The Best US Cities For Outside Dining Options Gallery

Dining outside. Dining alfresco. Dining en plein air. No matter how you say it, it sounds good. As summer (unfortunately) comes to a close, people look to soak up that last bit of warm-weather goodness and enjoy their meals outside on restaurant roofs, terraces, and back patios. However, some cities have better outside dining options than others.

While some remain fairly obvious–dining outside by the beach is always a fabulous idea–some cities have an amazing summer patio scene that you wouldn't know existed in colder months. We have rounded up the cities across America with the best outside dining options after sifting through reviews, comments, and photos from commentators across multiple websites.

Use this information to plan your last trips of the summer while you can still enjoy your meals sitting outside watching the sun set, the waves crash, or city life just going by. Before you know it, we'll all be taking off our coats to dine inside and dreaming of the next time we can visit some of the best U.S. cities for outside dining.

Austin was practically made for outdoor dining. With some of the best food trucks in America and practically year-round amazing weather, there is no reason why you can't enjoy dining alfresco 24/7 in this town. To really get a dose of that Texas sky, sit out at Fareground's outdoor area while you munch on any of the dishes from its food hall.

Yes, it gets cold in Chicago. Chicagoans know that. That's why for the three months that it's warm, Chicago goes hard on outdoor dining. It seems like practically every restaurant in the city busts out patio seating or opens their rooftop for Midwesterners and visitors alike to enjoy the sun. Chicago hot spots like Cindy's, Big Star, and Parson's Chicken & Fish typically draw huge lines on weekends for prime outdoor-eating space, so make sure you either get there early or plan on making a reservation.

Dining outdoors in Denver means gorgeous open-air views of mountains and rooftops, and delicious food. Whether you choose to dine on Corrida's rooftop patio with a view of the Flatiron Mountains or survey an uninterrupted view of Denver's downtown from El Five, you can't go wrong eating outside in this city. Plus, many Denver spots with patios and rooftops are equipped with heaters and fire pits for colder days and nights.

One of the best cities to eat the best food and drink in Hawaii is Lahaina. Lahaina is super-pretty, smells incredible, and has tons of restaurant rooftops and patios with views of the ocean, green mountains, and just pretty Hawaiian everything. Plus, with all of its trendy restaurants and bars, it's one of the hippest cities in the country!

Unless you can't stand the heat, Miami is one of those cities where you can dine outside all year-round. With tons of trendy and traditional spots with outside seating, the options are endless. Head to Sugarcane for cocktails on one of the most popular patios on Miami, or grab a seat at Amara so you can see the most stunning views of Biscayne Bay up close.

New York, we love you, especially when we can comfortably sit outside. On days like that, the best thing you can do is hit up some of the best food and drink in dreamy places with outdoor seating, like Magic Hour, Gallow Green, and super-cool Le Bain.

Our third and final best California outdoor dining city is San Francisco. No, the weather in San Francisco is not suitable for year-round alfresco eating, but when it is, you will be hard-pressed to find anywhere more beautiful to be. Whether you're enjoying Italian food on the sloping streets of North Beach at an outside table or sitting in a quaint garden patio at Nopalito for Mexican food, San Francisco's en plein air dining experiences are always a gorgeous experience.