If you’re like me then outdoor dining is essential which means finding Portland restaurants with outdoor seating and patios is of vital importance. Unfortunately, finding Portland restaurants with great outdoor seating that have weathered the storm that was COVID has become increasingly difficult.
But they’re still out there. And that’s where I come in. I’m Antonina, a life-long Portlander that’s been spending many weekends biking around town with my husband in search of Portland restaurants with great outdoor seating, like covered patios with bright umbrellas that provide shelter from the occasional rainstorm.
Below is my personal list of my favorite spots so far. Please chime in with any of your favorites that I’ve missed in the comments below!
Portland Restaurants With Outdoor Patios
Click for a handy Table of Contents
Table of Contents: Best Portland Outdoor Patios
Cartopia (Hawthorne Food Carts)
- Outdoor seating: Large covered tent with lights and a few fire-features throughout the area.
- Address: 1204 SE Hawthorne Blvd, Portland, OR 97214
Who doesn’t love food cart pods? The quintessential Portland experience.
Truth be told, food cart pods have been offering great outdoor seating to Portlanders long before COVID, but the post-COVID world is truly their time to shine. It’s hard to go wrong with any food pod you choose, but I have a soft spot for the Hawthorne food pod, which is why I mention it here.
Go for: The half-chicken from Chicken and Guns or pad Thai from BKK.
River Pig Saloon
- Outdoor seating: Large tent with heaters and lights, traditional picnic tables.
- Address: 529 NW 13th Ave, Portland, OR 97209
The other day, my husband and I had to drop something off at UPS. On our way over, we noticed a lot of chatter and laughter coming from River Pig.
Despite living nearby we’d never tried this casual neighborhood sports bar before but the restaurant had great outdoor seating (with heaters and even a TV), so we decided to swing by for classic pub fare.
The food was good, the brews were great, and everyone was in great spirits so the tent felt lively. We had a great time!
Go for: The bison burger (so good), nachos and beer.
Stormbreaker
- Address: 832 N Beech St, Portland, OR 97227 & 8409 N Lombard St. Portland, Oregon 97203
- Outdoor seating: Half the area has a covered tent with heaters and lights. Half the seating is outside in the blocked-off street with umbrellas and exposed picnic tables.
Stormbreaker has a great outdoor patio at both Portland locations. We live closer to the restaurant on Mississippi Ave and have visit regularly.
We consistently find ourselves impressed by the great brews (one of our favorite breweries in Portland) and how the restaurant has transformed the street into a fun outdoor seating space.
Flying Fish Company
- Address: 3004 E Burnside St, Portland, OR 97214
- Outdoor dining: Covered rooftop with heaters and lights, traditional picnic tables.
The other Saturday the weather was too beautiful to stay indoors so we hopped on our bikes and aimlessly rode around town.
We popped off at every interesting Portland restaurant with outdoor seating we could find for small bites. The evening concluded with one of our favorite seafood restaurants in the city at the Flying Fish Company.
We were attracted by the cozy outdoor seating at this Portland restaurant and the welcoming lights served as an invitation – like moths to the flame.
Another big selling point was the long line of folks waiting to get a table, surely they’re doing something right! We put our name on the wait list and 45-minutes later were seated next to a cozy fire. And goodness, I’m still thinking about the fish tacos!
Go for: Fish tacos, oysters, and scallop dish
Justa Pasta
- Address: 1326 NW 19th Ave, Portland, OR 97209
- Outdoor seating: Covered pergola with heaters and Edison lights, outdoor tables and chairs.
For the record, my husband thinks Justa Pasta should be #1 on this list of great Portland restaurants with outdoor seating (he ate there 4 times last week!).
We’d been wanting to try Justa Pasta for a while because whenever we passed it during our daily walks, there was always a line. Even pre-COVID, Justa Pasta had a strong outdoor seating game that gave off charming European vibes.
But post-COVID? The restaurant has been transformed with a stunning covered (and heated) patio! Their outdoor seating area is clearly a long-term strategy and I am here for it. It’s beautiful and only adds to the charm.
We decided to go for lunch and spent two hours lingering and chatting because we felt so welcome and relaxed – like we slipped into a little restaurant in Italy.
There’s so much to love about Justa Pasta, from the kind staff and warm atmosphere that demands relaxation to the great selection of reasonably-priced wine.
Oh, and the food is completely worth the wait, you’re going to love it. Whatever you do, DON’T leave without trying the cheesecake. It’s so good I ended up picking up an entire cake for Will’s birthday. Highly recommend!
Go for: The lasagna + the best cheesecake in the world, you won’t regret it.
Breakside Brewery
- Address: 1570 NW 22nd Ave, Portland, OR 97210
- Outdoor dining: Mostly covered with benches and chairs
A beloved Portland brewery, Breakside is a top Slabtown outdoor patio situation. The outdoor seating at this Portland restaurant makes this a great spot to catch up with friends you haven’t seen in a while.
Don’t just take my word for it, expect a wait during peak hours around lunch and dinner.
Go for: Beer! The jalapeno poppers and fries are great too.
NW Portland: Breakside has a really fun outdoor seating setup for the COVID times featuring a little lawn space & tents.
Laurelhurst Market
- Address: 3155 E Burnside St, Portland, OR 97214
- Outdoor dining: Covered deck with great heaters and lights, traditional restaurant tables and chairs.
Laurelhurst Market is a traditional steakhouse, making it the place to be when you have something worth celebrating. Their outdoor patio and dining situation is easily one of the best in Portland.
They’ve got a massive covered deck complete with heaters, vibey stringy lights, and nice wooden furniture.
Go for: Tri-tip steak and wedge salad
Güero
- Address: 200 NE 28th Ave, Portland, OR 97232
- Outdoor seating: Half of the area has umbrellas, the other half is a covered pergola with heaters and lights. Bar-style seating with bar stools.
Definitely saving the best for last! Guero is a relaxing casual spot for Mexican sandwiches & vegetarian bowls with locally sourced ingredients, plus great drinks.
After months of wanting to try this place, we finally got around to it and it did not disappoint! Everything from the delicious food to friendly staff and ambience hit the spot.
Go for: Margaritas, tostadas and tortas (don’t make me choose, order everything!)
More Portland Patios Worth Mentioning
Here’s a few more Portland patios worth mentioning if you’re on the hunt and none of the above spots scratch your itch. These are mostly breweries!
Wayfinder Beer
- Address: 304 SE 2nd Ave, Portland, OR 97214
- Outdoor Seating: Spacious patio with picnic tables, umbrellas, heaters,
Occidental Brewing/Urban German Wursthaus
- Address: 6635 N Baltimore Ave UNIT 102, Portland, OR 97203
- Outdoor Seating: Two levels – the lower level is nice but the upper level is epic with stunning views of the St. John’s Bridge
Crux Fermentation
- Address: 2715 SE 8th Ave #175, Portland, OR 97202
- Outdoor Seating: Picnic tables, regular four-top tables, fire pits, vibey lights
Do you prefer to enjoy restaurant-quality meals at home? Check out this helpful post: The 10 BEST Portland Cookbooks.
Now to you: What’d I miss?
My husband and I are always on the lookout for a new place to try. Are there any restaurants with outdoor seating you’ve tried and loved? Let me know and I’ll update the list for everyone.
Portland restaurants with outdoor seating (Post Summary)
In sum, here’s the 10 Portland restaurants with outdoor seating and heated patios that are open during COVID:
- Cartopia
- Two Wrongs
- River Pig
- Flying Fish House
- Ecliptic Brewing
- Justa Pasta
- Breakside Brewery
- Stormbreaker
- Laurelhurst Market
- Guero
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- 20 Interesting Facts About Portland You Probably Don’t Know
Until next time,
Antonina
This list is a great!! Hoping you will expand it as you find more spots. I’ve been searching all over for a good list and this is the best one I’ve found for patios during Covid. A good tip is to call beforehand because things are changing so fast!
Just tried Guero! Soooo good. Justapasta looks really nice for lunch – will have to try that one too. This list is great! Thanks for sharing 🙂
Poa Café on N Williams in NE Portland has a beautiful outdoor back patio and open for healthy Brunch + Smoothies 8-3pm 😉
Verde Cocina in SW has individual huts that are also heated and the food is super yummy.