Just off Hudson River Park in Manhattan is a floating maritime museum that doubles as a bar. The bar and grill that operates the wet-docked complex is Pier 66 Maritime, hailed for its white sangria.
The true magic of this community space lies in its vibe—an excited hum created by students, professors, families, and hopelessly nostalgic alums.
Connoisseurs of Vegas' notorious pool party scene head to the Bellagio. Nothing against the other bacchanals, but sometimes you just want to chill out with a glass of overpriced Dom in peace.
Though not technically "outdoors," this pub under the center field bleachers at Fenway has an open-air chain link fence that offers views of the action. Plus, you don't need a game ticket to get in.
Last time we sat out back at this biker bar—cycles not hogs—we played a game of poker with strangers. It was just another night at the picnic table-filled backyard at this Mission District stalwart.
What does a little tiki bar on the prairie look like? Try Psycho Suzi's—a "motor lounge" with a Midwest supper club meets Polynesian dive aesthetic. The back patio is the place to be come summer.
Designed by Thom Filicia in collaboration with Architectural Digest, SkyDeck overlooks the runway and lets Medallion members and other VIPs sip cocktails while watching the planes land.
More refined than Duke's and some of the other Hawaiian beach bars, this oceanfront hotspot is where the beautiful people gather at sunset to sip white wine, nosh sushi, and gaze out onto the ocean.
Rare is the dive bar with amazing cocktails. The outdoor seating here is just a few tables in a gravel parking lot, but who cares when you're downing pitch-perfect martinis under a neon windmill?
This restaurant-bar gets everything right: Mediterranean bites from chef Kris Morningside, great cocktails like the Far (east) Manhattan, and outdoor seating next to LACMA's street light installation.
Round up your favorite food nerds and hit the terrazzo, a cozy space with strings of light, a stone fireplace and ample seating. It's the perfect spot for short rib meatballs and a glass of red.
Our favorite Gold Coast perch, The Dec Rooftop Lounge + Bar, features barrel-aged cocktails, skyline views, ivy-covered trellises, and a giant, eye-shaped sculpture.
The log cabin interior of this hangout in Portland gets all the press, but don't ignore the outdoor patio—particularly the fireplace area. It's one of the friendlier places on earth for a microbrew.
Josephine House does it all: brunch, lunch, snacks, and, best of all, cocktails on the front lawn in the afternoon. Throw on a seersucker suit and order Josephine's take on a Pimm's Cup.
It's by the French Broad River, an idyllic backdrop for some outdoor fun. Come for corn hole, Frisbee golf, and grills (you supply the meat), and stay for the 18 beer taps and nightly jam sessions.
Sure, it's gimmicky—small plates, cocktails, graffiti murals—but the open-air patio at Sampan has the goods to back up the shtick, including pillow-y boa buns and an ever-changing list of drinks.
Naming the best bar in NOLA is pointless when the entire city is an outdoor bar. We recommend Pal's Lounge (Rendon St. dive), French 75 (the bartenders drink), and Lafitte's (cheesy but worth it).
Vines hang over crumbling stone arches in the courtyard of this pub near Charleston Harbor. The circa-1801 building started as a bank and is now home to one of the funkiest outdoor drinking spaces.
Overlooking a bay that leads to the Gulf of Mexico, the patio is packed with license plates and beer signs. It tells you everything you need to know about this joint at the top of the 10,000 Islands.
