1837 M St., NW
A roomy sidewalk patio is the perfect place to snack on tapas, or try Spanish sandwiches and salads. For a more leisurely lunch, a pitcher of sangria will do the trick.
1666 Connecticut Ave., NW
Large umbrellas shade the patio dining area of this airy Italian restaurant, which serves a crowd-pleasing menu of wood-fired pizzas, homemade pastas, salads, and grilled meats and seafood. A cold glass of wine and tuna carpaccio are particularly good on a warm day.
1513 17th St., NW
Happy hour runs from noon to 7 pm on weekdays at this pub, which can make for a fun lunch if you’re craving a $5 beer or wine with the addictive Proper Burger. A handful of picnic tables on the outdoor patio are the place to be in nice weather.
2001 S St., NW
Grab one of the shaded picnic tables outside this locavore market in north Dupont. The counter-order delis inside offer a range of tasty sandwiches, salad platters (pick four for $10), coffee drinks, and $4 local craft beers all day long.
1624 Q St., NW
Channel summers in Maine on Hank’s tree-shaded patio, where you can order a delicious lobster roll and cold beer. The restaurant also serves a two-course lunch special for $13.99, with options like lobster bisque with green goddess grilled cheese.
1734 N St., NW
This atmospheric Mediterranean restaurant offers a pretty place to post, whether in the wisteria-lined courtyard, or tables in front of the carriageway entrance. Groups can share small plates like spanakopita arancini in addition to a handful of individual entrees such as an open-faced shrimp salad sandwich.
1205 19th St., NW
Looking for a quick-grab bite so you can enjoy more time in the sunshine? Try a shawarma sandwich or crispy falafel from this fast-casual Mediterranean spot, which also boasts a sizable patio. A toppings bar lets you load up on salads and sauces for your bowl or sandwich.
1612 20th St., NW
Order a tasty souvlaki and grab a table on the patio of this stalwart Greek spot near the Dupont Metro. Classic Greek salads and dips are also good options, not to mention wallet-friendly.
Anna Spiegel covers the dining and drinking scene in her native DC. Prior to joining Washingtonian in 2010, she attended the French Culinary Institute and Columbia University’s MFA program in New York, and held various cooking and writing positions in NYC and in St. John, US Virgin Islands.
