When spring and summer roll around, diners and drinkers around the world love to indulge outdoors. (And if you’re in a destination that enjoys temperate climes year-round, you can even do so in the winter!) Since we’re big fans of hotels, we’ve taken a look at properties across the United States, from cities to the countryside, that offer great outdoor restaurant and bars. Read on to inspire your wanderlust -- and entice your stomach!
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1. Hilton Waikoloa Village, Hawaii
It’s little surprise that Hawaii is home to many hotels that offer plenty of alfresco dining, as stunning views — and great weather — abound. To catch a great sunset at dinner, you’ll want to consider Hilton Waikoloa Village’s Kamuela Provision Company, which offers farm-to-table (or sea-to-table) dishes on a large lanai. KPC, as the eatery is nicknamed, is just one of seven restaurants on the property.
2. The James New York
In the summertime, New Yorkers flock to alfresco dining and drinking spots, and the James Hotel in SoHo is a perennial favorite, with two outdoor options to choose from. There’s the rooftop bar, Jimmy, which has a pool and an indoor/outdoor lounge, and there’s also the Garden at David Burke, the outdoor portion of the on-site restaurant, shown here.
3. Calistoga Ranch, an Auberge Resort
When in Napa Valley, there are truly only three things that need to be on your to-do list: eat, drink, and be merry. Luckily at the secluded Calistoga Ranch, you can check off all three, particularly if you snag a dinner reservation at the on-site Lakehouse Restaurant. It has both indoor and outdoor spaces that both overlook Lake Lommel for picturesque views. For a more casual affair, try the Pool Terrace for lunch.
4. The Freehand Miami
If you need a break from the raucous scene on South Beach, head a little north to the Freehand Miami, a rather chic hostel with one of the best low-key bars in the area — Broken Shaker. Grab a cocktail at the bar and head for the patio, filled with mismatched lawn furniture strewn about the foliage. And of course there’s a pool. This is Miami, after all!
5. Montage Laguna Beach, California
Sunny Southern California is a prime locale for dining under the sun or stars. We recommend dropping by the Montage Laguna Beach to have a casual meal at Mosaic Bar and Grille, which serves classically beachy California fare, from ceviche to surf and turf. The restaurant sits atop a bluff, so it’s got one of the best views of the Pacific in town.
6. Ace Hotel New Orleans
Come summer, it gets hot in Nola. And we mean HOT. So what better way to spend the day than hanging poolside at the Ace Hotel’s rooftop garden and lounge, Alto? You can nibble on tasty bites all day long, sip frozen cocktails, and take a dip in the pool when the humidity gets a bit overwhelming.
7. Hotel Del Coronado, San Diego
Westward views over the Pacific never get old, and neither does enjoying them at an outdoor bar. Enter Hotel Del Coronado’s aptly named Sunset Bar, where guests can indulge in a tipple or two around a fire pit at dusk. It’s a great way to end a day of sightseeing in San Diego — or to kickstart your night out
8. Spring Creek Ranch, Jackson Hole, Wyoming
Rather than offering a city view from a rooftop or an ocean view from a cliffside spot, Spring Creek Ranch’s upscale Granary Restaurant gives diners unobstructed views of the Grand Teton Mountains from its terrace. The menu features local cuisine, from elk to trout. If you’re not staying at the hotel, you can arrange for a shuttle to pick you up from downtown Jackson.
9. The Beverly Hills Hotel, Los Angeles
The Beverly Hills Hotel’s Polo Lounge is a Los Angeles staple, serving all sorts of celebrity clientele over the course of its history. The iconic indoor/outdoor restaurant is bedecked in pink and green hues. In the summer, live jazz is played on the patio in the evenings, making for a relaxing evening. We also recommend dining here for breakfast — or you can catch jazz at Sunday brunch.
10. The Godfrey Hotel Chicago
The weather in Chicago doesn’t always favor an outdoor restaurant or bar, but for a few glorious months each summer, it holds up just fine. For a swanky rooftop lounge in Chicago, there’s no better pick than the Godfrey Hotel’s IO Godfrey (the IO actually stands for indoor/outdoor). The 15,000-square-foot-space has a section with a retractable roof to offer even more outdoor space when the weather permits it.
11. Auberge du Soleil, Napa Valley, California
Another Auberge resort in Napa Valley, this hotel has a Michelin-starred eatery, The Restaurant at Auberge du Soleil. It perfects the California indoor-outdoor vibe, with sprawling windows allowing diners on the interior to experience the grand views of the valley. But there is, of course a terrace to dine on as well. You’ll likely want to take your time here to savor one or two of the restaurant’s 15,000 bottles of wine. Though outdoor space comes at a premium in New York City, it’s not only luxury hotels that have alfresco dining and drinking spaces. Pod 39, a pod hotel in the Gramercy/Murray Hill area, has a fun and funky rooftop bar surrounded by brick walls and red columns. The spot on the 17th floor has views of the East River and the Empire State Building. What better name for a South Beach open-air bar than the Sand Box? That’s exactly what you’ll find at 1 Hotel South Beach. Here, visitors can relax under pergolas on white sofas and sip and dine on items from a menu by Tom Colicchio during the day. And if you need to cool down, you can jump right into the pool. You’ll Also Like:
12. Pod 39, New York
13. 1 Hotel South Beach, Miami
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