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Take It Outside: Patios We Love

Atlantans enjoy an exceptionally long outdoor dining season. Whether it’s people watching you crave or the warmth of the sun on your skin, Atlanta has a variety of patios to fit your outdoor dining mood.  Although we are in the midst of winter, these are the patios you’ll be flocking to when spring arrives!

Park Tavern

What could be better than an enormous patio right on Piedmont Park?  You’re likely to see everything from scantily clad chicks to brides getting hitched to volleyball games, and dogs and children chasing balls and frisbees. Bring the dog and relax in the afternoon sun while enjoying a live band and a brew.  Add an order of their ahi tuna tacos served in crispy wonton shells for a perfect patio experience.

Grace 1720

Lights are carefully strung around the intimate patio at this popular Norcross restaurant.  White linens and acoustic guitarists on the weekends add to the romantic ambiance of this neighborhood gem.

Holy Taco

This quirky East Atlanta tacqueria has garnered much praise for its fusion Mexican fare that incorporates unusual ingredients like fried chicken hearts.  Take a seat on the expansive patio and try a taco filled with ’em (maybe order a shot of tequila first).

Canoe

Undeniably one of the most gorgeous settings for outdoor dining, this Vinings veteran of the culinary scene seats guests on their covered patio overlooking their manicured gardens along the banks of the Chattahoochee. Ready to propose to your gal?  Here’s your place.

Fritti

Enjoy one of chef/owner Riccardo Ullio’s authentic thin crust pizzas under the canopied patio decorated with lush plants and thousands of tiny lights. The nearby bars and shops make it a great spot for watching people and offer a variety of after-pizza entertainment options.

Six Feet Under

This seafood restaurant’s new original location (the original original location was where Tin Lizzie’s is now, just a few yards away) in Grant Park has an awesome rooftop patio with a dramatic view of historic Oakland Cemetery. Not a hotspot for people watching, unless you are the little boy in The Sixth Sense.

Cafe 640

Secluded and intimate, the patio here reminds me of the quaint cafes that line the streets of Paris. Just steps from N. Highland Avenue, there are plenty of interesting characters passing by while you casually sip your wine and enjoy a small plate or two.

Leon’s Full Service

Located in a renovated service station, Leon’s offers patio seating with views of bustling downtown Decatur. Enjoy a glass of beer, or better yet a glass of bacon, before hitting the bocce courts.

Barcelona Wine Bar

Sidewalk seating runs the length of the restaurant, however, the most desirable patio area is on the side where communal tables invite guests to mingle while enjoying a glass of wine from their mostly Spanish list. Bonus points for the fireplace and snuggly blankets if it gets chilly.

Front Page News

Located in Little 5 points, this restaurant’s patio boasts a fountain and copious greenery. Check it out in August and you’ll think you’ve been magically transported to New Orleans. If you like watching people with green mohawks and full-body tattoos, this is the place.

The Optimist

Chef Ford Fry’s newest venture features bright, open spaces with a retro modern appeal, including the minimalist patio where guests can slurp down dozens of the freshest oysters in town.

Fox Brothers BBQ

Consistently ranked among Atlanta’s top barbecue joints, diners love to indulge in their lip-smacking ribs on the sunny patio. Loosen your belt, sit back, and relax!

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