Our Washingtonian Recommends lists bring you the best places to eat, drink, and be entertained—all selected by Washingtonian editors.
When the weather’s warm, a good neighborhood bar with a lively terrace and refreshing drinks is hard to beat. Here are some of our favorite spots to raise a glass outdoors in Washington.
Barcelona
1622 14th St., NW; 202-588-5500; barcelonawinebar.com/washingtondc
On the restaurant’s front terrace, you can sip sherry cocktails and sangría while keeping tabs on lively 14th Street. Just be sure to get there early—the patio fills up fast.
Biergarten Haus
1355 H St., NE; 202-388-4053; biergartenhaus.com
One of the few year-round beer gardens in DC, this is a great place to down a liter of German beer alongside schnitzels, bratwurst, and warm Bavarian pretzel rolls with beer cheese and mustard.
Bourbon Steak
2800 Pennsylvania Ave., NW; 202-944-2026; bourbonsteakdc.com
Delve into one of the city’s best and most comprehensive cocktail lists (don’t miss the lemongrass-scented G&Ts) in this sprawling courtyard hidden inside the Georgetown Four Seasons.
Chez Billy Sud
1039 31st St., NW; 202-965-2606; chezbillysud.com
This French bistro boasts a quiet side patio where, in addition to French-inspired cocktails and bottles of rosé, you’ll find classics like steak frites and French onion soup.
Garden District
(1801 14th St., NW; no phone; gardendistrictdc.com)
This snug beer garden, open March through December, serves up easy-drinking pilsners and lagers alongside tangy pulled-pork barbecue and a deservedly famous burger.
Lyon Hall
(3100 Washington Blvd., Arlington; 703-741-7636; lyonhallarlington.com)
This French/German brasserie’s daily happy hour is one of our favorites—especially when we can snag one of the umbrella-topped tables. From 3 to 7 every day, dig into fantastic short-rib hotdogs and $5 wine and beer.
Masseria
(1340 Fourth St., NE; 202-608-1330; masseria-dc.com)
Hiding along a block that fringes Union Market is one of the most seductive restaurant spaces around—with a pool-blue tiled patio that’s lovely for sipping beet-tinted Negronis and smoky “Hennessy Jed” cocktails.
Villain & Saint
(7141 Wisconsin Ave., Bethesda; 240-800-4700; villainandsaint.com)
It’s a classic-rock-and-blues venue on the inside, but outside lies a quaint, herb-lined patio that’s just right for a boozy brunch.
This article appears in our Washingtonian Welcome Guide.
Ann Limpert joined Washingtonian in late 2003. She was previously an editorial assistant at Entertainment Weekly and a cook in New York restaurant kitchens, and she is a graduate of the Institute of Culinary Education. She lives in Petworth.
