America's 10 Best Restaurants for Outdoor Dining

Love dining al fresco? Then keep these restaurants on your radar

In Boston, Oleana's lush garden is an oasis.

There’s something about sitting outside at a restaurant or bar that can transform a dining experience from ho-hum to legendary. From lush courtyards to sky-high rooftops to waterfront havens, we’ve tracked down America’s 10 best restaurants for outdoor dining.

America's 10 Best Restaurants for Outdoor Dining (Slideshow)

Sitting outside at a restaurant offers a completely different dining experience from what you’ll find inside. Aside from the menu, you might as well be eating at a completely different restaurant. Whereas inside you’re usually just forced to look at a wall painted the color of the restaurant owner’s choosing, sitting outside can offer a vista of everything from a busy streetscape to an enclosed garden, from a babbling brook to a vast expanse of water or a stunning sunset.

Just about every town has restaurants that offer outdoor seating, but it’s actually not that easy to find a restaurant patio that’s truly spectacular. These outdoor spaces are unique, offer a unique view, and while they don’t necessarily need to be attached to fine dining restaurants, offering good food is certainly a nice perk. All of these restaurants fit that bill to a tee.

Read on to learn which 10 restaurants are home to America’s best spots for outdoor dining. From a waterfront spot in historic Charleston to a legendary New Orleans courtyard, these restaurants, and their patios, should be must-visits the next time you find yourself in the area.

Best Winery Restaurant (2020)

Cooper's Hawk Winery & Restaurants named best in the U.S.

Winning restaurant serves contemporary American fare with suggested wine pairings

Note from 10Best: Someday, we'll all be ready to pack our suitcases again and head out on our next adventures. In the meantime, we'll keep supporting the places that inspire us. Please check individual winery websites for the latest updates.

Best Winery Restaurant (2020)

Cooper's Hawk Winery & Restaurants named best in the U.S.

Winning restaurant serves contemporary American fare with suggested wine pairings

Note from 10Best: Someday, we'll all be ready to pack our suitcases again and head out on our next adventures. In the meantime, we'll keep supporting the places that inspire us. Please check individual winery websites for the latest updates.

Best Winery Restaurant (2020)

Cooper's Hawk Winery & Restaurants named best in the U.S.

Winning restaurant serves contemporary American fare with suggested wine pairings

Note from 10Best: Someday, we'll all be ready to pack our suitcases again and head out on our next adventures. In the meantime, we'll keep supporting the places that inspire us. Please check individual winery websites for the latest updates.

Best Winery Restaurant (2020)

Cooper's Hawk Winery & Restaurants named best in the U.S.

Winning restaurant serves contemporary American fare with suggested wine pairings

Note from 10Best: Someday, we'll all be ready to pack our suitcases again and head out on our next adventures. In the meantime, we'll keep supporting the places that inspire us. Please check individual winery websites for the latest updates.

Best Winery Restaurant (2020)

Cooper's Hawk Winery & Restaurants named best in the U.S.

Winning restaurant serves contemporary American fare with suggested wine pairings

Note from 10Best: Someday, we'll all be ready to pack our suitcases again and head out on our next adventures. In the meantime, we'll keep supporting the places that inspire us. Please check individual winery websites for the latest updates.

Best Winery Restaurant (2020)

Cooper's Hawk Winery & Restaurants named best in the U.S.

Winning restaurant serves contemporary American fare with suggested wine pairings

Note from 10Best: Someday, we'll all be ready to pack our suitcases again and head out on our next adventures. In the meantime, we'll keep supporting the places that inspire us. Please check individual winery websites for the latest updates.

Best Winery Restaurant (2020)

Cooper's Hawk Winery & Restaurants named best in the U.S.

Winning restaurant serves contemporary American fare with suggested wine pairings

Note from 10Best: Someday, we'll all be ready to pack our suitcases again and head out on our next adventures. In the meantime, we'll keep supporting the places that inspire us. Please check individual winery websites for the latest updates.

Best Winery Restaurant (2020)

Cooper's Hawk Winery & Restaurants named best in the U.S.

Winning restaurant serves contemporary American fare with suggested wine pairings

Note from 10Best: Someday, we'll all be ready to pack our suitcases again and head out on our next adventures. In the meantime, we'll keep supporting the places that inspire us. Please check individual winery websites for the latest updates.

Best Winery Restaurant (2020)

Cooper's Hawk Winery & Restaurants named best in the U.S.

Winning restaurant serves contemporary American fare with suggested wine pairings

Note from 10Best: Someday, we'll all be ready to pack our suitcases again and head out on our next adventures. In the meantime, we'll keep supporting the places that inspire us. Please check individual winery websites for the latest updates.

Best Winery Restaurant (2020)

Cooper's Hawk Winery & Restaurants named best in the U.S.

Winning restaurant serves contemporary American fare with suggested wine pairings

Note from 10Best: Someday, we'll all be ready to pack our suitcases again and head out on our next adventures. In the meantime, we'll keep supporting the places that inspire us. Please check individual winery websites for the latest updates.