As the weather improves, so do our thoughts about enjoying a meal al fresco. Here, we’ve rounded up some of Fort Worth’s best patio restaurants where the air is sweet, the drinks are cold and the food hits the spot.
Stockyards
The Fort Worth Stockyards is the perfect place to people-watch from a patio. Sip margaritas by the river at Paloma Suerte or 97 West Kitchen + Bar. Find some American comfort food at Provender Hall in the middle of Stockyards action on Exchange Ave. Order up cozy Mexican food at the iconic Joe T. Garcia’s, whose patio resembles a historic plaza. Get your BBQ fix at Riscky’s original location, which has been operating as a family business for 97 years. Head to Second Rodeo Brewing for their massive patio, live music and tons of beer and beverage options. Or get a bird’s eye view of the whole area at Atico, Chef Tim Love’s rooftop patio that serves tapas and craft cocktails.
TCU/Fort Worth Zoo
Near TCU, you’ll find a lively community of patio-dwellers and outdoor shopping centers just steps from the Trinity Trails along the river. Quince’s patio is a lovely space for dining from a menu inspired by the world’s culinary destinations. Across the alleyway, HG Sply Co. has clean eats, classic drinks at their patio bar and a friendly feel. Find classic Tex-Mex and a colorful atmosphere at Maria’s Mexican Kitchen. Woodshed Smokehouse is an homage to all things smoked, with a huge patio tucked into a bend in the Trinity River. Rogers Roundhouse is perfect for watching the game with kids in tow, offering drinks and bar food like their popular fried pickles. Across the street, if you’re looking for a little activity, Courtside Kitchen has several pickle ball courts so you can eat and drink between games.
Clearfork
The Shops at Clearfork is a reimagined shopping mall that plays into the warm Texas weather. The upscale steakhouse and butcher shop, B&B Butchers, has a fun patio where they serve incredible appetizers and high-quality cuts of beef. Doc B’s serves classic American cuisine with specials like all-day happy hour on Mondays and Martini Thursdays. Fixe Southern House is an upscale eatery for grits, biscuits and creative seafood dishes with a Southern twist. Try a different side of Southeast Asian cuisine at Malai Kitchen, which serves hearty dishes of Thai and Vietnamese Cuisine sourced from scratch with quality ingredients. For the Francophile, check out rise souffle no. 3, which specializes in souffles and classic French dishes like onion soup and ham & cheese baguette.
Try one of City Works’ 90 local and global craft beers on tap including seasonal brews and classic American dishes with modern twists. Pinstripes not only has a lovely patio on which to try their popular brunch on Saturday and Sunday, but they also have bocce courts and bowling lanes to enjoy before or after your meal. Press Café is set a little away from the Shops at Clearfork next to the Trailhead of the Trinity River. Their New American cuisine and craft cocktails are served in a relaxing environment with fire pits and comfy chairs on the patio.
Downtown
Fort Worth’s walkable downtown has become one of the nation’s most lively urban settings. Among the Convention Center, Water Gardens and Sundance Square entertainment district’s theaters and galleries, patio restaurants pepper the area. Visitors will love sitting beneath twinkle lights in Sundance Square Plaza listening to live, local music, or finding their next favorite outdoor patio for drinks and bites. Little Red Wasp near the Convention Center has a menu of simple and delicious food, a full bar and beer list. GRACE offers modern American fare on the terrace with sensational cocktails or a selection of Old and New World wines. For an upscale Italian experience, book a table at 61 Osteria, with traditional, simple, seasonal Italian dishes sourced from local farmers. For seafood, you can’t go wrong at Waters Restaurant, with refined dishes, nautical décor and one of the best happy hours in town.
Pacos Mexican Cuisine is a local hotspot in Sundance Square for authentic Mexican food. At Flying Saucer, order pub fare and one of their 200+ beers before claiming space on their outdoor patio near Sundance Square Plaza. Take to the skies at Branch & Bird for their Wine on the Skyline happy hour, or enjoy the cozy couches on The Archibald’s rooftop. And a little south of downtown, have drinks and eats in the historical T&P train station at T&P Tavern.
Cultural District
The Cultural District is home to five world-renowned museums lauded for their architectural features. Inside the Kimbell Art Museum, grab a coffee or light lunch and sit in the small square patio, where you’ll be cut off from the noise of nearby busy streets. Piola Italian Kitchen and Garden is tucked away in a neighborhood, and their back garden will make you think you’ve been transported to Italy. Across the street from Dickies Arena, Taco Heads is a local favorite for tacos, margaritas and its large outdoor patio.
Camp Bowie
Down the diagonal Camp Bowie, Winslow’s Wine Café is the perfect spot to sip on something from their extensive wine menu or enjoy brunch on the weekends. Do some grocery shopping at the gourmet grocery, Roy Pope, where you can order from their deli or coffee bar and sit on the populated patio.
River District
The River District has open spaces and is a popular spot for hopping on the Trinity Trails. Gemelle is a contemporary Italian-American eatery with a full bar and delicious pasta and pizza dishes. Their patio is an Instagrammer’s dream, with pink neon, greenery and quaint tables and chairs set beneath the starry Texas sky. Though Salsa Limon has several locations across Fort Worth, their patio in the River District provides ample seating under umbrellas, so you can enjoy your tacos in shade. Stop in at Heim Barbecue for finger-lickin’ BBQ that’ll fill you up. Be sure to order their burnt ends!
Near Southside
Near Southside’s casual, creative and close-knit community has come into its own in recent years and shows no sign of slowing down. Enjoy the relaxed atmosphere of Tinie’s Mexican Cuisine while trying their cocktails and modern flavors. Head across the street to the neighborhood pub The Bearded Lady, with yummy food, cocktails, rotating local craft beers and a huge patio perfect for spending a sunny afternoon. Coco Shrimp serves up Hawaiian vibes along with their Hawaiian food. Their menu is relatively simple but will blow you away with their variations of shrimp and perhaps the best buttery, garlicky rice this author has ever tasted.
Panther City BBQ is one of Texas Monthly’s top 10 BBQ restaurants in Fort Worth, and their brisket elote, pork belly poppers and mouthwatering brisket are enjoyed even more from their pretty patio. Enjoy comfort dishes made with farm-fresh ingredients at Maggie’s RnR, accompanied with craft drinks and live music on their charming patio. Brewed has figured out the whole brunch-on-the-patio thing, with delicious breakfast options, shared bites and favorites that you’ll enjoy under the patio’s string lights. The former food truck Brix Barbecue keeps recipes simple so the meat can shine. Named after the owner’s rescued Boxer-Terrier mix, Brix has Lonestar on tap, a smattering of delicious sides and a no-fuss menu that will satisfy all barbecue lovers.
West 7th & The Foundry
This entertainment hot spot offers a plethora of options when it comes to nightlife. Birdie’s Social Club is a cozy blend of bright colors, great cocktails and food trucks. They host local musicians, watch parties and trivia on their massive wooden stage on a nightly basis. Across the patio, Bourbon & Shine is a whiskey and moonshine lounge with velvet chairs and a dark, cozy atmosphere. Enjoy local music, craft beer, wine and pizza at Fort Brewery, where the patio is always hopping. Maple Branch Craft Brewery has a beer garden that creates small-batch craft beer, offers a variety of food options and hosts fun events in the taproom.
Rodeo Goat has a family-friendly atmosphere offering creative takes on burgers, a full bar and covered patio. The Social House is popular for their steal of a happy hour and yummy brunch options including bottomless mimosas. Catch the game as sports bars with outdoor patios like The Reservoir, Pour Decisions and Koe Wetzel’s Riot Room.
East Fort Worth
Wild Acre Restaurant and Beer Garden is a great spot for the whole crew to enjoy the bold flavors of their craft beer, some truly delicious burgers and a massive patio where kids can play on the playground or their new pedal kart track.
The largest distillery west of the Mississippi, Whiskey Ranch is a 112-acre stop for whiskey lovers at a former golf club where Byron Nelson once played. Take a tour of Firestone & Robertson Distilling, where they make the popular blended whiskey, TX Whiskey, and then do a tasting or have cocktails on the spacious porch overlooking the ranch.
Riverside Arts District
Visit Tesoro Mexican Café on Race Street, a family-owned spot that blends modern and authentic Mexican cuisine. Enjoy their shady patio while you feast on Tex-Mex favorites or items from their all-day breakfast menu. Tropic Lady, The Bearded Lady’s sister restaurant, offers craft cocktails, mocktails, smashburgers, salads and tacos on an outdoor area that feels like a little oasis.
