11 September 18 - 24, 2025 dallasobserver.com DALLAS OBSERVER Classified | MusiC | dish | Culture | unfair Park | Contents Best Patios Get out there and touch some sun. BY LAUREN DREWES DANIELS AND CARLY MAY GRAVLEY T wice a year there’s a small sliver of time when Dallasites can en- joy a patio without misters and fans, or huddle next to furnace towers. Now is that time. So get out there and enjoy some al fresco dining. Below you’ll find our 17 of Dallas’ finest patios, even though there are so many more worthy of mention. This is a mix of new and old, and if you can’t find one of your favor- ites, check out our rooftop dining list online before you throw hands. Alamo Club 1919 Greenville Ave. The Alamo Club is a Lower Greenville staple with a small patio out front, but that’s just a decoy; head to the larger patio in the back. They have upscale bar bites, and on Wednesdays, happy hour starts at 3 p.m. and lasts until midnight. They’ve got trivia on Wednesdays and bingo on Thursdays. There’s a special late-night menu from 10 p.m. to midnight. Birdie’s Eastside 6621 E. Mockingbird This East Dallas restaurant has become a neighborhood favorite and not just because of the great fare and service, a trademark of owner Jon Aleix’s restaurant, which in- cludes The Ramble Room, Escondido and TJ’s Seafood. Birdie’s is also popular for its large outdoor space, where the kids can be kids (be reasonable here, however), and people who are easily annoyed with kids can also have space. There’s plenty of indoor and outdoor seating, TVs and a big (but still one- page) menu. There’s flatbreads, game day fare, bowls, wraps and sandwiches. It all goes down easier with some fresh air. Cafe Madrid 4501 Travis St. Cafe Madrid somehow captures an old- world charm that is impossible to invent and hard to find in these parts. If you can’t book a trip to Spain, come here for authentic Spanish tapas while sipping sangria on the patio. This is not a patio to be “seen” but a place to absorb and relax. Check out the fla- menco dances every first Friday. Chelsea Corner 4830 McKinney Ave. Chelsea Corner has a large climate-con- trolled patio, with plenty of TVs, astroturf and lounge-ish seating made comfy by plenty of fans and misters (or heaters, when needed). The menus are all seasonal and the energy is always good. Happy hour (Monday – Thursday, 4–6:30 p.m., and Friday, 11 a.m. – 6:30 p.m.) includes a variety of craft beer for $6 and cocktails for under $9. Cold Beer Company 3600 Main St. Cold Beer Company just outside of Deep El- lum recently celebrated its 10th anniversary and we consider it one of the most under- the-radar patios in the city. The beer list is large (24 on draft, 36 cans), and a grilled pi- mento cheese sandwich helps soak it up. It’s no frills here. Just come hang out, have a drink and enjoy yourself. Maybe watch a game. End of Tweet. Dot’s Hop House & Cocktail Courtyard 2645 Commerce St. This 10,000-square-foot, pooch-friendly place is one of the premier spots in Deep Ellum to enjoy a well-crafted cocktail or a cold brew from the 99-tap menu. The own- ers of Dot’s Hop House rescued the grill from the old Club Schmitz near Love Field after it closed in 2014, giving the burgers extra grit and character. Get a side of duck- fat cheese fries to go with that burger. Ser- vice is consistently on point and the music (which is a mesh of genres, but generally crowd-pleasing) is loud enough to hear, but not loud enough to drown out the riveting conversation from your tablemates — the Goldilocks belt of noise. They host trivia on Mondays, which is nice because Mondays can be so lame. Goodfriend Beer Garden & Burger House 1154 Peavy Road We’ve told you about the burger here, right? Of course, we have. While they have a cheeseburger that would make Anthony Bourdain proud, the patio here is perfect for their big beer list and stellar playlist. Bring your best-puppy dog here to watch sports under the partially covered covering and feel like a local even when you’re clearly not. Note that Goodfriend is closed on Monday and Tuesday. Service is spot on, and they have a Crunchwrap, Frito Pie and fried pickles. The Grapevine Bar 2213 Butler St. The patio at the freshly resurrected Grape- vine Bar is the platonic ideal of a neighbor- hood hangout spot, almost like a sitcom set that’s come to life. The area is spacious, with plenty of tables so that you and your core friend group don’t have to hear the back- ground characters’ conversations. There’s both a stage and a basketball court, for end- less antics. And finally, the unmistakable neon sign bearing the bar’s name is a perfect marker for your audience to immediately know where you are so you don’t have to work it into your dialogue unnaturally. Cen- tral Perk from Friends and McLaren’s Pub from How I Met Your Mother should be afraid. Ida Claire 5001 Belt Line Road, Addison We recently wrote about Ida Claire’s delta-8 cocktails, which we highly recommend. Pair one of those with the easy-breezy patio on a sunny day plus live music on Friday nights, and you’ve got a 5 outta 5 star experience. You can even snag reservations in the Air Stream trailer parked out back; it’s cozy and great for your knitting group. The menu is full of Southern staples like chicken and waffles, hot honey chicken, biscuits, shrimp and grits, and ribs. Katy Trail Ice House 3127 Routh St. The Katy Trail Ice House is a massive tree- shaded beirgarten along the Katy Trail, which means you can sit there and sip a beer and think about that time you tried jogging. (Coulda thrown a rock further.) A bad time is just not to be had here. Service is so good for such a large space; each sec- tion, even on the patio, has its own dedi- cated server who’s always hanging around while runners (the fun kind) bring food and drinks out. Summer and winter, and every space in between, is fun out there. Got get some fresh air and think about that time you almost ran. La Reunion 229 Bishop Ave., Bishop Arts Head down to the Bishop Arts District on any lovely day, and you’ll be charmed by the easy vibes and foot traffic. Pull up a chair at the patio at La Reunion for some true Euro- pean cafe vibes (if you sorta squint). This cafe and bar is a hangout with digital no- mads and remote workers. In the evening, the cafe vibes ease into a neighborhood bar feel. The spot is open from 8 a.m. to 2 a.m. Monday - Friday and 10 a.m. - 2 a.m. Satur- day - Sunday. That’s an all-day cafe. Libertine 2101 Greenville Ave. This restaurant and bar along Lower Green- ville is a snug dark pub inside, but a few years ago they cleared out the parking spaces in front and built a long patio. There’s no place better to sip a dark bar with a little nip in the air and take in the vibe. Did you know Tues- day is steak night at The Libertine? Sure’nuff. Get a steak or burger with a cocktail for $20. Sold! The beer selection is full of local, Texan and European options. Check out the robust scotch and whiskey selections too. We’re fans of the Muenster fries. | CITY OF ATE | t Dish Kathy Tran Katy Trail Ice House is the perfect pit stop. >> p12
