Though Los Angeles doesn't exactly pose the harshest winter conditions, there's still something thrilling about the coming of spring. Blossoming flowers, sunnier days and light that lingers into the evening all remind us how wonderful it is to be outside. In celebration of the coming season, we present a collection of eateries with charming outdoor spaces.
This Spanish bungalow was built in 1916. Since then, it has served as a small school, a real estate office and a private home. Now the distinctive location serves fresh California breakfast, lunch, dinner and dessert. The casual atmosphere, with its curving brick walls and thriving foliage, offers a lovely destination for soaking up the sun or the stars.
The enchanting back patio of this Italian-contemporary restaurant and wine bar is a respite from the surrounding neighborhood’s warehouses and industrial ambiance. Inside, the vibe is a happy balance of romantic and relaxed, where diners might nosh on a burger and sweet potato fries while simultaneously sipping vino in an ivy-covered courtyard illuminated by candles.
The glass doors at Fraiche open so that even those seated at indoor tables feel as though they’re part of the great outdoors. On the sidewalk out front, lively groups seem to endlessly fill up the tables, devouring the lauded French-Italian fare. It’s not unreasonably priced, but if “budget” is your buzz word this season, this alluring menu may warrant waiting for a special occasion—or for happy hour, illustriously referred to as Gourmet Hour, every day between 5:30 p.m. and 7 p.m.
From the outside, Gaby’s appears somewhat unimpressive. It shares a parking lot with a liquor store and has some sort of tarp hanging over its sides. But what appears ramshackle on the outside is, in fact, a handy tent that transforms the restaurant from indoor eatery to outdoor enclave in mere minutes. One meal inside and lovers of Mediterranean food will have found their new addiction. Both the vegetarian and carnivorous options are sumptuous, particularly the moussaka (eggplant with garbanzo beans) and chicken shawarma.
A blossom-covered gate protects the patio, situated on a spacious corner lot, from the street beyond. The inventive home-style menu bears the charming influence of the American South. Busiest during weekday lunch and weekend brunch hours, Grub is a colorful, friendly reminder to keep our priorities straight: Fun, filling food and an interesting place to enjoy it are high on the list.
From within the Little Door, it’s not hard to pretend you’re in Europe. Each course tastefully blends fresh ingredients from local markets, the ambiance is warm and rustic, and the wine flows effortlessly. Whether by day or night, the patio and winter garden bustle with guests leisurely dining amid blossoming vines and picturesque mosaics. Though it’s cheaper than a trip to the Italian Riviera, when the bill comes, you just might feel as if you’ve paid a hefty sum in Euros.
It’s nothing fancy, but dinner on a patio overlooking the Pacific Ocean at sunset can probably stand on its own. The fish market, a humble abode with a few picnic tables on a terrace above PCH, not only sells the day’s catches to go, but also offers seafood cuisine worth dining in for. Bring a bottle of wine and a camera.
Behind this cute cafe offering mouthwatering grilled sandwiches lies a not-so-secret garden that still feels secluded. Over gourmet-style cafe fare, relaxed Westside diners take it easy here, socializing, reading and working on their laptops, as if the place were their own backyard. The comfortable decor and assortment of fresh-baked treats and beverages make it easy to pass the afternoon.
