22 Chill Patios to Visit This Weekend

By Riverfront Times Staff on Fri, Jun 8, 2018 at 8:29 pm

St. Louis is home to many, many delightful patios — and yes, that's something we've covered time and again. (See this list, and this one, and this one, and !) But let's face it: You can't always get a seat at Bar Italia or Scape, and sometimes even the vast garden at McGurk's doesn't have a free table. When the weather has everyone dreaming of dining al fresco, you may want to try one of these under-the-radar patios instead. Some of these places have only recently opened (or reopened); others are simply a bit more off-the-beaten track. Either way, they're worth a try when the weather is hot and the rest of the city is patiently standing line, waiting for a table at Vin de Set. -- with contributions from Cheryl Baehr, Evan Sult and Sarah Fenske

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Boathouse

(6101 Government Dr., 314-367-3423)
OK, so this is not an easy restaurant to get into, but we'd be remiss not to mention it since it's a newcomer (or at least a vastly improved oldcomer, with an all-new menu as of this spring). Sugarfire Catering has taken over Forest Park's venerable Boathouse, and with that, added not one but two outside bars and a menu you'll actually want to eat. Best of all: You can catch a kayak or a canoe right from its dock.

Photo courtesy of Cheryl Baehr

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Earthbound Beer

(2724 Cherokee St.; 314-769-9576)
It's been 100 years since the building at 2724 Cherokee was last a brewery, but the new incarnation honors the original Cherokee Brewery by digging out the saggy parking lot next door and replacing it with a glorious sunken beer garden. The flowers planted on the walls are just starting to come in for the first time, and you can see traces of the old brewery's original footprint literally all around you. Toast the summer, toast each other and toast the rich history of St. Louis brewery architecture!

Photo courtesy of Jeff Siddons

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The Dark Room

(3610 Grandel Sq.; 314-776-9550)
The Dark Room isn't just a great place to get a bite before a show at the Fox or Powell Hall — this eatery inside the Grandel Theater is also one of the few places in Grand Center where you can eat and drink outside. Best of all, the patio offers an additional 35 seats beyond the ones inside, sure to come in handy during that pre-show rush.

Photo courtesy of The Dark Room

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Clementine's Naughty and Nice Creamery

(730 De Mun Ave., Clayton; 314-858-6100)
The original Clementine's in Lafayette Square is tiny, with just a handful of tables inside and in a small patio area behind a high wall. But its De Mun outpost features a sizable area with sidewalk seating and a great view of the park across the street. Enjoying one of Tamara Keefe's ultra-rich creations from this sweet cafe setting has to be one of St. Louis greatest summertime pleasures.

Photo courtesy of Sarah Fenske

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Tropical Liqueurs

(4014 Manchester Ave.; 314-899-9404)
St. Louis one and only Tropical Liqueurs location opened in the Grove this spring after uprooting from Soulard — and its sizable new environs seem like a huge upgrade (and we're not just saying that because the neighbors are so much more welcoming). In the very back of the building is a large, fully enclosed patio that feels very New Orleans — the perfect place to enjoy Trops' slushies and food from Guerrilla Street Food.

Photo courtesy of Sarah Fenske

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Hendel's Market Café & Piano Bar

(559 St. Denis St.; 314-837-2304)
Located in an old general store that was founded after the close of the Civil War, Hendel's Market Cafe has all of the charm you'd expect from Florissant's historic district. This quaint, tree-lined patio is like a cozy getaway, unquestionably the best place in north county for enjoying an outdoor meal or a glass of wine.

Photo courtesy of the Riverfront Times

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River's Edge Social

(6997 Chippewa St.; 314-659-8756)
Aurel Bardho's restaurant may sit on a busy stretch of Chippewa, but its patio is shielded from the street by both landscaping and a little elevation, giving it a nicely secluded feel. There are both covered and uncovered portions so diners can choose how much sunlight they prefer.

Photo courtesy of Sarah Fenske

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Wellspent Brewing Co.

(2917 Olive St.; 314-328-0505)
Kyle and Angela Kohlmorgen don't just want Wellspent Brewing Co., their new Midtown brewery and tap room, to be a beer lover's mecca; they also want it to be a fun place for the whole family. Hence the board games in shelves along one wall — and the child-size picnic table in the midst of the adult ones on the patio. Sheltered by brick walls on two sides, Wellspent's patio is surprisingly chill for its proximity to Olive. On a warm-weather day, it's a great place to try this new brewery's yeast-driven beers.

Photo courtesy of Sarah Fenske

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Bloom Cafe

(5200 Oakland Ave; 314-652-5666)
This newcomer near the St. Louis Science Center doesn't just offer good, casual food: It also labors for a good cause, with a job training program aimed at people with disabilities. The cafe is open for breakfast and lunch every day but Sunday, with a sizable patio perfect for strollers.

Photo courtesy of Taylor Vinson

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Barrio

(740 De Mun Ave., Clayton; 314-725-0332)
Previously De Mun Oyster Bar, the big corner space in the heart of DeMun has been transformed to Barrio, a stylish Mexican-inspired spot with great cocktails. The patio here flows out of the French doors facing the street, making for a singularly lovely place for brunch or happy hour.

Photo courtesy of Cheryl Baehr

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Cafe Natasha

(3200 South Grand Blvd.; 314-771-3411)
The Bahrami family's Persian restaurant has been a St. Louis mainstay for more than 30 years, and one big reason for that is its gorgeous patio, which manages to feel secluded despite the restaurant's location in the heart of South Grand. Twinkling lights give a romantic feeling; the dog-friendly policy keeps things fun.

Photo courtesy of Patrick J. Hurley

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Court Louie

(4001 Utah St.; 314-305-5005)
St. Louis' first food truck court doesn't just offer one-stop-eating for beloved food trucks such as Steak Louie and Farmtruk; it also offers outdoor seating, with a host of picnic tables facing Utah.

Photo courtesy of Doyle Murphy

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The Wood Shack

(1862 S. 10th St.; 314-833-4770)
This counter-service Soulard smoke shack and sandwich shop offers tables inside as well, but to our mind, there's no better place to enjoy its offerings than in the cheerfully painted picnic tables out front. They're open until 8:30 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, with early closing times every day but Monday, so time your visit carefully.

Photo courtesy of Sarah Fenske

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La Vallesana

(2801 Cherokee St.; 314-776-4223)
This Cherokee Street institution now has not one but two patios, with an even larger option just west of the original. Either is a great option for fun in the sun, and by that, of course, we mean chips and salsa and margaritas. Just don't even think about upsizing to the large version unless you're really thirsty: It's the size of a sink basin.

Photo courtesy of Paul Sableman

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The Whiskey Ring

(2651 Cherokee St.; 314-669-5817)
The only downside to Whiskey Ring's summertime outside seating was that there wasn't enough of it — a problem the owners fixed by punching a hole in the wall and taking over the cozy little open lot next door. The new outdoor bar itself is simple and sturdy so nothing distracts from the real attraction, which is a crowd of reliably interesting characters.

Photo courtesy of Evan Sult

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Union Loafers Café and Bread Bakery

(1629 Tower Grove Ave.; 314-833-6111)
St. Louis' best sandwich shop now has a patio!!! This deserves a triple exclamation point even though the courtyard-style setup is pretty low-key, with only a handful of tables ... we'll get enthused about anything that gives us a better chance of scoring a table here. Umbrellas provide some much needed shade in an otherwise sun-filled spot.

Photo courtesy of Cheryl Baehr

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Alpha Brewing

(4310 Fyler Ave., 314-621-2337)
This new-to-Tower Grove South transplant (previously based downtown) has settled into its sleek new digs on Morganford, and that means opening its patio. Enjoy Alpha's photogenic beer, food from Plantain Girl Mandy Estrella, and live music on Thursday nights and Saturday afternoon.

Photo courtesy of Spencer Pernikoff

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Billie-Jean

(7610 Wydown Blvd.; 314-797-8484)
If you always thought the only problem with the sidewalk seating at Bar Les Freres was that there just wasn't enough of it, restauranteur Zoe Robinson has addressed your complaint at her new, acclaimed Billie-Jean: In addition to this georgeous indoor space, it too now offers sidewalk seating facing the same lovely stretch of Wydown.

Photo courtesy of Suzy Gorman

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Bar Les Freres

(7637 Wydown Blvd.; 314-725-8880)
Of course Zoe Robinson's sexy French restaurant, Bar Les Freres, also offers a patio option — you think the master of atmosphere would overlook a detail like that? The tables are elevated a few steps above the sidewalk, giving the feel of an elegant French cafe.

Photo courtesy of Jennifer Silverberg

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Narrow Gauge Brewing Company

(1595 US-67, Florissant; 314-831-3222)
You might not realize it from a casual drive-by, but that unassuming strip mall off North Lindbergh that houses Florissant's Italian-inflected sports bar Cugino's also puts out some serious beer as Narrow Gauge Brewing. Grab a seat in one of its wrought-iron patio chairs, and bask in the delicious taste of a pint from one of the city's most unexpected beer meccas.

Photo courtesy of Google Maps

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