Scoping out restaurants in and around the Heights where you can eat outdoors this spring and summer? You’re in luck! Patio season is in full bloom, and the Heights and surrounding areas are loaded with great spots to enjoy some sunshine and good eats.
Railway Heights Market
Located at 8200 Washington Avenue Suite 100, Railway Heights is the perfect place to go to enjoy a fresh meal and some shopping. With frequent pop-ups like cocktail bars and art exhibitions, there’s always something new to experience. Adjacent to the market is a huge 13,000-foot beer garden under construction that is set to boast more than 80 beers on tap. With plenty of outdoor seating and an on-site dog park, it will be the perfect place to spend a beautiful afternoon. However, you don’t have to wait for the beer garden to open to enjoy pierogis, churros, and other delicious foods. The open-concept market has plenty of tables for you and your friends to sit at before you head off to your next destination!
La Lucha
Known for its seafood and boozy delights, La Lucha has a fantastic patio area. Visit at night to slurp oysters under soft overhead lights. The restaurant seeks to create a welcoming atmosphere akin to a “neighborhood living room,” and its charm certainly does attract guests from all around Houston. What else attracts customers from all across the city? La Lucha’s lengthy custom cocktail menu. Cool down on the patio at 1801 North Shepherd Drive #A with one of its original beverages during your next visit.
Superica
Located at 1801 North Shepherd Drive #B, Superica provides guests with an excellent dog-friendly patio area with laid-back vibes. Satisfy your rumbly stomach with one of Superica’s mouthwatering fajitas, enchiladas, quesadillas, and other Tex-Mex favorites. The restaurant also offers brunch options, including massive, buttery hot cakes. Yum!
Snooze A.M. Eatery
Craving breakfast or brunch? Spend some time at Snooze on West 18th Street. The eatery’s menu features sandwiches, omelets, French toast, pancakes, tacos, burritos, and other classics to keep your breakfast-y cravings at bay. You can also order an adult beverage to go with your meal! If you want to avoid the breakfast crowd, you can get some peace and quiet by eating outside at one of Snooze’s tables.
Preslee’s
Preslee’s on West 19th Street has something for everyone. The restaurant features a kid’s playground, a fire pit, a patio loaded with seating and games, and it’s dog-friendly! The casual atmosphere and menu make this a fun place to split a basket of chicken tenders, fried pickle chips, or loaded fries. You might not want to share once you dig in, though!
Postino
Enjoy a small plate and boutique wines indoors or outdoors at this wine bar situated at 642 Yale Street. Postino is open for brunch, lunch, dinner, and happy hour, so guests are welcome to stop by nearly whenever the mood strikes. The patio is modern, chic, and covered with cheery umbrellas to protect you from the sun. If you prefer to enjoy Postino at home, you might want to make a note that it offers catering!
Local Foods
Take a trip up to 714 Yale Street to bite into delicious sandwiches, salads, soups, and sides. Local Foods has an extensive selection of casual favorites, and their clearly labeled menus will make eaters with restrictive diets breathe a sigh of relief. The restaurant also consistently uses the freshest ingredients available, which often means that customers have opportunities to support local businesses. Local Foods’ stylish patio is a great place to hang out on a warm spring day.
Harold’s
Southern food just tastes better at Harold’s. That’s because the restaurant partners with local organizations to source the freshest ingredients so customers can fully experience a good meal. There are many ways to enjoy Harold’s – via its food truck, private dining room, private event space, or by taking advantage of free delivery within a 5-mile radius, for example – but any lover of outdoor dining should know about this restaurant’s outdoor terrace. The spacious rooftop terrace is an amazing place to appreciate a special meal or host an event. The twinkling lights above the tables add to the charming atmosphere during dinnertime, and guests who dine on the terrace always have a fabulous view of West 19th Street!
King’s Bierhaus
Ready for some fusion food? King’s Bierhaus at 2044 ETC Jester Boulevard offers delectable German, Austrian, and American cuisine. From schnitzels to beer pretzels and everything in between, you’re bound to find something you love at King’s Bierhaus – if not the food, then definitely the beer! Top off your meal with genuine Austrian apple strudel or a slice of German chocolate cake. This is a great establishment to visit when you’d like a seat outdoors. The lushly landscaped, intimate patio area is surrounded by beautiful murals that make the upbeat environment even cheerier.
Coltivare
The outdoor patio at Coltivare is often cited as one of the most romantic places to dine at in the Heights. Enjoy Italian wood-fired pizzas beneath soft lights and amongst Coltivare’s vibrant vegetable gardens. Since the restaurant sources some of its ingredients from these lush beds, guests can see where some of their meal comes from. You can find Coltivare at 3320 White Oak Drive.
Rainbow Lodge
Meat-eaters love the variety they find at Rainbow Lodge. In addition to traditional favorites like seafood, steak, and lamb, the restaurant serves succulent elk, bison, quail, venison, antelope, duck, and more. The quaint cabin at 2011 Ella Boulevard overlooks the Buffalo Bayou and has hosted numerous wedding parties, so diners can always count on a charming atmosphere. The massive deck is a wonderful place to relax amongst a little bit of nature.
Loro Steakhouse
This new Asian smokehouse on West 11th Street impresses with its unique menu including Eastern takes on dishes like smoked beef brisket and oak smoked salmon. The outdoor patio is an awesome place to share a dish or two. It even has outdoor heaters for those nights when it’s just a tad chillier than you expected it to be. Visit on weekdays from 2 – 6 PM for specials on food and drinks!
ChivosHead on over to Chivos at 222 West 11th Street to enjoy flavorful appetizers, entrées, and desserts with a Mexican flair. The modern-chic restaurant has an incredibly welcoming environment, and that hospitable atmosphere extends to the lush outdoor patio area. The next time you’re craving Mexican and would rather sip a cold drink outside, consider plugging Chivos into your trusty GPS for a fun time.