Foodies like to do it outside. Eat, that is.

While chandeliers and decorated walls are nice, nothing beats the twinkle of a cityscape as the backdrop for an impeccable dinner. And what is Sunday brunch without sunlight through the trees, or a pitcher of margaritas without a slight breeze and unbridled laughter?

A busy day on the sidewalks in front of Chez Lulu.

The patios at Rojo on Highland Avenue and 5 Points Grill in Southside are consistently voted among the best in Birmingham Weekly’s annual Menu of Menus Readers’ Poll. Other local favorites include Veranda on Highland’s namesake terrace, the patio at Bottega and the cozy tables that line the sidewalk in front of Chez Lulu in English Village. For a more casual experience, eating a gyro at Al’s Deli and Grill, a black bean burger at Bottletree or a sandwich on the eclectic patio at The Garage Café will not disappoint. And newcomers like Jackson’s Bar and Bistro in Homewood, La Mesa in Southside and Avo restaurant and Dram Whiskey Bar in Mountain Brook Village are sure to soon join the ranks of Cantina, Open Door Café and other traditional favorite spots to spend time outside.

Yes, dining outdoors adds an element of fun and fancy to almost any feast. Luckily, there are plenty of places to dine al fresco in Birmingham. Below you’ll find an admittedly incomplete, yet comprehensive, list of spots where you are sure to find an enjoyable outdoor eating experience.

Rojo
2921 Highland Ave S
(205) 328-4733
www.rojobirmingham.com

Cantina
2901 2nd Ave S # 110
(205) 323-6980
6801 Cahaba Valley Rd.
(205) 408-4110
www.birminghammenus.com/cantina

Sol Y Luna
2811 7th Ave. South
(205) 322-1186
www.solyluna.net

Open Door Café
1115 Dunston Ave.
(205) 879-6659
www.opendoorcafe.com

The J. Clyde
1312 Cobb Ln.
(205) 939-1312
www.jclyde.com

Avo/Dram Whiskey Bar
2721 Cahaba Rd.
Mountain Brook, AL 35223
(205) 871-8212 (Avo)
(205) 871-8055 (Dram)

Chez Lulu
1911 Cahaba Rd.
(205) 870-7011
www.birminghammenus.com/chezlulu

Jackson’s Bar and Bistro
1831 28th Ave. South
(205) 870-9669

Café Dupont
113 20th St. North
(205) 322-1282
www.birminghammenus.com/cafedupont

5 Points Grill
1035 20th St. South
(205) 933-6363
www.birminghammenus.com/5pointsgrill

La Mesa Grill and Cantina
1101 20th St. South
(205) 933-1544
www.enjoylamesa.com

Bottega Restaurant and Cafe
2240 Highland Ave.
(205) 939-1000
www.bottegarestaurant.com

Chez Fonfon
2007 11th Ave. South
(205) 939-3221

Tip Top Grill
588 Shades Crest Rd.
(205) 978-8677

Brio Tuscan Grille
591 Brookwood Village
(205) 879-9177
www.brioitalian.com

Cocina Superior
587 Brookwood Village
(205) 259-1980
www.thecocinasuperior.com

Garage
2304 10th Terrace South
(205) 322-3211
www.garagecafe.us

Moe’s Original Bar B Que in Lakeview
731 29th St.
(205) 252-5888
www.moesoriginalbbq.com

Veranda on Highland
2220 Highland Ave. South
(205) 939-5551
www.verandaonhighland.com

Al’s Deli and Grill
1629 10th Ave. South
(205) 939-4278
www.alsdeliandgrill.com

Bottletree
3719 Third Ave. South
(205) 533-6288
www.thebottletree.com