Best Outdoor Dining in Scottsdale
Whether traveling or living here, the warm, sunny weather drives many people to seek out the best outdoor dining in Scottsdale.
I moved to Scottsdale 20 years ago because I wanted to spend as much time outdoors as possible. Depending on the time of day, I frequent the following restaurants and cafes for their enjoyable patios. I grouped them according to the meals I tend to visit them for, but many of them are also open for other meals or snacks.
Best Outdoor Breakfast Dining In Scottsdale
Start your day on a relaxing patio with coffee and a pastry or a full breakfast. For me, it is usually a green tea and muffin or an omelet.
Prep & Pastry
The patio of Prep & Pastry spreads beneath a portico just off the canal at the Scottsdale Waterfront. With blue and white wicker chairs and marble-topped tables, it has the feel of a French bistro. Choose from a large display case of tantalizing pastries or a full, healthy breakfast made with fresh ingredients.
My favorite is the Prep Omelette, which is gluten-free and contains goat cheese, pesto, spinach, avocado, and tea-smoked tomatoes. The roasted potatoes, the side for the omelet, have a perfect crispness and flavor.
Prep & Pastry also serves sandwiches and salads for lunch with some holdovers from the breakfast menu. Work off the calories with a stroll around the Waterfront to the Soleri Bridge and back to the Pinball Wizard and Passing the Legacy public sculptures.
Bonus tip: Go to the Prep & Pastry website to find the wait time and add your name to the waitlist.
Schmooze
My frequent go-to of these places is the enclosed patio of Schmooze with trees, water features, and plenty of tables. Besides all the usual variety of hot and iced coffees and teas seen at cafes, Schmooze offers Signature Lattes. The café offers a few omelets, breakfast sandwiches, toasts, and sides.
My usual choice is the Arugula Caprese Avocado Toast with cherry tomatoes and a pesto drizzle. I usually ask them to hold the red pepper flakes because I can’t handle any spiciness.
If you enjoy the atmosphere, stay for a salad, burger, or protein bowl for lunch. Or return after shopping in the local boutiques down the street.
Bonus tip: Select a table when you arrive and use the QR code on the table to order from your phone.
Sip Coffee and Beer
The name gives away the fact that Sip Coffee and Beer is more than a breakfast spot and remains open all day. I tend to go in the morning to write on the patio while sipping my green tea and munching on a muffin. Sip offers the perfect place to stop for a quick bite before or after a hike or a spring training game.
Stop by later in the afternoon or evening for a smoothie, beer, or one of their signature Seasonal Sips cocktails. On Monday evenings, enjoy a salsa lesson and open dancing.
Morning Squeeze
From the patio of Morning Squeeze on Scottsdale Road, you can watch Old Town wake up and come to life. The bright, beachy colors give a cool vibe to the patio, which is dog-friendly. The extensive menu includes all the typical breakfast fare as well as protein shakes and cocktails.
They offer too many good options to pick one to recommend, so I choose based on whether I want something sweet like the Granola Crunch French Toast or a savory Veggie Omelet.
Best Outdoor Lunch Dining in Scottsdale
After a morning activity, recharge without missing out on a gorgeous day by having lunch on an outdoor patio in various locations around Scottsdale.
AZ88
When out-of-town guests visit me, I most frequently bring them to AZ88. The patio overlooks the Scottsdale Civic Center park. You can relax watching people enjoying the green space rather than speeding cars.
AZ88 has been sprucing up simple lunch fare for 35 years, with seven choices of salads, seven types of burgers, and many other sandwiches and plates. These are all hearty enough for dinner as well. Indulge in one of their incredible drink offerings, including 16 types of martinis, 16 specialty cocktails, wine, beer, and bubbles.
I usually cannot resist ordering one of their amazing cheeseburgers, served with waffle fries and fruit. My favorite cocktail is the Celebration Champagne, with peach and raspberry liqueurs and a sprinkle of sparkling confetti-sugar.
Bonus tip: The restaurant does not take reservations and can have a bit of a wait. Give yourself extra time and stroll among the fountains and trees after you put in your name.
Brat Haus
Picnic tables, astroturf, and games set up a loose, community vibe on the patio of Brat Haus in the kitschy Old Town area. Five types of brats can be loaded up with your choice of three out of the six toppings offered. My favorite is the sweet Italian brat with sweet onion jam. Their fries may be the best in the city.
The menu also includes burgers, hotdogs, salads, and entrees. If you are with a group, don’t miss the giant pretzel served with beer cheese fondue. The server can help you choose from their list of over 25 beers on draft.
Fate
A gorgeous afternoon is well spent at Fate Brewery in South Scottsdale. The restaurant includes a shaded patio seating area as well as an outdoor bar with high-top tables. In 2012, Fate started brewing beer and now has 17 varieties on its menu. I only drink dark beer and love their Candy Bar Milk Stout.
Fate’s diverse menu includes smash burgers, sandwiches, salads, pizza, and entrees such as ribs and salmon. They also offer great snacks to accompany a craft beer, such as nachos, pretzels, and wings.
The Vig
The Vig offers relaxed but modern outdoor dining at five locations in the Phoenix area, one in Central Scottsdale and one in North Scottsdale. The menu skews southwestern with a twist, including interesting tacos and salads.
I struggle with choosing between a salad with added perfectly cooked New York steak or a lettuce-wrapped cheeseburger with truffle fries.
With over a dozen “Vignature” cocktails and plenty of wine and beer choices, The Vig is a fantastic choice for a happy hour break to your daily vacation activities.
Bonus Tip: The McDowell Mountain location makes a great stop after hiking the McDowell Sonoran Preserve or visiting Frank Lloyd Wright’s Taliesin.
Best Outdoor Dinner Dining in Scottsdale
Even if the day turned out too warm for you, you can dine on a fabulous outdoor patio as the air cools and another gorgeous Arizona sunset fills the sky.
Sel
The chef at Sel, Branden Levine, has worked in restaurants around the United States and in Africa, leading to his fusion of European, Asian, and Mediterranean culinary styles. Sel offers a tasting menu and a la carte specialties.
I enjoyed a happy hour with a friend on the lovely patio in the Scottsdale Arts District. We each ordered the roasted beet salad and shared the truffle fries, accompanied by a glass of an incredible red wine that was the happy hour special. The food and service surpassed my expectations.
The House Brasserie
The secluded, elegant patio of The House Brasserie feels like a classy dining room moved outdoors. The chef adds a French influence to upscale modern American cuisine, which honors this 1939 historic Scottsdale home.
You can begin your meal with an escargot or pork belly appetizer before moving on to squid ink pappardelle or a 28-day aged filet mignon. Take your time perusing the extensive cocktail and wine list.
Olive and Ivy
Olive & Ivy has a lively, hip vibe and occupies a prime spot on the Scottsdale Waterfront. The restaurant recently renovated its outdoor patio, half devoted to typical dining tables and the rest sporting couches and fire pits.
The Mediterranean-leaning offerings include a nice mix of pasta, seafood, and meat entrees, as well as smaller plates such as bruschetta and flatbread. Give yourself time to enjoy the chill atmosphere by starting with a unique cocktail before jumping into their ample options for beer or wine.
Bonus tip: Indulge in the bacon-wrapped dates. You can thank me later.
Tapas Papa Fritas
The outdoor patio of Tapas Papa Frita stretches along the canal at the Scottsdale Waterfront. This offers an excellent spot to spend an evening watching people stroll along the path.
Groups will especially enjoy sharing the large variety of small plates. The menu includes 12 options for vegetable tapas, 11 seafood dishes, and 16 with meat. There is also a large offering of paella and entrees. Save room for fried plantains and churros for dessert.
Bonus tip: Tapas Papa Frita has Flamenco shows on Friday and Saturday evenings and Cuban music on Thursdays and Sundays.
Farm and Craft
For even better people-watching, the outdoor patio of Farm and Craft wraps around the corner of Scottsdale Road and 6th Avenue. The menu appeals to the health-conscious diner, with farm-fresh, locally sourced ingredients and plenty of vegetarian and vegan options.
Options include salads, flatbreads, entrees, and bowls to which you can add protein, such as steak, salmon, or tofu. Their large drink menu offers kombucha cocktails and fresh pressed juices, including one served inside a mini watermelon.
Bonus tip: Gluten-free diners have many fabulous options at Farm & Craft.
Conclusion: The Best Outdoor Dining Is In Scottsdale
Visitors to Scottsdale can take full advantage of the beautiful weather by dining on an outdoor patio at any time of day. You can enjoy an excellent atmosphere when you stop for a meal, snack, or drink.
To enjoy the weather in between meals, check out The Best Nature Activities in Scottsdale.
