Houston’s Hottest New Restaurant Patios: The Next Generation of Outdoor Dining is Raising the Bar

With cooler temps on the way, Houstonians can finally rejoice with fabulous food and drinks in an outdoor setting. Fortunately, a new wave of ambitious restaurant patios is hitting Houston.

Here are the best new restaurant patios in the Bayou City:

Poitin

2313 Edwards

Boasting one of the best views of the downtown skyline, the 1,200 square-foot patio at Poitin, pronounced “putt-cheen,” at Sawyer Yards lends itself to a romantic dinner outside. Globally inspired dishes at the sleek restaurant range from ceviche de pescado with leche de tigre (tiger’s milk) to Spanish octopus to Wagyu corned brisket with latkes and fermented cabbage.

Don’t skip the Wild Strawberry dessert with strawberries, miso and meringue.

Emmaline

3210 West Dallas

Linger over American food with a European influence, including wood-grilled proteins and squid ink pasta with fire-roasted lobster, on either of the two patios at Emmaline in Montrose. Downstairs, there’s seating for 70 amid lush greenery and a massive oak tree and free treats for Fido.

On the second floor, you’ll find a 30-seat terrace that shakes things up with a late night happy hour, including DJ spins, on the third Saturday of every month.

Nobu Houston

5115 Westheimer

Located in The Galleria shopping mall’s luxury wing, guests enter second-floor Japanese restaurant Nobu, from famed chef Nobu Matsuhisa and actor Robert De Niro, via private elevator or staircase. Floor-to-ceiling windows at this prime destination for high caliber sushi, sashimi and hot dishes (such as the signature and trendsetting black cod with miso) give way to a covered outdoor dining terrace with ceiling fans and seating for 54.

Flower Child

1101‐06 Uptown Park

Enjoy gluten-free, vegetarian and vegan items (think a Thai Cashew Quinoa Bowl and Flying Avocado Wrap with smoked turkey, gouda, romaine, tomato, avocado and hummus) on the wraparound patio at fast-casual restaurant Flower Child in Uptown Park.

This Houston restaurant patio is decked out with 48 seats, black and white striped table umbrellas, and a large flower mural on the corner wall.

Pizza Motus

6119 Edloe

Dine outside on the quaint 400-square-foot patio, with seating for 15, at Pizza Motus in West University and order your Roman-style street pizza, salads, grain bowls, sandwiches and Italian ice from a walk-up window.

Another bonus? You can take advantage of the BYOB policy, sans corkage fee, at the fast-casual restaurant.

Fig and Olive

5115 Westheimer

Coastal Mediterranean restaurant Fig and Olive in The Galleria allows ambitious Houston foodies to feast on paella, truffle risotto, chateaubriand for two and the likes on a 919 square-foot patio, with 40 seats and a view of the bustling action on Westheimer Road.

Yauatcha

5045 Westheimer

At contemporary tearoom Yauatcha, located in the Jewel Box building at The Galleria, have a seat in the 1,500 square-foot covered terrace with 46 seats. Dine on dim sum, wok dishes and patisserie items — and chill out thanks to a fleet of fans and refreshing sips like the Ginger Smash with whiskey, ginger, cardamom, vanilla, lemongrass, lemon and ginger beer.

Fusion Eats

9 Greenway Plaza East

Signature and seasonal chef-driven tacos with globally-influenced flavors may rule the menu at Fusion Eats, located street-level in the Greenway Plaza complex, but don’t overlook the house-made sauces, salsas and tortillas, handmade churros, from-scratch margaritas or 40-seat, dog-friendly patio. The eye-catching spot with brightly colored furniture comes complete with several trees that offer shade and an adjacent beyond expansive green space, where kids can sprawl out, run around and play yard games including Tic-Tac-Toe.