Best Outdoor Dining Restaurants in the US

You may not be planning to hit all 100 on the list, but depending on where you live… if you haven’t been to one near you, or if it’s been awhile since you have visited them, then here’s how they rank based on 13.6 million verified reviews from OpenTable between May 1, 2021 and April 30, 2022.  Criteria included “amazing views, delicious food, and an overall fabulous experience for eating outside.”

Having lived in Atlanta for over 50 years, I can tell you my favorite is Canoe Restaurant (take a quick look at a great interview HERE) and “a number of cities made the list for the first time this year, including Austin, Texas; Atlanta, Georgia; Greensboro, North Carolina; and San Antonio, Texas.”

As you can imagine, the pandemic / post-pandemic brought a heightened awareness of the benefit of outdoor dining, and many restaurants have worked hard to either add or increase the amount of patio space available today, including a focus on beautiful plants, furniture, and decor making the dining experience rather extraordinary.

You will certainly see some old favorites in this list of 100 Best Restaurants for Outdoor Dining in the US, along with newer stars on the scene.. then play a game with your family and friends to see how many each of you have visited for a meal, and see where the stories grow from there as you each recount memories of days gone by and special occasions!