Dine Al Fresco

Top Restaurants for Outdoor Dining Near Seattle

Last Updated: July 24, 2026

If you're looking for the best restaurants for outdoor dining in Seattle Southside, you've come to the right place!

From porches to patios to waterfront dining, it's time to enjoy opportunities for dining al fresco. Discover some of the best restaurants in Seattle Southside with outdoor seating.

Waterfront Views
Cozy Patios
Casual with Character
Near Westfield Southcenter Mall

Restaurants with Waterfront Views

Anthony's HomePort

When it comes to summery ambience and stunning views, you simply can't beat Anthony’s Home Port & Lower Deck in Des Moines. Gaze out at Puget Sound and the Des Moines Marina while you enjoy a signature steak or seafood dish at this iconic Seattle-area institution. This location is actually two restaurants in one: a more traditional dining experience on top, and a casual deck on the lower level. Take a date to a fancy three-course dinner, or enjoy great deals at happy hour. Sunday brunch is another highlight!

Quarterdeck

Quarterdeck, located right next to the Des Moines Marina, is one of those truly special venues you'll keep thinking about long after you've visited. With a large, grassy seating area, it's like being invited to a festive backyard party. There is often live music in the summer, and the sunset view can't be beat. It's a bit tucked away from the street, making it a beloved local haunt.

Cozy Patios You'll Never Want to Leave

Copperleaf Restaurant at Cedarbrook Lodge

For a peaceful meal in a lush, manicured garden, head to Copperleaf Restaurant at Cedarbrook Lodge, which has been ranked as one of the best resorts in the country by multiple outlets, including Travel + Leisure. Enjoy farm-to-table meals showcasing the best ingredients the local region offers. With gorgeous views of the beautiful greenery and ornamental pond, you'll feel miles away from the city.

Pictured: The patio at Copperleaf Restaurant & Bar in SeaTac, Washington

via Marina Wood Fired Pizza & Italian Cafe

Des Moines' via Marina Wood Fired Pizza & Italian Cafe is a local favorite known for its family-friendly vibes and delicious, authentic Italian fare. In addition to a cozy indoor dining area, the restaurant also has a lovely, covered patio with plenty of outdoor seating. Set off from the street, it feels quiet and relaxing - perfect for an after-work drink or a relaxing evening. The happy hour includes complimentary green olives and chips, plus a great selection of cocktails and summery small bites such as caprese salad. Don't skip the famous pizzas either. We loved the Via Marina, loaded with roasted pepper & pesto sauce, mozzarella, pepperoni, sausage, oven-roasted mushrooms, and cherry tomatoes. Located just a short drive from the Puget Sound waterfront, it'd be an ideal place to get a drink before heading to Des Moines Beach Park for a sunset stroll.

PortoVino

When the sun is shining, PortoVino's outdoor patio is one of Des Moines' best spots for lingering over a meal. The patio gets plenty of sunshine, making it the perfect place to order a refreshing cocktail or a glass of wine, share an order of bruschetta or fresh clams, and soak up the summer atmosphere. There are also plenty of filling dishes if you want to make it a full meal, including pastas, steak, and seafood. With authentic Italian cuisine and a relaxed setting just steps from the Marina District, it's an easy place to settle in for a leisurely afternoon or evening. Bookmark it for after-work drinks or a date night.

Pasifika NW Grill & Bar

At Pasifika NW Grill & Bar, you can enjoy your meal with a view of Foster Golf Links, a beautiful, forested course that feels miles away from the city. The restaurant specializes in both Pacific Islander cuisine and traditional Northwest fare. Plus, there are plenty of beers on tap and a creative cocktail menu. This popular restaurant is known for its above-and-beyond hospitality and making everyone feel like family.

Casual with Character

Ulysses Pub & Pizzeria

Ulysses Pub & Pizzeria is a locally owned sports bar popular with locals and travelers on their way to and from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA). From the street, you'd never guess that this neighborhood haunt has a spacious back patio, complete with cornhole! The menu includes a range of comfort foods, including pizza, salad, burgers, and apps. Inside, you'll probably see people posted up at the bar watching a game, playing darts, or chatting with the exceptionally friendly bartender.

Lucky Liquor

Step into Lucky Liquor for a taste of Seattle's classic "come as you are" vibe. Proudly "keeping dive alive," this combination bar and music venue is the kind of place where you'll feel like a local. Order a local IPA or a Bloody Mary, pair it with a juicy burger and onion rings, and take your food outside to one of two sunny patio areas. Both have their charms, but the back one overlooks the Duwamish River.

Arturo's Mexican Restaurant

Arturo's Mexican Restaurant is a local, family-owned Mexican restaurant in downtown Des Moines features a charming patio. Dive right into an order of fresh chips and salsa, brought to you as soon you sit down. Then choose from a variety of refreshing cocktails (there's a full bar inside) and tacos or fajitas. The restaurant is run by two brothers, who cook up recipes learned from their mother while growing up in Michoacán, Mexico. They're often at the restaurant, and might even serve you your meal.

Where to Eat Post Shopping Trip

Moctezuma's Mexican Restaurant

Located within Westfield Southcenter, Moctezuma's Mexican Restaurant & Tequila Bar is an upscale, full-service restaurant serving unique cocktails and desserts. When it's warm out, post up on the patio with a group and share an order of flaming queso, served tableside for a little entertainment with your meal.

Rendition

Rendition is a chic, modern restaurant and bar inside Hotel Interurban in Tukwila. The airy space opens up into a sleek, spacious patio with plenty of room to gather a group for after-work drinks or a Taco Tuesday party. It's fairly quiet, and the food is outstanding. Be sure to check out rotating seasonal menu items. During the summer, they have specials like killer tacos, a charcuterie board perfect for sharing, refreshing salads, and specialty cocktails.

Duke's Seafood

Visit one of the restaurants the Pacific Northwest is best known for – Duke’s Seafood. Famous for its award-winning chowders and outdoor dining, Duke’s offers everything from chowder to wild Alaskan salmon. Don’t like seafood? Don’t worry! Try the Meyer Range Angus beef burgers or the chicken and corn chowder. Enjoy the people watching from their patio, which is located near Westfield Southcenter Mall.

JOEY Southcenter

JOEY Southcenter, located just outside the south entrance of Westfield Southcenter, feels both casual and sophisticated. You're typically served a complimentary glass of bubbly as soon as you arrive, making the whole experience feel a little luxurious. It also has a large patio perfect for getting together with a group. Catch some sun and enjoy all the people-watching opportunities as you nibble on a fresh sushi roll and sip a signature cocktail.

More to Explore

Got a hankering for spicy seafood? Pier 88 in Tukwila offers outdoor dining in a casual, family-friendly setting. The star of the menu is their signature Cajun-style seafood boil—piles of shrimp, crab legs, mussels, and crawfish tossed in your choice of bold spices and buttery sauces, all served hot and ready to eat with your hands. Pair that with summery sides like corn on the cob, potatoes, and hush puppies, plus a cold beer or sweet iced tea, and you’ve got a meal that feels like a seaside escape right in the heart of the city.

For a shopping break at Westfield Southcenter, head to the third-floor cafe at Nordstrom. With soups, salads, sandwiches, and other light fare, this restaurant will fill you up without weighing you down. Their outdoor space is only open seasonally, so if you wish to dine outside, you'll have to wait for warmer weather.

Looking for a juicy, charbroiled burger? The Habit Burger Grill is beloved for its juicy burgers and thick milkshakes, and it has a small patio.

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