When the weather is warm, make the most of it and get outside. Better yet, get outside and enjoy a meal. There are a ton of restaurants in California with outdoor seating. Patios and decks overlooking the ocean, forests, and lakes make for a great place to relax and have a leisurely meal. With California’s many sunny days and varied scenery, there are many destination restaurants where you can dine and enjoy a good view. Here are just nine of them:
Gyppo Ale Mill– Whitethorn
Gyppo Ale Mill has the distinction of being California’s most remote brewery. Located along California’s Lost Coast next to the beautiful Shelter Cove, this brewery has tons of events to partake in while you’re enjoying their brews and amazing view. The outdoor patio has tables and fire pits where you can enjoy a view of the ocean. Try a flight of beer and one of their popular menu options like pulled pork fries. The restaurant is open Monday through Friday from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Mosaic Restaurant– Redding
This modern rustic restaurant has a big menu featuring brick-oven pizzas. Mosaic serves breakfast, weekend brunch, lunch, and dinner. The large patio has tables for small parties of two and bigger tables for larger groups. The patio is covered with twinkle lights, giving the space some added ambiance for dinner. Breakfast is from 7 a.m. to 10 a.m.; lunch is from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., and dinner is 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Weekend brunch hours are 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Napa Yard - Oxbow Gardens– Napa
This beer garden is something you wouldn’t expect in wine country. This patio and outdoor seating area is massive. In addition to the concrete patio, there are long tables and chairs for larger parties, as well as many smaller tables. All the greenery and lights really make this a beautiful place to relax and enjoy a cold beer. Space heaters allow guests to enjoy the patio even on chilly days. The menu has a wide selection of beers, plus some elevated bar food favorites like truffle fries and chicken wings.
Sam’s Anchor Cafe– Tiburon
Ask any Bay Area resident what restaurant has great food and a fantastic view and they’ll likely say Sam’s. This iconic restaurant overlooks the bay and the Golden Gate Bridge. It’s located across from San Francisco in the town of Tiburon. You can get to this restaurant from the city by driving, walking, or biking across the bridge, or by taking the ferry. Popular items are the raw oysters on the half shell, the fish and chips, as well as their brunch menu.
Jamestown Hotel Restaurant– Jamestown
This restaurant located in a historic Gold Rush hotel has a beautiful patio where you can eat breakfast, lunch, or dinner. This restaurant and hotel is located about an hour from Yosemite National Park and next to many other quaint Gold Rush towns. The Jamestown Hotel was built in 1858 but was burned down twice and rebuilt. The current structure was built in 1919. The hotel was sold to many owners over the years and at one point was a hospital with a morgue in the basement. It’s rumored that during this time the hotel gained its first ghost, patient Mary O’Sullivan.
Coyote Bar & Grill– Blairsden-Graeagle
In this area known as the "Lost Sierra," the Coyote Bar & Grill is a favorite of both locals and tourists. They serve southwest cuisine, plus some steakhouse favorites. Their large sail-cloth covered patio is a great place to enjoy a steak, nachos, and margaritas. The restaurant is open Thursday through Sunday from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. Happy hour is from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. Their hours and days occasionally change throughout the year, so check their Facebook page for the most up-to-date information. No reservations are required.
Gar Woods Grill & Pier– Carnelian Bay
This restaurant feels several notches up from your average on-the-lake eatery. The menu is California cuisine and fruity rum cocktails. The most popular dishes include crab cakes, lobster bisque, and deviled eggs. Both the large deck as well as the pier have seating, so you can sit overlooking Lake Tahoe or right over the lake. There is often a wait on weekends with nice weather and on holidays, so make a reservation if you don’t want to wait too long.
The Boathouse Bar & Grill– Nice
Located in Lake County, in the central north portion of the state, this is a destination restaurant to many Northern Californians. You can arrive at The Boathouse Bar & Grill by land or by water (they have places to dock your boat). The census-designated area of Nice has a population of about 2,400 people and stretches around the northeast corner of Clear Lake. They have a large menu with all types of cuisines. Menu favorites include lumpia, fish and chips, fish tacos, and burgers. This restaurant also has a full bar and indoor pool table. Patrons rave about the dining experience on the lake. The restaurant is open everyday from 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Parkside Tap House– Chico
This popular Chico restaurant and tap house has a dog-friendly patio. Parkside Tap House draws large weekend crowds, especially at night. The family-friendly establishment has enough room on its patio for games of corn hole and giant JENGA. They serve brunch, lunch, and dinner. If you have little ones, they also have a kids' menu with butter noodles and chicken tenders. Locals love their happy hour specials.
What did we miss? Which Northern California restaurant do you think has the best patio?
Subscribe to our newsletter
Get the latest updates and news
Thank you for subscribing!