Best patios in South Florida for dining and drinking

They paved paradise and put up a patio. And thank goodness for that.

With restaurants being asked to keep tables six feet apart and dining rooms at 50 percent capacity to curtail the spreading of COVID-19, expanding outdoor dining may be the best way for South Florida eateries to make a profit.

Call it what you will — terrace, veranda, courtyard (we’ll even accept porch and deck) — South Florida has some fabulous patio areas that allow us to enjoy the sultry subtropic climate and spectacular aqua-licious vistas.

Here are some of the best bar and restaurant patios around.

American Social — Brickell

690 SW First Court, Miami. 305-223-7004. AmericanSocialBar.com/brickell

Not only does this sports bar have a great downtown Miami location, sitting on the Miami River, but it is pet-friendly so pooches on the patio is no problem.

The Alchemist

2430 NE 13th Ave., Wilton Manors. 954-673-4614. TheAlchemist.cafe

Sure there's an indoors (almost a wooden shack) where you order and can enjoy your kava and nibbles, but the patio is a leafy, unplugged oasis from bustling Wilton Drive, just around the corner. The patio is almost completely hidden behind palm trees, an overgrown garden and canvas coverings, and that's the way Alchemist fans like it. It feels like an insider secret for the loyal fans of the coffee — light-bodied, without any acidic aftertaste.

In 2016, SouthFlorida.com readers voted the Alchemist (2430 NE 13 Ave., Wilton Manors) the best coffeehouse for the annual Best of South Florida. (SouthFlorida.com)

Astra

2103 NW Second Ave., Miami. 305-573-5778. AstraMiami.com

When it comes to rooftop restaurants, size is everything. This new Wynwood eatery and lounge can seat a little over 300 people. The view of downtown Miami is gorgeous and there are cabanas available.

The rooftop restaurant and lounge Astra has great view of Miami's Wynwood neighborhood. (Astra / Courtesy)

Bakan Wynwood

2801 NW Second Ave., Miami. 305-396-7080. BakanWynwood.com

This Wynwood restaurant serves elevated Mexican cuisine in an artsy space including a cactus-festooned outdoor bar and terrace covered with sculptural inverted pyramids made of wood. By the way, Bakan has added seating on 28th Street with three more tables, following the COVID-19 social distance guidelines. But back to that bar: It has over 200 mezcal and tequila offerings.

Bakan Wynwood has an outdoor bar and terrace where you can enjoy an expansive tequila and mezcal menu and Mexican cuisine. (Bakan Wynwood / Courtesy)

Beach House Pompano

270 N. Pompano Beach Blvd., Pompano Beach. 954-607-6530. BeachHousePompano.com.

The terrace and upper deck at this oceanside eatery is prized seating, tiered so every table has an unobstructed view of the Atlantic Ocean (and the Hillsboro Inlet lighthouse).

Beach House Pompano offers oceanfront views to go with their delicious spins on South Florida favorites. (South Florida Sun-Sentinel)

Blue Moon Fish Company

4405 W. Tradewinds Ave., Lauderdale-By-The-Sea. 954-267-9888. BlueMoonFishCo.com

The popular Intracoastal restaurant has a devoted following and many of them swear by Blue Moon's deck, which is stunningly comfortable in the oppressively hot summertime.

Bokamper’s Sports Bar and Grill

3115 NE 32nd Ave., Fort Lauderdale. 954-900-5584. Bokampers.com/fort-lauderdale.

Former Miami Dolphin Kim Bokamper has five Florida locations of his namesake eatery, most of them with expansive terraces. But it's the Fort Lauderdale one with a veranda sitting on the Intracoastal that feels like the most natural fit, the perfect laid-back feel for the comfort food Bokamper's serves.

Bokamper's Sports Bar and Grill Fort Lauderdale on the Intracoastal. (Bokampers / Courtesy)

The Butcher Shop Beer Garden and Grill

209 Sixth St., West Palm Beach. 561-812-2336. ButcherShopBeerGarden.com/west-palm-beach.

Garden is right there in the name, so you just know it plays a big part with this restaurant. The outdoor beer garden (with a covered patio and sections of wood decking) has a bar, DJ booth, beer truck, ping pong, cornhole, Jenga and flat screen televisions.

The Butcher Shop Beer Garden and Grill in West Palm Beach is housed in what was once an airplane hangar. The restaurant has an outdoor beer garden and patio with a DJ booth, beer truck, full-service bar, games and flat screen TVs. (The Butcher Shop / Courtesy)

Casa Sensei

1200 E. Las Olas Blvd., Fort Lauderdale. 954-530-4176. CasaSensei.com.

This Pan-Asian fusion restaurant — with flavor shoutouts to Latin America — has veranda/patio dining right on the Himmarshee Canal, something boaters will appreciate. In fact, Riverfront Gondola Tours is docked next to the restaurant and patrons have an option of having a private dinner cruise through a partnership between the restaurant and the tour company. For more information, call 954-616-7699 or go to RiverfrontGondolaTours.com.

C.W.S. Bar and Kitchen

522 Lucerne Ave., Lake Worth. 561-318-5637. CWSLW.com.

There are not one, but two patios at this natty nightspot known for its way with whiskey, gastropub fare and its beer garden. C.W.S. just announced that they are bringing their live music back to the beer garden space with performances Thursdays from 6-9 p.m., Fridays and Saturdays from 7:30-10:30 p.m. and Sundays from noon-3 p.m. (during the brunch service). By the way, there are 28 craft beers on draft and a seemingly endless list of more suds available in cans and bottles at the beer garden. The scratch kitchen has come up with a beer garden menu of items to pair with the craft brewskis.

C.W.S. Bar and Kitchen in downtown Lake Worth took out the stage in their beer garden patio to allow for social distancing. (C.W.S. Bar Kitchen / Courtesy)

Dune

2200 N. Ocean Blvd., Fort Lauderdale. 754-900-4059. DuneFL.com.

Located in the Auberge Beach Residences and Spa, this restaurant has a large dining terrace right on the sands of Fort Lauderdale beach complete with full bar, fire pit and uplit trees. And the view is of the Atlantic Ocean, which is hard to beat. Happy hour, from 4-7 p.m. daily, has a bar bites menu. Due to limited seating because of the coronavirus mandates, reservations are encouraged.

Dune is the first East Coast restaurant from Auberge Resorts Collection. The casual contemporary eatery is located on the sands of Fort Lauderdale beach inside (and outside) the Auberge Beach Residences and Spa. (Rod Stafford Hagwood/South Florida Sun-Sentinel)

Gianni’s at the former Versace mansion

1116 Ocean Dr., Miami Beach. tel:786-485-2200786-485-2200. VMmiamibeach.com.

Was there ever a bigger baller on the beach than Gianni Versace? Now you can feel a bit of that star status by dining at the poolside terrace at the restaurant Gianni's, which is in Versace's former villa on Miami Beach's Ocean Drive. The mansion is now called the Villa Casa Casuarina, but other than the name, everything else is the same. The al fresco dining gives you an up-close view of Versace's famous Medusa logo made of more than 1 million mosaic tiles.

Gulfstream Park Racing and Casino

901 S. Federal Highway, Hallandale Beach. GulfstreamPark.com.

Christine Lee’s, Yard House and Pastry is Art all have outdoor seating that overlooks the horse racing track’s walking ring and saddling area. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, these restaurants have expanded their patios even farthur into the Village’s courtyard to promote social distancing. Gulfstream Park Village has also added café tables, umbrellas and a sun shade for outdoor dining.

Juvia

1111 Lincoln Road, Miami Beach. 305-763-8272. JuviaMiami.com.

This rooftop restaurant and lounge has a 240-degree view of Miami Beach and the fare is a heady mix of Asian, French and South American cuisines.

Rooftop restaurant Juvia has 240-degree views of Miami Beach. (Juvia / Courtesy)

Le Patio

2401 NE 11th Ave., Wilton Manors. 954-530-4641. LePatioWiltonManors.com.

This hidden treasure is tucked away on a side street just off Wilton Drive. As you can imagine with the word “patio” right there in the title, the patio is the draw here. Stepping through the restaurant’s tiny dining room (which now seats five to comply with social distancing mandates), you can’t help but decompress from the whirl of Wilton Manors as you enter the patio (which now seats 14). There, by flickering candlelight, romance is helped along by an eclectic menu that changes often, referencing everything from refined yet rustic dishes from Lyon to hearty staples such as ravioli quesadillas and shepherd’s pie.

Le Patio in Wilton Manors seats 21 outside and 10 inside. (Le Patio / Courtesy)

The Le Tub Saloon

1100 N. Ocean Drive, Hollywood. 954-921-9425. TheLeTub.com.

This tourist must-stop is famous for its burgers (once endorsed by GQ magazine and Oprah Winfrey) and its series of wood-plank decks that comprise most of the Intracoastal restaurant's seating. Le Tub's charm is that it looks like it was stacked together like ill-fitting Legos over the years with bits of this and that hammered in place here and there — and it was, with whatever washed ashore on Hollywood Beach. This makes the decks fascinating wherever your eyes might land.

Once deemed the best burger in the country by GQ Magazine and touted by Oprah, Le Tub in Hollywood failed to make a recent top 25 South Florida list. Dining critic Mike Mayo still calls it great. (South Florida Sun-Sentinel)

Louie Bossi's Ristorante Bar Pizzeria — Las Olas Boulevard

1032 E. Las Olas Blvd., Fort Lauderdale. 954-356-6699. LouieBossi.com/ft-lauderdale.

Bossi’s doesn’t just have a gazebo in what they call their “piazza” in back of the Fort Lauderdale location, but they have a bocce ball court. And in the summertime, there is a bocce ball tournament. There’s also a vintage scooter with a sidecar that is Instagram-worthy. Since reopening post-pandemic lockdown, Bossi’s has expanded the outdoor dining and tented the area.

Louis Bossi's on Las Olas Boulevard in Fort Lauderdale has a gazebo diner can reserve. There is also a bocce ball court and in the summertime there's a bocce ball tournament. (Louie Bossi's / Courtesy)

Gennaro Luciano, one of the most famous Italian chefs on the planet, made an appearance recently at Louie Bossi’s Ristorante Bar and Pizzeria on Las Olas. (Rod Stafford Hagwood/South Florida Sun-Sentinel)

Oceano Kitchen

201 E. Ocean Ave., Lantana. 561-562-5055. OceanoKitchen.com.

Since the lockdown has ended, this casual-but-fine-dining restaurant is solely seating outside on their wood deck under a yellow canopy on an unassuming side street in sleepy Lantana. And most of the food is done on a wood-fire grill or on a smoker by married dynamic duo Cindy (pastry chef) and Jeremy Bearman, so the overall feel is like having dinner at a friend’s home — a four-star dinner, according to dining critic Mike Mayo. Since there is no longer inside dining, reservations are suggested.

Quarterdeck Seafood Bar and Neighborhood Grill

300 N. Beach Road, Dania Beach. 954-929-1400. QuarterdeckRestaurants.com.

It's all about the location here, at the foot of the Dania Beach Pier where — on the deck or the terrace — you can watch people fish or just zen out looking at waves crash up on the shore.

In 2015, SouthFlorida.com readers voted Rhythm and Vine (401 NE Fifth Terrace, Fort Lauderdale) the best new bar in the annual Best of South Florida. (South Florida Sun-Sentinel)

Seaspice Brasserie and Lounge

22 NW N. River Drive, Miami.305-440-4200. SeaSpiceMiami.com.

During the two-month pandemic shut down, Seaspice made a lot of changes including redesigning dining spaces, both inside and outside. Now this trendy hot spot with views of the Miami River and the downtown area has private nooks separated by lush greenery with the outdoor open-air seating. The outside options include a courtyard lounge, a garden bar and a covered patio.

Seaspice features views of the Miami River and the Magic City's downtown skyline. (Seaspice / Courtesy)

Shooters Waterfront

3033 NE 32nd Ave., Fort Lauderdale. 954-566-2855. ShootersWaterfront.com.

Birdcage loungers, fire pits and a dock for your yacht a few feet away. Fort Lauderdale's Intracoastal has a non-fussiness about it that is a perfect match for Shooters. And there's a sleek tiki bar.

Shooters Waterfront's un-fussiness is a good fit for Fort Lauderdale's Intracoastal. (Shooters Waterfront / Courtesy)

Shooters Waterfront's sits right on Fort Lauderdale's Intracoastal. (Shooters Waterfront / Courtesy)

Swan and Bar Bevy

90 NE 39th St., Miami. 305-704-0994. SwanBevy.com.

Pharrell Williams (rapper, singer, producer, fashion designer) and David Grutman (nightlife impresario LIV, Story, Komodo, Planta) opened this Design District spot that boasts an outdoor dining patio set in a tropical jungle of plants. And thanks to the glam-guy owners it’s a good bet that other famous faces al fresco their feast there.

Music superstar Pharrell Williams and nightlife impresario David Grutman opened Swan and Bar Bevy in Miami's Design District enclave. The hot spot boasts an outdoor dining patio set in a a tropical jungle of plants. (Swan and Bar Bevy / Courtesy)

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rhagwood@sunsentinel.com