Hands down my favorite season is patio season. Patio season, for those of you who aren’t millennials living in cities who need something to celebrate at all times, is when the weather is nice enough to have happy hour, brunch, or dinner outside at a restaurant. If you’re lucky it starts in April and goes until September. Here in DC we’re “lucky” that the warm weather usually lasts that long, but there’s only a limited amount of time in the beginning and end of patio season where you won’t sweat out half your body weight due to humidity when sitting outside. So I’m all in on making the most of patio season.
It seems like every bar or restaurant in the city has either a patio or a rooftop that they open up when the sun comes out and I absolutely love it. To be honest, I’m not above picking a spot for drinks based solely on how good the patio is. I also love that most places will let you specify that you want a table outside when you make your reservations–this is totally key during the busy times if you’re a sucker for the sun like me. I will also say it’s important to know if your outdoor space is equipped with citronella candles or something similar because mosquitos are no joke and I’m highly allergic to the ones out here on the east coast (did you know there are hundreds of different types of mosquitos and they vary by geographic area????).
Another bonus about patio season is that it’s prime season for Instagram pics. Everything just looks better when you’re outside and everyone is happier so it’s really a win-win for the gram. You all know you love pictures of yourselves sitting in the sun with a summery drink in your hand. There are a few spots in DC that are just begging to be the backdrop for your Instagram pic.
- Whaley’s is amazing year round (and super Insta-friendly) but their seasonal rosé garden is truly amazing. It has a perfect selection of rosé wines set in the trendiest pop-up patio you could imagine. Think pink glasses and palm printed tablecloths on the bar and potted plants and pink flamingos all around.
- Union Market is another great patio spot. During the warmer months the picnic tables are always full of people (and dogs!) and there’s a pop-up bar in an Airstream trailer that comes out to serve up summery cocktails. And if that’s not enough for your photo, you can walk around the building to pose in front of any of the many murals on the walls.
- Colada Shop is another spot that’s so beautiful outside and that spills out into their outdoor spaces as well. They have a front patio with cute little bistro tables as well as a rooftop garden bar where they serve up Cuban food, coffee, and cocktails.
There are so many other great patios in DC–just walk through a neighborhood and you’ll find too many to count. But these are just some that I think are particularly cute and have such fun vibes I had to share!
So put on your espadrilles and sunglasses and make the most out of patio season before it gets too humid to be outside, or before it turns into fall before you know it!
Leave a Reply