We’re nearing cooler weather in Central Florida, and with no shortage of new restaurants popping up and old mainstays continuing to deliver, it’s the perfect time of year to dine outdoors. Between elevated waterfront decks, intimate gardens, casual patios and more, here are 30 of the top spots for outdoor dining in Orlando. 

The Stubborn Mule

100 S. Eola Drive, Orlando
The Stubborn Mule is in high demand for its creative twists on American cuisine. Locally sourced food options and craft cocktails, beer and wine makes this eatery a popular stop for local and tourist foodies alike. Credit: Image via Google Maps

The Hideaway Bar

523 Virginia Drive, Orlando
The storied Hideaway Bar has opened its brand-new location after having left its original just across the street. The home for the Orlando Miami Dolphins fan club serves the same menu at its new location, including classic favorites such as the Hot Marino sandwich, named for Dolphins icon Dan Marino. Plus, it boasts a covered outdoor patio. Credit: Photo via The Hideaway Bar/Facebook

Columbia Restaurant

649 Front St., Celebration
Columbia Restaurant in Celebration brings the iconic flavor of Spanish food to Orlando while also offering covered outdoor seating to escape the heat and enjoy some sangria. Credit: Photo via Columbia Restaurant/Facebook
Grape & The Grain 1110 Virginia Drive, Orlando Grape and the Grain is a quaint neighborhood wine bar that also offers frequent live music and some killer rain-proof views. Credit: Photo via Grape and the Grain/Facebook
The Taproom at Dubsdread 549 W. Par St., Orlando While the Taproom may be dark on the inside, this sports bar located on Dubsdread Golf Course offers a patio brunch with a full Sunday-morning cocktail menu. The shaded patio overlooks the golf course; we’re not sure where you can get a more Florida Sunday brunch than here. Credit: Photo via Tap Room at Dubsdread/Facebook

Lazy Moon Pizza Maitland

441 S. Orlando Ave., Maitland
Lazy Moon Pizza’s third location, to complement Lazy Moon’s’s downtown and UCF pizzerias, is now serving its humongous slices in the old Einstein Bagels building in Maitland. It also features a sizable outdoor patio. Credit: Image via Lazy Moon Pizza/Facebook

Canvas Restaurant

13615 Sachs Ave., Orlando
Besides the gorgeous floor-to-ceiling windows, the flashy yellow lamps and the brick walls, Canvas restaurant overlooks a beautiful lake with a partially covered patio. Try the oak-charred octopus, to really drive home that on-the-water feel. Credit: Photo via Canvas Restaurant/Facebook

Chroma Modern Bar + Kitchen

6967 Lake Nona Boulevard, Orlando
This modern kitchen and bar serves up time-honored dishes and weekly happy hour deals, plus it features a pretty killer outdoor seating area to enjoy it all on. Credit: Photo via Chroma Modern Bar + Kitchen/Facebook
Domu 7600 Dr. Phillips Blvd., Orlando This ramen bar has two locations, but at the Dr. Phillips one, guests might need to wait out a spot on the coveted open patio. Domu makes their noodles in-house and they have tweaked their broth recipes to mouthwatering perfection. Because of this, and the fact that they don’t take reservations, ensuring a table at Domu is a challenge, but worth it. Credit: Photo via Domu/Facebook
Tori Tori 720 N. Mills Ave., Orlando Tori Tori is both a modern cocktail bar and a hotspot to grab traditional Japanese pub food in Orlando’s Mills 50 district. From the mind of Domu’s Sean “Sonny” Nguyen, the spot offers classic and creative cocktails, sake, beer and wine and eats like scallop crudo and wagyu gyoza. Credit: Photo via Tori Tori/Facebook

Barkhaven Dog Bar

724 Brookhaven Drive, Orlando
BarkHaven Dog Bar, an oasis for humans and furry friends alike, is now open in Ivanhoe Village. Boasting a full bar with local brews, coffee station, live music, grooming services and food trucks, BarkHaven aims to provide a space for humans to gather and bring their tail-wagging comrades with them. The 3,600-square-foot bar space with an attached off-leash turf park also offers high-speed internet service for those looking to connect without having to leave the canine companions behind. Credit: photo by Matt Keller Lehman

Seito Sushi

8031 Turkey Lake Road, Orlando
Seito Sushi, with two locations across Orlando, offers a lively atmosphere with creative sushi and Japanese dishes (and cocktails!), plus a perfectly rain-proof patio to enjoy it all on. Credit: Photo courtesy Seito Sushi
Mia’s Italian Kitchen 8717 International Drive, Orlando Featuring house-made pasta and grandma pies, the pizzas that emerge fresh from the brick ovens at Mia’s Italian Kitchen are something you’d find on a dinner table in Naples, Italy. Skip the Italian vacation and enjoy a balmy Central Florida breeze on the outdoor patio. Credit: Photo via Mia's Italian Kitchen/Facebook
Hamilton’s Kitchen – Alfond Inn 300 E. New England Ave., Winter Park Hamilton’s Kitchen at the Alfond Inn is one of the pricier patios to chill at but if you’re up for it, it’s worth the cash. Enjoy drinks and snacks in the courtyard, or go for breakfast, lunch or dinner (along with brunch on the weekends) — there’s plenty of opportunities to enjoy their Southern-style cooking al fresco. Credit: Photo via Alfond Inn/Facebook

Armando’s

463 W. New England Ave., Winter Park
Armando’s gives guests the opportunity to eat some Neapolitan pizza out on their patio, right in Hannibal Square. Get the views and the food without having to fly all the way to Italy. Credit: Photo via Armando's/Yelp

The Porch

4757 S. Orange Ave., Orlando
The Porch is located just south of downtown Orlando, offering brunch, lunch and dinner, plus plenty of drinks to enjoy on its sprawling covered patio. Credit: Photo via The Porch/Facebook

Gators Riverside Grille

4255 Peninsula Point, Sanford
Gator’s Riverside Grill, located in Sanford, is nestled along the St. Johns River and offers cheap drinks and tons of good old-fashioned Southern fried seafood. Credit: Photo via Gators Riverside/Grill

The Monroe

448 N. Terry Ave., Orlando
The Monroe is a swanky restaurant located in Orlando’s Creative Village, offering up cozy vibes, tasty small plates and entrees, coffee and cocktails. Credit: Photo via Yelp

The Wellborn

211 N. Lucerne Circle W.
This quaint neighborhood hangout spot and bar aims to offer a “taste of vacation.” Guests can enjoy the scenic atmosphere, small plates, desserts and Sunday brunch on top of a plentiful wine and cocktail list. Credit: Photo via The Wellborn/Facebook

Relax Grill

211 Eola Parkway, Orlando
A Lake Eola Park staple, Relax Grill is an ideal spot for those looking to do just that: relax. No frills, no hustle and bustle, just casual patio seating and some classic American dishes and drinks. Credit: Photo via Relax Grill/Facebook
Fish on Fire 7937 Daetwyler Drive, Orlando Fish on Fire is a rustic Orlando seafood spot and fish camp. The restaurant, open since 2004, boasts fresh seafood and frequent live music and lively events. Credit: Image via Google Maps

Terralina Crafted Italian

1650 E. Buena Vista Drive, Orlando
Be transported to Little Italy at this Disney Springs hotspot. Run by Top Chef master Tony Mantuano, you can find comfort specialties like eggplant Parmesan stack and ravioli gigante here. Come with an empty stomach so you can get your fill of tantalizing flavors and savory views from the veranda. Credit: Photo via Yelp

Salt Shack on the Lake Clermont

846 W. Osceola St., Clermont
After years of success, Tampa’s waterfront restaurant Salt Shack on the Bay opened a second location in a vacated lakefront space in downtown Clermont. The “rustic-refined” eatery serves fresh seafood, seasonal cuisine and tropical cocktails. Credit: Photo via Salt Shack on the Lake Clermont/Facebook
Maxine’s on Shine 337 Shine Ave., Orlando Maxine’s on Shine offers regular live music, a hefty comfort food-filled menu, and weekend brunch perfect for a relaxing meal after the Thanksgiving chaos. Credit: Photo via Maxine's on Shine/Facebook

Briarpatch

252 N. Park Ave., Winter Park
One of Winter Park’s most iconic and long-standing breakfast joints serves up contemporary American cuisine and brunch daily. With breakfast goodies like blueberry-stuffed pancakes and raspberry-and-brie stuffed brioche french toast, it’s not hard to find a reason to bring the family here. Credit: Photo via Briarpatch/Yelp

Best Windermere Restaurant


Winner: Yellow Dog Eats
Finalists: Agave Azul Cocina Mexicana Windermere, Hawkers Windermere Credit: Photo via Yellowdog Eats/Facebook

Best Ivanhoe Village Restaurant


Winner: Santiago’s Bodega
Finalists: White Wolf Cafe, The Hammered Lamb Credit: Photo via Santiago's Bodega
The Ravenous Pig 565 W. Fairbanks Ave., Winter Park The Ravenous Pig offers inventive New American eats, an in-house taproom and hand-crafted cocktails. The stylish gastropub (with adjoining beer garden) asks that you make reservations because there’s often a wait to get into this foodie heaven — definitely worth the splurge. Credit: Photo via The Ravenous Pig/Facebook
Cafe Tu Tu Tango 8625 International Drive, Orlando The funky tapas spot offers creative food and drink specials every weekday, plus live music and relaxed patio seating, too. With tons of sharable plates to choose from, signature cocktails, and artists who paint while you eat, Cafe Tu Tu Tango is an attraction in itself. Credit: Photo via Cafe Tu Tu Tango/Facebook

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Chloe Greenberg is the Digital Content Editor for Orlando Weekly.