The 26 best restaurants for outdoor dining in L.A.

Nobu Malibu is one of those places that’s so stunning, you may just hear yourself muttering, “Is this real life?” With a menu designed by celebrity chef Nobu Matsuhisa, the iconic restaurant—overlooking Surfrider Beach and Malibu Pier—is so close to the beach that you can overhear children playing on the sand. Its minimalist aesthetic complements its natural environment, and the sushi and modern Japanese food are just as disarmingly beautiful as the setting. Mini tacos are filled with deliciously creamy uni, and Nobu’s signature tiradito—thin slices of whitefish dotted with chili—are wonderful. Take note: Reservations here are a must. 

Burbank’s gem of a patio is hardly a secret. In fact, it’s been one of the San Fernando Valley’s special-occasion go-tos for decades. But the Castaway that native Angelenos might have gone to before prom has a whole new look: Today’s Castaway boasts a revamped food menu and sleeker, more modern décor, while its stellar, sweeping views of the Valley, Downtown and beyond still remain as gorgeous as ever. Steaks, whole roast fish, impressive charcuterie boards and luscious pastas are now the norm, and make for perfect snacky fare, full dinner or brunch on that spacious patio with one of L.A.’s most romantic views.

Situated on the buzziest block in Hollywood, Ka’teen channels sceney Tulum resorts with a reed tunnel entrance, a lush outdoor dining room and an expansive, Yucatan-inspired menu by Wes Avila, who also runs Chinatown’s Angry Egret Dinette. Here, Guerrilla Tacos’ former head chef offers plenty of crowd-pleasing small plates, though larger format dishes like lamb neck barbacoa and pescado zarandeado (grilled whole fish) easily steal the spotlight at Ka’Teen. For those who can snag a reservation, the beautifully designed space is perfect for a dressy girls’ night, a stylish date night and, well, any night for the typical area crowd. 

This vegan Mexican eatery in West Hollywood is home to one of our favorite patios in all of L.A. County. Despite its scene-y neighborhood, Gracias Madre’s beautiful patio manages to create a lively atmosphere that’s welcoming to all—chalk that up to its 80-year-old olive trees, umbrellas in the afternoon, and a fireplace and heat lamps on cooler winter evenings. To start, dip into a bowl of guacamole and order one of the bar’s phenomenal cocktails, and consider ordering one of our favorite entrées from Gracias Madre: the potato pimiento flautas.

This 10th floor Downtown rooftop comes courtesy of Stephanie Izard, whose Girl & the Goat outpost in the Arts District has also drawn rave reviews. In similar Chicago-to-L.A. fashion, Cabra is the second location of the Top Chef winner’s Peruvian-inspired small plates concept, with Izard’s usual sharp, playful takes on dishes like striped bass ceviche and lomo saltado. From appetizers to dessert, there’s something memorable and delicious for everyone to love at Cabra—but the outdoor patio situation, especially at sunset, is one of the dreamiest places in Downtown L.A.

Even if you’re not a talent agent trying to woo an A-list client, you’ll probably find a meal at the Polo Lounge pretty glamorous anyway. Served by an impeccably trained staff, this Beverly Hills classic’s slightly dated menu comes to life when eaten on spotless white tablecloths amid its patio’s bright pink bougainvillea and cozy table nooks (once reserved for stars from Hollywood’s Golden Age)s. In the evenings, order the Polo Lounge’s signature chocolate soufflé for one of the city’s most iconic desserts.

Vibes: the only word that comes to mind after the elevator ride up to this Tulum-like, all-day rooftop restaurant and bar serving seasonal California Italian cuisine and top-notch cocktails. Located upstairs from the Laemmle movie theater, Elephante boasts one of Santa Monica’s best indoor-outdoor spaces, with resort-like interior design that feels ripped from the pages of Conde Nast Traveler, including chic modern wood furniture and a stunning view of the ocean from the aptly-named Sunset Room. Meet friends during the day for brunch and lunch, then bring a date at night for low-lit romance.

Inside the tranquil indoor-outdoor courtyard of UCLA’s Hammer Museum, David Tanis utilizes the same farm-to-table approach pioneered by Alice Waters, Lulu's co-creator and the trailblazer behind Berkeley's legendary Chez Panisse. Though we love Lulu for the elegant daytime prix-fixe offering and equally delicious dinner menu, the space itself is compelling enough to stop in for a relaxing meal on the Westside. Above, Jorge Pardo's striking indoor-outdoor orange lanterns (now part of the Hammer’s permanent collection) hanging in the trees and inside the semi-enclosed dining room light up after dark, which gives the entire restaurant a dreamy feel in the evenings. By day, the courtyard feels a bit more casual, but the ever-changing bill of fare determined by the farmers' market makes for an excellent lunch destination for catching up with friends or family.

Tables in tiny greenhouses and a charming patio make this Echo Park neighborhood café a great fit for anyone who loves moderately priced all-day fare in a cozy, relaxed but still adorable setting. We're particularly fans of Lady Byrd’s delectable lemon poppy seed pancakes and pressed sandwiches. With cold-pressed juices, fresh pastries and a full espresso and tea bar, the café is a shoo-in for a quaint lazy weekend brunch.

Perched atop a luxury fitness club, this Hollywood restaurant offers lush design details inside and out, but the outdoor dining area is one of our favorite rooftop restaurants in town thanks to the delicious, elegant and wellness-oriented fare and glamorous design scheme. By day, the plant-lined patio, pink banquettes and checkered floor make for a breezy backdrop for brunch and lunch, but the atmosphere gets sultry later on with excellent views of the sunset and stylish table lamps that set the mood on date night. Though the vegan-friendly menu integrates "functional ingredients" thought to confer health benefits, the eclectic dishes stand on their own in terms of quality and flavor, from the shiitake mushroom larb to the rossejat de fideos, a pricey seafood vermicelli skillet meant to serve two.

Stepping into this mechanic shop turned Mexican restaurant in Frogtown, you’ll probably feel like you’ve left L.A. for a breezy town south of the border. It’s a world where cacti and bougainvilleas encompass you during a meal of tacos al pastor, chilaquiles and tart, salty margaritas. By day, plenty of trees and umbrellas offer shade, and the “lobby” open space allows kids to play while you await one of their many wooden tables paired with colorful chairs. By night, a romantic atmosphere takes hold of this place, but worry not: Salazar’s food and ambience are just as great after sundown.

While its slightly above average food might be expensive, the views simply can’t be beat at Catch LA. At the New York City-based chain's West Hollywood location, you’ll find an open-air dining room with a retractable rooftop and sweeping views of the hills that are particularly gorgeous at sunset—although the restaurant also offers weekend brunch. Mind the traffic jam around its charming flower-lined walk-up area near the elevator and host stand, often crowded due to Instagram photoshoots, and you’ll find special occasion-worthy cocktails, an excellent lobster mac and cheese and whimsical desserts, like their iconic “Hit Me” chocolate cake and Ferris wheel of donut bites. An excellent spicy mayo crispy cauliflower and king oyster mushroom sushi roll ensure vegans and vegetarians aren’t left out of the dinnertime spectacle.

Though this Los Feliz restaurant and bar is relatively new, Mírate has already wowed us with its dreamy open-air dining room and excellent seating options—from well-appointed tables and low-slung armchairs to stools at the glittering bar. The towering tree overhead gives the space an enchanted forest-like feel, and the various nooks and crannies add a dimension of coziness for pairs and even groups of four. Brought to you by the same team behind Mírame in Beverly Hills, the Baja-inspired menu of tasty tacos and other drinking snacks offer the same cutting-edge blend of global ingredients and Mexican culinary traditions that has made the 90210 original popular across the city.

Waterfront? This spot’s water-on. The dual-concept restaurant bookends the famous Malibu Pier, serving fresh California fare at both the full-service Malibu Farm restaurant (located at the entrance) and a more casual counterpart, Malibu Farm Cafe (all the way at the end). There's even a patio for making the most of the breezy setting, and healthful, produce-forward dishes such as cauliflower pizza as well as some serious grass-fed burgers at both. Enjoy organic veggies, farm-fresh eggs and more all while perching over the Pacific. Not bad, not bad at all.

Wouldn’t it be great to hop on a plane to Mexico City next weekend? While you might still be on U.S. soil at this palm and cacti-lined restaurant in the Arts District, the elegant, seafood-focused take on Mexican cuisine and general vibe at LA Cha Cha Chá are more than capable of whisking diners away to the tonier streets of CDMX, the location of its original outpost. Order a tuna tostada and a cocktail or two (or three, if you’re headed to its late-night indoor bar, La Barra) and you’ll feel as though you’ve slipped away to paradise.

If a restaurant could make you weak in the knees, Il Cielo would have diners dropping left and right. Serving lunch and dinner under a canopy of twinkling lights, the romantic Italian family-owned spot aims to be a “country restaurant in the city,” where bubbling fountains and white tablecloths create a darling ambiance evoking a Tuscan trattoria. Sample the risottos, pastas and carpaccios before diving into surf-and-turf entrées. And because dolce really is the most romantic course of all, we advise sharing a plate of tiramisu before Il Cielo completely sweeps you off your feet.

With a dreamy, bougainvillea-lined patio that's overtaken the old Zinqué parking lot, this Mediterranean-inspired stunner is the most destination-worthy restaurant to hit Venice in a long, long while. The crowd-pleasing mix of Italian, French and Greek cuisinet zigs from creamy wagyu-topped hummus to lobster spaghetti and skirt steak with soy honey, all without missing a beat. A breezy breakfast and lighter lunch menu appeals to the usual health-conscious locals' crowd, but the elevated dinner menu and romantic ambience after dark make a visit to Paloma worthwhile for your next big(ger) night out, even if you're coming from clear across town.

At this Eastside outpost of this Mediterranean-leaning local mini-chain, you’ll find shareable small plates, an excellent happy hour and one of L.A.’s best patios in the city. Lined with huge trees, plants and wrought-iron fencing, Bacari Silver Lake’s patio invokes a more romantic, grown-up Rainforest Café without the overpriced, humdrum food and scores of gleeful children running around.

This restaurant's hidden patio off Wilshire Boulevard is one of Santa Monica's best date night spots, with string lights, trees overhead and a generally secluded feel that wouldn't feel out of place in Topanga Canyon or the far, hillier side of Silver Lake. The food here, which leans broadly Californian and coastal Italian isn't half bad either; chef Brendan Collins, who also runs Fia Steak inside, offers delicious handmade pastas, wood-fired meat and seafood and excellent starters and happy hour bites.

Firefly may be the closest thing to a modern-day secret garden in L.A., walls of tangled ivy included. Found on a more popular stretch of Ventura Boulevard in Studio City, the fine-dining restaurant offers modern-American cuisine in a romantic, cozy setting: The heated patio is decorated in candles and twinkling lights—it’s almost as pretty as the carefully constructed dishes you’ll be digging into, like Firefly’s truffle cream mushroom pappardelle or their porterhouse-cut pork chop served with roasted brussels sprouts, bacon, anchovies and mustard cream.

Housed in historic bungalows, this combination cottage-like café and cocktail bar serves large plates of gourmet American classics. Breakfast items are served all day long, and you can expect to find diners filling up the beautiful garden patio at all hours—and especially for weekend brunch—whether they’re here for a stack of pancakes, a meaty, flavorful burger or one of the fantastic cocktails at Big Bar later in the evening. At night, twinkling lights line the patio, and in the warmer months, Alcove turns its outdoor space into a theater, hosting dinner and a movie under the stars.

Are you in a trattoria, or are you on the roof of the Westfield Century City mall? Perched high above Santa Monica Boulevard, Eataly’s wood-fired rooftop restaurant and bar offers a gorgeous patio under string lights and olive trees. Here, you’ll likely find yourself feasting on wood-fired Italian dishes such as house-made pastas, grilled meats, charred fish and vegetables, and ample gin cocktails—just be sure to end your romantic evening on a sweet note with dessert from the roving gelato cart.