Atlanta’s 11 best outdoor dining setups

There’s no better place to sit and sip a spritz than the rooftop patio at this contemporary Italian restaurant. If you come on the weekends, you’ll be treated to the tunes of a DJ. Tre Vele’s renovated outdoor space is wind- and water-resistant and decked with exposed brick and greenery-covered walls. A bar upstairs means you won’t wait long for a drink to go with Neapolitan-style pizza, housemade pasta (such as pappardelle with lamb ragu and lasagna with spinach pasta and bechamel), and Italian classics including grilled branzino with parmesan potato cake. Tre Vele also serves one of the best tiramisus this side of Venice. But if you didn’t save room for dessert, don’t fret—you can grab one to-go from the market downstairs.

Buckhead is an unlikely backdrop for a Provençal-inspired sidewalk bistro, but this charming cafe fits right in. Dine among plants beneath a riot of bright umbrellas or weathered wood beams. The menu is filled with French classics that owner Arnaud Michel remembers from his upbringing in Montpelier. Light bites such as charcuterie and cheese plates are always better when eaten outdoors, but so is heartier fare, such as traditional thyme-roasted free-range chicken, trout meunière, and a winning croque madame. A wide variety of wines by the glass go down easy but also consider one of the pastis cocktails, made from a French anise-flavored liqueur created to rival absinthe.

A meal at Canoe starts with a seasonal cocktail at its outdoor bar on the Chattahoochee’s banks. Then sit or stroll along the river as you wait for your table on the covered waterfront patio. It’ll feel like a new and transportive experience in Vinings every time, especially with the near-weekly evolving menu. Expect imaginative uses of gamey meats such as rabbit, kangaroo, duck breast, and venison alongside wood-grilled beef tenderloin, Gulf red snapper, and Springer Mountain chicken. Desserts including the Popcorn Ice Cream Sundae, topped with Chantilly cream, taste even better alfresco.

The waterfront resort vibes are strong here and fitting for a place with a name that means “by the water.” Its elevated covered patio is among the best in Sandy Springs—diners are soothed by the sight and sound of a dramatic fountain spraying yards from the railing. Mojave’s menu takes diners on a Latin American journey via in-house family recipes such as slow-roasted chicken mole with housemade corn tortillas, chipotle lamb chops, and Puerto Rican-style carnitas. Wash it all down with Peruvian pisco sours, sangria made with fruit that’s had plenty of time to soak in brandy, and cocktails featuring fresh juices and herbs.

Forza Storico’s charming and modern patio offers a casual Italian alfresco dining experience with festive bistro lights and playful murals inspired by owner Pietro Gianni’s home country. Order a bottle of wine from the Italy-focused list to pair with classic housemade pastas such as real-deal carbonara, cacio e pepe, and tagliatelle alla bolognese, plus enormous salads and spritzes. Book the chef’s table in the courtyard for the ultimate outdoor treat.

Chef Ford Fry’s BeetleCat is no ordinary seafood shack. The ocean vessel-themed spot turns the New England concept on its head with unexpected riffs and fearless flavors that will change the way you think of standbys such as lobster rolls, chowder, and crudo. Devour your feast on either one of BeetleCat’s two stellar patios—one off the main dining room on the roof for full sun or a shadier setting and retro vibes “below deck.” Get dishes such as moqueca, a Brazilian seafood stew packed with shrimp, fish of the day, coconut, jalapeño, cashews, and rice. Wash it down with tiki-style cocktails including the Fish House Punch made with rum, brandy, peach whiskey, lemon, and black tea.

This contemporary Brookhaven steakhouse is home to a covered patio, twinkling lights, and comfortable seating where diners tear into classics such as shrimp cocktails, wedge salads, and prime meats. For those craving something different, Arnette’s offers distinctly modern twists on local standards, including the option to top your chop with roast shallot Bordelaise or add a side of Ellijay mushrooms with Vidalia onions—both distinctly Georgian accents.

The Select overlooks City Springs and is known for bringing the outdoors in, thanks to a greenhouse dining room and a dramatic floral ceiling that changes with the seasons. Its enormous terrace has some of the best patio seats in downtown Sandy Springs and pairs well with its elegant cosmopolitan menu. Kick things off with small plates including lobster arancini, or an exceptional French onion soup. But leave room for hearty mains including braised short ribs with pink mole, salsa verde, and confit duck potatoes or miso sea bass with bok choy, pickled shiitake mushrooms, and black rice.

Part modern brewery, part coffee house and bookstore, but most notably, a beer garden, this four-in-one spot is a sought-after hangout place. The beer and fries are Belgian, but the family-friendly menu sprinkles in plenty of Southern and Californian influences. Pizza makes an appearance, as do ale accompaniments such as mussels and sandwiches. Order the Abbot, piled high with knackwurst, pastrami, Swiss cheese, mustard, and sauerkraut, or go big with half a chicken or a whole rack of hickory-smoked ribs. There are several outdoor seating areas to choose from, surrounded by shade trees and footpaths, plus fire pits for cooler evenings.

The most coveted tables at this restored homestead sit before a stone fireplace on the gorgeous brick patio. The covered porch also makes a fine place for quality people-watching—a tradition as time-honored as dishes such as shrimp and stone-ground grits, blackened local catfish with ham hock collards, and fried chicken. In addition to those classics, Table & Main’s menu features contemporary creations including Hogs ‘N Quilts (barbecue pork wrapped in chive crepes) and a vibrant vegetable plate filled with modern spins on beloved Southern sides.

To get closer to the coast, head north and stay inland. It may sound like a riddle, but these are the driving directions to this breezy chic restaurant in Alpharetta, just outside of Atlanta. Owner Justin Anthony draws from his home country of South Africa for the menu and much of the wine list. Sure, you could pick a seat in the main dining room, accented by custom surfboards and plants. But you’re really here for The Cape’s covered, bougainvillea-decked rooftop patio, boasting expansive views over Avalon. The dishes are just as delicious as the view with must-tries such as fried whole-red snapper with cilantro coconut and peri peri sauce, ostrich sliders, and a charcuterie board featuring biltong (South African beef jerky).