🌿 Best in LA
LA's best restaurants for outdoor dining — patios, rooftops, and garden tables worth the reservation. The definitive 2026 guide.
10 picksMalibu's beloved seafood shack — lobster rolls, clam chowder, and raw bar perfection steps from the Pacific
Must-try: Connecticut-style lobster roll, New England clam chowder, Fresh-shucked oysters
📍 18 E Thousand Oaks Blvd (PCH at Cross Creek), Malibu, CA 90265
The Abbot Kinney institution that made LA's dining scene
Must-try: Mushroom Pizza, Kale Caesar, Burrata Toast
📍 1429 Abbot Kinney Blvd, Venice, CA 90291
The most romantic patio in the Valley — fairy lights, fireplaces, and great pasta
Must-try: Mushroom Pappardelle, Miso Glazed Cod, Sticky Toffee Cake
📍 11720 Ventura Blvd, Studio City, CA 91604
Venetian small plates in a secret garden courtyard
Must-try: Bacari Fries, Asian Pear & Brie Pizza, Espresso Martini
📍 14106 Ventura Blvd, Sherman Oaks, CA 91423
Danny Trejo's Hollywood taqueria bringing bold flavor, actor cred, and excellent birria to Cahuenga Blvd
Must-try: Birria tacos, Machete burrito, Churros with chocolate
📍 1556 N Cahuenga Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90028
Long Beach's waterfront Cajun and Creole spot where gumbo nachos and live music define the Shoreline Village experience
Must-try: Gumbo nachos, Crawfish etouffée, Beignets
📍 429 Shoreline Village Dr, Long Beach, CA 90802
Venice's all-day cafe with a California-cool aesthetic, excellent breakfast burritos, and brunch energy that defines the neighborhood
Must-try: Breakfast burrito, Ricotta hotcakes, Salmon mezze plate
📍 1604 Pacific Ave, Venice, CA 90291
Santa Monica's Mexican garden restaurant — margaritas under string lights, wood-fired dishes, and the most romantic patio on the Westside
Must-try: Carnitas tacos, Mole enchiladas, Spicy margarita
📍 118 Entrada Dr, Santa Monica, CA 90402
Anderson Paak's Tulum-inspired Mexican stunner on Ventura
Must-try: Kumamoto Oysters, Crispy Fish Tacos, Casita Margarita
📍 14015 Ventura Blvd, Sherman Oaks, CA 91423
Celebrity-spotted farm-to-table at the heart of Brentwood Country Mart
Must-try: Sunday Fried Chicken, Avocado Hummus, Chicken Liver Mousse with Sourdough
📍 225 26th St, Ste 25, Santa Monica, CA 90402
Gjelina in Venice has one of the most celebrated outdoor spaces in LA — a lively courtyard patio on Abbot Kinney that works for both casual and special occasions. Catch LA has exceptional rooftop views in West Hollywood.
Catch LA in West Hollywood is the most famous rooftop dining destination. Several hotels in DTLA and WeHo also have rooftop restaurants. The Bungalow in Santa Monica has a great outdoor bar scene.
Yes — LA's climate means outdoor dining is genuinely pleasant most of the year. June Gloom (May–June mornings) and the occasional rainy day (December–February) are the exceptions. Most good outdoor patios have heaters for cooler evenings.