Where to Eat Outside in Philly Right Now

In the heart of the Gayborhood in Midtown Village, small restaurants have long found ways to expand their footprint with outdoor seating. Along 13th Street between Chestnut and Pine — and many of the side streets and alleys in between — find charming courtyards, extended sidewalk seating and pop-up in-street dining.

• 1225Raw Sushi & Sake Lounge seats customers in its spacious courtyard and its Sansom Street sidewalk bump-out.
• Barbuzzo’s Mediterranean eats come with a side of people-watching from an extended sidewalk structure that includes clear protective screens, lighting and HVAC ductwork.
• Plant-based fare and strong drinks somehow taste even better on the sidewalk outside Charlie was a sinner., which has outfitted its streetery with area rugs, lighting and HVAC.
• The coffee-to-cocktails (with sushi in between!) all-day menu at Double Knot means sunrise and sunset views from its lattice-sided streetery.
• Picnic tables, an outdoor bar and good music make for a perfect casual hang at Drury Beer Garden.
• El Vez brings its signature colorful décor (and tasty tacos) outside to a streetside structure painted in bright blue, green and red.
• Little Nonna’s serves Italian fare in its tucked-away garden and along 13th Street.
• Wontons, lo mein and cheesesteak bao are on the menu at Sampan’s all-weather streetery.

Outdoor dining has always been in vogue in tony Rittenhouse Square, where restaurants overlook the namesake park and shoppers stroll by tables with the day’s haul. Many restaurants along 18th Street between Market and Locust have set up semi-permanent outdoor structures to accommodate even more alfresco dining.

• The seasonal menu from a.kitchen at AKA Rittenhouse Square hotel pairs perfectly with city rhythms, all enjoyed from within the protected streetery steps away from Rittenhouse Square.
• The eye-catching green streetery outside Bar Bombón is even prettier from within, where partitioned tables each have their own light and rug for an at-home feel at this plant-based Latin restaurant.
• The Dandelion’s alleyway streetery is a double win for customers: London-inspired pub food with a view of the restaurant’s always-stellar plants and window boxes.
• Not only does Harper’s Garden have an outdoor veranda, but the cocktail bar and restaurant also offers personal greenhouses at its tables on 18th Street.
• Each table inside The Love’s wood-framed streetery has its own partition and light (plus HVAC!) for an intimate experience right in the heart of Center City.
• Outdoor seating has always been one of the main draws at Parc, and now guests can enjoy their French fare overlooking Rittenhouse Square from a protected streetery.
• Draping plants, white twinkle lights and even a mini-fountain make for a transformative outdoor dining experience at Rouge — all within view of Rittenhouse Square.
• The fine Italian dining customers have come to expect from Via Locusta is available alfresco thanks to ramped-up curbside seating complete with HVAC.

Baltimore Avenue is West Philadelphia’s hub for global fare, and many restaurants have created or expanded their outdoor dining areas along the leafy corridor that’s easily accessible from Center City and nearby towns of the countryside.

• Paper lanterns and hanging plants transform the sidewalk in front of Booker’s Restaurant & Bar, where the full menu of comfort food and whiskey selections is available beneath an outdoor wooden structure.
• Beer wine, sandwiches and a variety of creative pizzas at Clarkville are easy eats for outdoor seating, which overlooks Clark Park. Can’t decide what to eat? Proceeds from the pizza of the day support the Bethesda Project to assist people experiencing homelessness.
• Dahlak Paradise has applied its name to its outdoor dining setup. The plant-filled covered structure outside the Eritrean and Ethiopian restaurant seats customers rain or shine, with plenty of space left for regular live music performances.
• The Ethiopean cheesesteak is a standout at Gojjo, but everything on the menu tastes great on the spacious, torch-lit patio.

Surprise gardens, elaborate patio setups and streetside tables are on offer along East Passyunk Avenue, where restaurants serve up Spanish, French, Indian, American and Asian-inspired eats.

• A triangular lot at the corner of East Passyunk Avenue, 12th Street and Morris Street leaves tons of space for outdoor dining at Barcelona, where customers can munch on tapas and sip wine beneath the marquee of a former movie theater.
• Churro French toast, stuffed burritos and a robust tequila menu keep Cantina Los Caballitos busy all day long and the expanded outdoor seating setup includes covered and uncovered areas for all-weather dining.
• Guests dine beneath the stars (and twinkle lights) in the yard at Laurel, where the tightly curated French and American menu feels tailor-made for the beautiful space.
• The garden at Le Virtù is downright charming, in keeping with the restaurant’s Southern Italian comfortable feeling. Guests can enjoy the spot’s signature pasta and seafood dishes beneath the lighted pergola, as well as in the covered streetery.
• Ninth and Passyunk is cheesesteak central and possibly South Philly’s OG outdoor dining spot. Grab a table to scarf down your meal at Pat’s or Geno’s, or head across the street to Garage, the bring-your-own-food bar with sidewalk seating.

A short walk from the Delaware River waterfront and public transportation, Fishtown’s Frankford Avenue restaurant hub is now an outdoor dining haven. Established neighborhood haunts have expanded sidewalk seating into the street and newer spots have revamped their back patios for socially distant service.

• Cheu Fishtown and nunu expanded their outdoor seating offerings in 2020 from the shared side courtyard to a wooden streetery alongside the always-busy Frankford Avenue.
• The barbecue scents emanating from Fette Sau float throughout the restaurant’s front outdoor space, meaning no matter how far you sit from the smoker, you’re still connected to the delicious, finger-licking experience.
• With plenty of space and multiple ordering windows, Frankford Hall’s year-round outdoor dining offerings are reliably easy, casual and tasty.
• Neighborhood treasure Johnny Brenda’s is a comfortable, casual, all-are-welcome bar and restaurant that seats customers in its wooden red streetery from brunch through late-night beers.
• Kensington Quarters continues to revamp its back patio, offering views of the elevated train/subway (aka the El) beneath a lighted pergola alongside its meat- and seafood-forward meals.
• Suraya’s outdoor space is simply divine — and deceptively large! The garden, which is nearly as large as the restaurant itself, has its own bar and heaters to help guests enjoy Middle Eastern flavors outside all year.

Philadelphia’s Garden District lives up to its name when it comes to outdoor dining. While sidewalk seating is fairly easy to come by on the cobblestoned streets of Germantown Avenue in Chestnut Hill, spacious, artfully landscaped patios take outdoor dining to the next level.

• Campbell’s Place has moved its cozy English pub vibes outside with a tent that covers the sidewalk and extends onto Germantown Avenue.
• The Market at the Fareway is several restaurants in one, offering outdoor seating for customers at Chestnut Hill Brewing Company, Barry’s Buns, Ranck’s Deli, Saigon Noodle Bar and more.
• Home of The Schmitter (beef, cheese, fried onions, tomato, salami and special saucer on a Kaiser roll), McNally’s has been serving customers since the 1920s and recently expanded its sidewalk seating to accommodate more pub-goers.
• Just off Germantown Avenue, Mimi’s Market & Cafe serves breakfast and lunch (and dinner to go) at umbrella-protected tables resting on pebbles.
• Outdoor tables are in abundance at El Poquito, where a covered patio offers protection from the elements and sun-drenched picnic tables welcome customers in the mood for tacos and margaritas.

Home to more than 300 small businesses, the narrow streets of Manayunk have no shortage of dining options. The hilly historic neighborhood serves up scenic views and waterfront breezes with plenty of tasty food.

• Located just off Main Street, the Couch Tomato has expanded its sidewalk seating onto the Belgian blocks of Rector Street. Customers can enjoy grain bowls, hearty sandwiches and artisan pizzas next to a white picket fence.
• Lucky’s Last Chance offers any kind of burger or hotdog concoction you can dream up, all served in the tiny alley on the side of the building. Guests can fill up for lunch or dinner at one of the wooden picnic tables.
• Craft beer, bar food, fresh salads and pizzas from the stove oven satisfy diners at Manayunk Brewing Co., whose spacious second-floor deck overlooks the Manayunk Canal.
• Sidewalk seating at Mi ‘N Tea stretches into the street for alfresco servings of bahn mi and bubble tea, plus taro fries, iced coffees and other Vietnamese treats.
• Taqueria Amor (formerly Taqueria Feliz) has a menu stuffed with quesadillas, burgers, guacamoles and yes, tacos. Charming pink lights and a painted streetery structure match the blues, yellows and pinks of this welcoming spot.
• Brunch, lunch and dinner at Winnie’s can be enjoyed outdoors thanks to an expanded outdoor setup. In addition to tables beneath the restaurant’s signature black and white awnings, customers can also enjoy zucchini fries, burgers, friend chicken and more in the street.

The historic attractions might get all the attention, but the restaurants of Old City are just as memorable thanks to inventive menus, waterfront views and lush outdoor dining spaces.

• The Bourse Food Hall’s diverse vendors make it easy to enjoy delicious eats on the go, just steps from Independence Mall and nearby historic attractions. Pop inside for tacos, ice cream, fried chicken and more goodies to enjoy on the front patio overlooking the mall.
• Yard games and bar snacks bring a casual, comfortable vibe to La Peg brassier and beer garden at FringeArts. Menu offerings like grilled octopus, a mushroom and pea risotto and raw oysters — all within view of the Ben Franklin Bridge — also make this a great outdoor date spot.
• With a new menu each year, warm-weather restaurant and beer garden Morgan’s Pier, always has something exciting to offer. Elevated bar food, sandwiches and seafood options make this all-outdoors Delaware River waterfront spot feel like a vacation. Plus, live music keeps diners entertained four nights a week.
• Royal Boucherie’s garden patio is très magnifique. The French bistro serves escargot, foie gras, steak frites and many other savory dishes in a a light, airy space filled with plants and string lights against a brick backdrop.
• Farm-to-table dishes pair perfectly with the rustic outdoor space at Talula’s Garden. Plant walls, wood accents and twinkling white lights set the mood for artisan cheese boards, smoked pork belly and roasted salmon.