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Big Bear Cafe

Look Out for These New Patios This Spring

These new and expanded outdoor seating areas are debuting at restaurants all over town.

by Eater Staff Mar 23, 2015, 3:00pm EDT

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Big Bear Cafe

| Courtesy of Big Bear Cafe

by Eater Staff Mar 23, 2015, 3:00pm EDT

The weather gods may have let us down on the first day of spring, but we're confident warmer temps will be soon upon us so we can lounge in sandals with cocktails in hand. To prepare for that joyous day, here's a guide of new restaurants that will debut their patios any day now, as well as those that are expanding their outdoor space with additional seating.

Eater will update this guide again in April, so restaurants with new patios coming later this spring should send a note to dc@eater.com.

— Julekha Dash

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If you buy something or book a reservation from an Eater link, Vox Media may earn a commission. See our ethics policy.

Big Bear Cafe

Big Bear Café is expanding its cobblestone garden patio to accommodate more guests. Though the patio at the Bloomingdale coffee house and restaurant is open now on the warmer days, the expanded version will open by early May and seat 70.

1700 1st St NW, Washington, D.C. 20001

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Bastille

Bastille promises to open its patio at its new location on the first nice spring weather weekend — so any day now. The enclosed patio seats 40 and borders the courtyard of apartment building The Asher.

606 N Fayette St, Alexandria, VA 22314

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Also featured in:

Bistrot Royal

Bistrot Royal will also open its 24-seat patio as soon as warmer temperatures grace our region. The sister restaurant of Bastille, the French bistro opened in the former Bastille location.

Open in Google Maps

1201 North Royal Street, Alexandria, VA 22314

Visit Website

BRABO Restaurant by Robert Wiedmaier

The courtyard will feature lounge-style seating, drinks and bites from the bar and small plates from Brabo Tasting Room starting May 8. The restaurant will host a free event on opening day with Virginia winemaker Claude Thibaut of Thibaut-Janisson Winery with light bites and Virginian wines.

1600 King St, Alexandria, VA 22314

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Also featured in:

Del Frisco's Grille

Del Frisco’s Grille opened its 54-seat patio March 20. Umbrellas with built-in misters will spray guests in the sultry summer months while heaters warm up guests when it’s chilly — like now.

Open in Google Maps

11800 Grand Park Ave, North Bethesda, MD 20852

Visit Website

PassionFish

PassionFish will debut its expanded 50-seat patio and lounge April 1. It includes new lounge chairs (seating 20) and four low coffee tables that now extend to the side of the restaurant. Order happy hour at the lounge and the complete menu on the patio.

11960 Democracy Dr, Reston, VA 20190

Visit Website

Also featured in:

Penn Commons

Located next to the Verizon Center, Penn will unveil its patio April 1. Expect seating for about 15 set up along the sidewalks of 6th Street. It will also function as a beer garden, with a selection of more than 40 beers from across the U.S.

700 6th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20001

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Also featured in:

Summer House Santa Monica

The beachy, California vibes at Summer House Santa Monica will get more intense when the restaurant opens two patios April. One in the front will seat 24 featuring with house planters filled with boxwood plants, while the restaurant will plant a tree this summer in the back patio, which will seat 16.

Open in Google Maps

11825 Grand Park Ave, North Bethesda, MD 20852

Visit Website

Stella Barra Pizzeria

The sister restaurant of Summer House, Stella Barra will also its debut its patio April 1. Seating 30, the patio will sport an industrial design and feature fresh flowers.

11825 Grand Park Ave, North Bethesda, MD 20852

Visit Website

Also featured in:

Urbana

The Hotel Palomar’s Urbana is kicking off patio season with a free event April 7 to promote New Columbia Distillery. They’ll serve gin cocktails with New Columbia’s Green Hat gin — like the White Negroni and Cocchi Americano — at their 12-seat patio.

2121 P St NW, Washington, D.C. 20037

Visit Website

Also featured in:

Dacha Beer Garden

Dacha Beer garden expanded its patio. It's now a larger space with indoor bathrooms. They'll also move into the building next door later this spring. The patio is now open.

1600 7th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20001

Visit Website

Also featured in:

DBGB Kitchen and Bar

931 H St NW, Washington, D.C. 20001

Visit Website

Also featured in:

Penn Commons

700 6th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20001

Visit Website

Also featured in:

Lost Dog Cafe

808 N Henry St, Alexandria, VA 22314

Visit Website

Also featured in:

Hunting Creek Steak

1106 King St, Alexandria, VA 22314

Also featured in:

Check Out These New Outdoor Dining Spots Around Town

Ser

1110 N Glebe Rd., Arlington, VA 22203

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Big Bear Cafe

1700 1st St NW, Washington, D.C. 20001

Big Bear Café is expanding its cobblestone garden patio to accommodate more guests. Though the patio at the Bloomingdale coffee house and restaurant is open now on the warmer days, the expanded version will open by early May and seat 70.

1700 1st St NW, Washington, D.C. 20001

Visit Website

Bastille

606 N Fayette St, Alexandria, VA 22314

Bastille promises to open its patio at its new location on the first nice spring weather weekend — so any day now. The enclosed patio seats 40 and borders the courtyard of apartment building The Asher.

606 N Fayette St, Alexandria, VA 22314

Visit Website

Bistrot Royal

1201 North Royal Street, Alexandria, VA 22314

Bistrot Royal will also open its 24-seat patio as soon as warmer temperatures grace our region. The sister restaurant of Bastille, the French bistro opened in the former Bastille location.

Open in Google Maps

1201 North Royal Street, Alexandria, VA 22314

Visit Website

BRABO Restaurant by Robert Wiedmaier

1600 King St, Alexandria, VA 22314

The courtyard will feature lounge-style seating, drinks and bites from the bar and small plates from Brabo Tasting Room starting May 8. The restaurant will host a free event on opening day with Virginia winemaker Claude Thibaut of Thibaut-Janisson Winery with light bites and Virginian wines.

1600 King St, Alexandria, VA 22314

Visit Website

Del Frisco's Grille

11800 Grand Park Ave, North Bethesda, MD 20852

Del Frisco’s Grille opened its 54-seat patio March 20. Umbrellas with built-in misters will spray guests in the sultry summer months while heaters warm up guests when it’s chilly — like now.

Open in Google Maps

11800 Grand Park Ave, North Bethesda, MD 20852

Visit Website

PassionFish

11960 Democracy Dr, Reston, VA 20190

PassionFish will debut its expanded 50-seat patio and lounge April 1. It includes new lounge chairs (seating 20) and four low coffee tables that now extend to the side of the restaurant. Order happy hour at the lounge and the complete menu on the patio.

11960 Democracy Dr, Reston, VA 20190

Visit Website

Penn Commons

700 6th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20001

Located next to the Verizon Center, Penn will unveil its patio April 1. Expect seating for about 15 set up along the sidewalks of 6th Street. It will also function as a beer garden, with a selection of more than 40 beers from across the U.S.

700 6th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20001

Visit Website

Summer House Santa Monica

11825 Grand Park Ave, North Bethesda, MD 20852

The beachy, California vibes at Summer House Santa Monica will get more intense when the restaurant opens two patios April. One in the front will seat 24 featuring with house planters filled with boxwood plants, while the restaurant will plant a tree this summer in the back patio, which will seat 16.

Open in Google Maps

11825 Grand Park Ave, North Bethesda, MD 20852

Visit Website

Stella Barra Pizzeria

11825 Grand Park Ave, North Bethesda, MD 20852

The sister restaurant of Summer House, Stella Barra will also its debut its patio April 1. Seating 30, the patio will sport an industrial design and feature fresh flowers.

11825 Grand Park Ave, North Bethesda, MD 20852

Visit Website

Urbana

2121 P St NW, Washington, D.C. 20037

The Hotel Palomar’s Urbana is kicking off patio season with a free event April 7 to promote New Columbia Distillery. They’ll serve gin cocktails with New Columbia’s Green Hat gin — like the White Negroni and Cocchi Americano — at their 12-seat patio.

2121 P St NW, Washington, D.C. 20037

Visit Website

Dacha Beer Garden

1600 7th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20001

Dacha Beer garden expanded its patio. It's now a larger space with indoor bathrooms. They'll also move into the building next door later this spring. The patio is now open.

1600 7th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20001

Visit Website

DBGB Kitchen and Bar

931 H St NW, Washington, D.C. 20001

931 H St NW, Washington, D.C. 20001

Visit Website

Penn Commons

700 6th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20001

700 6th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20001

Visit Website

Lost Dog Cafe

808 N Henry St, Alexandria, VA 22314

808 N Henry St, Alexandria, VA 22314

Visit Website

Hunting Creek Steak

1106 King St, Alexandria, VA 22314

1106 King St, Alexandria, VA 22314

Related Maps

Ser

1110 N Glebe Rd., Arlington, VA 22203

1110 N Glebe Rd., Arlington, VA 22203

Related Maps