Houston may be known for its heat and humidity, but there are plenty of days during the year when the air is crisp, the skies are clear, and the temperatures are pleasant. Houstonians love to take advantage of such days, seeking out restaurants and bars that offer inviting and comfortable outdoor spaces for a meal.
Whether it’s a shady terrace overlooking the bayou, or a flower-filled courtyard with live music, there are plenty of restaurant patios to bask in the glory and sunshine of Houston’s prettiest weather days. Here is a list of restaurants that offer some of the city’s best outdoor dining experiences.
La Griglia
La Griglia was a cornerstone of the River Oaks shopping center for decades, but its recent move to the Harlow District in Montrose has garnered it more interest than ever before. Part of Tilman Fertitta’s Landry’s empire, the new la Griglia has a climate-controlled outdoor patio with lush landscaping and a retractable roof. White tablecloths give it a formal feel, and comfortable chairs and banquettes give guests plenty of reason to linger after their meal. Find Italian comfort eats like spaghetti carbonara, risotto al bosco, and short rib cappelletti, plus entrees like brick chicken, and flounder piccata. Sunday brunch is a particularly nice time to dine on the light-filled patio. Start with a glass of bubbles or an espresso martini before digging into the lemon ricotta pancakes. 2817 W. Dallas St., Houston, lagrigliarestaurant.com
Coltivare
This Heights area restaurant from Agricole Hospitality has been around since 2014, and its backyard garden and patio remains one of its main attractions. The outdoor space features both covered and uncovered dining areas, steps from a garden that supplies herbs and vegetables directly to the kitchen. Coltivare’s menu leans Italian, with its wood-fired pizzas and handmade pastas, but you’ll also find dishes that highlight local bounty, like marinated Gulf crab claws ($22), fried Gulf oysters ($20), and local grouper ($29) that reflect Houston’s proximity to the coast. 3320 White Oak Dr., Houston, agricolehospitality.com/coltivare
Flora
The glass-enclosed dining room at Flora feels like you’re dining outdoors, but the lively Mexican restaurant at Buffalo Bayou Park also has an actual patio where you can truly feel one with nature. A covered outdoor space past the chandelier-bedecked dining room offers serene background noise from the park and ample views of its lush natural surroundings. Bask in the beauty and scenic charm, while sipping a ginger mezcalita ($20) and noshing on sopecitos ($13). 3422 Allen Pkwy., Houston, florahouston.com
Loro
Loro has two Houston locations, in Rice Village and the Heights, and both offer welcoming and fun outdoor dining spaces. The Heights outpost, built inside a former church, is particularly unique. Its dramatic facade is easy to spot on West 11th Street, and a sprawling front patio, with both covered and uncovered areas, is fitted with chair swings, picnic tables, and lounge seating. Order a crispy smoked chicken sandwich or a platter of Thai pork ribs, and enjoy your meal with a side of fresh air. Multiple locations, loroeats.com
Rainbow Lodge
Few places in Houston offer a more romantic atmosphere than this restaurant situated in a 100-year-old log cabin on the banks of White Oak Bayou. The restaurant’s rustic interiors reflect its lodge-inspired cuisine, with mounted trophies and exposed beams, while a multi-tiered patio offers stone pathways and ample views of verdant greenery. The smoked duck gumbo ($10) and NOLA-style barbecue shrimp ($19) are standouts of the menu, and carnivorous diners love the wild game mixed grill ($36). Happy hour is available in the bar and on the patio, Tuesday through Friday from 4 to 7 p.m. making it the perfect place for a sunset escape. 2011 Ella Blvd., Houston, rainbow-lodge.com
Brenner’s on the Bayou
When Rainbow Lodge relocated from its original home on Buffalo Bayou, this Houston steakhouse moved in. Owned by Landry’s, Brenner’s on the Bayou boasts a majestic park-like setting along the bayou. Its two-level patio, coined the Blue Bar, has a treehouse feel with robust views of the treetops and a deck overlooking the bayou itself. The Blue Bar has a dedicated food menu, including shellfish on ice, charcuterie, and heartier snacks like goat cheese bruschetta. Happy hour, offered Monday through Friday from 4 to 7 p.m., is a popular time on the patio during which discounted bar bites and beverages are offered. Visit on Thursday and stay a little longer for live music from 5 to 9 p.m. 1 Birdsall St., Houston, brennerssteakhouse.com
Okto
This new Mediterranean restaurant from Sof Hospitality opened at the Montrose Collective last year and has one of the best patios in the area. The dimly-lit dining room seamlessly flows into the outdoor space, which is fitted with plush outdoor seating. Dine on eggplant carpaccio ($18), octopus with bruleed onion ($25), and crab squid ink linguine ($32), and enjoy the high energy of the surrounding neighborhood. 888 Westheimer Rd. Ste. 119, Houston, oktorestaurant.com
Hamsa
Hamsa, Okto’s sister restaurant from Sof Hospitality, sits on prime real estate in Rice Village and features a dreamy patio that faces out to Morningside Drive. Oversized umbrellas and lush greenery offer shade, where guests can enjoy wine, arak-fueled cocktails and the modern Israeli menu featuring dishes like lamb hummus ($17), falafel ($15), and chicken shawarma ($30). 5555 Morningside Dr. #100, Houston, hamsahtx.com
Verde Garden
This Harlow District hangout boasts a sprawling covered patio spread over two levels that is anchored by a tiered fountain and fitted with picnic tables and chair swings. Like its sister concepts, Wooster’s, Heights Biergarten, and Buffalo Heights Biergarten, Verde Garden has an enormous beverage program, including 12 specialty frozen margaritas and 60 classic cocktails. The food menu is given just as much thought, with Tex-Mex traditions like elote ($9), chips and guacamole ($16), birria flautas ($19), and more. 2817 W. Dallas St. Building C, Houston, verdegardenhtx.com
Succulent
Forego the dining room at this River Oaks-area newbie, and take to the front patio overlooking the Regent Square development’s sprawling green space. The open-air patio is lined with planters growing fresh herbs that are used in the dishes on the menu, keeping up with the restaurant’s horticultural theme. As an added bonus, Succulent has an expansive second floor patio that has its own dedicated bar, and ample seating within two towering greenhouses. 1180 Dunlavy St., Houston, succulentfinedining.getbento.com/
Dandelion Cafe
Housed in the historic Heights Clock Tower development, the Heights-area outpost of this popular counter-service breakfast restaurant features a serene, shaded dog-friendly patio fit for enjoying long, lazy meals. The pancakes are among the best in town, while other standouts include the breakfast sandwich on a kaiser roll ($14), and chef JC’s chicken and waffles ($20). 611 W. 22nd St. Ste. 1B, Houston, dandelionhouston.com
Le Colonial
The long wraparound patio at Le Colonial runs the length of the restaurant and gives guests prime views of the entrance to the luxe River Oaks District. The outdoor section is an extension of the exquisite dining room, with its stunning tile flooring, wicker chairs, and white tablecloth dressed tables. Start with an order of banh cuon with a lychee martini, and savor the atmosphere. 4444 Westheimer Rd. Ste. G-140, Houston, lecolonial.com/houston/
Brasserie 19
Brasserie 19 has always had a sceney patio fit for people watching, but a recent refresh has made it feel even more glamorous. The spacious, gated section boasts tile flooring, large white umbrellas, and offers views of the bustling River Oaks Shopping Center. The patio is dog-friendly too, and many of the four-legged guests are just as stylish as their humans. 1962 W. Gray St., Houston, brasserie19.com
Clark’s Oyster Bar
This popular Austin seafood restaurant opened its first Houston-area location in a former auto shop in Montrose, and has since become one of the hottest eateries in the neighborhood. Along with a small covered patio adjacent to the dining room, Clark’s features an extended front patio where guests can linger around over drinks. Raw oysters on the half shell and a variety of chilled seafood plates like the crab louie ($26) and tuna carpaccio ($24) offer solace from Houston’s warm climate. 3807 Montrose Blvd., Houston, clarksoysterbar.com
Le Jardinier
This Michelin-starred French restaurant inside the Museum of Fine Arts Houston gives guests wishing to dine al fresco stunning views of the Cullen Sculpture Garden. The tranquil space serves as an ideal backdrop for the restaurant’s vibrant dishes, which harmoniously blend food and art. Seasonal features of the moment include wagyu beef tartare ($22) with beets, horseradish, and purple potato chips; and tomato and griotte cherry gazpacho ($19). 5500 Main St. Ste. 122, Houston, lejardinier-houston.com/
Aperitivo
Newly opened at the East River development, Aperitivo is situated on the fifth floor of 2940 Riverby Road, giving guests ample views of the budding area. The Italian-inspired concept is decked out with marble, Murano glass lighting, and verdigris ceiling tiles, but its main draw is a 5,000-square-foot grand patio. Guests can escape the hustle and bustle and retreat to this oasis in the heart of the city, while enjoying dishes that lean into the flavors of the Mediterranean, like beef wellington bites, margherita pizza, and pasta with vodka sauce. 2940 Riverby Rd. Ste. F-500, Houston, aperitivohouston.com
Toulouse
This French restaurant is situated in the heart of River Oaks District, surrounded by manicured green spaces and luxury boutiques. While the restaurant has ample interior dining space and a buzzy bar, guests love taking to the expansive courtyard patio where they can properly see the goings on of the district. Visit on the weekends and enjoy live music outside, while you nosh on truffled deviled eggs ($15), mussels ($22), and escargot ($18). 4444 Westheimer Rd. Ste. E 100, Houston, toulousecafeandbar.com
Empire Cafe
Empire Cafe is a Montrose institution for coffee, daily breakfast, and sky-high layer cakes. Its interior courtyard-style patio is dog-friendly and well-shaded, making it a popular year-round hangout. Despite being open for decades, the crowds rush in during weekend brunch, which starts as early as 7:30 a.m., so plan to wait in line. 1732 Westheimer Rd., Houston, empirecafe.com
Bistro Menil
Located just steps from the Menil, this quiet Montrose restaurant offers prime views of Menil Park from inside the dining room and outside on the quaint patio. Diners may get an up close view of Jim Love’s Jack, a towering red sculpture perched right outside the restaurant’s entrance. The European-inspired menu showcases influences from France, Spain, and Italy during lunch and dinner, and afternoon tea service ($70) is also offered from 2 to 5 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday, with a reservation. 1513 W. Alabama St., Houston, bistromenil.com
