Summer dining isn’t defined by cuisine or what the barkeep pours. It’s about eating outdoors – my favorite activity to enjoy during long summer days that extend the patio dining season.
After visiting a plethora of patios, porticos and porches, I have a few suggestions on where to perch this summer – places with atmosphere, places to hang out with your besties and enjoy seasonal fare and cold drinks – all al fresco destinations to visit before summer slips away.
Tony’s: Restaurant patios are often an afterthought, spilling onto a sidewalk with a few tables and potted plants. It’s not the case at Tony’s, where owner James Bommarito has created one of Clayton’s poshest patios. Tony’s fountain patio, a build out with a stylish contemporary design and a state-of-the-art louvered roof, makes al fresco dining an option rain or shine. An eye-catching waterfall wall and pool basin are the patio’s main attraction, making it a classy, casual and one of the season’s coolest hot spots.
Clementine’s Creamery: Ice cream and sorbets top my list of culinary pleasures that seem a little more decadent when devoured on a patio. Clementine’s owner Tamara Keefe agrees, and she’s added storefront patios to her shops that mirror their turn-of-the-century-inspired interiors. Each Clementine’s storefront has transforming its sidewalk into a cozy patio perch with retro ice cream parlor chairs and tables whose boundaries are framed with decorative wrought iron – a perfect place to sit with a double-dipped cone and watch the world go.
Oliva on the Hill: Out of view behind tall wood fencing and nestled on the eastern edge Daggett Avenue near the Kingshighway overpass stands a hidden oasis: Oliva’s terrace. Technically not a patio (a patio is built at ground level), Oliva’s terrace is a multi-level space covered by a pergola that’s wrapped in lush wisteria, which provides a cooling shade. It’s a charming space with a European vibe, one of the more unique outdoor hideaways to eat, drink and relax – but only during lunch and on Wednesday evenings for Wednesday Wine Downs, when the café is open later.
Broadway Oyster Bar: Eclectic, funky and fun have been the hallmarks of the Broadway Oyster Bar. A description best defines its patio: a place famous for its exterior ramshackle look and shabby chic interiors, and revered for its hodge-podge use of New Orleans, Cajun and St. Louis memorabilia. There’s also oyster shell art, a well-stocked bar and live music. Grab a table or a place at the bar and order up. And the wait won’t be long for the good times to roll, especially on a Cardinals gameday.
John D. McGurk’s: McGurk’s garden patio has been a favorite urban summer retreat for patrons in the Soulard neighborhood for years. Built as urban courtyard patio. Lush with greenery, flowers and a vintage fountain, which competes for attention with the menu. A menu offering variety with an Irish accent. Open whenever the weather permits, summer is an excellent time to stop in and relax while drinking in the atmosphere along with the beer or another libation, paired with a basket of homemade Irish crisps.
Cinder Bar Sky Terrace: Looking for a patio perch? Then head to the Four Seasons, where the luxurious, high-rise Sky Terrace offers a breathtaking, birds-eye view of the Gateway Arch and Mississippi River. The only thing more impressive than the view is the service, as well as the selection of craft cocktails and small plate offerings. On tap this summer are themed nights such as Taco Tuesdays and Tiki Thursdays.
Arzola’s Fajitas + Margaritas: Backyard patios have always provided a pleasant urban escape and a place to party. One of south city’s hippest patios is found at Arzola’s Fajitas + Margaritas in the Benton Park neighborhood. Set with retro stylized red aluminum chairs clustered around two and four top tables shaded with freestanding umbrellas creates an inviting space. A sought-after patio destination that adds ambiance to its artisan margaritas and elevated Mexican fare.
City Winery St. Louis: Beyond City Winery’s location within City Foundry STL, what makes the venue’s sidewalk patio special is its brunch, served Thursdays through Sundays (with the added bonus of live, acoustic music on Sundays. Enhancing the urban dining atmosphere is City Winery’s wine-inspired, globally-influenced and locally sourced menu offerings. Popular brunch plates include blueberry cream-cheese-stuffed French toast and AM Skillets filled with breakfast potatoes, green and red pepper, onion, cheddar cheese, scrambled eggs and pico de gallo.
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