clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile
More Maps

14 Phenomenal Restaurants for Vegan Diners in San Francisco

17 Destination-Worthy Restaurants in Berkeley

14 Stellar Lunch Spots Across San Francisco

More in San Francisco See more maps
A restaurant.
Zazie in Cole Valley keeps the outdoor dining vibes strong.
Zazie

13 Cozy Places to Eat and Drink Outside in San Francisco This Fall

All the best patios and parklets for outdoor dining

by Paolo Bicchieri and Dianne de Guzman Updated
View as Map
Zazie in Cole Valley keeps the outdoor dining vibes strong.
| Zazie
by Paolo Bicchieri and Dianne de Guzman Updated

October 2023 kicked off with a heat wave that was properly sweat-inducing in San Francisco, a rarity even considering the summery vibes that usually define autumn in the Bay Area. There are a bunch of terrific places for dining in a big group outdoors, and on the other end of the spectrum, there are plenty of restaurants for solo diners eating alfresco, too. But this map is the quintessential resource for the typical night out in San Francisco when that cozy energy strikes and the weather starts to turn toward winter.

Read More
Eater maps are curated by editors and aim to reflect a diversity of neighborhoods, cuisines, and prices. Learn more about our editorial process. If you buy something or book a reservation from an Eater link, Vox Media may earn a commission. See our ethics policy.

Radhaus

Copy Link

Fort Mason’s go-to for cold beers and bountiful German fare is also ideal for wind-protected, heated outdoor dining. There’s a ton of well-lit seating inside, sure, but who doesn’t want to smell a bit of the sea air as they chomp into a well-grilled braut?

2 Marina Blvd BUILDING A, San Francisco, CA 94123
(415) 445-4556
(415) 445-4556
Outdoor dining. Radhaus

Also featured in:

Terrene

Copy Link

Right along the Embarcadero, lying in plain sight is one of the city’s most sprawling patios poised with the best views. Terrene is known for hosting big groups and is home to rich hummus flights and ritzy cocktails perfect for ogling at the sunset over the Bay Bridge. Outdoor heat lamps scatter the area, too.

8 Mission St, San Francisco, CA 94105
(415) 278-3777
(415) 278-3777

Also featured in:

Horsefeather

Copy Link

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. The bar and restaurant’s heated parklet also stretches out down Divis if you need more room for your group to sprawl out.

528 Divisadero St, San Francisco, CA 94117
(415) 817-1939
(415) 817-1939
Metal doors open. Horsefeather

Also featured in:

um.ma

Copy Link

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
(415) 566-5777
The back patio at Um.ma set up for outdoor grilling Um.ma

Also featured in:

Zazie

Copy Link

Zazie is a 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, ideal for enjoying that Florentine eggs benny or pancake flight.

941 Cole St, San Francisco, CA
(415) 564-5332
(415) 564-5332
Zazie
Zazie

Also featured in:

Good Good Culture Club

Copy Link

Good Good Culture Club’s rooftop patio is the kind of place that screams for a lively pre-game in the rare summer sun. Sure, there’s El Techo on Mission Street and loads of other rooftop bars throughout the Bay. But where else can one dine where guests can rest assured knowing the staff are paid fairly while enjoying a meticulously-stuffed chicken wing? And, yes, there are heaters up there.

3560 18th St, San Francisco, CA 94110
Good Good Culture Club rooftop April Storm

Also featured in:

Prubechu

Copy Link

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. Enjoy this restaurant’s robust alfresco dining while working through a pickle bag or a bowl of chicken kelaguen.

2224 Mission St #A, San Francisco, CA 94110
(415) 853-0671
(415) 853-0671
Outdoor seating during Prubechu’s first day of offering dine-in service Prubechu

Also featured in:

Sunset Cantina

Copy Link

Whether it be for a stiff margarita before hitting DamnFine Pizza Co. next door or sidling in to catch a Warriors game over a plate of tacos, Sunset Cantina on Judah Street is a neighborhood favorite for good reason. The outdoor patio in the restaurant’s rear is heated, well-lit, and vibey as can be.

3414 Judah St, San Francisco, CA 94122
(415) 571-8874
(415) 571-8874
A guy performing.
Sunset Cantina’s outdoor seating is extensive and integral to the Outer Sunset’s dining scene.
Sunset Cantina

Also featured in:

Fable

Copy Link

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 — ordering the baguette French toast is a must — and the new-ish additions of lunch and “charcuterie & wine time” happy hour create more excuses to enjoy the manicured outdoors, but with heat lamps.

558 Castro St, San Francisco, CA 94114
(415) 590-2404
(415) 590-2404

Also featured in:

Piccino

Copy Link

Piccino is known for many things, including its array of pizzas, adorable yellow facade, and its relatively new extension Bar Piccino. But real ones know Piccino is home to a snug, jacaranda tree-laden patio with tons of heated seating perfect for tucking into an order of corn raviolini. Given its East Side location, the typical San Francisco fog is even less likely to strike those outbound diners.

1001 Minnesota St, San Francisco, CA 94107
(415) 824-4224
(415) 824-4224
Pizza from Piccino Piccino

Also featured in:

Blue Plate

Copy Link

Bernal Heights’ Blue Plate has kept the community fed for more than 25 years, and the restaurant’s outdoor dining is not to be slept on. There’s a bit of outdoor seating out front, but the heated back patio is ideal for any windy or cloudy weather that may roll in this fall. Those classic smoked trout deviled eggs taste all the better when one isn’t shivering at a picnic table out back.

3218 Mission St, San Francisco, CA 94110
(415) 282-6777
(415) 282-6777
A dish.
Blue Plate’s outdoor dining is legendary.
Andy Samwick

Philosopher's Club

Copy Link

This Ulloa Street dive has been a San Francisco icon since 1960. Little do some know, the business sports a semi-heated, wind-protected succulent garden out back to take those whiskey sours, watch the game, and dine on another classic: juicy burgers from next-door neighbor Bullshead.

824 Ulloa St, San Francisco, CA 94127
(415) 753-0599
(415) 753-0599

Also featured in:

Cafe Alma

Copy Link

From the same ownership behind Tato’s and All Good Pizza comes from this here-today-gone-tomorrow India Basin cafe. There’s a tremendous roll-up door that provides a ton of fresh air and seating that straddles indoor and outdoor dining. For water-adjacent coffee and open-faced egg sandwiches, there are few better places on the city’s east side.

888 Innes Ave, San Francisco, CA 94124
(415) 336-3286
(415) 336-3286
A cafe.
The front of this cafe features seating partially indoor and partially outdoor.
Kristin Hauk

More in Maps

© 2023 Vox Media, Inc. All rights reserved.
Link copied to the clipboard.

Radhaus

2 Marina Blvd BUILDING A, San Francisco, CA 94123

Fort Mason’s go-to for cold beers and bountiful German fare is also ideal for wind-protected, heated outdoor dining. There’s a ton of well-lit seating inside, sure, but who doesn’t want to smell a bit of the sea air as they chomp into a well-grilled braut?

2 Marina Blvd BUILDING A, San Francisco, CA 94123
(415) 445-4556
(415) 445-4556
Outdoor dining. Radhaus

Terrene

8 Mission St, San Francisco, CA 94105

Right along the Embarcadero, lying in plain sight is one of the city’s most sprawling patios poised with the best views. Terrene is known for hosting big groups and is home to rich hummus flights and ritzy cocktails perfect for ogling at the sunset over the Bay Bridge. Outdoor heat lamps scatter the area, too.

8 Mission St, San Francisco, CA 94105
(415) 278-3777
(415) 278-3777

Horsefeather

528 Divisadero St, San Francisco, CA 94117

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. The bar and restaurant’s heated parklet also stretches out down Divis if you need more room for your group to sprawl out.

528 Divisadero St, San Francisco, CA 94117
(415) 817-1939
(415) 817-1939
Metal doors open. Horsefeather

um.ma

1220 9th Ave, San Francisco, CA 94122

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
(415) 566-5777
The back patio at Um.ma set up for outdoor grilling Um.ma

Zazie

941 Cole St, San Francisco, CA

Zazie is a 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, ideal for enjoying that Florentine eggs benny or pancake flight.

941 Cole St, San Francisco, CA
(415) 564-5332
(415) 564-5332
Zazie
Zazie

Good Good Culture Club

3560 18th St, San Francisco, CA 94110

Good Good Culture Club’s rooftop patio is the kind of place that screams for a lively pre-game in the rare summer sun. Sure, there’s El Techo on Mission Street and loads of other rooftop bars throughout the Bay. But where else can one dine where guests can rest assured knowing the staff are paid fairly while enjoying a meticulously-stuffed chicken wing? And, yes, there are heaters up there.

3560 18th St, San Francisco, CA 94110
Good Good Culture Club rooftop April Storm

Prubechu

2224 Mission St #A, San Francisco, CA 94110

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. Enjoy this restaurant’s robust alfresco dining while working through a pickle bag or a bowl of chicken kelaguen.

2224 Mission St #A, San Francisco, CA 94110
(415) 853-0671
(415) 853-0671
Outdoor seating during Prubechu’s first day of offering dine-in service Prubechu

Sunset Cantina

3414 Judah St, San Francisco, CA 94122

Whether it be for a stiff margarita before hitting DamnFine Pizza Co. next door or sidling in to catch a Warriors game over a plate of tacos, Sunset Cantina on Judah Street is a neighborhood favorite for good reason. The outdoor patio in the restaurant’s rear is heated, well-lit, and vibey as can be.

3414 Judah St, San Francisco, CA 94122
(415) 571-8874
(415) 571-8874
A guy performing.
Sunset Cantina’s outdoor seating is extensive and integral to the Outer Sunset’s dining scene.
Sunset Cantina

Fable

558 Castro St, San Francisco, CA 94114

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 — ordering the baguette French toast is a must — and the new-ish additions of lunch and “charcuterie & wine time” happy hour create more excuses to enjoy the manicured outdoors, but with heat lamps.

558 Castro St, San Francisco, CA 94114
(415) 590-2404
(415) 590-2404

Piccino

1001 Minnesota St, San Francisco, CA 94107

Piccino is known for many things, including its array of pizzas, adorable yellow facade, and its relatively new extension Bar Piccino. But real ones know Piccino is home to a snug, jacaranda tree-laden patio with tons of heated seating perfect for tucking into an order of corn raviolini. Given its East Side location, the typical San Francisco fog is even less likely to strike those outbound diners.

1001 Minnesota St, San Francisco, CA 94107
(415) 824-4224
(415) 824-4224
Pizza from Piccino Piccino

Blue Plate

3218 Mission St, San Francisco, CA 94110

Bernal Heights’ Blue Plate has kept the community fed for more than 25 years, and the restaurant’s outdoor dining is not to be slept on. There’s a bit of outdoor seating out front, but the heated back patio is ideal for any windy or cloudy weather that may roll in this fall. Those classic smoked trout deviled eggs taste all the better when one isn’t shivering at a picnic table out back.

3218 Mission St, San Francisco, CA 94110
(415) 282-6777
(415) 282-6777
A dish.
Blue Plate’s outdoor dining is legendary.
Andy Samwick

Philosopher's Club

824 Ulloa St, San Francisco, CA 94127

This Ulloa Street dive has been a San Francisco icon since 1960. Little do some know, the business sports a semi-heated, wind-protected succulent garden out back to take those whiskey sours, watch the game, and dine on another classic: juicy burgers from next-door neighbor Bullshead.

824 Ulloa St, San Francisco, CA 94127
(415) 753-0599
(415) 753-0599

Cafe Alma

888 Innes Ave, San Francisco, CA 94124

From the same ownership behind Tato’s and All Good Pizza comes from this here-today-gone-tomorrow India Basin cafe. There’s a tremendous roll-up door that provides a ton of fresh air and seating that straddles indoor and outdoor dining. For water-adjacent coffee and open-faced egg sandwiches, there are few better places on the city’s east side.

888 Innes Ave, San Francisco, CA 94124
(415) 336-3286
(415) 336-3286
A cafe.
The front of this cafe features seating partially indoor and partially outdoor.
Kristin Hauk

Related Maps