellent outdoor rooftop situation. With vibes that blend a tropical vacation with an epic backyard barbecue, it’s an excellent place to eat some Halibut Crudo and Bone-In Pork Belly with a cocktail or two.
How to book: Reservations are available online.

Casements was always poised to be one of our favorite bars in the city, thanks to their standout cocktails, top-notch fish and chips, and, hands down, the best pint of Guinness this side of the Atlantic (not to mention their consistently on-point tunes). But the spacious back patio—created as a pandemic pivot shortly after they opened in March 2020—has upped the ante considerably, making it one of the absolute best places for an outdoor hang in town. From the joyful, colorful murals depicting Irish rock heroes (Dolores O’Riordan of the Cranberries! Phil Lynott of Thin Lizzy!) to the outdoor snug and regular roster of live music and vinyl nights, Casements is the indoor-outdoor bar of our dreams.
How to book: You can make reservations for groups of six or more, otherwise, seating is first-come, first-served.

We can’t think of anything better than eating fresh oysters on a two-level deck jutting out into the Bay with a cold beer or glass of wine or cocktail, and maybe a crab roll or some fish tacos or, on the weekends, a Dungeness Crab Benedict. Good thing we have the Mission Rock Resort, which, in addition to being ideally situated for pre-Warrior’s games good luck oysters (that's a thing, right?), is also often blocked from the wind, a waterfront rarity in this town.
How to book: Reservations are available via Yelp.

KAIYŌ Rooftop, on the top of the Hyatt Place Hotel in SOMA, was an important new entry in San Francisco’s rooftop canon when it opened this winter. In addition to being a showcase for chef Alex Reccio’s distinctive blend of Peruvian Nikkei cuisine, which marries Peruvian flavors with Japanese technique, it's got some seriously stunning views—you can scope downtown San Francisco, the Bay Bridge, and Treasure Island while sipping your Suntory highball. The 3,300-square-foot space is lush with plants that offset the gorgeous, jade green tiled bar and is half a block away from Oracle Park, making it a necessary pre- or post-Giants game destination.

The addition of more tables at State Bird Provisions, one of the tougher reservations to get in the Before Times (and, one of the more delicious and fun dining experiences in San Francisco, period), is reason enough for celebration. But State Bird’s outdoor setup is as charming as a Sourdough Sauerkraut Pancake (read: very), complete with wooden floors, art-covered walls, and ample plants. Even better: the dim sum carts are back! However it’s still State Bird, so book early and book often.
How to book: Reservations are available online.

This iconic beer garden has long been a destination for sunny days and bundled up nights. The menu features standard pub grub with burgers, sandwiches, and wings, and you’ll catch free live music on Wednesdays and Sundays. Pair whatever you order with one of 20+ beers on tap, a cocktail, or Zeitgeist’s famous Bloody. Hours vary, but the bar is once again open until 1 am on Fridays and Saturdays.
How to book: Walk-ins available on a first come, first served basis.

Nopa, one of the best restaurants in the city that cooks up Mediterranean-inspired dishes with local and seasonal ingredients, has also built a truly great parklet, complete with heat lamps, nice tables, and comfortable chairs—though we’d happily eat Nopa’s outstanding fare on the ground at Alamo Square if it came down to it. Still, their outdoor dining setup is legitimately lovely, and somehow feels as though they bottled up that warm glow from their dining room and spilled it out onto Hayes Street.
How to book: Reservations are available online.

Pre-pandemic, Fiorella’s original Inner Richmond location’s dreamy back garden was one of our favorite spots for outdoor dining. That’s still true, but it has some serious competition from the newest Fiorella in the Inner Sunset, where they’ve made outdoor magic yet again with a plant-filled rooftop oasis (they’re also offering brunch and serving cocktails). Considering there’s delicious pizza at both locations, there’s really no going wrong here.
How to book: Make reservations online for the Sunset location. Reservations for the Richmond location can also be made online.

Californios made a big pandemic move from the Mission to 11th Street, upgrading to a larger, industrial-chic space with a lovely front garden and patio area. It’s a wonderful place to enjoy chef Val Cantu’s two Michelin-starred, mind-blowingly creative and delicious takes on California-tinged modern Mexican fare. 10/10 would recommend.
How to book: Reservations are available via Tock.

All Good Pizza’s expansive (7,000-square-feet) outdoor beer garden is a great spot for a socially distanced pizza feast, with Neapolitan-style brick-oven pizzas, organic salads, and paninis grilled on fresh-baked local bread, plus beer and wine. And since Bayview is one of SF’s sunniest neighborhoods, there’s a good chance you’ll be able to dine jacket-free.
How to book: Walk-ins available on a first-come, first-served basis.

4505’s Divisadero patio is a long-time go-to for warm days and barbecue cravings, with plenty of picnic tables on their fenced, dog-friendly patio. The counter-service model remains, and you can also order online for pick-up ahead of time. Don’t forget to get a pitcher of cold local beer to go with your Brisket Fries.
How to book: Walk-ins available on a first-come, first-served basis. Order takeout and delivery online.

This beloved North Beach Italian restaurant, helmed by husband-and-wife team Jen McMahon and Darren Lacey, has a parklet with a covered roof and heat lamps for dinner service. The dinner menu features seasonal dishes like Pesce en Brodo with Dungeness crab, jumbo prawns, PEI mussels, and lingcod, as well as a selection of wines by the glass and bottle and a few beer options. The streetside patio features a partition to block out street noise as well as a shade covering and heat lamps.
How to book: Walk-ins are welcome or call 415-981-4664 to make a reservation.

Prubechu, a destination for Guamanian food and flavors, is open for outdoor dining in a plant-bedecked lot adjacent to the Mission Street restaurant. Satiate your cravings for Chamorro flavors, including Guam-style barbecue, empanadas, local beer, natural wine, and more. Stop by on Thursday evenings when they offer live music.
How to book: Walk-ins are welcome.

Open since 1955, Red’s Java House is a city institution and its patio is as essential to summer in San Francisco as Giants baseball and an unbeatable choice for a pre- or post-game beer. The patio juts out over the water in the shadow of the Bay Bridge and is one of your best options for a cold one and one of the most affordable burgers (served on sourdough) in town.
How to book: Walk-ins available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Opening a restaurant in the midst of a pandemic is no small feat, but opening a restaurant concept specifically designed to fit our pandemic moment is an exercise of true agility. Hi Neighbor Hospitality Group, the team behind Trestle, did just that with The Vault Garden, a 100-seat, fully-outdoor restaurant. In addition to a roster of built-in safety protocols, there's a tailored-for-the-elements food menu from chef Ryan Cerizo, along with wine, beer, and cocktails. The Vault Garden also hosts all kinds of special events, including caviar dinners, drag show brunches, wine dinners, and more, plus happy hour from 3-6 pm.

Fable’s “storybook” garden (complete with three decks, awnings, heat lamps, and plenty of charm) is open for its famous brunch, weekday lunch, a “charcuterie and wine time” happy hour, and dinner. Whenever you choose to visit, you’ll find yourself transported into a living nursery rhyme where beer and wine are readily available—I wish I may, I wish I might!
How to book: You can try your luck walking in, but reservations are highly recommended.

Izzy’s covered and heated patio, complete with foliage and twinkle lights has long been a favorite for outdoor dining, in addition to being a great place for a satisfying steak dinner and local seafood. After all, sometimes there’s nothing better than a perfectly cooked steak, a side of creamed spinach, and a martini (though don’t sleep on Izzy’s excellent wine list).
How to book: Reservations are available online.

Pacific Catch offers outdoor dining at both locations, but the restaurant has made a proper outdoor dining destination at their Inner Sunset location, which has sadly been closed for a refresh, but is reopening in mid- to late May. It’s also one of the larger outdoor dining setups with sidewalk seating and, better yet, a full-blown “Tiki Terrace.” Both locations serve as excellent spots to enjoy Coconut Shrimp, a poke bowl, and a cocktail.
How to book: Choose your location and make a reservation on their website.

Neapolitan pizza is one of those things that needs to be eaten straight out of the (wood-fired) oven. Del Popolo, which does one of the best Neapolitan pies in the city, does have flash-frozen pies you can heat up at home and even though they’re excellent, they still taste better when enjoyed on one of the restaurant’s two outdoor patios, which is often (and aptly) referred to as an “urban oasis.”

Indulge in delicious Pork Siu Mai, Steamed Pork Buns, and Garlic Butter Crab at this dim sum palace with a spacious patio that comes with Bay views. If you prefer dining in the sun, your best chance is around lunchtime. If you manage to leave enough room, you can grab a sundae from the namesake ice cream and chocolate shop before you go home (for the record: we fully support an extra order of dumplings for dessert, too).
How to book: Reservations can be made on Yelp.

Zazie has long been beloved for its charming back patio—not to mention its sizeable brunch menu complete with daily specials and “magic” mimosas served over ice with grapefruit juice and elderflower syrup instead of OJ. It’s open for daily brunch and dinner service (which is also delightful), along with additional tables in a partially covered and heated parklet.
How to book: Zazie is not taking reservations, but is using Yelp Waitlist (in the restaurant only), so you can wait elsewhere (please do, so as not to crowd the sidewalk) and receive an alert when your table is ready.

This charming wine-centric restaurant is pulling out all of the stops with a daily happy hour (3 pm to 6 pm), live music five days a week, and, wait for it: a bottomless New Orleans-inspired brunch on the weekends. And it’s not just the drinks that are bottomless (although they are, and you don’t have to stick with the same one the entire meal); the food is also bottomless, which means as many beignets, deviled eggs, chicken and waffles, burgers, etc. that you can gracefully handle.
How to book: Make reservations online.