Birdie’s is all the rage — and for good reason. The neighborhood restaurant and wine bar offers counter service with incredibly seasonal, fresh American fare. Make your order and enjoy it in their large backyard patio, featuring furniture by KKDW Construction. Be warned — the line to order often wraps around the building so go early to snag your spot for dinner!

With tables overlooking bustling South Congress, Perla’s patio is the seafood-focused restaurant’s signature feature. Go for the shade under their oak trees, but stay for their cold bar offerings, which include fresh oysters, ceviche, shrimp cocktail and more.

Cenote is an East Austin favorite, especially for breakfast, serving up Wild Gift coffee, locally-sourced produce and naturally-raised, hormone-free meat. Cenote’s building is a piece of Austin history, a house built in 1887 that appears on the city’s first ever hand-drawn map. The owners were able to adapt the house — and its amazing, expansive patio — to create a beautiful setting that honors the building’s past.

Nixta Taqueria, a former Karen’s Pick that we love for its thoughtful ingredient sourcing and house-made corn tortillas, is home to ample outdoor seating. Order one of their innovative, artful tacos and take a seat at their funky picnic tables. Nixta has created an outdoor eating experience you’ll return to again and again.

It doesn’t get much better than tasty Tex-Mex served on a massive patio on Lady Bird Lake, which is exactly what you’ll find at Hula Hut, where they serve up an island-inspired experience, complete with seats on the water and tropical-inspired drinks. Hula Hut is a favorite for large parties, especially for your next birthday or bachelorette party.

This all-day restaurant is the spot for a morning coffee date, casual work lunch or a happy hour with friends. With limited indoor seating, count on spending time at their pink picnic tables in their large outdoor seating area, which is dog-friendly and carries into their parking lot, creating lots of room for guests.

Lou’s back patio on the Eastside hosts live music, ping pong games and movie nights for the community, in addition to fun and casual food and drinks. Don’t skip the frozen custard, a creamy, dreamy treat for the summer heat. Now with a second location near Barton Springs, Lou’s is quickly becoming a staple spot in Austin.

Radio Coffee & Beer is a hub for South Austin neighbors to gather any time of the day. Food from local food trucks, including Veracruz All Natural and Briscuits, craft-made coffee drinks and classic cocktails come together in Radio’s expansive outdoor seating area, which is consistently full of friends.

A perennial Austin icon, Matt’s El Rancho is the ideal hangout spot for friends and family, especially on their back patio. Covered in their signature red umbrellas, you can enjoy being outside with some shade as you chow down on Bob Armstrong Dip and sip on a Mexican Martini, one of the best cocktails in town.

Take a seat in Oseyo’s relaxing garden courtyard, which features umbrellas, patio misters and comfortable seating, and enjoy their modern take on Korean-American food. Order the Bulgogi Bibimbap or Ddukbokki, signature items from the shareable, succulent menu, as you take in the restaurant’s beautiful outdoor space.