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
Brennan’s of Houston
Opened in 1967 as the sister restaurant to Commander’s Palace in New Orleans, Brennan’s offers an elegant dining experience, which soulfully represents Southern hospitality and Creole cuisine. The two-story restaurant has no shortage of comfortable seating options, but its courtyard feels particularly special. The open-air space is anchored by a wrought-iron fountain, enclosed by vine-covered brick walls, and shaded by a canopy of oak trees. Brennan’s sherry-laced snapping turtle soup ($14) is a must have to start, while entrees include pecan-crusted Gulf fish ($36), and beef tips Diane ($35). End on a sweet note with Brennan’s iconic bananas Foster, a classic tableside flambe that serves as a glamorous finale to a meal. 3300 Smith St., Houston, brennanshouston.com
Tiny Boxwoods
This West U hideaway draws in guests with its garden nursery setting, located adjacent to the Thompson + Hanson home and garden shop. Patrons can dine al fresco during breakfast, lunch, afternoon service, and dinner, with brunch offered on weekends, and roam the picturesque grounds before or after a meal. The menu is approachable with breakfast specialties like house sourdough with butter and strawberry jam, migas, avocado toast, and pastries; while dinner brings plates like chicken Romesco, crab cakes, and a selection of pizzas. On pleasant weather days, stroll over to the Tiny’s Milk & Cookies stand for one (or two) of the restaurant’s famed cookies. 3614 W. Alabama St., Houston, tinyboxwoods.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 Baou 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
