These 10 Dallas restaurants nail outdoor dining

Hotel ZaZa’s funky flagship restaurant offers an eclectic New American menu, ranging from lamb lollipops with pistachio mint pesto to a spicy crispy chicken sandwich on a grilled brioche bun. The interior design includes a ceiling aglow with tasteful industrial drop lights and walls adorned with portraits in vintage frames. But the scene stealers are the outdoor seats, with views of the hotel pool, marble fountain, and verdant greenery, offering getaway vibes in the middle of the city.

The spacious patio at Smoky Rose hosts one of the best outdoor happy hours in town. Grab some brisket nachos and the eponymous signature cocktail made with gin, elderflower liqueur, and muddled strawberries. Although the grand smoker in the pit room is the star of the show, the menu branches beyond barbecue and offers something for all tastes. Whether you’re here for happy hour or dinner, the patio is always hopping (don’t be surprised if you make new friends). Enjoy it all over ribeye and mashed potatoes, plus an unmissable slice of pecan pie.

As the Good Time Charlie sibling to Uchi—James Beard Award-winning chef Tyson Cole’s legendary sushi spot—this bar sits right above its sibling restaurant. Though it’s centered on hand-crafted cocktails and Japanese whiskeys, Uchiba also offers the innovative sushi that has made Uchi a smashing success. A yakitori grill distinguishes it from the restaurant downstairs and fires up portobello mushrooms with broccolini pesto and brown butter and wagyu short rib meatballs. The charcoal-grilled skewers taste even better on Uchiba’s buzzy patio—depending on the weather, the compact all-weather space can be open-air or enclosed.

This Lebanese-Moroccan fusion restaurant was inspired by a colorful marketplace in Marrakech that sells soft, vibrant Moroccan slippers known as “babouche”—which explains the spot’s cozy interior, strewn with poufs and Berber throw pillows. The trip to Morocco continues on the patio, where diners can dig into delicious Middle Eastern street food such as falafel, kebabs, and shawarma. Stretch your outdoor meal by ordering a hookah available in many flavors, including apple, watermelon, and mint.

Dominican chef Miriam Jimenez mixes recipes from her birthplace—the La Dominicana burger, for instance, is topped with Dominican chimichurri sauce and paired with yuca fries—into the Mexican menu at this beloved neighborhood spot. The interior boasts a truly impressive bar and cool contemporary art, but nothing beats sipping a pineapple and jalapeño margarita in the partially enclosed outdoor space with a view of leafy Klyde Warren Park.

This popular gastropub offers 6,500 square feet of alfresco seating on two levels. Order a spicy fried chicken sandwich or a cheeseburger to pair with a cold craft beer. The drinks list is so extensive that it’s best to go with a Texas Flight for $12—six popular Lone Star State brews. Picnic tables, outdoor games, and dog-friendly spaces make Thirsty Lion a fine place to linger on a sunny spring afternoon.

The four cheese ravioli, seafood fra-diavlo, and eggplant parmigiana draw consistent crowds to this classic Italian restaurant. Its charming patio creates the ambiance of a sidewalk dinner in southern Italy—or at least Little Italy. Dine al fresco, sip Chianti, and twirl spaghetti around your fork at tables covered in red-checkered cloths. Chef Kenny Bowers owns five popular restaurants around Dallas, but this one might be his most adored.

North Italia is set in bustling Legacy West and offers classic Italian recipes with innovative twists: Braised short rib is accompanied by roasted fennel, heirloom carrot, grilled asparagus, and mascarpone polenta. Crispy calamari is served with Calabrian aioli and grilled lemon. Pizza enthusiasts can choose from a wide variety of toppings, including spicy meatballs. Snag an outdoor table under one of the cherry-colored umbrellas on the covered patio and try a summery cocktail, such as the Pomegranate Mule made with gin, pomegranate, lemon, and ginger beer.

Brothers Curtis and Luke Stone opened this swanky meat-lovers paradise with restaurateur Stephan Courseau in 2019 and modeled it after their Los Angeles spot, Gwen Butcher Shop & Restaurant. Georgie offers fine delicacies, including a whole caviar menu and a Rosewood boneless ribeye, while the onsite butcher shop doubles as a café, slinging sandwiches, bakery products, and cuts of meat. Two outdoor options, a front terrace and a side patio, offer a lively urban vibe complete with prime people watching on busy Travis Street.

Sixty Vines is an oenophile’s utopia—there are 60 wines on wall taps with four pour sizes to choose from and plenty of dishes for pairing, including charcuterie boards and sandwiches stuffed with grilled chicken or roasted pork. Patio seating is lovely for the full open-air experience, but the crown jewel of Sixty Vines is its gorgeous greenhouse. Though it’s enclosed, being surrounded by glass and foliage creates a dreamy outdoor feel. Bonus points for the retractable roof that lets in fresh air and sunshine when the weather permits.