20 of the most picturesque patios restaurant in Los Angeles
- M|R DESIGN
- Jul 2, 2024
- 2 min read
A certain magic sweeps over Los Angeles during the summer. With the days long, sunny, and warm, we’re beckoned to bask outside, whether that’s on a sandy shore, a hilly park, or by meandering through our local farmers markets.
For a few months, our usually brisk evenings turn balmy and breezy. Restaurant patios serve as scenic gathering spots with strung lights, flickering tea candles, and abundant greenery. Menus shift to showcase seasonal stone fruits, buttery corn on the cob, and a rainbow of tomato varieties.
Alfresco dining emerged as a necessity during the pandemic, and many of the sidewalk and parking lot patios that debuted during that time are now permanent fixtures. As new restaurants open around the city, some are betting hard on our trademark sunshine by being entirely outdoors.
You can sip on global wines paired with Spanish tapas as you watch the sunset over the Arts District from a backyard bistro or duck away from a bustling Sunset Boulevard in Silver Lake onto a cozy covered nook serving home-style Persian cuisine. In Santa Monica, a verdant shrine to open-fire cooking appears like a mirage in an industrial art complex.
Mild weather makes outdoor dining a popular year-round activity in Southern California, but there’s something about summer patio dining that feels like a seasonal rite of passage. From hidden, vine-wrapped nooks to sprawling spaces engulfed in shade, here are 20 of the most stunning outdoor restaurant spaces across L.A., Malibu, Orange County, and as far as Santa Clarita.
[...]
Le Great Outdoor
Santa Monica American
In the Bergamot Station complex with plenty of parking is this completely al-fresco restaurant where all of the dishes are cooked over live fire and garnished with flowers. The atmosphere is casual and convivial, even after the switch from counter to table service. Picnic tables are sprawled across two levels, potted plants are dotted throughout, and string lights cast a romantic amber glow as the sun sets. The menu changes based on what’s available at the local farmers market, but you’ll want to add a couple flame-kissed proteins from the Terre & Mer section. Pair them with produce of the moment — char-spotted corn on the cob and a beet salad dashed with cherry vinegar were available at my last visit. Ask your server for a recommendation from the natural-leaning wine list and settle in as a core summer memory is solidified.
2525 Michigan Ave., Santa Monica, California 90404
(310) 828-4001
Author: Bill Addison, Stephanie Breijo, Cindy Carcamo, Danielle Dorsey, Betty Hallock and Jenn Harris
July 2, 2024
Photos: Joel Barhamand
Comments