ERB is one of those mythical places that just gets everything right. This restaurant/bar in the Arts District has fantastic cocktails, a massive wine and beer list, and bar food that’ll change the way you think about bar food—including one of the best burgers in the city. And yet, it’s the massive back patio that keeps us coming back. With a mix of small and big group tables, plus tons of space to stand and mingle, hanging out in this string-lit backyard is an ideal Friday night plan.

Say hello to the best daytime patio in Los Angeles. This outdoor cafe/bike shop in Frogtown has been open for a few years now, but their sprawling, graffitied patio has only gotten better with age. There are long, shaded picnic tables filled with friends drinking beer and pitching pilot scripts, families fueling up on breakfast sandwiches or burgers before biking down the river, and solo laptop warriors there to soak up rays, listen to records, and maybe get a little work done.

We never thought we’d say this, but the most romantic patio in LA might be in Westwood. Violet is a big French restaurant in the Village that serves expensive, fussy dishes that are pretty good across the board if you’re into the finer French things. The trout amandine, for instance, holds plenty of moisture and the almonds on top have the right amount of toast. But the real attraction here is the tucked-away back patio with lots of foliage, brick walls, and tile rooftops.

El Cid is unknown to many, and that’s what makes it so special. Walk through the standalone door frame on Sunset in Silver Lake, step down the steep staircase, and you’ll pop out on a patio you’ll never want to leave. With two separate levels, plenty of seating, and old black-and-white movies projected on the walls, this is the ideal spot to take a table over with friends for brunch or stop in for a quick nightcap and snacks after a date.

Located on a quiet side street a few blocks from Hollywood and Highland, this upscale pizzeria feels a world away from the chaotic neighborhood it resides in. While we’d come here regardless for the excellent Neapolitan pizza, the incredible back patio is the reason we’ll stay all night. With red brick walls, string lighting, a full fireplace, this space has all the features you want in a great patio, but it’s the glass window that peers into the pizza kitchen that takes it to a different level.

Benny Boy Brewing takes everything stereotypically macho —beers, brews, fire pits, and of course, the namesake boy—and throws them together, creating a cool Lincoln Park hangout spot that feels like a grown-up summer camp. Equal parts brewery, cider house, and beer garden, this is the perfect place for big groups to gather ‘round, split beer flights, and contemplate taking an axe throwing class together.

From the thatched tunnel entrance and the ethereal club music to every server repeatedly reminding you that it’s “Tulum-themed,” there’s a lot going on at Ka’Teen. If you’re looking to get dressed up and have a messy, over-the-top night out in Hollywood, Ka’Teen is where to be. The mostly outdoor space is great for big groups, there’s a $495 bottle of Dom Perignon on the menu (if that’s your energy), and as for the food, the Yucatan-style menu has several bright spots.

The days of Topanga Canyon’s LSD-fueled, counter-culture commune might be long gone, but there’s no denying this place is still weird as hell. Driving up from PCH, you’ll pass crystal shops and home-made art installations. It’s a fantastic, fascinating day tip and one that’s made even better by having lunch at Cafe 27. The almost entirely outdoor space is built into the side of a hill with a multi-level patio that feels like you’re eating inside the tree-house of your childhood dreams.

The food at Mírate can be hit-and-miss, but it does have one major superpower: its courtyard. This labyrinth of a Mexican spot in Los Feliz looks like a luxurious, multi-story treehouse built for a billionaire evading the IRS in the jungle. The massive tree rising through the middle warrants a moment of quiet appreciation usually only reserved for mountain peaks or a perfectly ripe avocado. Stop by for a few tacos and some very impressive cocktails.

Superba in Venice has always been a nice fallback for chicken-pasta-salad brunches, lunches, and dinners, but the new location on Sunset in Hollywood is an absolute destination. The food is good—they’ve got vegetable-y breakfasts with eggs that let you know they’re fresh and baked goods that remind you why the restaurant’s full name is Superba Food + Bread. And later in the day you’ll find salads, hulking sandwiches, pastas, and meatier things—most of which come with generous sides.