Outdoor dining at Fuego at the Hotel Maya in Long Beach on Wednesday, June 19, 2024. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
With summer officially underway, warmer weather invites people to head outdoors for all sorts of activities, including dining. With sunny days ahead, plenty of restaurants offer patio dining, from rooftop lounges to beachside spots and hidden gems.
With that in mind, here are 15 places in Los Angeles County where you can dine outdoors.
Ballast Point Tasting Room & Kitchen, 110 Marina Drive, Long Beach. The restaurant has an active outdoor patio (Photo: Stephen Carr/Daily Breeze) Ballast Point Long Beach
110 Marina Drive, Long Beach; 562-296-4470, ballastpoint.com
Located at the end of Marina Drive and overlooking Alamitos Bay Marina, this lively patio features fire pits, views of passing boats, and more than 60 beers on tap.
Bar Bohemian at Citizens Public Market
9355 Culver Blvd., Culver City; barboho.com
This trendy food court’s rooftop patio is part of Bar Bohemian, a craft cocktail bar on the second floor, but is open to anyone who buys food from any of the market’s vendors and walks up to the second floor to eat. The patio is lined with plants, tables on wooden floors and lit with string lights, and has a laid-back vibe during the day, but transforms into a party vibe with DJs at night.
Bardot in Claremont offers outdoor patio seating day or night. (Photo by Erin Hughes Photography) Bardot
206 W Bonita Ave, Claremont, 909-621-2255, bardotrestaurant.com.
Bardot in Claremont offers patio seating where you can warm up with heaters or enjoy the breeze. Outdoor dining is the perfect pairing with weekend brunch or refreshing daily cocktails like the Strawberry Gimlet Thyme or Colorado Lamb Chops at dinnertime.
Also see: 7 Outdoor Dining Spots with Amazing Views in Orange County
Belvedere Lounge
123 S Lincoln Ave 2nd Floor, Monterey Park, 626-888-7907, thebelvederelounge.com.
Belvedere Lounge serves cuisine inspired by the best of Asian, Mexican, American, Italian and Indian cuisine. The second-floor restaurant features rooftop seating with a central horizontal fire pit where you can sip cocktails, enjoy shareable appetizers and take in city views of the San Gabriel Valley.
Big Dean’s Oceanfront Cafe
1615 Ocean Front Walk, Santa Monica; 310-393-2666, bigdeansoceanfrontcafe.com
A restaurant patio doesn’t necessarily have to be fancy or fancy decorated to be a place to dine and relax. Big Dean’s has been in business for decades and its front patio is one of those simple places that’s just fun to hang out in. There are a few picnic tables under umbrellas and some plants here and there. It’s on the boardwalk in front of the Santa Monica Pier, so the main view is of tourists, locals, and the many interesting people passing by throughout the day.
Cabra Los Angeles
1060 S. Broadway, Los Angeles; 213-725-5858, cabralosangeles.com
The rooftop restaurant’s patio surrounds the pool and offers panoramic city views and is furnished with tables, lounge chairs and sofas, making this Peruvian restaurant’s nighttime views particularly spectacular.
Also see: 6 Places to Enjoy Outdoor Dining in the Inland Empire
Castaway Burbank
1250 East Harvard Road, Burbank; 818-848-6691, castawayburbank.com
This hilltop restaurant has been around for almost 60 years, but the views from its patio never get old. This classic restaurant serves a seasonal, steak-centric menu and offers stunning panoramic views of the entire valley from its patio, as well as several gas fireplaces, making it feel like you’re floating above the city while you dine.
Clandestino Gastrobar in Azusa serves breakfast, lunch and dinner Tuesday through Sunday. (Photo by Merrill Schindler) Clandestino Gastrobar
353 E Foothill Blvd, Azusa; 626-646-4164, clandestinogastro.com.
With beautiful cocktails on a breezy Spanish-inspired patio, you don’t have to travel to the tropics to find paradise. Whether it’s brunch, lunch or dinner, Clandestino Gastro-Bar serves up a full menu of Mexican dishes, including signature margaritas with chamoy rims, Mexican candy shots and rib eye chilaquiles.
Coco Palms in Pomona overlooks the mountains, homes and the 10 Freeway. (Photo: Cindy Yamanaka, Press Enterprise/SCNG) Coco Palms
1600 Fairplex Drive, Pomona, 909-469-1965, cocopalmrestaurant.com.
Driving through the Pomona hills to Coco Palm, it’s easy to feel immersed in the restaurant’s elegant white interior and exterior, surrounded by palm trees. A frequent venue for weddings, the restaurant serves traditional Cuban dishes like lechon asado and pollo a la plancha, as well as an all-you-can-eat Sunday brunch.
Outdoor dining at Fuego at the Hotel Maya in Long Beach on Wednesday, June 19, 2024. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG) Fuego at the Hotel Maya
700 Queensway Drive, Long Beach; 562-481-3910, hotelmayalongbeach.com/fuego
The patio of this waterfront modern Latin restaurant offers sweeping views across Queensway Bay to the Queen Mary and the downtown Long Beach skyline. After dinner, sit by one of the many fire pits or take a stroll along the sand. This vibrant restaurant has live music and holiday-themed specials.
Brian Holland and Emily Johnson dine on the patio at Gladstones overlooking the ocean in Malibu on Tuesday, June 18, 2024. (Photo by Sarah Reingewirtz, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG) Gladstones
17300 Pacific Coast Highway, Pacific Palisades; 310-454-3474, gladstones.com
This beachside spot has been around for over 50 years, and the views from the patio are one of its main draws: Diners sit right on the sand, able to hear the waves and smell the ocean from their seats. There’s also a fireplace nearby, and the restaurant recently added a new summer menu.
Granville in Pasadena offers outdoor dining and drinks on its rooftop patio. (Courtesy of Granville) Granville
270 S Lake Ave., Pasadena, 626-360-7633, granvillerestaurants.com.
Granville boasts New American cuisine like the Santa Barbara Chicken Sandwich and refreshing cocktails like the Picante Pineapple Margarita. The interior and exterior design is inspired by mid-century modern architecture. The restaurant’s best feature is its Tulum-inspired rooftop seating, which offers views of the San Gabriel Mountains by day and a sea of twinkling city lights at night.
Also see: The 10 Oldest Restaurants in Los Angeles County
Hollywood Roosevelt Rosie’s Cafe
7000 Hollywood Blvd, Los Angeles; 323-785-7000, thehollywoodroosevelt.com/dine-drinks/rosy-cafe
This cozy patio is dotted with several plants and other greenery, giving it a tropical feel, and is adjacent to the hotel’s pool and beneath string lights and palm trees. The establishment recently unveiled a new summer menu that includes dishes like rosé benedict, challah French toast, and duck confit.
Paradise Cove Beach Cafe is a great place to dine while overlooking the sand and ocean. (Photo by John McCoy/Los Angeles Daily News (SCNG) Paradise Cove Beach Cafe)
28128 Pacific Coast Highway, Malibu; 310-457-2503, paradisecovemalibu.com
This Malibu gem is a bit of a hidden spot, at the end of a small road off the Pacific Coast Highway. But once you’re there, you can dine on the patio just a few feet from the ocean. The tables are right on the sand, so wear sandals or other comfortable shoes. After your meal, take a stroll along the secluded beach.
Also see: Secrets of Southern California Speakeasies: How to Find Them and Get In
Pomona Valley Mining Company
1777 Gillette Road, Pomona; 909-623-3515, pomonavalleyminingco.com.
Located right next to Coco Palm, Pomona Valley Mining Company offers stunning views of the San Gabriel Valley. The wood-paneled interior feels like a rustic, cozy cabin, complete with fireplace, chandeliers and lanterns. The ambiance and views make the bacon-wrapped filet, rib eye, prime rib and pork baby back ribs even more delicious. The cocktail menu also boasts the Strawberry Fields cocktail, which is similar to a gin sour, and Grandma’s Medicine, which has notes of coffee and chocolate.