On the hottest days, grab a beer or a cocktail at one of these spots with covered patios and breezy rooftops.
originally by Emma Ginsburg | updated by WALTER staff
Sometimes that Carolina sunshine is a little too sunshiney — but you still want to get outside for a drink with friends. These bars and restaurants have shaded outdoor seating to make grabbing a beer, cocktail or frosé more comfortable in the height of summer. From breezy rooftop bars to wide covered patios to pergolas wound with leafy vines, these downtown Raleigh bars and restaurants all offer comfortable, shaded outdoor seating.
Ajja
A vibrant neighborhood restaurant with both an open-air dining area and seating along its lawn, Ajja is well connected to the outdoors. Chef Cheetie Kumar’s menu offers inventive small plates with Mediterranean, Asian and Middle Eastern influences, and behind the bar, Lindsay Ogden has curated a selection of distinctive cocktails and a great wine list. 209 Bickett Boulevard; ajjaeats.com
Barcelona Wine Bar
Tucked into The Dillon’s plaza, Barcelona Restaurant & Wine Bar sports an elegant patio and a long, long wine list. Flip through 22 pages of vino under the shade of greenery, which threads through metal beams and wooden fixtures to form an oasis of metropolitan elegance on West Martin Street. For brunch and dinner, bring your crew and pair your wine with shareable Spanish tapas, paella and charcuterie.
430 West Martin Street; barcelonawinebar.com
The Bend Bar
From the folks at Trophy Brewing comes this quirky spot that offers a great selection of beers and cocktails, plus food from the connected State of Beer bottle spot. It addition to its modern wrap-around patio, they’ve got tables and groups of chairs underneath a grove of trees on its property, making it an easy place to gather with a group or let the kids run around. 853 W. Morgan Street; trophybrewing.com
Big Cat
From a group of beloved Raleigh restaurateurs comes this new restaurant and bar along Brookside Avenue. It’s got a big outdoor patio with full shade to enjoy its small plates and delicious cocktails. And if you’re a cat lover, you’ll be right on theme with the quirky decor inside. 1000 Brookside Drive, Suite 119; bigcatbrookside.com
Birdie’s Barroom & Kitchen
Offering contemporary American food in a chic atmosphere along Fayetteville Street, Birdie’s a great option for a work dinner or pre-show meal. Its outdoor area has a mix of tables and turf, in case you’ve got youngsters who need to move their bodies. 150 Fayetteville Street; birdiesraleigh.com
Figulina
Figulina is a modern Italian-ish restaurant with loads of seasonable, produce-forward appetizers and entrees that pair perfectly with warm weather. Let by Chef David Ellis, his handmade pasta is the star — but don’t sleep on the top-notch beverage program curated by Italian wine expert and writer Jeff Bramwell. The whole program is inspired by Italian aperitivo culture, so look for a large collection of aperitif, digestive and amaro-forward cocktails that’ll transport you right to the Mediterranean coast. The restaurant’s big outdoor patio offers plenty of space for groups small and large…