12 Cozy Places to Eat and Drink Outside in San Francisco

All the best patios and parklets for outdoor dining

by Paolo Bicchieri and Dianne de Guzman Updated Mar 16, 2023, 12:54pm PDT

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by Paolo Bicchieri and Dianne de Guzman Updated Mar 16, 2023, 12:54pm PDT

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The Year of the Rabbit started with not one, not two atmospheric rivers in the Bay Area, but 11. Thankfully, despite that, San Francisco still has plenty of sunny days — made all the more enjoyable when the weather reports say to expect buckets of rain. There are timeless outdoor destinations like the wooded Presidio’s Sessions and Colibri, and the scenic Ferry Building’s Cholita Linda and Gott’s Roadside. Plus, there are even restaurants with outdoor dining for those with a big group. But these 12 restaurants sport a patio or an outdoor seating option well worth making a trip for.

Health experts consider dining out to be a high-risk activity for the unvaccinated; it may pose a risk for the vaccinated, especially in areas with substantial COVID transmission.

Cotogna

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Is there anything better than enjoying a plate of fresh pasta or spit-roasted meat al fresco? Well, ok, maybe there’s something. But in any case, if you’re craving Cal-Italian cuisine, Michael and Lindsay Tusk’s more casual restaurant (that’s compared to the Michelin-starred Quince) is an essential option. The heated parklet is one of the best in town, wrapped in warm woods and draped with lush greenery. Just remember: never skip dessert.

490 Pacific Ave, San Francisco, CA 94133

(415) 775-8508

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The parklet at Cotogna, one of the best in San Francisco

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Red's Java House

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Classic San Francisco is alive and well and eating a cheeseburger served on a roll at Red’s Java House. The waterfront business has operated since the 1930s, under the name Red’s since 1955. There’s nothing fancy about the food — fish and chips are a popular order — and not much fuss about the unheated patio, where old tables have a prime view of the water and the Bay Bridge.

Pier 30, San Francisco, CA 94105

(415) 777-5626

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Horsefeather

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Horsefeather’s outdoor area is more atrium than al fresco, but for those who get chilly quickly, that could be a plus. Enjoy golden hour vibes under the glass ceiling amongst the hanging greenery, with a Golden Hour gin cocktail and some shareable bites to eat. The bar and restaurant’s heated parklet also stretches out down Divis if you need more room for your group to sprawl out.

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528 Divisadero St, San Francisco, CA 94117

(415) 817-1939

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Park Chalet Garden Restaurant

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Grab a pitcher of Riptide Red, snag a sunny spot in the grass and watch the afternoon disappear. This little oasis is a great place to relax after a romp on Ocean Beach or in Golden Gate Park. It's dog- and kid-friendly, too. Outdoors is unheated, but a beautiful indoor patio is worth checking out for those sensitive to the cold.

1000 Great Hwy, San Francisco, CA

(415) 386-8439

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Rintaro

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Tucked away on a quiet street on the edge of the Mission, Rintaro serves as a little izakaya oasis in the city and the restaurant’s tree-shaded front courtyard might be the best place to experience the menu of fresh sashimi, silky tofu, and smoky yakitori. The restaurant temporarily closed down thanks to New Year’s flooding in San Francisco, but numerous community members brought in lots of support to bring the restaurant back online in short order. Heaters are, thankfully, on deck.

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82 14th St, San Francisco, CA 94103

(415) 589-7022

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um.ma

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This cool Korean barbecue spot in the Sunset not only has a sweet back patio, complete with powerful heaters, but it’s actually setting out grills on those picnic tables so diners can get the full Korean barbecue experience with fire and smoke — think short ribs, rib eye, and pork belly, and all of the works.

1220 9th Ave, San Francisco, CA 94122

(415) 566-5777

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The back patio at Um.ma set up for outdoor grilling

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Mission Rock Resort

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Feast on oysters and crab Louie beneath cheerful umbrellas on this partially-heated waterfront patio in Dogpatch. There’s plenty of room, plus a view of some boats and other waterfront-y stuff that you can’t find inland. It’s best at brunch when the sun is shining in one of San Francisco’s least foggy neighborhoods.

817 Terry a Francois Blvd, San Francisco, CA

(415) 701-7625

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Zazie

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Zazie is an San Francisco classic for brunch; it’s also a winner for its charming patio, which is desirable day and night. Lush vines climb up the walls, giving brunch a garden party vibe. Don’t worry, there are heat lamps for when the fog inevitably rolls in. There’s also a simple but sizable parklet out front for more outdoor dining options — though it is often crowded with diners and dogs.

941 Cole St, San Francisco, CA

(415) 564-5332

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Prubechu

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Guamanian restaurant Prubechu took over the parking lot just alongside its building, moving the Chamorro party outside in the heart of the Mission. It’s a big patio setup, perfect for the occasional pig roast, though you may need to ask for your heater to be turned on.

2224 Mission St #A, San Francisco, CA 94110

(415) 853-0671

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Outdoor seating during Prubechu’s first day of offering dine-in service

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Fable

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Fable updated its outdoor patio in 2020 and created a lush, inviting environment with birds of paradise, palms, and climbing bougainvillea plants filling every corner. The brunch remains ever-popular, and the new-ish additions of lunch and “charcuterie & wine time” happy hour creates more excuses to enjoy the manicured outdoors, but with heat lamps.

558 Castro St, San Francisco, CA 94114

(415) 590-2404

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Casements Bar

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You do have to push through the dark interior of this modern Irish bar before you’ll land out on the heated back patio. But it’s worth the extra steps, encased in graffiti and grabby murals and stuffed with barrels spilling over with succulents and other plants. The cocktail menu is built around the idea of sustainability featuring Jin Jiji gin from India, Paranubes rum out of Oaxaca, and the woman-owned and produced Yola Mezcal.

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2351 Mission St, San Francisco, CA 94110

(415) 658-7320

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All Good Pizza

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Outdoor beer gardens will never not be an easy place to recommend for being outdoors, but pair it with a good pizza, and it becomes golden. All Good Pizza easily has the slices and the heated outdoor space for groups to gather, eat, and drink, in the Bayview.

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1605 Jerrold Ave, San Francisco, CA 94124

(415) 933-9384

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12 Cozy Places to Eat and Drink Outside in San Francisco

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Cotogna

Red's Java House

Horsefeather

Park Chalet Garden Restaurant

Rintaro

um.ma

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Mission Rock Resort

Zazie

Prubechu

Fable

Casements Bar

All Good Pizza

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Cotogna

Red's Java House

Horsefeather

Park Chalet Garden Restaurant

Rintaro

um.ma

Mission Rock Resort

Zazie

Prubechu

Fable

Casements Bar

All Good Pizza

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All sharing options for: 12 Cozy Places to Eat and Drink Outside in San Francisco

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