These essential Triangle bars and restaurants do patios right, especially in summer
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Outdoor dining, drinking and lounging around have always been a staple of summer, even on hot, steamy days.
It’s a time for people-watching, to escape our climate-controlled environments, to watch the sun set under the twinkle lights.
But the pandemic showed us how essential a patio is to our daily lives. Being outdoors is often the only way some feel comfortable dining and drinking in restaurants when an airborne virus seems to thrive in indoor spaces.
We set out to see who does patios right. In many cases, these spots already existed before the pandemic. But some of them upped their game, installing heaters or misters or socially distanced tables. We learned to appreciate them even more for their beauty and the opportunities they gave us when we just wanted to get out.
This list isn’t meant to be comprehensive, but it offers a snapshot of some of our favorite places in the Triangle.
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RALEIGH
Wye Hill Kitchen & Brewing
201 S. Boylan Ave., Raleigh. wyehill.com
Wye Hill is the place to be. Even on a weeknight, its enclosed outdoor dining area, lit gently by string lights and suffused with a cool rock and house playlist, is bustling until closing time. Expect a short wait if you haven’t made a reservation in advance. Like its servers, Wye Hill’s cocktail menu is conversational and friendly. We loved The Retox and Don’t Dew Me Like That, both refreshing, Instagram-worthy drinks. It’s young, fun and casual chic, and it offers a lovely view of the downtown skyline — a great spot for first dates or dinner with friends.
Good to know: There’s free street parking a block or two away on South Boylan Avenue and West Morgan Street. Whatever you order, be sure to get fries on the side. They’re amazing.
Transfer Co. Food Hall
500 E. Davie St., Raleigh. transfercofoodhall.com
Before it became 50,000+ bustling square feet of restaurants and vendors, the renovated warehouse in which Transfer Co. Food Hall now sits housed the historic Carolina Coach Garage and Shop. With 10 food vendors and its own bar, Transfer has something for everyone, ranging from fresh local oysters to Indian street food and homemade ice cream cookie sandwiches for a hot summer day. There’s a parking lot adjacent to the food hall, an outdoor patio plus two levels of indoor seating and frequent live music. Grab drinks after work or lunch or dinner with family and friends, and come back to sample all Transfer has to offer.
Good to know: Parking fills up around dinner time, especially on the weekends, so come on the earlier side to grab a spot and a bite before vendors run out. On Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights, Benchwarmers Bagels flips over to a pizza joint with plain, pepperoni and a special of the night. Order the decadent, thick rectangle pizza by the slice, by the half or eight slices.
Whiskey Kitchen
201 W. Martin St., Raleigh. whiskey.kitchen
Hip and bustling with an open post-industrial aesthetic, Whiskey Kitchen is both barroom and restaurant. While it’s without a doubt centered around whiskey — their whiskey menu spans five countries and runs into the triple digits — don’t miss out on their inventive Southern fare. It’s great for groups and a go-to spot for after-work food and drink, but expect a wait for table service if you’re just walking in.
Good to know: If you want to eat here between 5 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. on a weekend without waiting, make a reservation well in advance (at least a week prior). It gets packed, and for good reason.
Trophy Brewing & Pizza
827 W. Morgan St., Raleigh. trophybrewing.com/brewing-pizza
Boasting both indoor seating and outdoor fire pits, Trophy Brewing & Pizza is a low-key, rustic spot year-round that’s great for families and groups. They’ve got a solid list of draft and canned beers, in addition to wine and cocktails. And while pizza is the star attraction, and perhaps the reason you came to Trophy, don’t overlook the dessert menu. On a hot summer evening, the peach bourbon ice cream was an unforgettable standout, with graham cracker crumbles and peach chunks enveloped in a custard-y, stretchy ice cream.
Good to know: The desserts rotate, though, so visit soon, order a few small plates and pizzas to share, and you’re golden. Trophy Pizza & Brewing is run by Trophy Brewing Co., the same people behind Trophy Brewery and Taproom, Young Hearts Distilling and State of Beer.
Mulino Italian Kitchen & Bar
309 N. Dawson St., Raleigh. mulinoraleigh.com
As cars zip down Capital Boulevard into Downtown Raleigh, it’s easy to miss Mulino off to the side. But step through the restaurant’s gates into a large mosaic-tiled courtyard with a turquoise pool in the middle. There, Mulino transports you to another place, with the only indication of Raleigh a high-rise tower peering over the roof of the covered bar. Grab one of the comfy benches or a table next to the pool and prepare to feast on authentic Italian food under the strings of twinkle lights. The bar offers an extensive list of Italian wines and Italian cocktails, with whimsical names like “Cinema Paradiso” and “Ford Vs. Ferrari.”
Good to know: Reservations are encouraged. There is also indoor seating. And you really may drive past Mulino the first time you go. As you approach North Dawson Street, slow down. You’ll need to make a sharp right into Mulino’s lot. If you miss it, keep going straight. There’s a paid parking lot across the street.
Humble Pie
317 S. Harrington St., Raleigh. humblepierestaurant.com
Like many places on this list, this Warehouse District restaurant offers an expansive patio. This one, however, is covered with fans, which is great for the fair-skinned of us and those who want to dine outdoors when a summer shower is upon us. Humble Pie, recently featured in Bon Appetit magazine, is known for its creative shareable plates for dinner and its decadent Sunday brunch. For brunch, you can’t go wrong with shrimp and grits or the egg sammie. For dinner, smoked pork belly sliders and short rib tostadas hit all the right notes.
Good to know: The brunch and dinner menus both feature Humble Pie’s renowned buttermilk fried chicken. Reservations are encouraged, particularly if you want to sit on the patio. The online system allows diners to specify patio, dining room or booth seating.
Raleigh Beer Garden
614 Glenwood Ave., Raleigh. theraleighbeergarden.com
With “the world’s largest selection of draft beers in one restaurant,” three separate bars in the same venue and table service in some areas but not others, Raleigh Beer Garden can feel overwhelming to navigate. But that just means it’s got more brews to try, and more spaces to explore and settle down. Its three bars are organized by type of beer. The upstairs bar serves international brews and cider, while the two downstairs bars are separated by local beers and wine/liquor. Make your way up and around the space, and grab a few bites, like fried pork belly bites, a shrimp po’boy slider or fried mac and cheese bites, along the way.
Good to know: Open tabs don’t extend across the different bars in Raleigh Beer Garden, so make sure to close your tabs as you move from one bar to the next.
Wilson’s Eatery and Lynnwood Brewing Concern
1053 E. Whitaker Mill Road, Raleigh. wilsonseatery.com, lynnwoodbrewing.beer/wp/
Grab a bite from Wilson’s Eatery and a brew from LBC and settle down on the outdoor deck in between the sister restaurants or in the shared Beer Garden. Wilson’s serves up locally sourced, scratch-made sandwiches, flatbreads, salads and starters, while LBC provides craft beers brewed on-site. The scene is casual and delightfully quirky, with plenty of families, small groups and folks grabbing after-work drinks. Bring your pup, who can refresh with dog bowls offered by Wilson’s and enjoy the sunshine too.
Good to know: Once you take a seat, you can order food and drinks online. Mark your order for carryout, include “LBC” and your table number in special instructions before you check out, and servers will deliver your order out to you in a jiff.
DURHAM
Ponysaurus Brewing
219 Hood St., Durham. ponysaurusbrewing.com
Ponysaurus’ beer garden already was popular before the pandemic, but owners expanded the seating with picnic tables placed 6 feet apart and added a pizza menu, courtesy of Raleigh favorite, Oakwood Pizza Box. The lively location on the outskirts of downtown has become like a big backyard gathering. The 14-inch pizzas are perfect for sharing, or if you want one for yourself.
Good to know: Pizza is served Wednesday and Friday to Monday. Food trucks are on-site Tuesday and Thursday. Check the calendar for events. For example, every third Tuesday is Pints & Pups night with dogs available for adoption. Speaking of pups, your furry friends are welcome but are not allowed in the taproom and must be on a leash at all times. Kids under 12 are also welcome until 7 p.m. as long as they are supervised.
RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK
Boxyard RTP
900 Park Offices Drive, Research Triangle Park. boxyard.rtp.org
Boxyard RTP opened in June 2021, essentially offering an outdoor food hall of sorts with plenty of outdoor seating, live music and a unique place to gather between Durham and Raleigh. Boxyard has a mix of established Triangle eateries like Fullsteam Brewery, now with pizza, and Beyu Caffe, as well as some newcomers like Lawrence Barbecue and Buzzy Bakes. It’s easy to make an afternoon of it by ordering a charcuterie board from Meat & Graze, grabbing a drink from Fullsteam or RTP Uncorked or the Lagoon Bar and finishing it off with a cupcake from Buzzy Bakes.
Good to know: The family-friendly venue has some shaded seating but you might pack sunscreen in case you’re out in the open. Oh, and the fine barbecue at Lawrence Barbecue sells out fast, so get there early in the day if that’s what you’re craving.
CHAPEL HILL
He’s Not Here
112 1/2 W. Franklin St., Chapel Hill. hesnotherenc.com
Most Triangle residents have a story about the aftermath of a few Blue Cups at the iconic Chapel Hill haunt known simply as He’s Not. That goes triple if you’re a UNC alum. A selection of beer and cider on tap fills 33-ounce blue buckets that go down surprisingly fast while seated at a large patio table, filled with the friends you’re bound to run into on a Saturday night. Seasonal offerings include shandy in the summer and pumpkin beer in the fall, with most buckets running $9.
Good to know: Frequent specials will offer discounts on select beers to $6. Weekend nights often mean live music, and follow He’s Not’s Twitter account for colorful updates on both tap specials and UNC sports. Speaking of, entry on game days is ticketed — and unlikely. You’ll be turned away without preparing far in advance or spending hours in line.
Franklin Motors and Roquette
601 W. Franklin St., Chapel Hill. franklinmotors.net, roquettechapelhill.com
One of Franklin Street’s newest drinking and dining spots has quickly become a go-to destination for its laid-back beer garden and delicious food cooked up by Roquette, a permanent food truck on-site that relies on locally sourced ingredients. Grab a seat, a cocktail or beer and order a set of sliders. (We also dig the mac and cheese and are hoping the short rib hand pies soon return.) Some picnic tables are under cover, but on a nice evening, we like the second level above the bar for a view of West Franklin.
Good to know: The creative team at Roquette now serves brunch on Sundays: breakfast tacos, French toast and egg strata will have us returning after a Saturday night.
Caffe Driade
1215-A E. Franklin St., Chapel Hill. caffedriade.com
Caffe Driade is possibly Chapel Hill’s best-known secret spot. The espresso bar/wine bar/teahouse sits off East Franklin Street behind Whitehall Antiques and is easy to miss, save for a sign on the side of the road. But make a U-turn so you can transport yourself to your very own place in the forest. With tables and patios interspersed through the trees, it’s the definition of escape as you sip on coffee from Carrboro Coffee Roasters and grab a pastry from Ninth Street Bakery.
Good to know: While Caffe Driade serves a limited selection of wine and beer, note that it’s open until 2 p.m. Monday to Friday and until 6 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. The cafe’s owner, who also owns Carrboro Coffee Roasters, is also a certified international coffee competition judge. In other words, the coffee is the real deal.
Angelina Katsanis contributed to this report.
This story was originally published June 29, 2022 at 6:00 AM with the headline "These essential Triangle bars and restaurants do patios right, especially in summer."
