After a long Rochester winter, there’s nothing better than enjoying a meal outside. Whether you’re looking for canal views, riverside dining, wood-fired pizza, or a brewery where kids are welcome, these family-friendly restaurant patios around Rochester make it easy to soak up summer while keeping everyone happy.
Water Views
Schooner’s Riverside Pub | Charlotte
An afternoon at Schooner’s just feels like summer! Casual dining, umbrellaed picnic tables, and water views create a family-friendly space early in the day. Regular live music and sunset views makes Schooner’s a hot evening spot, too, so keep that in mind as you’re making plans. There is a space with lawn games and plenty of seating along with a wide range of bar food and cocktails.
Dinosaur Bar-B-Que | Rochester
Dinosaur Bar-B-Que makes it easy to expose your kids to “true blue” pulled pork, brisket, or ribs alongside more classic kid-friendly foods. There’s plenty of sides to choose from, too. If the water view doesn’t pique your kids’ interest, then the coloring pages on the menu might. Don’t let the typical idea of BBQ fool you into thinking a vegetarian won’t be happy here. A smoked portebello or plant-based burger along with mac & cheese will suit them and there’s also a dedicated gluten-free ‘No Roll’ sandwich menu.
Rabbit Hole Tavern | Rochester
This is a fun spot right on the Genesee River. Most items on the menu have a unique twist but your Bunnies can pick from a menu made just for them. Definitely save room for dessert and enjoy a Friday Fish Fry. Check their social media for events and live music nights so you can plan accordingly.
Pizza, Pasta, and Pita
The Gate House | Rochester
Whether you crave one of the famous burgers, landmark pizzas, or craft cocktails, inside or out The Gate House won’t disappoint. If you want a spot on this patio, a reservation is required! You can make nearly everything on the menu gluten-free and there’s a vegan menu, too. Everyone can find something they will like, and Village Gate is just a cool place to spend time.
Sinbad’s | Rochester
Sinbad’s serves some of the best Mediterranean food in the Rochester area. Eating it on their patio sets it a notch above. This is a perfect casual spot for families to enjoy among some of the fancier places along Park Ave. The menu is huge and while it does serve traditional falafel and hummus, there are also specialities worth savoring. Save room for dessert!
Aladdin’s Natural Eatery | Pittsford
When eating outdoors at Aladdin’s overlooking the canal, it’s a taste of the Mediterranean with fresh and natural products like sea salt and extra virgin olive oil. The covered terrace means that even on a drizzly day it’s possible to enjoy a meal in the fresh air watching the boats. Dietary accommodations are made on almost all dishes.
Ferrari’s Pizza Bar | Chili, East Rochester
Whether your family designs their own or opts for a specialty one, the woodfired pizza will delight. If pizza isn’t your thing, there are plenty of other options to enjoy on the patio. An allergen menu is available upon request. The Little Ferraris meals (pasta, pizza, chicken fingers) come with a small drink.
Family-Friendly Breweries & Cideries
Blue Barn Cidery | Hilton
Even though there is not exactly a patio, there’s enough open space at Blue Barn Cidery that a kid can wander and you can actually finish a thought — maybe even your drink. The back patio is dog-friendly so the whole family can relish the outdoors. Crisp salads, house-made applesauce, seasonal flatbreads, a solid sandwich lineup — the whole menu feels a cut above. There’s a kids’ menu with quesadillas and burgers, which means everyone eats and nobody negotiates.
Genesee Brew House | Rochester
With its tasty pub fare and three outdoor spaces, the Brew House is a Rochester icon. It’s genuinely a “great family joint” particularly with a wide range of options – burgers, beer cheese, fish fry, and the must-order Bavarian pretzel.The High Falls view is the kind of “wow” that holds a four-year-old’s attention. First floor has a small museum of Rochester beer history — interactive displays, photos, nostalgia — that buys you a stroll-around moment before food arrives.
Strangebird | Rochester
Strangebird comes highly recommended by Rochester-area families for its made-from-scratch, locally-sourced, seasonal food. The menu covers cheese pizza, fries, and mac & cheese but there is a variety of options for a more adventurous eater, too. Since the kitchen is only open until 9pm, the vibe stays family friendly on the comfortable outdoor patio. As the 2022 New York State Craft Brewery of the Year, the beer is really good, too.
Rochester summers are short, and a good patio meal with your people is one of the best ways to make the most of them. Whether you’re chasing water views, pretzel-and-beer vibes, or wood-fired pizza, there’s something on this list for every kind of family day out. Go explore — and yes, the Bavarian pretzel is worth it…