Not all patios are created equal – and according to our survey of food lovers, some neighborhoods are simply built for al fresco bliss.
While the headline rankings tell us who came out on top (congrats, Santa Fe), there’s a lot more going on beneath the surface.
From unexpected regional standouts to surprising underdogs, the results offer a fascinating snapshot of where – and how – America likes to dine outdoors.
Here are the full rankings.
1. Santa Fe Plaza, Santa Fe, New Mexico
The Plaza is Santa Fe’s cultural heart - a mix of adobe buildings, Native art, and endless skies. Courtyards and patios wrap around centuries-old structures, creating little sanctuaries for outdoor dining. La Plazuela, tucked inside La Fonda on the Plaza, offers open-air charm under a soaring skylight and spilling out into the breeze when weather allows. Green chile, local wine, and mountain air make every meal feel rooted in place.
2. Downtown Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, California
Along State Street in downtown Santa Barbara, the Mediterranean vibe is real — with Spanish-tiled roofs, ocean breezes, and sidewalks dotted with wine bars and farm-to-table restaurants. The Lark, located in the Funk Zone just off the main strip, is a standout for its elegant yet laid-back patio, where locals gather under string lights for seasonal dishes and Central Coast wines. It’s outdoor dining at its most relaxed and refined — pure California living.
3. Savannah Historic District, Savannah, Georgia
In Savannah’s Historic District, dining outside isn’t just about the food — it’s about soaking in Spanish moss, brick sidewalks, and the slow hush of the South. Courtyards and porches peek out behind wrought iron gates, filled with the sound of clinking glasses and cicadas. The Collins Quarter (Forsyth Park location) nails the vibe with its sidewalk tables under live oaks and a menu that blends Aussie brunch with Southern charm. It’s the kind of place where even a quick coffee break feels cinematic.
4. Park Slope, Brooklyn, New York
With its brownstone blocks and stroller-lined sidewalks, Park Slope is one of Brooklyn’s most neighborly neighborhoods - and its dining scene fits the vibe. Outdoor setups bloom in warmer months, especially along Fifth and Seventh Avenues. Stone Park Café stands out with its inviting sidewalk patio, where seasonal dishes and craft cocktails pair with the easy flow of neighborhood life. It’s dinner with a side of familiarity and warmth.
5. 12 South, Nashville, Tennessee
12 South is one of Nashville’s most walkable and welcoming neighborhoods — a stretch where murals, boutiques, and porches all compete for your attention. On warm nights, Urban Grub stands out for its spacious patio, full of fire pits, string lights, and a menu that blends Southern comfort with seafood flair. With the scent of hickory in the air and music always close by, it’s exactly what you hope Nashville tastes like.
6. Downtown Lafayette, Lafayette, Louisiana
Lafayette brings its own flavor — spicy, soulful, and full of warmth. The downtown district has come alive with patios and parklets, many set against the beat of zydeco drifting from open doors. Spoonbill Watering Hole & Restaurant, set in a vintage Conoco station, offers a lively patio where locals gather over bold bites, cocktails, and Southern hospitality. It’s festive, friendly, and full of personality — much like the city itself.
7. Waikīkī, Honolulu, Hawaii
Waikīkī doesn’t just do outdoor dining — it defines it. With warm trade winds, swaying palms, and the constant shimmer of the Pacific, this beachfront neighborhood makes eating outside feel like second nature. At House Without A Key, tucked into the Halekulani Hotel, guests settle into open-air tables under a centuries-old kiawe tree as hula dancers sway at sunset. The menu leans into island classics — think seared ahi and tropical cocktails — but it’s the atmosphere that lingers. Every night here feels like a celebration, even if you’re just grabbing dinner.
8. North Beach, San Francisco, California
North Beach, San Francisco’s Little Italy, blends historic charm with sidewalk café culture that feels straight out of Europe. On warm days, tables spill onto the pavement beneath string lights and leaning trees, and the sound of clinking glasses mingles with street musicians. Tony’s Pizza Napoletana is the crown jewel — a beloved spot where diners savor award-winning pies on a shaded patio with views of Saints Peter and Paul Church. This neighborhood is a timeless favorite for those who know how to linger over a meal.
9. French Quarter, New Orleans, Louisiana
The French Quarter isn’t just New Orleans’ most iconic neighborhood — it’s one of the most atmospheric places to dine outdoors in the country. Iron balconies, gas lamps, and the hum of street jazz set the scene, while every courtyard feels like a secret garden. At Café Amelie, tucked behind an old carriage house, diners sip cocktails under leafy shade, surrounded by fountains and flowers. It’s timeless, transportive, and everything you hope the Quarter will be.
10. The Pearl, San Antonio, Texas
Once a brewery complex, The Pearl is now one of San Antonio’s most vibrant districts - a blend of modern design and historic soul, all wrapped around the River Walk’s quieter northern reach. Bakery Lorraine, known for its pastries and brunch plates, opens up to a spacious courtyard where locals gather under umbrellas and string lights. It’s the kind of place where you can stay all day and not notice.
| Ranking | Location | City | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11 | French Quarter | Charleston | South Carolina |
| 12 | Cape May Historic District | Cape May | New Jersey |
| 13 | Downtown Bar Harbor | Bar Harbor | Maine |
| 14 | Downtown Westerly | Westerly | Rhode Island |
| 15 | Old Port | Portland | Maine |
| 16 | River North Art District (RiNo) | Denver | Colorado |
| 17 | Downtown Walla Walla | Walla Walla | Washington |
| 18 | Old City | Philadelphia | Pennsylvania |
| 19 | Downtown Tucson | Tucson | Arizona |
| 20 | Market Square | Portsmouth | New Hampshire |
| 21 | Mass Ave Arts District | Indianapolis | Indiana |
| 22 | Old Town | San Diego | California |
| 23 | Turtle Bay Area | North Shore | Hawaii |
| 24 | Downtown Westport | Westport | Connecticut |
| 25 | Downtown Greenville | Greenville | South Carolina |
| 26 | Downtown Asheville | Asheville | North Carolina |
| 27 | St. Armands Circle | Sarasota | Florida |
| 28 | Main Street | Northampton | Massachusetts |
| 29 | Downtown Saratoga Springs | Saratoga Springs | New York |
| 30 | Lincoln Road | Miami Beach | Florida |
| 31 | Brunswick’s Maine Street | Brunswick | Maine |
| 32 | Downtown Sioux Falls | Sioux Falls | South Dakota |
| 33 | Historic Downtown Wilmington | Wilmington | North Carolina |
| 34 | South Congress | Austin | Texas |
| 35 | Downtown Reno | Reno | Nevada |
| 36 | Newbury Street | Boston | Massachusetts |
| 37 | Andersonville | Chicago | Illinois |
| 38 | Downtown Ashland | Ashland | Oregon |
| 39 | Downtown Laramie | Laramie | Wyoming |
| 40 | Downtown Charlottesville | Charlottesville | Virginia |
| 41 | Old Colorado City | Colorado Springs | Colorado |
| 42 | Homer Spit | Homer | Alaska |
| 43 | Kāʻanapali | West Maui | Hawaii |
| 44 | Church Street Marketplace | Burlington | Vermont |
| 45 | Downtown Carson City | Carson City | Nevada |
| 46 | Downtown Rehoboth Beach | Rehoboth Beach | Delaware |
| 47 | Federal Hill | Providence | Rhode Island |
| 48 | Fells Point | Baltimore | Maryland |
| 49 | Downtown Traverse City | Traverse City | Michigan |
| 50 | Bay St. Louis Old Town | Bay St. Louis | Mississippi |
| 51 | Downtown Bethlehem | Bethlehem | Pennsylvania |
| 52 | Poncey-Highland | Atlanta | Georgia |
| 53 | Downtown Taos | Taos | New Mexico |
| 54 | 8th Street Marketplace | Boise | Idaho |
| 55 | Capitol Square | Madison | Wisconsin |
| 56 | Downtown Holland | Holland | Michigan |
| 57 | Historic Downtown Boulder City | Boulder City | Nevada |
| 58 | Market Square | Knoxville | Tennessee |
| 59 | Over-the-Rhine (OTR) | Cincinnati | Ohio |
| 60 | Downtown Athens | Athens | Georgia |
| 61 | Thames Street | Newport | Rhode Island |
| 62 | Beach Boulevard | Gulf Shores | Alabama |
| 63 | Fairhaven Historic District | Bellingham | Washington |
| 64 | The Vista | Columbia | South Carolina |
| 65 | Downtown Anchorage | Anchorage | Alaska |
| 66 | Bethesda Row | Bethesda | Maryland |
| 67 | Downtown Iowa City | Iowa City | Iowa |
| 68 | Downtown Princeton | Princeton | New Jersey |
| 69 | Downtown Salem | Salem | Massachusetts |
| 70 | East Village | Des Moines | Iowa |
| 71 | Downtown Keene | Keene | New Hampshire |
| 72 | Chapel Street Historic District | New Haven | Connecticut |
| 73 | Downtown Lawrence | Lawrence | Kansas |
| 74 | Downtown Montpelier | Montpelier | Vermont |
| 75 | Meredith Bay Village | Meredith | New Hampshire |
| 76 | NoDa (North Davidson Arts District) | Charlotte | North Carolina |
| 77 | Old Town Alexandria | Alexandria | Virginia |
| 78 | Downtown Jackson | Jackson | Wyoming |
| 79 | Bishop Arts District | Dallas | Texas |
| 80 | Central West End | St. Louis | Missouri |
| 81 | Downtown Galena | Galena | Illinois |
| 82 | Downtown Manhattan | Manhattan | Kansas |
| 83 | Ballard | Seattle | Washington |
| 84 | Downtown Lancaster | Lancaster | Pennsylvania |
| 85 | Downtown Lewisburg | Lewisburg | West Virginia |
| 86 | Historic Downtown St. Charles | St. Charles | Missouri |
| 87 | Old Town Scottsdale | Scottsdale | Arizona |
| 88 | Shepherdstown Historic District | Shepherdstown | West Virginia |
| 89 | Downtown Juneau | Juneau | Alaska |
| 90 | Downtown Bentonville | Bentonville | Arkansas |
| 91 | Downtown Idaho Falls | Idaho Falls | Idaho |
| 92 | Downtown Missoula | Missoula | Montana |
| 93 | Whitefish Depot | Whitefish | Montana |
| 94 | Bayfield Marina District | Bayfield | Wisconsin |
| 95 | Capitol Street | Charleston | West Virginia |
| 96 | Downtown Bozeman | Bozeman | Montana |
| 97 | Sheridan Historic Main Street | Sheridan | Wyoming |
| 98 | Downtown Ann Arbor | Ann Arbor | Michigan |
| 99 | Pearl Street | Boulder | Colorado |
| 100 | 9th & 9th | Salt Lake City | Utah |
| 101 | Downtown Columbia | Columbia | Missouri |
| 102 | Downtown Montclair | Montclair | New Jersey |
| 103 | Pearl District | Portland | Oregon |
| 104 | Downtown Lewes | Lewes | Delaware |
| 105 | North Loop | Minneapolis | Minnesota |
| 106 | Short North Arts District | Columbus | Ohio |
| 107 | Downtown Bend | Bend | Oregon |
| 108 | Downtown Paducah | Paducah | Kentucky |
| 109 | Grand Avenue | St. Paul | Minnesota |
| 110 | Dickson Street | Fayetteville | Arkansas |
| 111 | Dauphin Street | Mobile | Alabama |
| 112 | Downtown Bismarck | Bismarck | North Dakota |
| 113 | Five Points South | Birmingham | Alabama |
| 114 | Ghent District | Norfolk | Virginia |
| 115 | Historic Downtown Coeur d’Alene | Coeur d’Alene | Idaho |
| 116 | Mill Avenue District | Tempe | Arizona |
| 117 | The River Market District | Little Rock | Arkansas |
| 118 | Tremont | Cleveland | Ohio |
| 119 | Downtown Bloomington | Bloomington | Indiana |
| 120 | Historic Downtown Moab | Moab | Utah |
| 121 | Old Wethersfield | Wethersfield | Connecticut |
| 122 | Winter Park’s Park Avenue | Winter Park | Florida |
| 123 | Downtown Stillwater | Stillwater | Minnesota |
| 124 | Downtown Natchitoches | Natchitoches | Louisiana |
| 125 | Downtown Oxford | Oxford | Mississippi |
| 126 | Nob Hill | Albuquerque | New Mexico |
| 127 | South Main Arts District | Memphis | Tennessee |
| 128 | Trolley Square | Wilmington | Delaware |
| 129 | Delano District | Wichita | Kansas |
| 130 | Historic Third Ward | Milwaukee | Wisconsin |
| 131 | West Village | Manhattan | New York |
| 132 | Downtown Annapolis | Annapolis | Maryland |
| 133 | Park City Main Street | Park City | Utah |
| 134 | Main Street | Rapid City | South Dakota |
| 135 | Downtown Tulsa | Tulsa | Oklahoma |
| 136 | Campus Corner | Norman | Oklahoma |
| 137 | Downtown Fargo | Fargo | North Dakota |
| 138 | The Summit at Fritz Farm | Lexington | Kentucky |
| 139 | Main Street | Cedar Falls | Iowa |
| 140 | Downtown Brookings | Brookings | South Dakota |
| 141 | Fondren District | Jackson | Mississippi |
| 142 | NuLu (East Market District) | Louisville | Kentucky |
| 143 | Downtown Fort Wayne | Fort Wayne | Indiana |
| 144 | Haymarket District | Lincoln | Nebraska |
| 145 | Old Market | Omaha | Nebraska |
| 146 | West Loop | Chicago | Illinois |
| 147 | Woodstock Village | Woodstock | Vermont |
| 148 | Downtown Jamestown | Jamestown | North Dakota |
| 149 | Paseo Arts District | Oklahoma City | Oklahoma |
| 150 | Downtown Kearney | Kearney | Nebraska |
Methodology In August 2025, we surveyed 3,007 self-identified food lovers across the U.S., selected through an online panel balanced by age, gender, and geographic region. Participants were asked to share their favorite outdoor dining spots across America. To ensure a representative sample, we employed a two-step approach: stratified sampling followed by post-stratification weighting, using internal data sources to align with national population benchmarks.
Key Findings:
California may be the patio capital of America
With four entries in the top 25 – including Downtown Santa Barbara (#2) and North Beach (#8) – with its warm weather California has a natural advantage.
Between the ocean breezes, walkable districts, and Mediterranean influence, it’s clear the Golden State knows how to do open-air dining right.
New Mexico, another warm-weather state, ranks highly
Not only did Santa Fe Plaza take the #1 spot nationally, but Taos (#53) and Albuquerque’s Nob Hill (#126) also made strong appearances. With its year-round outdoor culture, New Mexico features highly with charm, culture, and chile-forward cuisine.
Louisiana’s love of porches and patios shines through
With four neighborhoods in the full list – including Lafayette (#6) and New Orleans’ French Quarter (#9) – Louisiana’s festive spirit and courtyard culture helped it land more mentions than states twice its population size.
It’s not just coastal cities that are popular
Places like Downtown Fargo (#137), Stillwater, MN (#123), and Downtown Bozeman (#96) prove that you don’t need palm trees to create an inviting outdoor scene.
Maine quietly makes a statement
With three entries – Bar Harbor (#13), Portland’s Old Port (#15), and Brunswick (#31) – Maine shows that coastal charm plus lobster rolls equals al fresco gold. The state may be small, but its shoreline appeal runs deep.
Southern hospitality
From Athens, GA (#60) to 12 South in Nashville (#5), people love to eat outdoors in the South. Warm evenings and music-filled streets helped several Southern states take a number of the top spots.
A surprising number of arts districts made the cut
Neighborhoods known more for galleries than gastronomy – like RiNo in Denver (#16), Short North in Columbus (#106), and the Bishop Arts District in Dallas (#79) – are proving that creative energy and good food go hand in hand.
Final Thoughts
The real story behind this list isn’t just which neighborhoods placed where – it’s how American diners are thinking differently about the role of place in their meals.
In every corner of the country, from mountain towns to coastal strips, restaurants that invest in outdoor experience are seeing more than just foot traffic – they’re building loyal communities.
Because at the end of the day, a good meal matters. But a good setting? That’s what makes it memorable.
