Dining Alfresco in DC

In fine weather the city’s sidewalks sprout outdoor tables and umbrellas, and restaurants turn their patios into small oases of greenery and candlelight. Dining outdoors is a summertime treat, and even in Washington, where the humidity sends visitors into air-conditioned spaces during the day, they clamor at night for an outside table. The best outdoor dining spaces in DC:

The people-watching is tops at Johnny’s Half Shell [1] on Capitol Hill, and the menu isn’t too shabby either. Johnny’s is where Hill staffers and capitol VIPs go to blow off steam after work, enjoying camaraderie Capitol Hill-style on the patio. Dining on Citronelle [2]’s haute cuisine under the stars on its patio adds another dimension to a memorable evening.

You know you are in Washington when you sit under one of Café du Parc [3]’s bright blue umbrellas, with the historic Willard Hotel at your back and the White House [4] grounds across the street. Crowds of visitors, businessmen, and locals stroll past, heading to the White House, the Mall, or a nearby museum.

At Sequoia [5], it’s really all about the view and not the food or even the drink. With a three-tiered patio on the Potomac River, guests overlook the stunning river, the Kennedy Center [6], and in warm weather, the fleet of yachts and powerboats that tie up in the river, their owners enjoying old fashioned summertime fun like swimming, sunbathing, and knocking back a few beers.

You don’t have to have deep pockets to enjoy outdoor dining in DC. The delightful outdoor patio at Hank’s Oyster Bar [7] in Georgetown is scheduled to double in capacity in 2011, a welcome change for those dreaming of an evening with friends, drinking beer and eating oysters outside. The patio at Cashion’s Eat Place [8] has more seating than many Adams Morgan restaurants. It still manages to fill quickly, but it is worth the wait for the inventive cuisine and friendly patrons.