Spring has sprung and summer is right around the corner. After months huddled up indoors, it’s time to get outside and savor the sights and sounds of the season. These Northern Virginia spots are perfect for outdoor dining — so make plans with friends and family for some alfresco fun.
BARCA Pier & Wine Bar
BARCA sits on a pier in historic Old Town Alexandria and provides outdoor dining with seating for up to 200 guests. The wine bar is a little more intimate with jewel-toned walls and gold lighting fixtures. The menu features plates inspired by Mediterranean, Greek, Italian, and Moroccan cuisines. 2 Pioneer Mill Way, Alexandria
Caboose Commons
Caboose Brewing Company’s Fairfax location is a massive three-level space located across the street from the Mosaic District. Sit outside in the beer garden and sip a brew or cafe drink and enjoy a game of corn hole. The menu features shareable bites like nachos and wings, plus heartier fare like a blackened Mahi Mahi sandwich, pastrami burger, and Ahi Tuna Poke bowl. 2918 Eskridge Rd., Fairfax
Café Montmarte
Located in the Lake Anne Village Center, this self-described “French & Viet Bistro Restaurant” serves both escargots, quiches, and French provincial fare as well as Viet chicken, spring rolls and Pho noddle soups. Sit outside and take in the lake views, then stroll along the waterfront plaza or through the nearby Reston Town Center. 1625 Washington Plz. N., Reston
Clare & Don’s
This beach-shack-themed bar and restaurant offers seafood, burgers, specialty cocktails, and vegetarian fare. It also regularly hosts live music, karaoke, and trivia nights, and has plenty of outdoor seating. 130 N. Washington St., Falls Church
Jimmy’s Old Town Tavern
This Buffalo Bills sports bar serves some of the best wings in Northern Virginia, according to Northern Virginia Magazine readers. The restaurant’s Classic Buffalo Wings come in either mild, medium, hot, or heat rush and are served with blue cheese dressing and celery sticks. Jimmy’s also offers sandwiches, steak, pasta, and seafood, all of which you can enjoy at their outdoor beer garden, open year-round. 697 Spring St., Herndon
Kalypso’s Sports Tavern
Kalypso’s is a multi-year Northern Virginia Magazine Best of NoVA winner. The patio is situated on Lake Anne, and the food consists of Greek, Italian, and American dishes. Plus, there’s live music every Friday night, so you can eat, sip, and enjoy lively tunes and lakeside views. 1617 Washington Pl. N., Reston
Lazy Dog Restaurant & Bar
Lazy Dog Restaurant & Bar has locations in Fairfax and Chantilly and offers plentiful outdoor dining spaces at both. The restaurant boasts a massive menu, and serves salads, burger, and seafood, plus comfort food favorites like pot roast, chicken pot pie, and meatloaf. True to its name, your canine companion is more than welcome, and you can even order a special dog entree with either grilled hamburger or chicken breast served with white or brown rice.
MacDowell’s
The self-described “Key West of Leesburg,” MacDowell’s boasts live music and karaoke and a casual menu with burgers, barbecue, beachy entrées, and beer. It has a sandy, palm-shaded outdoor bar, another bar created out of a reclaimed boat, and even a kids’ area for building sandcastles. 202-B Harrison St. SE, Leesburg
Magnolias at the Mill
This farm-to-table American restaurant offers a sun-dappled patio with tables set under a canvas tent. It’s situated next to the Washington & Old Dominion Trail, so you can watch the cyclists ride by while you sample fried green heirloom tomatoes, almond-crusted trout, or a free-range bison burger. 198 N. 21st St., Purcellville
NOVA Live
Manassas’ NOVA Live (formerly Farm Brew LIVE) offers plenty of outdoor space on its 12-acre campus in Innovation Park. The venue showcases craft beers and live local music at the YARD, plus plenty of food and dining options, including 2 Silos Brewing Co., and multiple food trucks like 2nd Stop Ice Cream & Coffee bar, the Pit barbecue, and Papi Chulo Tacos & Tequila. The Black Sheep restaurant also offers limited outdoor searing. 9901 Discovery Blvd., Manassas
The Secret Garden Cafe
Nestled in the heart of Historic Old Town Occoquan, The Secret Garden offers an idyllic outdoor setting for a romantic evening or unwinding with friends. The menu takes inspiration from global cuisines, and includes Mediterranean bruschetta, Korean style braised short ribs, and Greek chicken. 404 Mill St., Occoquan
Wilson Hardware
Wilson Hardware evokes the feelings of a fairy tale garden party with soft hanging lights, greenery, and a rooftop bar with retractable cover. The contemporary American restaurant offers shareable sliders, nachos, and wings, plus seafood, chicken, and pasta entrees. 2915 Wilson Blvd., Arlington
Featured photo courtesy MacDowell Brew Kitchen
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