From Fireside Cocktails to a Romantic Meal Under The Stars, These Restaurants Are Perfect for an Evening of Al Fresco Dining
At the east end of the Coachella Valley, La Quinta combines the best of Greater Palm Springs with a more relaxed and secluded lifestyle. Nestled into the mountain cove and featuring spa resorts and destinations like Old Town, it’s the perfect place to enjoy the unadulterated lure of desert life. With winter temperatures in the 70s on the coolest days, the Coachella Valley is a genuine oasis. Whatever your plans for the desert, you’ll want to do it outdoors. Sample all the best La Quinta has to offer with these outdoor dining hotspots. Best Patios La Quinta
Stuft Pizza Bar & Grill
Founded by husband-and-wife duo Jack and Pat Bertram, Stuft Pizza Bar & Grill has proven to be much more than a stereotypical pizza restaurant. For over 17 years, this La Quinta hotspot has served up a combination of American and Italian eats, such as hearty salads and starters, crispy flatbreads, fresh seafood, tasty pastas and more. Snag a seat on the shaded patio and enjoy views of Old Town La Quinta and the surrounding Santa Rosa Mountains while you indulge in dishes like their Volcano wings, Caprese salad, meat lasagna and a wide selection of wines by the glass or fun cocktails! Stuft’s expansive patio is the perfect spot for a midday bite or a sunset dinner. And with spring equinox approaching and the temperatures in La Quinta rising, there’s no better time to enjoy a meal al fresco.
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Heirloom Craft Kitchen
As the name implies, Heirloom Craft Kitchen sources the finest ingredients and crafts them into vibrant California dishes. Each creation is inspired by the fresh, creative ethos of local, award-winning celebrity chef Andie Hubka. While the food is elevated, the atmosphere is casual: you order at the counter and take a seat either inside or on their newly constructed outdoor patio. The parklet patio is quite an anomaly—it’s streetside and extends across the block of three adjoining restaurants, creating a unique al fresco experience. The patio is enclosed by hand curated stonework and colorful plants. It’s a climate-controlled setting offering all the best of the desert lifestyle alongside picturesque views.
Local Insight: In addition to Heirloom’s main menu of scratch-made soups, salads, small plates and sandwiches, the restaurant also has one of the best vegan menus in the valley!
Best Patios La Quinta
Lavender Bistro
Enjoy succulent cuisine and a romantic ambience on Lavender Bistro’s award-winning patio. One of the valley’s most exquisite dining delights, Lavender’s breathtaking outdoor space transcends the realms of imagination. A literal forest of trees and festival of lights, the patio was voted Top 100 by OpenTable. It’s an attentively curated experience designed to accompany Lavender’s elevated culinary delights. For added pleasure, enjoy their bar menu from the lively Fireside Lounge.
Enzo’s Bistro and Bar
At Enzo’s Bistro and Bar, you can immerse yourself in true Italian authenticity. Their family recipes are passed down through generations, and all pastas, from linguine to ravioli, are handmade in-house. Their dishes and pizzas are truly delissimo. An evening under the stars on one of their two patios feels like a Mediterranean retreat—enough to “eat antipasto twice.” For added Italian realism, they have an outdoor bocce ball court!
Best Patios La Quinta
La Quinta Cliffhouse
If the mountain will not come to you, then you must go to the mountain. Literally. The La Quinta Cliffhouse is nestled into the side of a mountain, making it the most unique outdoor dining spot in the valley. It’s so unique that many patrons have snapped photos of curious Bighorn sheep while dining. The menu showcases classic American cuisine with the freshest seafood selections in the valley along with hearty steaks and chops. Add their happy hour on top of it, and you get some serious bang for your buck.
The Grill On Main
Old Town La Quinta makes for a convenient continental escape. Absorb the city’s charming ambience from The Grill On Main’s courtyard, where you can relax amidst the quaint Renaissance-inspired architecture, upmarket boutiques and chic atmosphere. From light bites and healthy salads to stellar steaks and fresh seafood, their menu mixes the best of the Old World with modern American cuisine and local valley produce. It’s the perfect patio setting for baked brie and a glass of wine.
La Brasserie Bistro & Bar
From its sophisticated design to its delectable haute cuisine, La Brasserie exemplifies the Parisian experience. It’s family-owned and -operated by award-winning French chef Emmanuel Janin. Enjoy guilty pleasures like escargots, moules-frites or beef carpaccio in their heated courtyard, and absorb the atmosphere amid the old-world wall fixtures and tiled fountain. Beyond the walls, towering palm trees hint at La Brasserie’s infusion of foreign concepts with a local twist.
Mélange
You’ll leave the world behind when you arrive at The Chateau at Lake La Quinta. This expansive boutique resort offers beautiful views of the water and breathtaking surroundings. Central to it all is the classic, contemporary Mélange, which features a farm-to-table menu and stunning lakeside views. From the adjacent mountains to the pristine, manicured gardens, it’s a veritable mélange of everything the desert has to offer.
Best Patios La Quinta
Adobe Grill
Set amidst the beautifully attenuated gardens of the La Quinta Resort & Club, Adobe Grill offers some of the best regionally inspired Mexican cuisine in the valley. Plus with over 100 tequilas, they’re also known for their amazing margaritas. The vintage adobe architecture offers an alluring invitation for you to enjoy sumptuous Oaxacan cuisine and libations alongside live mariachi music, a traditional Oaxacan motif and a towering double-sided fireplace. With margaritas by the pitcher, you’ll never want to leave.
Fortun’s Kitchen + Bar
One of La Quinta’s newest restaurants, Fortun’s Kitchen + Bar has been making quite a buzz with its creative, contemporary cuisine. This casual American eatery features a menu packed with a diverse array of mouthwatering creations. The indoor courtyard offers the best of both worlds: air conditioning when you need it and a retractable roof that offers a view of the stars. The larger outdoor patio is social and vibrant and is the perfect spot to watch the sunset.
Best Patios La Quinta
Arnold Palmer’s Restaurant
Few restaurants match the acclaim of Arnold Palmer’s. More than a marquee name, it epitomizes the hospitality, warmth and dining pleasures that the golfing legend hoped to share with others. Set in the La Quinta Cove and surrounded by mountains and palm trees, the patio is an exquisite desert evening escape. It matches eloquent service with casual relaxation—the perfect ambiance after a day on the green. The dining patio opens to an outdoor lounge and intimate fire pit!
TQLAS Agave Bar & Grill
With Mexican art, traditional food and over 100 tequilas, TQLAS Agave Bar & Grill is a beautiful showcase of Mexican culture. The restaurant is set against the picturesque beauty of the neighboring mountains and offers an energetic feel as you dine streetside in Old Town La Quinta. Sink back into the cozy, handmade “equipales” chairs while indulging in the finest margaritas and original Mexican cuisine. With outdoor TVs, it’s also the perfect spot to catch a game.
I'm a restaurant aficionado having spent over 20 years in the industry and management.
