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Domo Alley-Gato
The patio and booths at Domo Alley-Gato
Julia Keim

13 Cool and Covered Patios for Summer Alfresco Dining

Because you should eat and drink without breaking a sweat

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The patio and booths at Domo Alley-Gato
| Julia Keim

The summer sun transforms the grand Austin tradition of patio dining into purgatory. With that in mind, here is Eater’s updated guide to the city’s best shaded, fanned, and misted patios to take alfresco dining back from the summer.

This map includes Contigo’s Texas-forever patio, the shaded refuge of Odd Duck, Jacoby’s rustic lakeside one, Valentina’s Tex Mex BBQ’s food truck patio haven, and many others. This update adds Bar Peached, Domo Alley Gato, and Joann’s.

For more chilling ideas to deal with the summer heat, scope out Austin’s best ice cream shops, ice cream sandwiches, Thai rolled ice cream, milkshakes, snow cones/shave ices/sno-balls, frozen cocktails, margaritas, frosés, aguas frescas, and poolside drinks.

See a favorite cool-to-bearable patio missing? Hit the comments below or the tipline.

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Contigo

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MLK restaurant Contigo upgraded its Texas space with a new enclosed patio with air conditioning.

Bar Peached

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The Asian fusion spot Bar Peached amplified up the below-street-level patio in Clarksville with awnings and plentiful misters. 

Blue Dahlia Bistro

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Central Easy Austin bistro Blue Dahlia's large backyard patio is both covered and surrounded by vegetation for maximum coolness.

The patio at Blue Dahlia
Blue Dahlia
Blue Dahlia/Facebook

Second Bar + Kitchen

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Second Bar's large downtown patio is largely covered, and the surrounding high-rises guarantee it never is marred by the summer sun.

Domo Alley-Gato Tatsu-Ya

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Snag one of the outdoor covered booths at the East Austin Japanese patio bar.

The covered booth at Domo Alley-Gato
The covered booth at Domo Alley-Gato
Domo Alley-Gato/Facebook

Juliet Italian Kitchen

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There’s an outdoor bar and overhead misters in the Barton Springs restaurant’s “Italy meets Texas” shaded patio.

The patio at Juliet Italian Kitchen
Juliet Italian Kitchen
Juliet Italian Kitchen/Facebook

Odd Duck

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Odd Duck's fully covered patio features fans and misters, and it's never hit with direct sun. Enjoy the lighter side of the menu and rotating frozen drinks.

Odd Duck
Odd Duck
Patrick Michels/EATX

Sawyer & Co.

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The midcentury retro diner’s patio is outfitted with Astro Turf, fans, and lots of hanging greenery.

Sawyer & Co
Sawyer & Co
Jeff Amador/EATX

Jacoby's Restaurant & Mercantile

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Enjoy the scenery at Jacoby’s minus the sun from the massive outdoor area's covered patio.

Jacoby’s
Jacoby’s
Jeff Amador/EATX

Joann's Fine Foods

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The completely covered patio on South Congress features pretty multi-colored glass windows, easygoing cocktails, and good cake.

The patio and bar at Joann’s
The patio and bar at Joann’s
Nadia Chaudhury/EATX

The South Austin Asian smokehouse’s covered patio features communal tables, fans, and pretty hanging lanterns.

Jack Allen's Kitchen

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Jack Allen's large covered patio has its own bar for creekside margarita drinking.

Jack Allen’s Kitchen
Jack Allen’s Kitchen
Jack Allen’s Kitchen/Facebook

Valentina's Tex Mex BBQ

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The barbecue and taco trailer boasts a very nice and covered patio found to the side of the truck. It makes sense, since it’s in front of Valentina’s future brick-and-mortar home.

Valentina’s Tex Mex BBQ
Valentina’s Tex Mex BBQ
Nadia Chaudhury/EATX

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Contigo

MLK restaurant Contigo upgraded its Texas space with a new enclosed patio with air conditioning.

Bar Peached

The Asian fusion spot Bar Peached amplified up the below-street-level patio in Clarksville with awnings and plentiful misters. 

Blue Dahlia Bistro

Central Easy Austin bistro Blue Dahlia's large backyard patio is both covered and surrounded by vegetation for maximum coolness.

The patio at Blue Dahlia
Blue Dahlia
Blue Dahlia/Facebook

Second Bar + Kitchen

Second Bar's large downtown patio is largely covered, and the surrounding high-rises guarantee it never is marred by the summer sun.

Domo Alley-Gato Tatsu-Ya

Snag one of the outdoor covered booths at the East Austin Japanese patio bar.

The covered booth at Domo Alley-Gato
The covered booth at Domo Alley-Gato
Domo Alley-Gato/Facebook

Juliet Italian Kitchen

There’s an outdoor bar and overhead misters in the Barton Springs restaurant’s “Italy meets Texas” shaded patio.

The patio at Juliet Italian Kitchen
Juliet Italian Kitchen
Juliet Italian Kitchen/Facebook

Odd Duck

Odd Duck's fully covered patio features fans and misters, and it's never hit with direct sun. Enjoy the lighter side of the menu and rotating frozen drinks.

Odd Duck
Odd Duck
Patrick Michels/EATX

Sawyer & Co.

The midcentury retro diner’s patio is outfitted with Astro Turf, fans, and lots of hanging greenery.

Sawyer & Co
Sawyer & Co
Jeff Amador/EATX

Jacoby's Restaurant & Mercantile

Enjoy the scenery at Jacoby’s minus the sun from the massive outdoor area's covered patio.

Jacoby’s
Jacoby’s
Jeff Amador/EATX

Joann's Fine Foods

The completely covered patio on South Congress features pretty multi-colored glass windows, easygoing cocktails, and good cake.

The patio and bar at Joann’s
The patio and bar at Joann’s
Nadia Chaudhury/EATX

Loro

The South Austin Asian smokehouse’s covered patio features communal tables, fans, and pretty hanging lanterns.

Jack Allen's Kitchen

Jack Allen's large covered patio has its own bar for creekside margarita drinking.

Jack Allen’s Kitchen
Jack Allen’s Kitchen
Jack Allen’s Kitchen/Facebook

Valentina's Tex Mex BBQ

The barbecue and taco trailer boasts a very nice and covered patio found to the side of the truck. It makes sense, since it’s in front of Valentina’s future brick-and-mortar home.

Valentina’s Tex Mex BBQ
Valentina’s Tex Mex BBQ
Nadia Chaudhury/EATX

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