ATLGuide
The 13 Best Places To Eat Outside
photo credit: Sarah Newman
From March to damn near December, temperatures in Atlanta can range from pleasantly cool to steam room hot. But we do get those nice idyllic days when everything feels right in the world—green at all the stop lights, perhaps a long injury-free stretch for the Falcons, and maybe that MARTA expansion finally happens. So, when those temps hit the perfect numbers, head on outside and find a good spot. Here are our favorite places.
THE SPOTS
Nothing screams summertime like pastels, huge umbrellas, and a watermelon margarita. Check all three boxes at Botica in Buckhead, a Spanish-Mexican restaurant with a lively, family-friendly atmosphere. The outdoor patio, surrounded by lush greenery, is perfect for gathering with friends or getting in some solo people-watching. Start with tangy halibut ceviche, and make sure you order the tasty carne asada tacos, one of our consistent favorites.
photo credit: Amy Sinclair
You'll find all the shade you need near the big potted trees, beige umbrellas, and boxed garden beds at Delbar in Inman Park. If there's someone in your crew who never wants to eat outside, there’s also a chic sunroom, which gives outdoor vibes without the side of pollen. Make good use of your friends by sampling all the different refreshing cocktails, which perfectly spotlight ingredients like thyme, za'atar, and harissa. The Middle Eastern kitchen consistently dishes out some the best food in the city, so deciding on an order can be hard. Thankfully, their complimentary bread service helps to take the edge off your hunger so you can take more time with the menu. Then dig into family-style sides like big plates of flavorful crispy rice and the massive, tender leg of lamb.
photo credit: Tabia S. Lisenbee-Parker
When your small lunch plans suddenly turns entouragey, take everybody to Staplehouse on Edgewood. Their counter-service eliminates tab-splitting nightmares, and with several tables spread out across the casual back courtyard, you won’t have to search hard for seating. Nothing here looks overly manicured—instead it has the feel of someone’s lush backyard, including the vine-covered walls. You can huddle with your group at a table, passing charcuterie boards and bottles of wine. Since the mostly American menu is centered on farm-fresh ingredients, the featured seasonal dishes should never be ignored. But it’s also not wrong to go with tried-and-true favorites like their hearty meatball sub.
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Day or night, the patio space at Virgil’s is always a scene. Think palm trees on the outdoor space, strong cocktails that remind you of being on vacation, and pulsating music—all ingredients that transform this normally uneventful West Midtown strip into a summery hotspot. On those nice days, Virgil’s fourth wall/garage door is up, so you'll get the full open-air dining experience whether you’re seated on the patio or in the main dining room. There’s also an open-air rooftop space, where you can gaze at the city skyline. But whether you come for mimosas and crab-topped shrimp and grits at their Soul Brunch or are just there to socialize over other low-country favorites and their dangerously good Geecheerita cocktail, made with Henneseey and Grand Marnier, it’ll be time well spent.
photo credit: Brian Manley
You might remember the rows of abandoned warehouses that once stood where Boxcar, the BeltLine, and a bevy of new White Street businesses now reside in the West End. The bar’s brick walls and exposed ceilings are subtle nods to the industrial past while a small, lively patio filled with dog and lager lovers reflects the now. This open section of small tables and bar seats only looks onto the parking lot, but still works as a breezy backdrop for a meal. Pair a craft brew from the extensive beer menu (nearly 30 on draft along with a Hop City sister retailer downstairs, too) with the tender cheesesteak-like Butcher’s Bun or a dry-aged cheddar cheeseburger.
photo credit: Tabia S. Lisenbee-Parker
Sometimes you feel like a good old-fashioned burger. And sometimes you feel like a good old-fashioned burger with a glass of malbec on a lush garden patio under a canopy of trees on the edge of Chastain Park. If you’ve ever had The Chastain’s big-body cheeseburger, then this specific scenario will be the go-to you’ll envision every time a hankering hits. While outdoor seating surrounds the spacious, greenhouse-chic restaurant, we like their covered, tree-lined dining area, where you can enjoy an al fresco brunch, lunch, and dinner while the other city patios get too cold or too steamy. The Southern bistro always maintains a crowd of everyone from neighborhood regulars to business types with the same outdoor dining motives, so be sure to grab a reservation.
With the garage windows raised, the soulful Atlanta vibes of Marcus Bar & Grille spill out into the sidewalk patio. Plants, albums of Atlanta-based artists, and roller skates cover nearly every corner of the Old Fourth showstopper, and party tunes ensure the subtle tapping of feet throughou—’80s and ’90s R&B dance music will always be spellbinding. For brunch or dinner, we usually grab a seat under a shady umbrella, share a few cocktails with friends, and dig through the southern menu, which has some decent dishes like the seafood-packed pasta and cornbread waffle.
Instead of fighting Buckhead rush hour, make your way to CT Reforma’s wrap-around rooftop patio. As you sip margaritas (offered in nearly any flavor you can think of) and dunk tortillas chips into four different complimentary salsas, you might feel aristocratically smug, peering down on the unfortunate souls in backed-up traffic. With stellar items like asada fries drench in queso and topped with shredded beef, hardship will seem (literally and figuratively) beneath you. Come during an early weekday dinner, when you’ll have the entire patio to yourself. Just know this popular Mexican restaurant comes alive in the evenings with scene-seekers and upbeat music, and with the soundtrack of chatter and family crowds on weekends.
With rooftop and front patios overlooking the BeltLine, an outdoor beer garden space, and a massive dining room, New Realm feels like a Chutes and Ladders game board, where you can roam in and out any of the brewery’s spaces with a beer in hand. Even with a packed house on weekends and game watch party days, you’re always able to find a seat. Our favorite things on the brew pub menu are the burgers and sandwiches—and, of course, grab a beer. But if you need a little more menu direction, get the B-ALT Grilled Cheese, which is a thick bacon, arugula lettuce, and tomato sandwich made with a locally produced cheese.
photo credit: Tabia S. Lisenbee-Parker
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Buckhead’s Kimpton Sylvan hotel has a few restaurants to compete for your time. There’s The Betty with its upscale American menu, and there’s Willow Bar, a cozy courtyard wine bar. But if you’re looking for a place to take in the sunset, the St. Julep bar is your winner. Watch patrons in oversized sunglasses in the indoor/outdoor space or the other covered area near the back of the rooftop. Kick back on a couch and eavesdrop on couples, groups of friends, and office gossip fueled by highboys. And then there are the great views and upbeat vibes, which will help put you in the mood for ordering that spiked softserve with your loaded hot dog.
photo credit: Sarah Newman
If you walk the Eastside BeltLine near Krog Street Market, you'll notice Ladybird Grove & Mess Hall over there looking like an adult summer camp. Yellow umbrella-topped picnic tables, firepits, and even a beer-serving Airstream dot the expansive landscape. All the leashed pooches and flashy sunglasses only add to the backyard’s easygoing feel. And since the scene couldn't be any campier if you had on a retainer and tube socks, you won’t regret ordering the juicy double burger or a hot dog smothered in a cheesy chili. Nor should you have any reservations about sipping your Patio Punch, a rum-powered take on a Capri Sun pouch.
We usually head to Westside Motor Lounge when we want to heckle shuffleboard or cornhole players while sipping a frozen Pink Cadillac Margarita. Three auto repair shops were revamped to create this spacious eat-and-play complex that features two bars, a roomy seating area, and sprawling green space with yard games. The massive outdoor area is the perfect spot for large groups or for when your four-legged friends want to join in an outing. Aside from the relaxed outdoor oasis, it’s worth a pit stop here for their creamy, five-cheese mac—our favorite thing on the menu, thanks to jalapeño cornbread crumbles that add a tiny burst of spiciness and crunch. But our runner-up is the juicy smash burger, which has a good-sized patty despite being smashed on the grill.
The carnival games and mini golf at O4W’s Ponce City Market rooftop can feel a little gimmicky, so it might be easy to dismiss the whole scene as nothing more than a tourist trap. But the real rooftop lure is Nine Mile Station, which manages to distance itself from these distractions with its IGTV-worthy mix of patio decor and gastropub menu packed with creative, delicious takes on American dishes. Our favorites are the juicy P.E.I. Mussels and beef carpaccio with capers on top for a nice burst of flavor. But no matter what you order, sit outside so you can enjoy the top-notch views of the Atlanta skyline while you sip cocktails and side-eye the tourists.
