The Resy Guide to Outdoor Dining in Los Angeles

Inspired by the charming seaside town Todos Santos on Mexico’s Baja peninsula, this Silver Lake newcomer’s lush, vibey, and completely outdoor setting is the perfect way to teleport to a beach vacation. Get into the tropical spirit with Baja fish tacos, a massive grilled skirt steak, or starters like shrimp aguachile and ahi tuna tostada. Wash it all down with margaritas, palomas, or signature cocktails like the Jaguar Paw (gin, celery, pandan, lime) before heading to the adjacent speakeasy The Jaguar Room for a nightcap.

One of the toughest tables to snag at the moment, the new L.A. outpost of this New York-based concept is meant to transport you to an Italian holiday. Chef Adam Leonti (an alum of Vetri in Philadelphia) is behind the menu, which includes his own refined spin on classics like eggplant Parm and chicken alla diavola, along with stunners like an agnolotti with black truffle fonduta. The lush 140-seat space has an indoor-outdoor feel thanks to a retractable roof, so enjoy the ivy-laden walls and sunset views as you peruse the extensive wine list and nibble on Leonti’s ethereal focaccia.

Echo Park’s A Ti is the brick-and-mortar realization of chef Andrew Ponce’s unique perspective as a French-trained chef with roots in both L.A. and Mexico. The food is casual yet slightly cheffy, with dishes like tuna tostadas, fish tacos, and a crispy duck mole. The drinks marry influences from both Mexico and Japan (in a nod to previous tenant, Kushiba) with options like the plum paloma (mezcal, umeboshi plum, lime, grapefruit soda) or a michelada made with a Modelo, lime, and tomato dashi. Just in time for warmer weather, there is a small, lush front patio for al fresco dining with 18 seats, open for both lunch and dinner.

Botanica’s Spanish sibling is breathing new life into the space that formerly housed longtime Italian favorite Alimento. A partnership between Botanica’s Heather Sperling and the owners of Siesta Co. conservas, the menu at Bar Siesta is a Hispanophile’s dream. Come for a mix of classic tapas like croquetas de jamon, patatas bravas, and Spanish tortilla, along wih a full menu of tinned fish and other provisions. Pair it up with a list of Spanish sherries, vermuts, wines, or cocktails like the Sherry Bomb. As for alfresco options, you’ll find both a covered/heated option for colder nights in the front of the restaurant, as well as an additional 16 seats on the sidewalk along Silver Lake Blvd.

What began as a pandemic era pop-up is now one of the Westside’s most sought-after reservations. The charming vibe inside Cobi’s will make you feel like you’re having dinner at grandma’s house (in a good way). Lined with floral wallpaper, and filled with twee details like mismatched chairs and vintage dishware, the menu offers up a mix of South Asian, Thai, and Malaysian classics like nasi goreng, beef rendang, butter chicken, and more. In terms of patio options, there are two: a covered patio that gives an indoor-outdoor feel as well as a full backyard garden. After dinner, you’ll be walking distance to the beach if you want to take a sunset stroll.

A newcomer in Santa Monica, Cosetta is the beautiful new Cal-Italian star from chef Zach Pollack, whose work you may remember from bygone beloved spots like Alimento and Cosa Buona. His new restaurant blends Italy and Southern California with a menu full of crudos, salads, pizza, wings and more. A large, semi-covered patio complete with fire pits and Adirondack chairs completes the breezy tableaux.

Visit the open-air Mandarin Plaza in Chinatown for a taste of classically trained chef Anthony Wang’s new spot, Firstborn, where he’s dishing out highly personalized, Chinese-inflected dishes with European technique, like country-fried Chongqing chicken, steamed egg custard with bay scallops and peas, and duck sausage with tofu skin. The indoor seating goes for a warm, China-meets French brasserie feel, while patio seating in the Plaza itself extends your options.

Located in a former auto service station from the ‘40s, this Eagle Rock hotspot pulls from chef Ari Kolender’s South Carolina roots with its seafood-forward menu. Snack on shrimp cocktail, raw oysters, or anchovies on a stick from one of their many seafood towers, or opt for something more substantial like a comforting plate of shrimp and grits with Calabrian chili. Don’t miss their wraparound outdoor seating area when warmer weather hits. It’s perfect for sipping on a chilled Spanish red or one of their many sherries or vermouths.

A block from the LAX In-N-Out, this new husband-and wife-led oasis for globally-inspired farm-to table fare is a welcome addition to the Westchester dining scene. You’ll spot rooftop-grown vegetables in dishes like the sunchoke and tomato salad, or the kabocha katsu with bitter green remoulade. Culinary influences range from co-owner Harry Posner’s Persian heritage (jeweled saffron rice) to bits of British cuisine the couple picked up while living in London (Welsch rarebit). And the al fresco paradise isn’t just for the produce — grab a spot on their 40-seat rooftop terrace for peak plane-landing views during dinner or stop by on Wednesday nights for a brand-new trivia night from 6-8 p.m.

Buzzy wine bar Seco is often so packed with revelers that the outdoor dining just happens on its own, as guests snake out the front door along Sunset Boulevard. But the spot does have a dedicated patio for warmer nights that includes 10 sidewalk seats. During the day, you can stop by for grain bowls and cappuccinos, and by night, choose from a menu of globally-inspired fare including an endive Caesar, tuna tostadas, and saucy pastas. Come prepared to mix and mingle with Silver Lake’s young and hip, especially on weekends.

Explore Central American cuisine at this sprawling, mostly outdoor restaurant from Panamanian super chef José Carles. that’ll be your new go-to for warm summer nights. Start with an array of ceviches and raw dishes, like the curry spiced hamachi, followed by a plate of the righly famous fried chicken and tuna carpaccio on a yuca tostada. Pair your meal with one of their many craft cocktails, like the Camino del Sol (a Caribbean take on a Cosmo) or a West of Eden (a summery margarita) and take in the laid-back Westside vibes.

The award-winning cocktail bar that helped popularize Italian aperitivo culture in New York made the jump to California last year, bringing its Amalfi-inspired vibes all the way to a chic landing pad in Beverly Hills. The indoor-outdoor setup atop the Maybourne Beverly Hills hotel specialized in spritzes, among other aperitivo drinks, plus a martini happy hour every day between 3-5 p.m. Enjoy wood-fired pizzas, handmade pastas, and Mediterranean-leaning starters like a sugar snap pea and halloumi salad as you relax on their swanky rooftop patio.

This new Highland Park spinoff of the perpetually packed West Adams all-day café expands with a full dinner menu and cocktails, to boot. The lush and spacious backyard patio is worth a trip alone, but luckily, the food is equally delightful. The dinner menu boasts everything from pappardelle Bolognese to steak au poivre to veggie-friendly butternut lumache; while daytime hits include the maitake tahini toast, a cheekily-named Bodega Sando, and chilaquiles. Time your visit to a sunny day and pair it with a frozen piña colada, and you just might stay through dinner. 

If you can’t swing a trip to Mykonos or St. Tropez, head to this Santa Monica gem for a taste of the good life without the 13-hour flight. With a sun-soaked patio complete with string lighting, comfy sofas, and vintage-inspired umbrellas straight out of a Sardinian café, you’ll want to linger over shared mezze like Calabrian chile prawns, baba ganoush, and nas-o-musir (Persian yogurt dip). Cocktails with names like the Amalfi Spritz (sparkling wine, cucumber-basil cordial, and Italicus Bergamotto) or the Formentera (tequila reposado, roasted coconut, espresso liqueur) drive the theme all the way home. 

This festive spot from Boston sailed into the Sunset Strip in 2023, bringing shellfish towers, smoked fish, and its famed fried lobster with waffles and spicy maple syrup. There’s an impressive list of tinned fish and wine to pair, plus desserts from cult bakery Sweet Boy. While the interior has a sleek nautical theme, a spacious screened patio out front is the perfect place to people watch along a prime piece of Strip real estate.

A paved tunnel opens into an olive tree-lined courtyard at this romantic Fairfax hideaway. Marble staircases overlooking the patio below, private gazebos, and a fireplace lounge set the mood, while the wide-ranging, crowd-pleasing menu drives it home further. Expect bright salads, hand-cut pastas, seafood, and a half-dozen or so specialty steaks; along with an extensive craft cocktail list and brunch on weekends. 

This Westside charmer, located in one of the oldest buildings in Venice, serves a refreshing mix of Italian-leaning small plates and fresh pasta, plus a few heavy-hitters like chicken parm with burrata and boquerones. The spacious patio in front, adorned with heat lamps for chilly Venice evenings, is the ideal place to enjoy a glass of wine (broken into categories like “textured whites” and “natty and playful”), cocktails, or one of the extensive amari options.

With influences from its owners’ combined French, Italian, and Argentinian roots, Bianca, a combined bakery and restaurant in Culver City’s Platform complex, boasts a breezy plant and citrus tree-filled patio. During the day, pick up a chocolate croissant, alfajores, or a sandwich to nibble on outside, and at night, settle in for rigatoni alla Bolognese and wood-fired seafood and meat. Keep an eye out for seasonal specials and a rotating dessert menu with treats like apple crêpes flambéed in armagnac.

In the bustling heart of Hollywood, this latest iteration of the beloved bakery and chain (with locations in Venice, Pasadena, and North Hollywood) is set back from the hectic rush of Sunset Boulevard in the iconic former Cat and Fiddle Space. Enter through a fruit tree-lined archway and make your way to a lush private courtyard (rumored to have been used as a location for “Casablanca”), the ideal space to settle in with an expansive crowd-pleasing menu. Don’t miss their signature artisan breads with creamy dips such as charred eggplant with saba and pine nuts, fresh cheese drizzled with honey and salsa macha, or a smoked trout spread with pickled onion and roe. 

This pandemic-pivot-turned-permanent-fixture in a strip mall in Silver Lake (formerly Freedman’s) serves some of the city’s juiciest souvlaki along with fresh pitas, hummus, and pickled vegetables. The food and cocktails can be enjoyed in the parking lot-turned-tented-patio in front of the building. Diners are completely closed off from the chaos of Sunset Blvd, while the blue-and-white palette is nearly as transportive as Mykonos in the summertime.

This pandemic pop-up planted roots in Downtown L.A.’s Arts District and is now a destination for its crisp-edged pan pizzas. The space has charm to spare, decorated in the style of a chic Italian grandma, and the sprawling, tree-lined backyard patio is as welcoming as the service. The white pizza, with Japanese sweet potato, fennel, pesto, and mozzarella is a must-order, and the beverage list features Italian-influenced cocktails, zero-proof offerings, and an extensive selection of naturally-minded, organic, and biodynamic wines.

When in Echo Park, grab a seat on the sidewalk patio at this Roman-inspired trattoria, where chef Joel Stovall (Orsa and Winston) dishes out elegantly thin arugula and speck pizza, sunchokes tossed with dates, sunflower seeds, and za’atar, and perfectly al dente rigatoni all’amatriciana rich with guanciale. Despite constructing their covered outdoor dining area in a former parking zone on busy Echo Park Avenue, Bacetti succeeds in creating an intimate experience in the heart of a bustling neighborhood.

The 11,000-square-foot rooftop above the restaurant/bar/nightclub juggernaut that is Grandmaster Recorders in Hollywood boasts one of the most glittery views in town. The focus up here is on drinks — and cocktails on tap, such as the Midnight Vultures, with mezcal, Ancho Reyes Verde, Campari, prickly pear, cilantro, and lime juice — make the rooftop a place you’ll want to camp out. A limited, playfully modern menu of Italian snacks from chef Monty Koludrovic is available for those feeling peckish, but take note that the full dinner menu is available inside only.

This Aussie café has a something-for-everyone approach and an easygoing all-day menu. With locations in Venice and Larchmont Village, the bright space offers cheerful patio dining, with a sprawling menu featuring everything from cashew milk lattes to salads, poke bowls, fried chicken sandwiches, burgers, wood-fired pizzas, and more.

The Fashion District’s most, well, fashionable restaurant sits perched in the middle of City Market South, a large commercial complex and pedestrian thoroughfare, allowing for ample sidewalk and patio seating. The lush tropical-themed décor and a broad Latin-inspired menu pair perfectly with the festive ambiance. Try the seafood tostadas, crispy pork shank, and a mezcal cocktail (or two) to enhance the vacation-like vibe.

The 5,000-square-foot tropical plant-filled patio at chef Wes Avila’s new Hollywood eatery is a perfectly transportive haven in which to enjoy a menu that focuses on flavors from the Yucatán Peninsula. Passion fruit, guava, or mango-infused margaritas accompany vibrant fresh ceviche, Baja-style fish tacos, and a smoky lamb neck barbacoa. The ingredients are all locally sourced, but the ambiance will have you thinking you’re traveling the Mayan Riviera in no time flat.

A West Adams favorite for chef Keith Corbin’s all-day comfort food menu, Alta Adams is also a destination for its perpetually welcoming vibe, which extends to the large back patio. The space is private and enclosed, with heat lamps for year-round coziness, which matches the mood on the menu, thanks to black-eyed pea fritters, house-smoked brisket with apple barbecue sauce, and braised oxtails and rice.

Prolific Mexican chef Enrique Olvera (Pujol in Mexico City; Cosme and Atla in New York) brings his sophisticated perspective to Downtown L.A. The menu is filled with innovative Mexican fare, such as duck al pastor and octopus huaraches, made, of course, with fresh California ingredients. The chic, minimalist design makes its way into the stunning enclosed patio in the back, which feels a world apart from the restaurant’s industrial surroundings.

A verdant outdoor oasis tucked in the middle of Silver Lake, De Buena Planta offers the same organic margaritas and even more of the plant-forward Mexican flavors that made the original in Venice so popular. Chile oil-topped guacamole, mushroom pastor tacos, and a platter of nachos covered in pecan-based chorizo are some of the meat-free favorites. Weekend brunch includes live music, spicy bloody Marys, and Mexican fruit bowls with coconut dulce de leche, while a speakeasy-style bar in the back pours mezcal and tequila-heavy cocktails.

This earthy Silver Lake favorite will celebrate eight years in business this spring. It has thrived thanks to its groovy naturalist vibe and private, enclosed back patio. With new chef Sergio Ortega in tow, the menu includes a Botanica Burger, spiced lamb kofta and mussels in spicy coconut-turmeric broth to the table. The tented patio also got extended along the side of the building, providing an abundance of comfortable outdoor seating.

Not only is the patio at Frogtown’s Sonoran-style Mexican restaurant large, it is in essence the entire restaurant — and that’s what makes a meal at Salazar so great. Aside from the kitchen and a small indoor bar area, the seating sprawls out over a lovely gravel-lined dining area. Even better, the restaurant brought on chef Esteban Lluis, who previously worked with Gabriela Cámara at Cala in San Francisco. Here, he shares his talent with dishes like grilled oysters with guajillo chile butter and pork belly tacos on housemade flour tortillas with green pipián and cactus salad.

The Pine and Crane team has opened a third location Downtown, following their original in Silver Lake and spinoff, Joy, in Highland Park. In addition to longtime favorites like the thousand layer pancakes, dan dan noodles, beef rolls, and dumplings, the newest location serves Taiwanese breakfast (think purple rice fan tuan and savory soy milk soup with pork floss), lunch, and dinner. Reservations are available for large groups; everyone else can order at the counter and grab a seat on the sprawling patio.