(Last UPDATED 8/15/2023) Alfresco Dining in Sacramento. A collection of SacramentoRevealed.com blog posts on restaurants/bars that offer al fresco dining. NEW: See Sacramento Al Fresco Dining program below.
Sacramento is a great place for al fresco dining all year round. Many restaurants have portable heaters to keep patrons warm in the winter months, covered patios, and misters or fans (or both) to keep patrons comfortable during the heat of the summer.
I have always enjoyed al fresco dining, and often choose to dine outdoors when there is an opportunity to do so. The ability to dine outside has become even more important to me as the COVID-19 pandemic continues on into its third year.
SacramentoRevealed.com – All Things Sacramento (from a personal perspective)
Some of the restaurants listed have large outdoor patios, while others merely offer a few tables in front of the business. A number of restaurants have added or greatly expanded patio dining as a result of the pandemic.
For ease in locating outdoor dining opportunities, restaurants have been listed by their location/neighborhood. The list includes a few al fresco dining spots in the greater Sacramento area.
This list is not meant to encompass all al fresco dining opportunities in Sacramento. It does, however, include restaurants that I have personally patronized and blogged about.
Keep an eye out for future updates!
Sacramento Al Fresco Dining Program
(6/23/2022) The Sacramento City Council voted earlier this week to make its temporary Al Fresco Dining program permanent starting July 1, 2022. The successful program started during the pandemic when indoor dining was shut down.
The permanent program will allow local restaurant owners to create safe and durable patios in the public right-of-way. The city will work with permit applicants, and issue a revocable permit upon successful completion of the permit process. Fees will be established to recover the City’s operating costs.
Arden-Arcade
Carmichael
Clarksburg
Downtown
Sauced BBQ & Spirits (DOCO)
Polanco Cantina (DOCO)
Note: DOCO = Downtown Commons
Curtis Park
East Sacramento
Coriander Vietnamese Restaurant
Giovanni’s Old World New York Pizzeria
THAI The House of Authentic Ingredients
Freeport
Sacramento River
Land Park
Loomis
Midtown
Aioli Bodega Espanola (Handle District)
Alaro Craft Brewery (Handle District)
Beast and Bounty (R Street Corridor)
Federalist Public House & Beer Garden
Hook & Ladder Manufacturing Company
Iron Horse Tavern (R Street Corridor)
Mas Taco Bar (R Street Corridor)
Paesanos (Handle District)
Saigon Alley (Handle District)
The Rind (Handle District)
Urban Roots Brewing and Smokehouse
Zocalo Midtown (Handle District)
Old Sacramento Waterfront
River Park
West Sacramento
To Sum Up
To sum up, I would be hard put to name my favorite restaurant at which to dine al fresco in Sacramento – but the following are in the top 10 (in no particular order):
- The Firehouse
- Rio City Café
- Wildwood Kitchen & Bar
- Canon East Sacramento
- Paragary’s
- Cantina Alley
- Tower Café
- Virgin Sturgeon
- Allora
- High-Hand Nursery Café
See related blog post: Favorite Blog Posts
Updates
(8/15/2023) Links to blog posts on restaurants that have closed have been deleted.
Comments on Al Fresco Dining in Sacramento?
What and where is your favorite restaurant to dine al fresco?
Come across a broken link? Please let me know in the comment section below so that I can fix it. Thanks!
Subscribe to SacramentoRevealed.com to receive the new and updated blog post newsletter direct to your inbox! Comments are welcome.
Hi Kathy,
Very nice list of places. There is one you forgot to mention in River Park. Perhaps you haven’t tried it yet?
https://roosters-breakfast-and-mimosas.business.site/
No, I haven’t tried Roosters. I will add it to my list! Thanks.