Top 100 Best Al Fresco Dining Restaurants In America Named

208 Rodeo, Beverly Hills, California

Just in time for the summer travel season, OpenTable, the world's leading provider of online restaurant reservations and part of The Priceline Group, today unveiled the 2015 Top 100 Best Al Fresco Dining Restaurants in America. These awards reflect the combined opinions of more than 5 million restaurant reviews submitted by verified OpenTable diners for more than 20,000 restaurants in all 50 states and the District of Columbia.

Highlighting restaurants in some of the nation's most coveted vacation destinations, the complete list features winning restaurants in 15 states, and includes Frida's in Lahaina, Hawaii, Geoffrey's in Malibu, and The Turtle Club in Naples, Florida. The sunny state of California has 45 winning restaurants, followed by Florida with 18 and Hawaii with 17. Arizona has seven winning restaurants. Nevada and South Carolina have two winning restaurants apiece. Illinois, Maryland, Minnesota, North Carolina, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Texas, and Virginia are also represented. American fare proves most popular among the winners; however, regional Californian and Hawaiian cuisines are also common, as is seafood.

"From beachfront eateries along the shores of Florida and Hawaii to restaurants highlighting Californian nature and those under expansive Arizona skies, the honorees on this year's list are dining destinations where the setting is as Instagrammable as the food," says Caroline Potter, OpenTable Chief Dining Officer. "Diners will definitely want to share every aspect of these experiences with their followers."

The Top 100 Best Al Fresco Dining Restaurants in America are generated from more than 5 million restaurant reviews collected from verified OpenTable diners between May 1, 2014, and April 30, 2015. All restaurants with a minimum number of qualifying reviews were included for consideration. Qualifying restaurants were then sorted according to a score calculated from each restaurant's average rating in the "great for outdoor dining" category along with a minimum "overall" rating.

Based on this methodology, the following restaurants, listed in alphabetical order, comprise the Top 100 Best Al Fresco Dining Restaurants in America according to OpenTable diners.

2015 Top 100 Best Al Fresco Dining Restaurants in America:

208 Rodeo – Beverly Hills, California
Alexander's – Naples, Florida
Angel Stadium-Diamond Club Patio – Anaheim, California
Areal Restaurant – Santa Monica, California
Auberge du Soleil – Rutherford, California
BALEENnaples – Naples, Florida
Beachcomber Cafe-Crystal Cove – Newport Coast, California
Bella Vista at Four Seasons Resort-The Biltmore – Santa Barbara, California
Bistro 60 – La Quinta, California
Bistro at Bacara Resort – Goleta, California
Blue Dragon Restaurant – Kamuela, Hawaii
Bridge House Tavern – Chicago, Illinois
Brooks' Bar & Deck at Edgewood Tahoe – Stateline, Nevada
Brown's Beach House-The Fairmont Orchid – Kohala Coast, Hawaii
Cafe Malaga – McKinney, Texas
Caffe Riace – Palo Alto, California
California Market at Carmel Highlands – Carmel, California
CanoeHouse – Kohala Coast, Hawaii
Carbon Beach Club Restaurant at Malibu Beach Inn – Malibu, California
Cavatina at Sunset Marquis – West Hollywood, California
Coast – Hilton Head Island, South Carolina
Cobalt Restaurant and Lounge-Vero Beach Hotel and Spa – Vero Beach, Florida
Copley's on Palm Canyon – Palm Springs, California
Corks at Russian River Vineyards – Forestville, California
Deck 84 – Delray Beach, California
Duke's Beach House Maui – Lahaina, Hawaii
El Chorro – Paradise Valley, Arizona
El Encanto Dining Room – Santa Barbara, California
El Techo de Lolinda – San Francisco, California
Escena Lounge & Grill – Palm Springs, Florida
Ferraro's Bar e Ristorante Maui – Wailea, Hawaii
Focacceria Ristorante – Liberty Corner, New Jersey
Frida's – Lahaina, Hawaii
Fuego-Maya Hotel – Long Beach, California
Gannon's – Wailea, Hawaii
Geoffrey's Restaurant – Malibu, California
George's Ocean Terrace – La Jolla, California
GG's Waterfront Bar & Grill – Hollywood, Florida
Granada Bistro – San Luis Obispo, California
Home Restaurant-Los Feliz – Los Angeles, California
Hula Grill-Kaanapali – Lahaina, Hawaii
Island Lava Java Bistro – Kailua, Hawaii
JB's On The Beach – Deerfield Beach, Florida
JRDN Restaurant – San Diego, California
Kaluz Restaurant – Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Kamuela Provision Co. – Waikoloa, Hawaii
L'Auberge Restaurant on Oak Creek – Sedona, Arizona
Laishley Crab House – Punta Gorda, Florida
Las Campanas – Riverside, California
Latitudes – Key West, Florida
Lava Lava Beach Club – Waikoloa, Hawaii
Lavender Bistro – La Quinta, California
Le Vallauris – Palm Springs, California
Lido Restaurant & Bayside Grill-The Standard Hotel – Miami, Florida
Lon's at The Hermosa – Paradise Valley, Arizona
Marche Bacchus – Las Vegas, Nevada
Mesquite Grill @ Tonto Verde – Rio Verde, Arizona
MiraMare – Naples, Florida
Mission Rock Resort – San Francisco, California
Mitch's on El Paseo Prime Seafood – Palm Desert, California
Momed – Atwater Village, California
The Oar Steak and Seafood Grill – Patchogue, New York
Oasis – Kapaa, Hawaii
Oceans 234 – Deerfield Beach, Florida
Ola at Turtle Bay – Kahuku, Hawaii
Old Angler's Inn – Potomac, Maryland
Pacific'O – Lahaina, Hawaii
Passerelle Bistro – Greenville, South Carolina
The Patio at Las Sendas – Mesa, Arizona
Plantation Gardens – Koloa, Hawaii
Portico Restaurant – Richmond, Virginia
Poseidon – Del Mar, California
The Ranch House – Ojai, California
Red Fish Grill – Miami, Florida
The Restaurant at Ponte – Temecula, California
Restaurant Michael Schwartz – Miami Beach, Florida
Rustic, Francis's Favorites – Geyserville, California
Sam Choy's Kai Lanai – Kailua-Kona, Hawaii
SEA180 Coastal Tavern – Imperial Beach, California
Sheerwater Restaurant at the Hotel Del Coronado – Coronado, California
Shooter's Waterfront – Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Social Eatery & Bar – Sarasota, Florida
Solbar-Solage – Calistoga, California
Spencer's Restaurant – Palm Springs, California
Stone Brewing World Bistro & Gardens – Escondido, California
Sundy House – Delray Beach, Florida
Sunset Terrace-Omni Grove Park Inn – Asheville, North Carolina
Tidal – San Diego, California
Tom Hams Lighthouse – San Diego, California
Tommy Bahama's Restaurant & Bar – Naples, Florida
Tommy Bahama's Restaurant & Bar – Palm Desert, California
Tonto Bar & Grill – Cave Creek, Arizona
The Turtle Club – Naples, Florida
'Ulu Ocean Grill and Sushi Lounge – Kaupulehu, Hawaii
The Upton – Scottsdale, Arizona
Veranda Fireside Lounge & Restaurant – San Diego, California
The Veranda Restaurant – Fallbrook, California
Wilshire – Santa Monica, California
Wyebrook Farm Market & Cafe – Honey Brook, Pennsylvania
ZZest Market & Cafe – Rochester, Minnesota

America's Best Outdoor Restaurants

Hotel Tabard Inn

Savor the atmosphere and views at these cool open-air restaurants found on rooftops, sidewalks, even gardens.

Contributed by Kate Parham

“A great outdoor restaurant is more than patio tables and umbrellas; it must thoughtfully create a sense of personality and character,” says celebrity chef Tim Love, who recently opened Woodshed Smokehouse along the Trinity River in Fort Worth, TX.  

Fortunately, there’s a great alfresco dining experience to fit every personality, from the romantic wraparound terrace at fine-dining destination Auberge du Soleil in Napa, CA, to the laid-back waterfront patio of the Crab Claw in St. Michaels, MD, where you can watch local fishermen land their daily catch. 

At Linger in Denver, you walk through the neon Olinger Mortuaries sign (from the restaurant’s past life) onto a rooftop patio where you’re treated to skyline views, refreshing cocktails served from a retro RV, and the first-ever rooftop food truck. It’s a winning combination of atmosphere, intoxicating food and drinks, and, as chef and owner Justin Cucci puts it, “an element of fun.”

While Linger plays up its urban location, other outdoor restaurants make a point of being in tune with nature. Tabard Inn, a favorite D.C. brunch spot, has an ivy-clad brick garden with café tables out back that feels like a retreat from the capital’s hustle and bustle.

Read on for more of our favorite outdoor restaurants across the U.S. And in between bites, swing by the bestoutdoor bars and beer gardens

Courtesy of Auberge du Soleil

Auberge du Soleil, Napa, CA

The wraparound terrace at award-winning chef Robert Curry’s Bistro & Bar serves up panoramic views of Napa Valley vineyards and locally sourced cuisine in an effortlessly romantic setting (more casual than the dining room). Whether you want to watch the sun rise with a cup of coffee and a pastry, or sip some bubbly before lamb and potato gnocchi, the outdoor terrace can oblige; the full menu is available all day long.aubergedusoleil.com

Courtesy of Starr Restaurant Group

Parc, Philadelphia

Part of restaurateur Stephen Starr’s ever-expanding empire, Parc pays tribute to France’s café culture with its sprawling sidewalk seating in Philly’s Rittenhouse Square. Some diners wax poetic about the made-in-house baguettes and classics like coq au vin; others are here for the towers of fresh shellfish and perfectly shucked oysters. parc-restaurant.com

Cassie Stadnicki

Big Star, Chicago

Come springtime, after nearly nine months of hibernation, Chicagoans practically sprint to this trendy taqueria in Wicker Park. With $30 pitchers of margaritas and an epic patio outfitted with sleek metal tables and sunshine yellow chairs, Big Star is where you come to while away a weekend afternoon with friends. Don’t be surprised if you see the same diners at both lunch and dinner. Once you’re here, it’s hard to leave the party. bigstarchicago.com

Courtesy of SUGARCANE

Sugarcane Raw Bar Grill, Miami

Escape Miami’s midtown district by retreating to Sugarcane’s 850-square-foot outdoor oasis, complete with vintage garden gates, star-shaped light canopies, and 52 seats. The restaurant has three distinct kitchens—a robata, a hot grill, and a raw bar—all of which deliver Latin-inspired food to the terrace. One order to start: shrimp ceviche and a caipirinha or two.sugarcanerawbargrill.com

Courtesy of Linger

Linger, Denver

Walking out onto the 100-seat rooftop at Linger engages your senses: aromas of sweet sesame BBQ tacos from a food truck fill the air, while ahead lies an unadulterated view of the Denver skyline, with the Rockies in the distance. A line of thirsty hipsters forms at the walk-up window of a futuristic RV; they want a taste of the $5 happy-hour cocktails. It’s no wonder the rooftop is packed. lingerdenver.com

The Beachcomber at Crystal Cove

The Beachcomber at Crystal Cove, Orange County, CA

It takes effort to reach the Beachcomber Café—you must park along the Pacific Coast Highway and take a shuttle through a tunnel to get to the open-air restaurant in historic Crystal Cove—but it is worth it. Start your morning with a plate of decadent beignets right on the beach, or meet friends for grilled artichokes and cocktails. The café actually raises a martini flag at five o’clock sharp. Cheers to that. thebeachcombercafe.com

Our Labor of Love

TWO Urban Licks, Atlanta

This revamped warehouse dishing out innovative small plates broke new ground with the installation of the city’s first restaurant bocce court in 2004. The courtyard, which also supports an herb and vegetable garden, is full of trendy locals vying for a view of the downtown skyline. The nearby paved bike trails created as part of the city’s ongoing BeltLine project have brought in so many new customers that TWO Urban Licks added Sunday brunch to the repertoire. Don’t miss the 26-foot wine-on-tap wall, which features 72 stainless barrels of wine, or the live music Tuesday through Saturday. twourbanlicks.com

Courtesy of Mama's Fish House

Mama’s Fish House, Paia, HI

Imagine sitting on the beach with the sun on your shoulders, the ocean breeze at your back, and a plate of tender ahi tuna poke presented before you. At Mama’s Fish House—an open-air restaurant in the coconut grove of a secluded beach—this fantasy is known as lunch. Fresh local catch is offered year-round at the converted beach house, which pays homage to old Polynesia with the décor and menu items like lobster-and-crab-stuffed mahimahi baked in a macadamia crust. It’s been a mainstay of the island of Maui since 1973.

Hotel Tabard Inn

Tabard Inn, Washington, D.C.

One of D.C.’s favorite brunch spots is especially glorious in warm weather, when you can eat alfresco in the ivy-clad brick sanctuary out back. The global-inspired, yet regionally sourced menu will leave you satisfied, whether you opt for oysters from the Chesapeake or a dozen of the homemade donuts. Show up early and prepare to build an appetite—the patio doesn’t take reservations. tabardinn.com

Ron McQueen

Woodshed Smokehouse, Fort Worth, TX

Given the steamy Texas heat, celebrity chef Tim Love made a strategic choice to locate this backyard restaurant along the Trinity River. He uses a variety of wood (from mesquite and pecan to hickory and oak) to lend unique flavors to crispy artichokes, pulled pork sandwiches, and bulgogi beef tacos. It’s enough to qualify Woodshed Smokehouse as one of America’s best new BBQ restaurants. So grab your friends and even your dog—there’s an entirely separate menu for Fido. woodshedsmokehouse.com

Bridgewater Bistro

Bridgewater Bistro, Astoria, OR

Seafood items like Pacific Bay oyster shooters and Scandinavian-style pickled herring reign supreme at Bridgewater Bistro, a former cannery along the Columbia River. From the deck seating at the edge of the harbor, you can see Washington across the way while enjoying one of nearly 30 wines by the glass. When the weather gets chilly, there’s no need to head indoors—just request one of the complimentary lap blankets. bridgewaterbistro.com

Ben Schneider

The Good Fork, Brooklyn, NY

Hurricane Sandy couldn’t keep the resilient Good Fork shuttered for too long. Korean-born chef Sohui Kim is back at this Red Hook restaurant serving Asian-inspired dishes like steak and eggs with kimchi rice. Her plump pork and chive dumplings beat out Bobby Flay’s version on an episode of Throwdown. The 25-seat garden out back charms diners with bamboo chandeliers hanging from the trees and tables built by Kim’s carpenter-actor husband. 

Linger

The Crab Claw, St. Michaels, MD

Summer wouldn’t be complete without a stop at this 250-seat waterfront deck, where buckets of steamed blue crabs with spicy Old Bay seasoning are delivered to newspaper-covered picnic tables overlooking Navy Point marina. The Crab Claw, which has been owned by the same family since 1965, is a quintessential seafood shack; kick back with a bucket of beers as you watch the watermen land their daily catch.

John Q. Porter, JQP Design

Noble Rot, Portland, OR

For one of the best views of Portland’s iconic White Stag sign, head to Noble Rot’s fourth-story patio, one of the only restaurants with a skyline view—let alone one that faces the sunset every night. The LEED Platinum building has its own 3,000-square-foot rooftop garden, whose ingredients find their way into dishes like the Roof Salad, which tosses seasonal produce in a pickled rhubarb vinaigrette. Pair it with one of the restaurant’s 40-plus wines by the glass.noblerotpdx.com

Jackie Baisa

Ray’s Café, Seattle

At the end of a dock overlooking the Puget Sound, Ray’s Café offers front-row seating for the parade of Alaskan cruises, ferries, and small fishing boats that sail in and out of the locks all day long—with the backdrop of barrier islands and the snowcapped Olympic Mountains. A steaming bowl of clam chowder or plate of fresh steamers nicely complements a glass of Pinot and the impending sunset. rays.com/cafe

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