The cold winter months are finally beginning to fade, which means that warmer weather—and the al fresco dining that comes with it—is right around the corner. As the days get longer, you're probably starting to think about restaurant patio ideas that can draw a summer-loving crowd to your eatery in the coming months. Luckily, we've got you covered.

Now is the perfect time to plan how you’ll offer an irresistible dining experience in an outdoor dining space. These 8 ideas, tips, and tricks will help create an outdoor dining area you and your guests will love.

Get creative with outdoor space

The truth is a restaurant doesn't need an actual patio to offer outdoor dining. Anywhere you can fit tables and seating can work—a side yard, a back alley, even a rooftop patio, if one is available at your restaurant.

But not all restaurants have outdoor space, and that's OK! Luckily, you can still offer guests the opportunity to dine in the sunny summer weather. Open up doors and windows, or, if you can, install garage doors that allow you to create a transitional, indoor-outdoor space that brings the fresh air right into your existing dining room.

Check local laws and regulations

If your restaurant doesn't already have a dedicated outdoor space and you're planning to add one this spring or summer, be sure to check and follow all local laws and regulations. Some things to consider are:

• Will your patio be dog-friendly, and is that allowed in your area?
• Can you allow smoking in outdoor spaces?
• Will you serve alcohol on your patio, and if so, what rules dictate how you need to separate it from the surrounding area?
• What permits do you need to offer outdoor dining? Will you be adding plumbing or electric to an outdoor space, and if so, do you need a permit for that work?
• Does your area have any noise ordinances that might prohibit outdoor dining past a certain time of night?

Answering these questions early allows you to better define what your outdoor space will look like and understand how you can use it to appeal to guests.

Create the right ambiance

When designing your outdoor dining space, it's important to create an ambiance that matches your restaurant's brand. Use lighting and decor that create a cohesive vibe through the entire restaurant, from the dining room to the outdoor space. This will make your patio inviting and appealing to guests.

For example, if you run a casual family eatery, you might want your outdoor space to have a similar vibe to a backyard patio, with casual outdoor furniture, colorful umbrellas, and yard games.

If your restaurant is a moody date night spot, recreate that feeling outside with cozy outdoor bistro tables and string lights or candles.

If your restaurant is a hip and trendy brunch spot that caters to a younger crowd, commission a local artist to paint a custom mural for your patio.

These are just a few design ideas to get you started. Every restaurant is unique, which means your patio will be too. Don't be afraid to get creative with decor, and remember to have fun designing a space your guests will love.

Plan for less-than-perfect weather

Summer may bring sunshine, but you can’t rely on that to be true 100% of the time. Even during peak patio season, your restaurant may experience rain, thunderstorms, wind, and other inclement weather. 

Umbrellas and canopies can help keep your outdoor dining area open and comfortable even during summer rain showers. If any of your patio furniture is exposed to the elements, be sure to wipe it dry immediately after rain, so guests don't sit on wet furniture.

You might consider adding heaters to your patio space in case the evenings get too chilly for guests to comfortably eat outside—as an added bonus, having heaters means you'll be able to use your patio in the fall months as well.  

One type of inclement weather it's important to plan for is extreme heat. Guests dine outside to take advantage of the sunshine, but not if they're uncomfortably warm and exposed to harmful UV rays. Use umbrellas and awnings to offer shade, and consider adding fans or misters if your restaurant is located somewhere that's prone to extreme heat.

Get creative with seating

While your patio should act as an extension of your restaurant's overall brand, that doesn't mean your outdoor space should be an exact copy of your dining room.

Get creative with your patio furniture. In addition to dining tables, consider some cozier seating, like couches, where guests can kick back and relax in groups.

If your patio will be open at night, placing sectionals around a fire pit can help guests stay warm and comfortable, a fun seating option for large groups and a design element guests are likely to love. If your patio will be a daytime brunch spot with drinks and yard games, a few hammocks can add fun, unique seating that fits into the overall vibe.

This is another area where you can experiment with different ideas, as long as you keep your restaurant's branding and audience in mind. For example, couples visiting for date night might appreciate cozy outdoor loveseats, families with lots of kids may prefer picnic tables, and busy professionals stopping in for lunch might appreciate more traditional tables and chairs where they can set up a laptop while they eat.

Incorporate greenery into the design

No matter what kind of outdoor space your restaurant is adapting into a patio, you can use greenery to make it feel serene and inviting.

If the space is available, invest in landscape design that makes your patio look like the summer oasis you want it to be. But even if space is limited, you can use greenery in imaginative ways to decorate your space and create the perfect outdoor setting.

For example, place small potted plants on each table or use planter boxes as barriers between your seating areas and public spaces, like the sidewalk. Plants can also be used as dividers in between tables to create a cozy and private environment. If there's no room on the floor or tables for greenery, install a pergola that you can weave with vines or flowers.

Summer is the perfect time for growing plants at your restaurant, and incorporating them into your restaurant patio design will make the space feel even more welcoming.

Prep, mix, and cook outdoors

Consider moving some of your drink mixing, food preparation, or cooking outside.

Guests love the fun and transparency of watching staff prepare their food and drinks. Plus, having an outdoor bar where guests can easily refill their drinks saves them from having to take frequent trips back inside the restaurant. While a full outdoor kitchen may be challenging to pull off, featuring a grill or a pizza oven in your patio area creates delicious sights and smells that tempts foot traffic to stop in for a bite.

If you choose to do any kind of food or drink preparation outdoors, make sure you follow all local laws and rules from your state and local health departments. It's also extra important to keep things clean and be proactive about pest control. Outdoors, it's easier for insects, rodents, and other pests to access your food preparation areas, which is the last thing any restaurateur—or guest—wants.

Bring the right technology outside

As restaurants face staffing shortages, the idea of adding a new feature to your restaurant may seem daunting. But, with the right technology, you can add patio dining (and the extra sales that comes with it) without putting that extra strain on your staff.

Any time you do something new, you’re going to see an influx of calls and questions. Thankfully, there are automated tools out there that can handle these time-consuming tasks and free up your staff’s time! Automated phone answering is a big one that takes the load off by answering frequently asked questions, like whether your patio is pet-friendly, without pulling staff to the phone. Instead of answering repetitive questions, your team can focus on making sure your new patio experience is an excellent one. 

During the summer months, when your patio is at peak popularity, you'll need a digital waitlist that makes it easier to manage guests as they arrive, communicate with them about their tables and wait times, and collect data so you can keep in touch with them using targeted marketing. 

Advertise your new patio space

Your patio is built and decorated. Your technology is in place. All that's left to do now is spread the word about your newest summer offering.

If you have guest contact data, reach out to past visitors via a newsletter or text message, and consider offering a special discount for any guest who mentions that message when they visit your new patio. You can also advertise your outdoor space on your website and social media. On a hot summer day, a shot of a gorgeous patio and some delicious food and refreshing beverages is sure to entice.

Hosting special events, like live music or tastings, is another way to entice guests to try your patio space. You can even sell tickets to these events through your online ordering, earning you extra revenue and creating a sense of exclusivity for diners.

Patio season can be one of the most profitable times of the year for restaurants, and Popmenu can help you get the most out of it! From AI phone answering to automated marketing tools, we have everything a restaurant needs to make promoting and managing their patio space easier. Schedule a free demo with one of our experts to learn how we can help!