Best Alfresco Dining in Philadelphia

Now that it seems like the warm weather may be here to stay, this seems like the appropriate time to shine the light on Philly’s best alfresco dining spots.

Sidewalk Seating

• Square 1682
• Twenty Manning Grill
• Audrey Claire
• Parc
• Rouge
• Devon
• Shake Shack
• a.kitchen
• The Dandelion
• Serafina
• El Vez
• Jamonera
• Garces Trading Co.
• Tria Washington Square West
• Mercato
• Belgian Cafe
• Hickory Lane

Courtyards/Patios

• Effie’s
• 13 Restaurant at the Marriott
• Opa
• Raw
• Sampan
• Alla Spina
• Silk City
• SquareBurger
• Positano Coast
• Bistro La Minette
• Crosswalk Cafe
• Jack’s Firehouse
• La Calaca Feliz
• Bridget Foy’s
• Zocalo
• Dock Street Brewery
• In Riva
• Cantina Los Caballitos
• Manayunk Brewery
• City Tap House
• The Corner
• Continental Midtown
• Vango
• Standard Tap
• Revolution House

Honorary mentions

• Vernick

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A halibut entree at Square 1682. CREDIT: SQUARE 1682

Outdoor dining is one of the hallmarks of summer, a special ambience-adder that you only get to take advantage of when the weather is warm enough.

Here in Philadelphia we take alfresco dining seriously, happily feasting along sun-dappled sidewalks, moonlit rooftops and elegantly manicured patios.

Below, we present our top picks for alfresco dining in Philadelphia, divided helpfully by rooftop, sidewalk or courtyard/patio dining. Eat up!

Sidewalk Seating

Square 1682

Square 1682 at the Hotel Palomar is LEED-certified, hosts fun year-round events and boasts great sidewalk seating on less-trafficked Sansom Street that’s also pet-friendly.

Twenty Manning Grill

Rittenhouse Square’s Twenty Manning Grill has some of the best outdoor seating in Philadelphia. Sit on Manning Street, a side street with very little car traffic, and enjoy the Pan Asian fare. Did we mention the cooling spray-misters?

Audrey Claire

Sister restaurant to Twenty Manning, BYOB Audrey Claire sits on a vibrant corner in Rittenhouse with ample sidewalk seating that’s made extra-fun by the bright green apples that serve as table centerpieces.

Parc

Not only does Parc have the most outdoor seating in the Rittenhouse neighborhood, it’s also arguably the best people-watching spot in the whole city. More than 75 seats wrap around the restaurant, which has an airy and authentic French brasserie feel. Ask for a table on the 18th Street side and the beautiful Rittenhouse Square will be your backdrop.

Rouge

Rouge started it all back in 1998 when it opened its sidewalk cafe on Rittenhouse Square, the very first in Philadelphia. Today it still offers a great park view, summer breezes, delicious fare and top-notch people-watching.

Devon

You can’t really beat Devon’s cushy location right on Rittenhouse Square, especially when the weather is nice. Enjoy fresh seafood with a side of people-watching.

Shake Shack

The New York-imported roadside burger stand Shake Shack features sidewalk seating, which means you can enjoy those juicy burgers and tasty shakes alfresco. Don’t fear the lines: they move fast.

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