11 Outdoor dining areas that will make you want to eat outside every day

May 19, 2025
From simple modern spaces to resort-style elegance, these stunning outdoor dining ideas will inspire you to take every meal outside, and love every minute of it.

Tired of eating indoors when the weather’s perfect outside? Whether you have a small patio, a sprawling backyard, or a cozy balcony, the right outdoor dining setup can completely transform how you relax, entertain, and enjoy your space. From simple modern spaces to resort-style elegance, these stunning ideas will inspire you to take every meal outside, and love every minute of it.

1. An Outdoor Dining Area with Wood-Fired Oven and Terraced Garden

This inviting outdoor dining space features a long, table paired with modern red chairs, offering a perfect setting for gatherings. A built-in wood-fired oven adds a touch of warmth and functionality, making it ideal for cooking and entertaining. The terraced garden design adds depth to the space, while clean stone steps lead to different levels, creating a sense of privacy and tranquility. With thoughtful lighting and natural materials, this dining area offers both comfort and charm.

See the full project > here

This inviting outdoor dining space features a long, table paired with modern red chairs, offering a perfect setting for gatherings. A built-in wood-fired oven adds a touch of warmth and functionality, making it ideal for cooking and entertaining. The terraced garden design adds depth to the space, while clean stone steps lead to different levels, creating a sense of privacy and tranquility. With thoughtful lighting and natural materials, this dining area offers both comfort and charm.
This inviting outdoor dining space features a long, table paired with modern red chairs, offering a perfect setting for gatherings. A built-in wood-fired oven adds a touch of warmth and functionality, making it ideal for cooking and entertaining. The terraced garden design adds depth to the space, while clean stone steps lead to different levels, creating a sense of privacy and tranquility. With thoughtful lighting and natural materials, this dining area offers both comfort and charm.
Photography by David Wakely Photography | Architecture: Andrew Mann Architecture | Landscaping: Christa Moné

2. Chic Outdoor Dining Under a Pergola with Soft Lighting

This stylish outdoor dining area is framed by a sleek, wooden pergola, providing shade and a touch of elegance. The wood table is surrounded by contemporary chairs, creating an ideal space for both casual meals and entertaining. The design integrates natural materials and clean lines, and is surrounded by greenery, enhancing the serene and inviting atmosphere. Soft lighting adds a warm touch, making it perfect for evening gatherings under the open sky.

See the full project > here.

This stylish outdoor dining area is framed by a sleek, wooden pergola, providing shade and a touch of elegance. The wood table is surrounded by contemporary chairs, creating an ideal space for both casual meals and entertaining. The design integrates natural materials and clean lines, and is surrounded by greenery, enhancing the serene and inviting atmosphere. Soft lighting adds a warm touch, making it perfect for evening gatherings under the open sky.

Photography: Brett Hilton | Landscape, Decor, Styling: Brookside Landscape Design | Lighting: Brilliant Event Lighting | Landscape Architecture: Ocotillo Design Group

3. An Elegant Outdoor Dining Area by a Fireplace

This contemporary outdoor dining space features a striking rectangular table with minimalist chairs, creating a clean and inviting setting for alfresco dining. Surrounded by carefully arranged greenery, including lavender, and clean stone pavers, the design emphasizes simplicity and elegance. Subtle lighting and a fireplace enhances the space, making it ideal for both daytime meals and evening gatherings, blending modern aesthetics with nature’s tranquility.

See the full project > here.

This contemporary outdoor dining space features a striking rectangular table with minimalist chairs, creating a clean and inviting setting for alfresco dining. Surrounded by carefully arranged greenery, including lavender, and clean stone pavers, the design emphasizes simplicity and elegance. Subtle lighting and a fireplace enhances the space, making it ideal for both daytime meals and evening gatherings, blending modern aesthetics with nature’s tranquility.
This contemporary outdoor dining space features a striking rectangular table with minimalist chairs, creating a clean and inviting setting for alfresco dining. Surrounded by carefully arranged greenery, including lavender, and clean stone pavers, the design emphasizes simplicity and elegance. Subtle lighting and a fireplace enhances the space, making it ideal for both daytime meals and evening gatherings, blending modern aesthetics with nature’s tranquility.
Photography by Elizabeth Nielsen | Design: SUBU Design Architecture

4. Modern Alfresco Dining Surrounded By Nature

This elegant outdoor dining area features a round table surrounded by comfortable, contemporary chairs. The space is framed by rugged rock landscaping with soft lighting to enhance the tranquil atmosphere. The combination of natural elements and contemporary design creates a sophisticated yet inviting environment, making it an ideal spot for alfresco meals and gatherings.

See the full project > here.

This elegant outdoor dining area features a round table surrounded by comfortable, contemporary chairs. The space is framed by rugged rock landscaping with soft lighting to enhance the tranquil atmosphere. The combination of natural elements and contemporary design creates a sophisticated yet inviting environment, making it an ideal spot for alfresco meals and gatherings.
Photography by Elena Halvorsen | Landscape designer Jake Moss

5. Sleek Terrace Dining with a Built-In Banquette

This sleek terrace features a beautifully designed outdoor dining area, with a long table flanked by stylish chairs on one side and a built-in banquette on the other. The arrangement creates a welcoming, intimate setting for meals, perfect for hosting family or friends. The minimalist design is complemented by lush greenery, enhancing the peaceful atmosphere.

See the full project > here.

This sleek terrace features a beautifully designed outdoor dining area, with a long table flanked by stylish chairs on one side and a built-in banquette on the other. The arrangement creates a welcoming, intimate setting for meals, perfect for hosting family or friends. The minimalist design is complemented by lush greenery, enhancing the peaceful atmosphere.
Photography by VICUGO FOTO | Designers: Egue y Seta with direct involvement of: Daniel Pérez, Felipe Araujo, Covandonga Díaz, Marta Elizagaray, Álvaro Sánchez, Mireia Lucas, Maria Escobar, Diana García and Verónica Galli | Construction: César Burgos Cornejo

6. Poolside Dining Under a Stylish Pergola

This stunning outdoor dining area, beneath a wood and metal pergola, offers a perfect retreat by the pool. With spacious, modern seating and an expansive dining table, it’s the ultimate space for both relaxation and entertaining. The open, airy design and the nearby forest trees surrounding the pool create a serene atmosphere, making it ideal for enjoying meals in style by the water.

See the full project > here.

This stunning outdoor dining area, beneath a wood and metal pergola, offers a perfect retreat by the pool. With spacious, modern seating and an expansive dining table, it's the ultimate space for both relaxation and entertaining. The open, airy design and the nearby forest trees surrounding the pool create a serene atmosphere, making it ideal for enjoying meals in style by the water.
Photography by Tom Arban | Design: Amantea Architects

7. Effortless Outdoor Dining with Built-In BBQ Vibes

This modern outdoor dining space features a sleek glass-topped dining table set against a backdrop of minimalist design. With a built-in BBQ and spacious countertops for meal prep, it’s a perfect blend of style and functionality. The space is elevated by clean lines, comfortable seating, and thoughtful details that make it an ideal spot for both cooking and entertaining.

See the full project > here.

This modern outdoor dining space features a sleek glass-topped dining table set against a backdrop of minimalist design. With a built-in BBQ and spacious countertops for meal prep, it’s a perfect blend of style and functionality. The space is elevated by clean lines, comfortable seating, and thoughtful details that make it an ideal spot for both cooking and entertaining.
Photography by David O. Marlow | Design: Garret Cord Werner Architects & Interior Designers | Builder: Werner Construction

8. Sleek Rooftop Oasis for Stylish City Dining

Perched high above the city, this rooftop dining area is a modern entertainer’s dream. With a fully equipped outdoor kitchen, sleek dining table with banquette seating, and built-in bar, it seamlessly blends luxury and functionality. Soft lighting and contemporary finishes make it the perfect spot for al fresco dinners with a skyline view.

See the full project > here.

Perched high above the city, this rooftop dining area is a modern entertainer’s dream. With a fully equipped outdoor kitchen, sleek dining table with banquette seating, and built-in bar, it seamlessly blends luxury and functionality. Soft lighting and contemporary finishes make it the perfect spot for al fresco dinners with a skyline view.
Photography by VICUGO FOTO | Designers: Egue y Seta with direct involvement of Daniel Pérez, Felipe Araujo, Gaia Trotta, Covadonga Díaz, Ángel Turiño, Youlin Franco, Sarah Salas, Eva González, and Álvaro Sánchez.

9. A Cozy Outdoor Dining Area with Timeless Charm

Nestled beneath a canopy of greenery, this intimate outdoor dining area features a round table surrounded by stylish wood chairs, creating the perfect blend of rustic warmth and modern comfort. Ambient lighting and nearby lush plants add to the inviting atmosphere.

See the full project > here.

Nestled beneath a canopy of greenery, this intimate outdoor dining area features a round table surrounded by stylish wood chairs, creating the perfect blend of rustic warmth and modern comfort. Ambient lighting and nearby lush plants add to the inviting atmosphere.
Photography: Andres Garcia Lachner | Architecture Design: Studio Saxe | Design Director: Benjamin G. Saxe | Interior Design: Saxe Interiors | Landscape Design: Saxe Landscape | Collaborators: Prodeyco, Guidi Estructurales, Energetica

10. Stylish Covered Outdoor Dining Space with a Colorful Accents

At the heart of this covered outdoor dining area is a striking wooden table that anchors the space with its bold, natural grain and substantial presence. The table’s clean and rectangular lines give it a handcrafted, feel, the kind of piece that invites long, leisurely meals. Surrounding it are a set of modern chairs in a variety of colors with slender metal legs, offering a sleek contrast to the warmth of the wood. The solid roof overhead creates a protected yet open-air atmosphere perfect for entertaining or relaxed dining in any season.

See the full project > here.

At the heart of this covered outdoor dining area is a striking wooden table that anchors the space with its bold, natural grain and substantial presence. The table’s clean and rectangular lines give it a handcrafted, feel, the kind of piece that invites long, leisurely meals.
Photography and design: Word Of Mouth House

11. Modern Cabin Deck designed for Outdoor Dining with a View

This sleek outdoor dining space sits on a modern wood-clad deck attached to a contemporary cabin. A built-in BBQ is paired with a minimalist dining table, creating the perfect setup for alfresco meals. Surrounded by nature and framed with glass railings, the outdoor space balances rustic charm with clean architectural lines, offering both comfort and style in a tranquil setting.

See the full project > here.

This sleek outdoor dining space sits on a modern wood-clad deck attached to a contemporary cabin. A built-in BBQ is paired with a minimalist dining table, creating the perfect setup for alfresco meals.
Photography by Nanne Springer | Architect: Solares Architecture | Structural Engineer: Canvas Engineering | Builder: Cottage Concepts