When patio season hits the 925, locals have opinions.
We asked locals and many of our readers to name their favorite restaurants with patios, decks, rooftops, courtyards, and outdoor spaces in the 925. The answers ranged from polished date-night spots to casual barbecue joints, dog-friendly patios, and tucked-away neighborhood favorites.
To assemble this list, we weighed repeat mentions, enthusiasm, specificity, and whether commenters were praising the outdoor space itself — not just the food.
Most respondents were in the Lamorinda area, so we ended up with lots of restaurants from around there–Lamorinda itself, plus Pleasant Hill, Martinez, Concord, Walnut Creek and Danville.
Here are the 15 standouts, as well as a long list of honorable mentions.
1. Metro Lafayette — Lafayette
Metro Lafayette was one of the clearest winners in our survey, with multiple locals pointing to it as a go-to outdoor dining spot. Tim L. of Saranap gave one of the strongest endorsements, calling out the patio’s size, landscaping, umbrellas, heaters, food, service, and bar. Lori N. of Poet’s Corner and Laurie M. of Reliez Valley Area also named Metro.
That tracks with the restaurant’s own description: Metro says its fully enclosed patio seats up to 150 guests in a tree-shaded, umbrella-lined outdoor dining area, with heaters for cooler evenings.
2. Bar Camino — Walnut Creek
Bar Camino came up early and more than once, with Julian M. of Walnut Heights calling it a “fantastic patio” with “killer margaritas.” Estella E. of Foothill also put it on her list.
The downtown Walnut Creek Mexican restaurant leans directly into that appeal, describing itself as having spacious indoor seating and a large patio for outside dining, with hand-crafted margaritas, fresh guacamole, tacos, and enchiladas.
3. Jack’s — Pleasant Hill
Jack’s earned one of the strongest consensus nods in the thread. Estella E. of Foothill listed it, Jo E. of Gloria Terrace included it among her picks, Yuliya H. of Virginia Hills named it, and Christi Y. of Camelback jumped in to agree that “Jack’s IS pretty good.”
The Pleasant Hill location also fits the patio brief: Jack’s says its Pleasant Hill restaurant has outdoor seating along with private dining spaces, making it a practical choice for everything from breakfast to dinner.
4. Lafayette Public House — Lafayette
Julian M. of Walnut Heights gave Lafayette Public House one of the warmest descriptions in the thread, calling it casual and a favorite for sitting outside and people-watching around Lafayette Circle.
The restaurant’s own site highlights its outdoor patio as part of the experience, noting that guests can come for coffee, cocktails, food, and a patio that works for families and furry friends.
5. Va de Vi — Walnut Creek
Va de Vi did not get the highest number of mentions, but it did get one of the more specific endorsements. Kristin L. of Parkmead said she loves the patio seating, especially in the back by the big tree — with the important note that it is best on a warm evening.
The Walnut Creek bistro and wine bar takes outdoor reservations, and its downtown location makes it one of the area’s classic al fresco choices for small plates and wine.
It’s also one of the rarer patios that feels ideal for a date night.
6. Lazy Dog — Concord
Lazy Dog made the list for a very specific reason: dogs. Susan P. of Gregory Gardens praised the food and the chance to say hi to all the doggies, while Pat S. of Canterbury Village called it a great patio for “people and pups.”
Lazy Dog’s Concord location is at 1961 Diamond Blvd., and the chain specifically promotes dog-friendly patios with water bowls, a relaxed atmosphere, and even a dedicated dog menu.
7. Wence’s — Pleasant Hill
Wence’s got two strong local mentions and a lot of enthusiasm. Steve W. of Shadowood/Tres Lagos named it, and Kerri M. of Sierra praised the food, cocktails, pricing, and service.
The Pleasant Hill seafood, oyster bar, and grill is at 1922 Oak Park Blvd., with a menu built around seafood, oysters, steak, pasta, cocktails, and wine.
8. Hazy Barbecue — Danville
Hazy Barbecue got one of the most evocative comments in the thread. Julian M. of Walnut Heights said it is great for something chill, super kid-friendly, with hill views, good people-watching, and especially nice on summer Friday nights with live music.
The Danville barbecue spot also promotes “music on the patio” on its own site, which helps explain why locals think of it as more than just a place to grab ribs and brisket.
We did a full review of Hazy and it’s a great spot.
9. Rooftop — Walnut Creek
Rooftop was not mentioned by name as many times as some others, but the enthusiasm was hard to ignore. Sandra B. of Oak Road pointed to the rooftop view of Mount Diablo — exactly the kind of detail that makes a patio memorable.
The restaurant describes itself as an outdoor terrace in downtown Walnut Creek with views of Mount Diablo, several dining areas, cocktails, wine, and a polished rooftop setting.
10. Reve Bistro — Lafayette
Reve Bistro made the list because the comments were both specific and food-focused. Jo E. of Gloria Terrace included Reve among her patio picks, while Lisa M. of Clayton recommended Reve Bistro in Lafayette and specifically called out the moules frites.
The Lafayette French bistro describes its outdoor option as an award-winning garden, with winter enclosure and heaters when needed.
11. Sasa — Walnut Creek
Sasa was another repeat mention from locals who know the Walnut Creek dining scene. Kristin L. of Parkmead mentioned its small side outdoor seating, and Jo E. of Gloria Terrace also included it on her list.
Sasa’s own materials note that the Japanese izakaya has an outdoor patio, along with a full bar and sake selection.
It just expanded its outdoor space with a new, city-sanctioned parklet too!
12. Fiore — Concord
Fiore had multiple mentions, including a simple endorsement from Cora W. of Hitchcock and a spot on Estella E.’s list of favorites.
The Concord restaurant also makes the outdoor space part of its pitch, describing an updated patio with heaters, ambient lighting, and curtains for added privacy.
13. Amoroma — Moraga
Amoroma stood out as a Lamorinda pick, with Julie L. of St. Mary’s Orchard recommending the Italian restaurant in Moraga. The restaurant itself jumped into the thread afterward, pointing locals to a patio walk-through on social media.
Ristorante Amoroma is located at 360 Park Street in Moraga, making it one of the stronger patio recommendations from outside the Walnut Creek-Lafayette-Pleasant Hill cluster.
14. T’Zunun — Pleasant Hill
T’Zunun earned its place because the comment was so patio-specific. Jamie G. of Quiet Lakes described it as having the “cutest covered back patio” backing up to a quiet green area.
The Pleasant Hill restaurant describes itself as a modern Mexican restaurant rooted in regional flavors, located in Pleasant Hill.
We haven’t been, but the patio does indeed look really nice!
15. Piatti — Danville
Piatti was named by Georgia L. of Alamo Oaks, and it is a natural fit for the list because the Danville restaurant has serious patio infrastructure.
The restaurant’s Danville event-space information lists a back patio with room for large groups, and its main location information places it at 100 Sycamore Valley Road West.
I used to eat on the outdoor patio all the time in 2021 when that was the only option.
Honorable Mentions
This was a really popular question and we got 50+ responses. We couldn’t cover all of them, but here’s a list of honorable mention places that people also mentioned.
- EJ Phair Alehouse & Pub — Alamo
- Social Bird — Lafayette
- The Hideout Kitchen — Lafayette
- Main Street Kitchen — Walnut Creek
- North Italia — Walnut Creek
- Teleferic Barcelona — Walnut Creek
- Il Fornaio — Walnut Creek
- ButtercuP Diner — Walnut Creek
- Gott’s Roadside — Walnut Creek
- Cheesecake Factory — Walnut Creek
- Crescent Bistro — Pleasant Hill
- Slow Hand BBQ — Pleasant Hill (Sadly, it’s closed due to a fire)
- Massimo Ristorante — Walnut Creek
- Montesacro — Walnut Creek
- Tutu’s — Lafayette
- Doppio Zero — Concord
- WiseGirl — Pleasant Hill
- Roxx on Main — Martinez
- Waterfront Grill — Martinez
- Moresi’s Chophouse — Clayton
- La Tapatia — Concord
- Aung Burma — Concord
- Salsa Verde — Concord
- Sunshine Bistro — Walnut Creek
- The Breakfast Club at Midtown — Walnut Creek or Lafayette
- Sweet Maple — Walnut Creek
- Powder Keg — Hercules
- CaliCraft — Walnut Creek
A few readers also shouted out places outside the core Lamorinda area, including The Dead Fish in Crockett, Port Costa, Lake Chalet in Oakland, Sam’s in Tiburon, and Scott’s Seafood at Jack London Square.
So there you have it–a very large, local-approved bucket list of outdoor dining spots to try when the weather is nice.
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