This guide shares the best restaurants with outdoor seating in Columbia, SC. You’ll find everything from a charming eatery with a side patio to open balcony seating, garden seating and more.
Despite its reputation for being Famously Hot, Columbia, SC is actually a great place to dine outdoors. Well, maybe not in July! But most of the year is mild enough that you can enjoy a meal al fresco.
To help you in your quest to find your next restaurant destination, we rounded up several of our favorite places to dine outdoors. This guide shares our top picks for where you can get Vitamin D and an excellent meal.
PS: Most of the patios mentioned are dog-friendly, except Saluda’s! Call ahead to confirm, though.
Where To Dine Outside In Columbia, SC
The map below shares our top picks for where to dine outdoors in Columbia. We tried to spread out our recommendations across town as well as feature several different types of food.
Restaurants With Outdoor Seating
Charming eatery in Five Points with sidewalk seating
The tables along the sidewalk outside of The Gourmet Shop is our favorite place to dine outdoors in Columbia.
It’s full of charm and truly feels like you are at a Parisian cafe. You’ll find them at the top of our brunch restaurants list for this very reason!
Outdoor seating at The Gourmet Shop is first come, first serve.
What to order: Try their famous chicken salad! It’s great on a croissant or as a topping on their seasonal green salad. Their tomato, feta and basil pesto is also a crowd favorite. You can get their various salads to-go from the market section inside.
Pro tip: leave one person to wait for an outdoor table and the rest of your party can browse their marketplace inside! You can find everything from fancy crackers for your charcuterie board to a french press and specialty ingredients.
Family-owned Italian eatery on Devine Street
Did you know that Il Giorgione on Devine Street has a charming patio with outdoor seating? It’s one of our most recommended date night spots in Columbia for this very reason! Well, the outdoor seating and the housemade pasta and pizzas.
What to order: We love their rigatoni al dorato, spaghetti alla carbonara, their Caprese salad with house-made mozzarella and all of their desserts!
Parking: There’s a small parking lot at the back of the building and street parking on Devine Street. It’s next to Backstreet Grill, so you may have to walk a bit depending on the time of day.
Delightful hidden garden seating in Five Points
Publico is a popular Five Points restaurant serving Latin-Asian-inspired food. They also have a huge bar with quite a selection beer, wine, sake, mead and house cocktails on tap.
The atmosphere is always festive at Publico. They have large roll-up doors in the front and a great patio out back. It’s one of the best places to dine on a nice day in Columbia.
What to order: You’ll find everything from nachos to ramen. The tacos are always popular– try the Bulgogi Beef one! And don’t miss their Sunday brunch.
Dog-friendly patio in Five Points
If casual outdoor seating in Five Points sounds great to you, head to Home Team BBQ! Not only is their food delicious, but their pet-friendly patio is an excellent place to relax.
Outdoor seating at Home Team BBQ is first-come, first-served. Their indoor seating is equally enjoyable and both are great for family-friendly dining in Columbia.
What to order: start with the BBQ nachos with pulled pork. The smoked chicken wings are also great! For entrees, try the pulled pork sandwich with mac & cheese. If you are dining with a group, check out their family-style board.
Fine dining with excellent outdoor seating
Hampton Street Vineyard in downtown Columbia is the perfect destination for a charming outdoor dinner. They have a few tables outside, a great wine list and an excellent French-inspired menu.
You can make reservations for Hampton Street Vineyard in advance but only for the dining room.
What to order: start with the French Onion Soup, and order the Braised Short Ribs or Steak Au Poivre for a delightful meal.
4840 Forest Drive | Forest Acres
Charming outdoor seating with a fire pit in Forest Acres
Tazza Kitchen in Trenholm Plaza is a great restaurant to dine al fresco in Forest Acres. They have a diverse menu with everything from pizza to tacos, but in an upscale kind of way.
The star of the show is their large patio on the side. They have heaters and a fire pit perfect for chillier nights. Tazza also has covered seating alongside the building.
What to order: Try their wood-fired pizza or their crowd-favorite crab cakes. Don’t miss dessert!
702 Cross Hill Road | Cross Hill Market
Casual outdoor seating at a BBQ restaurant
Midwood Smokehouse by Whole Foods is an excellent destination for barbecue with kids in Columbia. It’s a kid-friendly, casual spot with covered outdoor seating.
What to order: The Carolina Pork Plate is dressed in Eastern NC vinegar sauce and pairs perfectly with mac & cheese and collards. If you want to try it all, get the combo platter with four proteins and two sides.
Fine dining in downtown Columbia with a covered patio
Halls Chophouse, a favorite for fine dining in Columbia, has a covered patio with perfect outdoor ambience. It’s located on Main Street across from The State House.
In true Halls fashion, you’ll be happy to know that they offer blankets as needed on the patio.
What to order: Start with their Lowcountry Fried Green Tomatoes. Try the wedge salad or chop salad and don’t miss one of their famous steaks. They have several cuts available wet-aged and dry-aged.
2350 Foreman Street | Cayce
Brewery with a great outdoor area and excellent fare
Steel Hands Brewery is located just across the river from Columbia, in Cayce, SC. They have a spacious taproom with a welcoming outdoor area and a wide selection of craft beers.
Relax under the shade of umbrellas and catch live music on their open-air stage. Check their website for the latest lineup. Dogs are allowed and it’s a great spot for kids, too.
What to order: Their menu includes salads, burgers, sandwiches and even mac & cheese bites. Want something sweet? Try Cromer’s Cotton Candy made locally in Columbia.
Balcony seating with white tablecloths in Five Points
The outdoor seating at Saluda’s is such a charming spot to celebrate something special. There’s an open balcony area that offers views of Five Points, and white tablecloths elevate the experience.
What to order: We love their fried green tomatoes appetizer complete with gouda pimento cheese and fresh herb puree. For entrees, try the shrimp & grits— it comes topped with a fried green tomato. Their sea scallops are also great. Please note the menu changes seasonally.
Southern fare in Five Points with a few outdoor tables
We didn’t want to leave Mr. Friendly’s our because it’s one of our favorite places to dine in Columbia! Their outdoor seating is limited, though, so we’ll keep them toward the bottom of the list.
Mr. Friendly’s is a local favorite eatery with a menu full of seasonal southern dishes. Though their outdoor tables are limited in number, it’s an extra special meal when you can dine al fresco.
What to order: We can’t get enough of their meatloaf special. And anything with grits is always a good bet! We have also always enjoyed their fish entrees.
Parking: There are some parking spots right out front, these can fill up. You can park on Greene Street and easily walk to Mr. Friendlys. Valet is also available.
