Patio Guide to Decatur

Decatur shows off when patio season hits. You’ll find friends gathered, sipping, snacking and relaxing from coffee to cocktails al fresco. Whether you’re looking for a tucked-away retreat, beer garden, artsy courtyard, dog-friendly spot, or people-watching perch, Decatur’s got a space with your name on it. Here are some of the best patios for soaking in every second outdoors.

Raise a margarita with Mona Lisa on Raging Burrito’s iconic back patio! The huge space is great for bigger parties. Claim a seat in the partial shade or under an umbrella. Plus, you can often find the restaurant’s garage-style, roll-up window in the main dining room open during pleasant weather.

The Menu: Huge burritos, tacos, guac, and house-made margaritas.

You can’t get any more colorful than Chai Pani’s Bollywood-inspired patio. The large covered space is overflowing with orange marigold garlands and adorned with pink blooms. Eater Atlanta named it in their round-up of essential Atlanta patios. Remember to get a group pic at the built-in photo op bench.

The Menu: Indian Street food —  disco bhel, samosa chaat, matchstick okra fries, butter chicken, and kale pakoras. Lunch buffet on weekdays.

What’s better than one patio? TWO! This neighborhood gastropub provides the restaurant version of full service in a renovated 1920s service station. Both patios are open-air, covered, and dog-friendly. And they have heaters for chilly days.

The Menu: Gastropub serving unique American fare.

Take a stroll down the brick alley and have a seat in the beer garden ‘round back, complete with a fire pit, sun shades, and 12 tap bar. Dogs on leashes are welcome.

The Menu: Pub favorites — soft pretzels, fish and chips, burgers, and chicken pot pie. As for the beer… it’s a long list! Choose from 16 rotating American and international craft beers on top in the main bar, 10 taps upstairs at the Belgian Bar, and cask ale at the Cask Bar in the mezzanine.

Enter an enchanting garden paradise at Wahoo! Grill. Often chosen for weddings, the gorgeous outdoor patio feels like a hidden escape full of secret garden charm. Shade sails overhead to protect from light showers and direct sunlight.

The Menu: Seafood-focused, European bistro.

Scout’s elevated patio is breezy, shady, and overlooks the heart of Oakhurst. It’s a great people-watching spot, and on Oakhurst Jazz Nights in April and September you can hear live music from the Solarium’s lawn. 

The Menu: Classic American dishes. Find crowd-pleasers like chicken & waffles, the five-hour hanger steak, or pan-seared scallops.

Who can resist the curb appeal of a charming historic storefront that leads into a beautifully designed interior? But there’s more — peek around the corner and you’ll want to opt for the side patio on Church Street. Bistro seating. Big green egg in back.

The Menu: “Weird meat” is the motto here! Feast on rustic fare, including pheasant, duck, and venison.

Opo Coffee is a coffee shop, roastery, and Atlanta’s first coffee training center administering courses for the Specialty Coffee Association.The café is bright with playful pops of color. Head out the back door for the large, sunny outdoor space with as much seating (and plants) as inside.

The Menu: Coffee and pastries.

Ask for a seat out back, and you’ll discover a large, shady backyard space that feels like a hidden retreat. The covered patio is built around a large oak tree with more tables and two ping pong tables out in the “yard”. It’s perfect for laid-back afternoons. The overall vibe is relaxed and inviting, with a casual, almost European atmosphere that makes it easy to linger.

The Menu: Classic “red-sauce” Italian.

Glamorous, bohemian, and bookish, the Reading Room is undeniably beautiful and so is its front patio. The lush green and tropical mural is easy to spot from the street. (And makes for a great photo!) Large wooden planters and a bamboo screen separate the outdoor nook from the sidewalk.

The Menu: Coffee to cocktails. Pastry case all day. Sandwiches, quiche, soup, and charcuterie boards starting at 11 am.

Housed in Decatur’s c. 1890 train depot and named for a legendary Atlanta hotel, Kimball House today has a covered patio add-on that creates a peaceful, intimate space despite its location at a bustling Decatur gateway.

The Menu: The best oyster program in metro Atlanta and award-winning cocktails, too.

The Marlay House is an authentic Irish owner-operated Dublin-style pub. Grab a properly-poured Guinness and a seat outdoors. The covered front patio has high-top barrel tables and bench seating.

The Menu: The shepherd’s pie, classic fish n’ chips, and the Guinness-braised beef brisket are stand-outs, and the warm brussels sprout salad has a devoted fan base.

Grindhouse Killer Burgers in Decatur is unique for its adults only rooftop bar and patio. It’s full service and 21+. Use the back stairs in the parking lot or indoor stairwell. 

The Menu: Fresh-ground burgers and creamy, hand-spun boozy shakes.

Perch on this groovy West Ponce porch for some easy-breezy people-watching.

The Menu: Stone-baked pizzas, calzones, salads, and wings.