Not much good has come out of the COVID-19 pandemic, but one positive has been the uptick in patio dining across the Alamo City. From astroturf-covered spaces to rooftop perches, San Antonio’s outdoor food scene has gotten a major boost.

We wrangled together a collection of 35 bars and eateries that offer ample, gorgeous outdoor spaces while serving up some of the best food the city has to offer. These spots are aces for ordering up a frosty beverage and savory snack — or a whole sit-down meal — while soaking up the sun.

Beethoven Maennerchor Masks Not Required for Customers 422 Pereida St., (210) 222-1521, beethovenmaennerchor.com Located in Southtown near Blue Star, the Beethoven Maennerchor halle is home to one of the oldest German singing societies in Texas. The property usually hosts some of the biggest outdoor Oktoberfest, Fiesta and First Friday bashes in town, complete with authentic German food and music, plus ah-mazing German bier. Photo via Facebook / the.Beethoven
Bombay Bicycle Club 3506 N St Mary’s St, San Antonio, TX 78212, (210(737-2411 bombaybicycleclubsa.com Bombay Bicycle Club has always been a popular near-downtown hangout, but revamps to the food menu over the recent years have put food back at the focus of this social spot. Post up on the newly-expanded patio area for maximum outdoor dining comfort. Photo via Instagram / bombays_sa
Burleson Yard Beer Garden Masks Required 430 Austin St, (210) 354-3001, facebook.com/BurlesonYard A chill-ass beer garden is a perfect spot to hang out with your pupperino. Choose from beer or cocktails, just be sure to order some bites from the nearby food trucks to keep you from getting too lit. Photo via Instagram / burlesonyardbeergarden
The Moon’s Daughters 115 Lexington Ave, (210) 942-6031, themoonsdaughters.com The Moons Daughter is one of San Antonio’s swankiest rooftop bars. A Mediterranean-inspired menu and impressive bar offerings only add to the appeal of the 20-story rooftop space. Photo courtesy of The Moon’s Daughters
Little Em’s Oyster Bar Masks Required 1001 S Alamo St, (210) 257-0100, littleemsoysterbar.com This bright and airy Southtown joint offers more than seafood, boasting crisp white walls and floors with pops of light pink and periwinkle blue that are just damn Instagram-worthy. Post up on the patio for uber-flattering trip photos. Photo via Instagram / emtrevy
Brooster’s Backyard 815 Pleasanton Rd, (210) 253-9104, Facebook.com/BroostersBackyard This kid- and pet-friendly Southside venue offers live music, play areas for both furry and human kiddos, DJs, chancla throwing contests and Lotería nights. Grab a drink from the full bar or mocktail menu, as well as snacks from a variety of food trucks — or a couple of snow cones for the kiddos. Photo via Instagram / broostersbackyard
Cullum’s Attagirl Masks Required 726 E Mistletoe Ave, (210) 437-4263, cullumsattagirl.com This SA mainstay now serves up hot chicken and ice cold beverages on an extended patio, thanks to the city’s Eat on the Street program. Don’t sleep on the lunch specials — trust us on this one. Photo via Instagram / cullumsattagirl
The Rustic Masks Not Required for Staff or Customers 17619 La Cantera Parkway Unit 04, (210) 245-7500, therustic.com/san-antonio Sitting right outside of the loop, The Rustic offers live music, a huge outdoor seating area and a diverse food menu. The venue isn’t currently requiring staff or guests to wear face coverings, but folks who would prefer a server with a mask can request to be seated in a section in a masked server’s section. Photo via Instagram / therusticsa
The Cove Masks Required 606 W Cypress St, San Antonio, TX 78212, (210) 227-2683, thecove.us The Cove has long been an outdoor haven for San Antonians, but a recent revamp to the patio area creates a more spacious layout to accommodate those looking to enjoy the weather. Be sure to check out the Texas bar, which offers nearly 50 Texas craft brews.Photo via Instagram / thecovesa Credit: Instagram / @thecovesa
The Cherrity Bar 302 Montana St., (210) 598-0496, cherritybar.com Seated comfortably at the corner of Cherry and Montana streets on the East Side, The Cherrity Bar combines cocktails, charitable giving and a top-notch ramen shop. For financially efficient eating, stop in for happy hour, when apps are half off. Photo via Instagram / cherritybar
Chicken N Pickle Masks Not Required for Customers 5215 UTSA Boulevard, (210) 874-2120, chickennpickle.com/san-antonio The massive four-acre Chicken N Pickle complex features pet-friendly spaces, a fast casual dining restaurant, five outdoor Pickleball courts, two bocce ball and four shuffleboard courts — plus a full bar to fuel the fun. Photo via Instagram / satxrated
Elsewhere Garden Bar & Kitchen 103 E Jones Ave, San Antonio, TX 78215, (210) 446-9303, elsewheregarden.com The dog- and family-friendly spot features swing seats overlooking the San Antonio River, lush landscaping, a selection of brews and wine and savory snacks create a perfect urban getaway. Photo via Instagram / elsewheresatx Credit: Instagram / elsewheresatx
The Friendly Spot Ice House Masks Required 943 S Alamo St., (210) 224-2337, thefriendlyspot.com Southtown’s largest outdoor food and drink venue, The Friendly Spot, has reopened its yard seating, bringing back outdoor sports viewing and weekend DJ sets. Guests are asked to engage in social distancing and frequent hand washing/sanitizing, as well as donning masks when not indulging in their “friendly eats & drinks.” Photo via Instagram / lizzie.blank
The Hoppy Monk 1010 N Loop 1604 E, thehoppymonk.com The Hoppy Monk offers ample space for outdoor dining, so folks have plenty of room to spread out and enjoy a brew or two. The Monk also gets bonus points for a huge parking lot. Photo via Instagram / thehoppymonk
La Gloria Masks Required Various Locations, facebook.com/lagloriapearl The patios at each La Gloria location include lush greenery and plenty of space to socially distance yourself effectively. They are also offering paperless ordering and booze to-go. Photo via Instagram / pattinelsonluxury
La Tuna Icehouse 100 Probandt St., (210) 212-5727, latunasa.com For over 27 years, La Tuna Icehouse has been serving cold beer and wine to guests on their front outdoor patio, which includes an array of pecan tree-shaded picnic tables. Don’t forget to take a photo with their new mural while you enjoy a frosty beverage. Photo via Instagram / latunaicehouse Credit: Instagram / @latunaicehouse
Little Woodrow’s Masks Not Required for Customers Various Locations, littlewoodrows.com Known for their huge outdoor spaces and countless flat screen TVs, Little Woodrow’s offers pet-friendly, 21-and-up patio pleasure. Photo via Instagram / littlewoodrowsstoneoak
Rumble Masks Required 2410 N St. Mary’s St. #3736, (210) 885-3925, facebook.com/rumblesatx Arguably one of the most stylishly designed bars on the St Mary’s Strip, Rumble is a great spot to grab a cocktail and post up on a picnic table out front. Easygoing vibes and jovial service staff round out a relaxing outdoor experience. Photo via Instagram / izer10
Social Spot Masks Required 930 Broadway St., (210) 263-9009, facebook.com/socialspotSATX Just north of downtown on Broadway, Social Spot boasts a huge footprint – over 80 percent of the property is outdoors! This space is not only huge in size, but also drink options, since they offer 17 tap lines, nearly 30 types of beer in cans and bottles and an award-winning Michelada. Photo via Instagram / social_spot_satx
Southerleigh Haute South Masks Required 5822 Worth Pkwy Suite 112, San Antonio, TX 78257,(210) 236-8556, southerleighhautesouth.com Recently opened Southerleigh Haute South offers a menu based on Southern-style food including Southerleigh’s signature fried chicken, seafood and a full oyster bar. Grab one (or three — and an Uber!) of Southerleigh’s locally brewed beers, or a cocktail from the full bar while lounging on the sprawling patio. Photo via Instagram/ eatdrinkandberichard
Squeezebox Masks Required 2806 N St Mary’s, (210) 314-8845, facebook.com/TheSqueezebox This indoor/outdoor joint serves up an ever-changing line up of frozen cocktails which — fair warning — can be a little boozy. Post up on one of many picnic tables for a sweet sunset serenade of Puro vinyl hits from any one of the visiting DJs to give visitors a taste of puro cultura. Photo via Instagram / thesqueezebox_sa
The Good Kind Southtown 1127 S St. Mary’s St., (210) 801-5892, eatgoodkind.com The Good Kind’s picturesque outdoor garden is a primo spot for patrons to sip on refreshing beverages while the kids tire themselves out on the grounds. Photo via Instagram / thegoodkindsouthtown
Dos Sirenos Brewing 231 E. Cevallos St., (210) 442-8138, dossirenosbrewing.com Producing brews in Southtown since 2019, Dos Sirenos boasts a large patio and super shady kid- and dog-friendly outdoor space. Photo via Instagram / dossirenosbrewing
30. Dakota East Side Ice House “Just be nice, dammit!” is painted on the exterior of this cinderblock building that used to house the Wah Yuen Chinese grocery, and more recently, the Hackberry Express convenience store. And who can argue with those sentiments? From its 2018 opening, the Dakota has strived to be a friendly meeting place for residents of its quick-changing East Side neighborhood, recognizing both the long history of the area’s African American residents and newcomers drawn by the promise of affordable housing. The spot books fittingly diverse live music and even comedy, and it serves up cuts-above bar food including Pork Queso and a wedge salad that recently drew raves from Texas Monthly. 433 S. Hackberry St., (210) 375-6009, thedakotasa.com. Photo via Instagram / thedakotasa
The Lighthouse Lounge 1016 Cincinnati, facebook.com/pages/category/Live-Music-Venue/The-Lighthouse-Lounge-100242124663964/ The Lighthouse Lounge has been offering beer, wine, liquor and live music to the Woodlawn Lake area for just under a year, where you can expect to see cyclist group meetups once or twice a week. Photo via Instagram / thelighthouselounge
Cactus Land Brewing Company 368 County Rd 325, Adkins, (210) 414-2776, cactuslandbrewing.com This taproom is open the first and third weekends of the month to bring you fresh brews and fun eats, provided from local food trucks. It stays true to its name, using the prickly pear native to the land. Photo via Instagram, cactuslandbrewing
Künstler Brewing 302 E LaChapelle, (210) 688-4519, kuensterbrewing.com Swing by this southtown brewpub for local craft beers, charcuterie and cheese plates, and ample outdoor seating. Throw back a few at the brewery, or get your suds to go. Photo via Instagram / zanbet_
Dashi Sichuan Kitchen & Bar 2895 Thousand Oaks Dr., sichuaneats.com Kristina Zhao, owner of popular Chinese eatery Sichuan House, expanded her culinary footprint this summer with Dashi Sichuan Kitchen & Bar in north central San Antonio. Photo via Instagram / sichuaneats
Gather Brewing Company 210 E. Aviation Blvd., Universal City, gather-brewing-co.square.site Coast Guard veteran Mike Voeller enlisted his family to help revamp a defunct military-themed bar near Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph in Universal City. The brewery is set to have its grand opening Dec. 11, where it will unveil a handful of new brews. Photo via Instagram / gatherbrewingcompany
Vista Brewing Company 1333 Buena Vista St, 512-766-1842, vistabrewingtx.com Vista Brewing, based in the Central Texas town of Driftwood, extended its reach to San Antonio earlier this spring with the opening of a new tasting room and beer garden at Warehouse 5. Photo via Instagram / vistabrewingsatx
95. Tony’s Siesta Relative newcomer Tony’s Siesta oozes tio vibes y puro SA attitude, aiming to preserve the comfortable atmosphere of the previous spot that occupied the space — the revered downtown watering hole Tony’s Bar. New proprietor Andy Palacios, a seasoned vet of the local bar scene, aims to embrace the growth of the Alamo City as a food and beverage destination with easygoing vibes, ample outdoor space and liquid treats that range from tequila to beer to boozy aguas frescas. The old-school feel makes it easy to spend way more time than you originally anticipated. And that’s a sign of a damned good bar, isn’t it? 206 Brooklyn Ave., (210) 227-4551, facebook.com/TonysSiesta. Photo via Instagram / tonyssiesta
Bentley’s Beer Garden Masks Not Required for Customers 802 N Alamo St., (210) 980-9401, facebook.com/bentleysbeergarden This open-air joint provides a socially-distant respite near Downtown, featuring large bars surrounded by televisions, swing seating and music stages. Photo via Facebook / bentleysbeergarden
Lucy Cooper’s Texas Ice House 16080 San Pedro Ave, (210) 462-1894, lucycoopers.com There’s nothing better than lounging in an adirondack chair while the Texas sun beams down and a breeze passes though — except for maybe not having to travel through downtown to get there. Photo via Instagram / lucycoopersicehouse Credit: Photo via Instagram / lucycoopersicehouse