These 12 Dallas restaurants ace outdoor dining

The newest addition to the Mexican Sugar restaurant collection includes a sought-after wrap-around patio. Choose between two rows of tables: One is shielded by an awning and decked with ceiling fans and another sits out in the open with sturdy umbrellas and lots of greenery. For the ultimate warm-weather combo, get the lobster fundido with the margarita flight featuring a classic version, a hibiscus-flavored riff, and a serrano-spiked take of the cocktail.

The spacious patio at Smoky Rose hosts one of the best outdoor happy hours in town. Grab some brisket nachos and the signature cocktail made with gin, elderflower liqueur, and muddled strawberries. Although the smoker is the star of the show, the menu goes beyond traditional barbecue. Whether you’re here for happy hour or dinner, the patio is always hopping (don’t be surprised if you make new friends). Take in the scene over ribeye, mashed potatoes, and a slice of Dr. Pepper sheet cake.

Uchiba is the Good Time Charlie sibling to Uchi—James Beard Award-winning chef Tyson Cole’s legendary sushi spot. The bar’s charcoal-grilled skewers taste extra good on its buzzy patio—depending on the weather, the compact all-weather space is opened up or enclosed. Even though a yakitori grill distinguishes it from its sibling spot downstairs, Uchiba also serves some of the same imaginative sushi that made Uchi a smashing success.

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. Its dramatic interiors include a ceiling that glows with tasteful industrial drop lights and portraits in vintage frames. But the scene stealers are the outdoor seats with views of the hotel pool, marble fountain, and greenery, offering getaway vibes in the middle of the city.

Since PGA of America moved its home to Frisco in 2022, many great restaurants have cropped up around it, including the Ryder Cup Grille. Grab a seat on one of the outdoor tables with unobstructed views of the 18-hole golf course. The simple but delicious American menu includes a catch-of-the-day ceviche and one of the best slices of pecan pie in north Texas. If you’re a golf fan, keep your eyes peeled—you might spot a star player grabbing a bite to eat here.

This Lebanese-Moroccan fusion restaurant was inspired by a colorful marketplace in Marrakech that sells soft, vibrant Moroccan slippers known as “babouche.” So it’s fitting that the restaurant’s quaint streetside patio, lined with planters full of yellow flowers, is a go-to for hookah service. The trip to Morocco continues inside a dining room strewn with poufs and Berber throw pillows. No matter where you sit, plan on digging into delicious Middle Eastern street food like kebabs and shawarma.

This popular gastropub offers 6,500 square feet of alfresco seating on two levels. Picnic tables, outdoor games, and dog-friendly spaces make Thirsty Lion the place to linger on a sunny spring afternoon. Get the Wagyu beef and bacon jam burger 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.

The four cheese ravioli, seafood fra diavolo, and eggplant parmigiana draw consistent crowds to this classic Italian restaurant. Its charming patio channels 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.

Sixty Vines is an oenophile’s dream—there are 60 wines on wall taps to choose from, best paired with 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 is Sixty Vines’s gorgeous greenhouse. Though it’s enclosed, being surrounded by glass and foliage brings the outside in. Bonus points for a retractable roof that lets in fresh air and sunshine when the weather permits.

Chef Dean Fearing’s Southwestern restaurant in the Ritz-Carlton offers a luxe al fresco setting on its sprawling Live Oak patio, named for the trees that surround it. A brick fireplace and cityscape add to the elegant but laid-back ambiance. Settle in and prepare for a feast that features staples like braised osso bucco and the signature tortilla soup. Fearing’s outdoor space is an especially popular spot on weekends thanks to live music performances, so book well in advance if you go.

Nothing beats sipping a pineapple and jalapeño margarita on Miriam Cocina’s streetside patio. You’ll get leafy views of Klyde Warren Park, and the space gets bonus points for being dog friendly. On the menu, expect Dominican-accented Mexican food like the La Dominicana burger topped with Dominican chimichurri sauce and paired with yuca fries—just one of the hearty hits at this beloved neighborhood spot.

Henry’s Majestic is adored for epic Sunday brunches and an extra-long beer list. But it’s also loved for its very spacious patio. The outdoor expanse seats 300 and features picnic tables under twinkling string lights; on a cooler evening, park by one of the three fire pits. Food trucks sling Jamaican food, tacos, and more on weekends, and you can also expect entertainment on most nights of the week, including live band performances.