Your Guide to the Best Summer Patio Dining in Atlanta
Dining al fresco is here to stay. Thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic, Atlanta’s restaurants have created, updated and augmented their outdoor offerings to be used in any weather. Check out our list of some of the top Atlanta patio and outdoor dining spots.
King + Duke
The Buckhead dining spot recently refreshed the look and feel of its patio, complete with a patio-only menu. King + Duke food and beverages can now be savored around the whole development’s courtyard, so order a perfectly crafted cocktail and toast the summer season.
www.kinganddukeatl.com/menus
The Chastain
You’ll find two outdoor areas at this New American neighborhood bistro and bar in Buckhead. The Old Oak Terrace is a bit more formal, offering a tented space, extending from the main dining room. The South Terrace features a firepit and lounge seating for lingering after dinner. Four-legged friends are welcome to join the merriment on both terraces.
www.thechastainatl.com
Hampton + Hudson
Stop in for some Hampton hot chicken sliders or the classic H+H smashburger with three beef patties and American cheese stacked between two glazed doughnuts from local favorite Sublime Donuts. The community bar in Inman Park has a covered, dog-friendly patio for lunch, brunch or dinner.
www.hamptonandhudson.com
Alma Cocina Buckhead
The restaurant’s lush, green wraparound patio is perfect for watching the scene on Peachtree Road and checking out the new happy hour menu. Alma’s contemporary Mexican cuisine is served for lunch and dinner with specialties such as beef short rib barbacoa tacos, roasted chicken mole, esquites and sweet fried plantains. A large selection of tequilas and mezcals make any time of the day celebratory.
www.alma-atlanta.com
a mano
Dine al fresco at this lovely Old Fourth Ward bistro with both a patio and covered deck. Settle in for dinner with a cocktail and selection of antipasti and fresh pastas. For lunch, find Italian-inspired sandwiches and salads. Be on the lookout for pop-ups in the parking lot from places such as The BOK (@biteofkorea) and Happy Seed (@happyseed), specializing in Latin plant-based cuisine.
www.amanoatl.com
Lure
Transport yourself to a coastal, breezy ocean town without leaving the city at Lure in Midtown. Escape to the outdoor patio for coastal seafood cuisine and a new happy hour menu. At any hour, cocktails and communal punch bowls are great accompaniments for oysters, baked crab dip or barbecue shrimp.
www.lure-atlanta.com
Bar Mercado
Come sit on the spacious, canopy-covered patio for Margarita Mondays ($5 margaritas and $20 carafes) and #ThirstyThursday, which introduces $20 sangria and margarita carafes. Eclectic Latin American cuisine is served on this outdoor space at Krog Street Market and offers up tapas, empanadas, paella and ropa vieja.
www.barmercadoatl.com
Boone’s
The neighborhood destination welcomes guests at Bobby Jones Golf Course with upscale, new American cuisine. Take in spectacular views overlooking the golf course on the covered, outdoor veranda. Health-focused, sustainable ingredients are served for lunch and dinner, with a Small Bites menu perfect for drinks.
www.boonesatl.com
8ARM
With new executive chef Hiro Endo at the helm of 8ARM, you’ll discover Japanese-centered offerings such as ramen, izakaya fare and sushi. Settle on the outdoor parking lot patio with terraced seating under the backdrop of one of Atlanta’s famous murals. Sidepiece, the outdoor kitchen which appeared during the pandemic, will soon be transformed into a kushiyaki and yakitori food stand.
www.8armatl.com
The Optimist
West Midtown’s seaside fish camp has a patio complete with a putting green. Fresh oysters can best be sampled during Oyster Happy Hour (Monday through Friday from 5 to 6 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday from 3 to 5 p.m.). Try the lobster roll with an ocean inspired cocktail.
www.theoptimistrestaurant.com
Bogg’s Social & Supply
Head to West End to this neighborhood bar, owned by Tim Song of Gaja Korean and Shane Pringle of the Earl. Gather on the open patio to imbibe in draft beers and Korean cocktails. Pop-ups are hosted frequently and include coveted birria tacos from DMT (@dmtaqueria) and New Zealand hand pies from Heaps ATL (@heapsatl).
www.instagram.com/boggssocial
JCT. Kitchen + Bar
In West Midtown at Westside Provisions District, JCT. Kitchen + Bar is located upstairs from the main restaurant and has a lovely outdoor rooftop space, open every Wednesday through Friday beginning at 5 p.m. and Saturdays beginning at 3 p.m. A special bar menu of Southern snacks pairs nicely with a glass of wine or craft cocktail.
www.jctkitchen.com
Liesl Merkel is editor of Atlanta Now magazine, the Official Visitors Guide of Atlanta Convention & Visitors Bureau.
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