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Beat the sudden heat with a breezy seat under shade
To stay competitive this spring, patio seating doesn’t entail just chairs and tables anymore. Many outdoor dining spaces around D.C. are now decked out with dreamy decor, covered lounge seating, and cooling mechanisms, plus a host of frozen and refreshing drink specials to pair with warmer weather.
A mix of new and reliable restaurants with prime people-watching, waterfront, and garden views put their best alfresco foot forward this season with all sorts of snazzy setups.
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Downtown’s essential Italian restaurant is alfresco city dining at its best. The patio, which offers shade under the glossy Midtown Center complex, is now joined by a second one next door. Stylish sibling lounge Grazie Mille debuted in December and just unveiled its romantic outdoor setup adorned with chandeliers and flickering candles.
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You wouldn’t notice while walking by, but this Columbia Heights pizza pad’s back door leads to a sizable covered patio, fully equipped with fans and its own bar with an extensive drinks menu.
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Located on the shaded streets of Dupont Circle, you can enjoy Neapolitan pizza while people-watching and pretending you’re in Naples — right where Pupatella gets its recipes from. Wash down spritzes with a new salmon pie. Right across the street, snag seats under a fringe umbrella at stylish hangout Vagabond.
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Behind the bar and down the stairs, there is a small, intimate outdoor patio great for late-night dates in the quieter part of Georgetown. There are also picnic tables out front for more casual seating.
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Lose yourself under pink buds in a cherry blossom-filled patio out front of Dupont’s Mediterranean hotspot, which serves one of the best espresso martinis in town.
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This Blagden Alley hideaway has maximized its limited space outdoors and transformed it into a space for cool cats. The alfresco space is varied and eclectic, with covered options, open tables, and bar seating. Swing by for trivia and bingo nights, with a new backyard happy hour deal (Tuesday to Friday from 4 p.m to 6 p.m.) with discounted adult juice boxes, beer, wine, and $3 slices of its Philly-style tomato pie.
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This tony restaurant in the Four Seasons Hotel captures the spirit of Georgetown with its lush patio, elegant cocktail menu, and attentive service. Its stone-lined outdoor area keeps patio-dwellers cozy with sofas and fire pits.
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Situated right on Mt. Vernon Triangle’s bustling K Street NW corridor, this patio is surrounded by greenery to make the space feel private and beautiful all at once. Enjoy pastas and wines (with happy hour from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. daily) while soaking up city views under a classic red umbrella.
Unwind with new deals like ricotta crostini with spring pea, radish, mint, and lemon ($13), $10 wines, and $12 cocktails.
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Tucked off Eaton Hotel’s lobby, the plant-filled, pup-friendly patio at chef Matt Baker’s downtown restaurant faces peaceful Franklin Park. Enjoy dinner, brunch, and cocktails in the shade of trees along K Street NW. Michele’s recently brought back Monday hours along with an epic burger deal all night.
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Downtown’s reimagined French darling inside Sofitel hotel sports a spacious wraparound patio overlooking manicured Lafayette Square park.
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The global gastroadvocacy group’s Planet Word and White House locations offer prime patio options fit for happy hour (Tuesday to Saturday from 3 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.). New dishes from chef Ben Murray include shrimp ceviche and sour cream and onion dip, plus Turkish eggs, shakshuka, arepas for brunch-goers. The White House outpost recently expanded its outdoor patio into a parklet for more outdoor dining spots.
Nestled in the alleyway of posh CityCenterDC, chef Amy Brandwein’s Italian mainstay for seasonal pastas and spritzes offers alfresco seating.
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Forget streeteries for a second and hang out across Bronze’s intimate backyard patio. This Afrofuturist restaurant offers food from the African diaspora (a first-of-its-kind for D.C.), and the private patio will let you take it all in without city distractions.
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This José Andrés restaurant sits in a prime location near several Metro stops, making it accessible for any local to get to. The patio has a view of the Smithsonian American Art Museum and serves a solid Mediterranean menu. Andrés’s nearby Jaleo and Oyamel are also standbys when it comes to outdoor patios.
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The patio at Daikaya Group’s wafu-Italian restaurant nods to its roots, with tables fashioned to resemble a classic red-sauce joint. Along with all the springtime drinks you could ask for, Tonari recently added a build-your-own pizza option to the menu.
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The modern, sleek furniture of this outdoor courtyard and bar juxtaposes the white brick walls of its historic hotel, making this Penn Quarter hideaway ideal for after-work drinks and sweet bites like donut holes and churros.
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Shaw’s go-to spot for sushi, yakitori, sake, and karaoke is outfitted with a lengthy patio fit for warmer months. Chaplin’s, the team’s sibling ramen bar down the street, is also a prime place to sit outside.
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Situated near Market Pier at the far end of the Wharf, The Grill is the spot to enjoy wood-fired American cuisine, luscious steaks, and Potomac views for brunch, lunch, or dinner.
Where to Eat and Drink on D.C.’s Southwest Waterfront
The Wharf’s dreamy wine bar is framed with a massive patio dubbed the Rosé Garden. The glassy space offers an epic, 200-degree view of the Potomac River out front. Daily happy hour—a rare find along its pricey waterfront stretch—includes 10 wines for $10 each, and snacks for $5-$8, from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. Head here when the sun’s out for a new weekday lunch deal (two courses for $25).
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Navy Yard’s waterfront Italian staple that just turned 10 celebrates with all sorts of comeback favorites like focaccia. Saddle up to its shaded, wraparound patio covered in Aperol-orange umbrellas and soak up serene views of bobbing boats on the Anacostia River. Cool off with all sorts of spritzes and negronis. The gin-Campari-vermouth cocktail also comes in flight form.
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Downtown’s essential Italian restaurant is alfresco city dining at its best. The patio, which offers shade under the glossy Midtown Center complex, is now joined by a second one next door. Stylish sibling lounge Grazie Mille debuted in December and just unveiled its romantic outdoor setup adorned with chandeliers and flickering candles.
You wouldn’t notice while walking by, but this Columbia Heights pizza pad’s back door leads to a sizable covered patio, fully equipped with fans and its own bar with an extensive drinks menu.
A post shared by Sonny’s Pizza (@sonnyspizzadc)
Located on the shaded streets of Dupont Circle, you can enjoy Neapolitan pizza while people-watching and pretending you’re in Naples — right where Pupatella gets its recipes from. Wash down spritzes with a new salmon pie. Right across the street, snag seats under a fringe umbrella at stylish hangout Vagabond.
Behind the bar and down the stairs, there is a small, intimate outdoor patio great for late-night dates in the quieter part of Georgetown. There are also picnic tables out front for more casual seating.
wooden table A post shared by Apéro DC (@aperodc)