The 18 Best Restaurants with Outdoor Dining in San Francisco

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Published Mar 17, 2022

After two years of pandemic life, we can’t wait to get back to almost normal. And that means safely meeting up with friends (yes, friends!) to share a few drinks and apps together. If you’re still on the fence about indoor dining—or just want to take advantage of this incredible weather—here are still plenty of options with great outdoor seating too. We rounded up 18 of the best outdoor dining spaces in San Francisco to get your eat and drink on. From colorful rooftops to heated patios to gorgeously decorated plazas, these spots are where you’ll be spending lots of time this spring.

Editor’s note: Restaurants are still working hard to adapt and follow the latest safety protocols. Before you visit, be sure to check out their websites and social accounts for rules about vaccine and mask requirements.

1. Fiorella

This beloved neighborhood Italian restaurant now has three locations in the city, all with outdoor seating. The original Outer Richmond spot has a charming back patio with heat lamps to protect you from chilly nights. Polk Street has sidewalk seating and the newest, most exciting location in the former Park Chow spot in the Inner Sunset has a cozy rooftop deck you’ll call your home away from home. You can also order takeout from Fiorella’s website or through Caviar, Doordash and Ubereats.

2339 Clement St.; 415-829-7097 or 2238 Polk St.; 415-340-3049

la mar best outdoor dining san francisco

La Mar/Facebook

2. La Mar

This primo spot on the bay is where you go to shrug off a tough week with ceviche and a couple rounds of caipirinhas. Score a clutch table by making a reservation ahead of time. Not quite in the mood to eat out? Order a to-go Bandeja Cebicheria seafood sampler kit through La Mar’s website.

Pier 1½, The Embarcadero; 415-397-8880

best restaurants with outdoor dining in sf foreign cinema

Foreign Cinema / Facebook

3. Foreign Cinema

We couldn’t round up alfresco dining spots and not include Foreign Cinema’s famous enclosed patio, strung with café lights and bounded by a blank wall where classic and contemporary movies are projected nightly. Check the website to see what’s showing next. Prefer takeout? Call after 5 p.m. the night-of to confirm whether they can accommodate to-go orders.

2534 Mission St.; 415-648-7600

best restaurant with outdoor dining in sf starbelly

Starbelly / Facebook

4. Starbelly

This friendly neighborhood spot in the Castro is known for its weekend brunches of chilaquiles and bottomless mimosas, and the charming back patio is the cherry on top. It’s open every day, along with additional sidewalk seating, for outdoor dining. Order pickup or delivery from the restaurant’s website.

3583 16th St.; 415-252-7500

ZAZIE SAN FRANSISCO/FACEBOOK

5. Zazie

Brunch on the back patio of Zazie is a bucket-list item, but if you’re a true local, you know your way around the bistro classics like cassoulet and beef bourguignonne, best enjoyed with your sweetheart under the moonlight on a crisp night. Zazie doesn’t take reservations for brunch or dinner, but you can sign in at the kiosk out front with Yelp Waitlist and get text updates when your table is ready. Or order takeout through the restaurant’s website.

941 Cole St.; 415-564-5332

Chambers

6. Chambers

This back patio oasis at the Phoenix Hotel is so hip that it draws rock stars and models and feels more L.A. poolside or NYC Soho House than any other scene in San Francisco. The “Be Amazing” sign pretty much says it all. Chambers is up and running for poolside drinks, weekend brunch and dinner. And because this place is a scene, reservations are recommended.

601 Eddy St.; 415-496-5178

waterbar best outdoor dining san francisco

Waterbar / Facebook

7. Waterbar

This is where you’ll sit on the waterfront, gazing up at the twinkling Bay Bridge while you slurp bespoke oysters. Waterbar accepts outdoor lunch and dinner reservations, or you can order takeout at the bar inside the restaurant (no over-the-phone orders).

399 The Embarcadero; 415-284-9922

8. Good Good Culture Club

Friends of Liholiho Yacht Club, rejoice. Chef Ravi Kapur’s latest project has taken over the former Dear Inga space in the Mission, and while we’re psyched about the tiger shrimp and crispy rice balls at the bright new spot with tropical vibes, we’re even more excited about the spacious, plant-filled rooftop deck for alfresco dining. The brand-new restaurant takes reservations and also accepts walk-ins, but be prepared for a long waitlist.

3560 18th St.

620 jones best outdoor dining san francisco

620 Jones / Facebook

9. Jones

This coveted rooftop spot has always been known for its clubby vibe and killer happy hour. Tables are first-come, first-serve, and parties of six or more can make reservations for drinks, dinner or weekend brunch. Smoked salmon benedict and a pitcher of mimosas for the table? Done and done.

620 Jones St.; 415-496-6858

10. A Mano

Our mouths always water over the thought of fresh, handmade pastas like agnolotti with roast chicken and pork from A Mano. There’s plenty of sidewalk seating, plus a parklet with barriers between tables. Check in at the host stand to be added to the Yelp waitlist for a table. Looking to stay in? Try takeout through the restaurant’s website or delivery through Doordash.

450 Hayes St.; 415-506-7401

beretta 1 best outdoor dining san francisco

Courtesy of Beretta

11. Beretta

Your cocktail dreams and pizza wishes have been answered. This Mission mainstay is serving up dinner and weekend brunch outside with sidewalk seating and a parklet offering semi-private booths. Pickup is available through the restaurant’s website, with delivery through Doordash. Bonus: Beretta’s Divisadero pop-up is still open for outdoor dining, offering dinner, weekend brunch, takeout and delivery.

1199 Valencia St.; 415-695-1199 and 661 Divisadero St.; 415-654-5211

charmaines best outdoor dining san francisco

Manolo Yllera

12. Charmaine’s

This rooftop gem at SF’s Proper Hotel is known for its inventive cocktails (from the guys behind Bon Vivants and Trick Dog) and a dinner menu by local favorite chef Jason Fox. Back open for cocktails and dinner, this is the spot you’ll want to hit up for special occasions (or any time you’re looking for a see-and-be-seen scene).

1100 Market St.; 415-786-3467

13. Tacolicious

Taco Tuesdays just got a whole lot better. Our go-to spot for delicious Cal-Mex bites (tacos, tuna tostadas, marina girl salads) and killer margaritas is now open for outdoor seating, pick-up and delivery via Doordash. Start planning your next happy hour (3 to 6 p.m. on weekdays) accordingly.

741 Valencia St. and 2250 Chestnut St.; 415-649-6077

14. The Vault Garden

The Vault Garden took over the outdoor plaza at the base of the Bank of America building with a full outdoor, 100-seat restaurant. This FiDi gem is a temperature-controlled, weather-protected garden oasis surrounded by soaring office buildings and is serving up cocktails, lunch and dinner, plus happy hour (3 to 6 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays) and a weekend drag brunch. Reservations and walk-ins are both accepted.

555 California St.; 415-508-4675

causwells best outdoor dining san francisco

Courtesy of Causwells

15. Causwells

With an outdoor dining space (plus blankets to keep you warm on chilly nights) and a new menu incorporating influence from regional Southern food, Marina mainstay Causwells is open for dinner, happy hour and brunch, plus pickup and delivery through Tock.

2346 Chestnut St.; 415-447-6081

16. Stable Cafe

Stable Cafe’s garden oasis is one of our favorites in the whole city. Whether you’re craving brunch or just a coffee outside of your house, head to this beloved Mission spot for a limited menu and first-come, first serve seating. Want to stay home? You can grab takeout from the restaurant.

2128 Folsom St.; 415-552-1199

17. Bernal Star

The heated patio at this neighborhood burger and brunch joint is open for brunch, lunch and dinner daily, plus movie nights and live music in the cottage every Friday at 7. Treat yourself to dinner out the next time you need a break—this spot has six beers on tap and some of the best burgers in town. Takeout and delivery are also available through Bernal Star’s website.

410 Cortland Ave.; 415-695-8777

outdoor dining san fransisco kaiyo rooftop

Anthony Parks & Emilio Salehi, Equal Parts Media

18. Kaiyo Rooftop

This Japanese-Peruvian newcomer is one of the hottest reservations downtown, and with sweeping views of the city skyline, it’s no surprise. This is where you’ll come for happy hour or sunset drinks and snacks, like a Prince of the Sun (pisco, rum, white miso, mint, absinthe and lime-yuzu soda) and sashimi-style bluefin tuna on crispy rice toast. And as one of the few late-night bar-restaurants in SF (it’s open until 2 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays), it’ll be your go-to anytime you’re out past 10 p.m. Score a rez to see firsthand why this spot sets the bar high…literally.

701 Third St.; 415-800-8141

Allison McCarthy

San Francisco Editor

Allison McCarthy is a writer and editor with 15 years of experience in the industry. She's currently the San Francisco editor at PureWow, where she covers the best of what's happening in the Bay Area. Her work has also appeared in the San Francisco Chronicle, Sunset Magazine, 7x7, Dwell, Yoga Journal and a variety of interior design outlets.

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