West Seattle’s smokehouse has a decently-sized patio with a fire pit and heaters over most of the tables. One can embrace the restaurant’s theme with a smoked bologna sandwich and smoked old fashioned, while admiring a painted mural that depicts a “Mount Rushmore” of country greats, including Kris Kristofferson, Willie Nelson, Johnny Cash, and Waylon Jennings.

Gracia is part of a blocks-long strip of restaurants on Ballard Avenue, most of which have outdoor dining. Part of that strip is a pedestrian zone, which, free from the sound of cars rushing by, is perfect for a relaxing meal or drink out. Gracia’s menu offers tacos, burritos, mole enchiladas and satisfying soups like pozole verde made with pork shoulder and chicken soup served with tortilla strips and avocado. The outdoor dining area is covered and heated, with strands of lights and potted plants hanging off the beams of the structure.

Located in downtown Edmonds, seafood restaurant The Market is a perfect place north of Seattle to dine outside with quality accommodations. Its patio deck has a clear, double-walled roof and infrared heaters. There are also barriers between tables for an extra layer of protection and privacy while enjoying lobster rolls, fish and chips, oysters, and more. As of October 2021, The Market’s Seattle location does not offer outdoor seating.

White Center’s nautical themed bar and restaurant has a relaxed neighborhood vibe, and a reputation for its copious selection of canned beers. Don’t overlook the solid menu items like the fried chicken sandwich, smoked beef dip, and brisket chili. Enjoy a burger and a cold one at their outdoor patio seating area — heated, and also nautical themed.

After building a strong following as a pop-up inside Fremont’s Pomerol, the contemporary Indian tasting menu specialist Meesha became a full-fledged restaurant in 2020. Among some of the can’t-miss dishes from chef Preeti Agarwal are rarah keema pao with expertly prepared ground lamb, fried Amritsari fish, and paneer in tomato sauce with black cardamom. The patio behind the restaurant is covered and powerful heaters keep diners warm even on the coldest nights.

Lower Queen Anne’s all-day cafe is usually a gathering place in the warmer months to chill outside and play cornhole. More subdued in colder weather, the patio is spacious enough to encourage social distancing. With outdoor beer garden Citizen Campfire there’s plenty more outdoor games, as well as fire pits and cozy covered seating areas. Citizen Campfire is 21+ after 4 p.m.

Before the pandemic, this seafood-focused restaurant was a draw for its Adirondack chairs lined up on the northern shore of Lake Union. In the colder months, the restaurant is still utilizing its outdoor space, with a covered patio and overhead heaters, plus two fire pits and blankets for diners.

At this Capitol Hill restaurant from respected chef Tamara Murphy, dishes like paella and roast pig shine alongside a robust list of cocktails, excellent in takeout form or for chilling outside on the covered and heated roof deck. Diners who choose to hang out there are surrounded by Murphy’s edible garden.

This South Park institution disposes with pretensions, rather than try to keep up with some of the hipper establishments in the neighborhood. The outdoor patio — heated and decorated for the season — is a comfortable spot to grab a beer and one of Loretta’s famed burgers.

This longtime Capitol Hill bistro has been serving a variety of well-crafted dishes that support local farms (and has a wonderful brioche bread pudding). Marjorie also has an outdoor patio with heaters, perfect to enjoy its Jamaican jerk chicken and jalapeño hushpuppies.

Star chef Melissa Miranda leads this buzzy Beacon Hill spot with Filipinx dishes such as short rib kare kare, smoked oysters, and mussels cooked with moringa plus plenty of killer cocktails. Guests can dine indoors or outside at its covered, heated patio. Reservations are recommended since Musang tends to fill up fast.

Chef and owner Jerry Corso’s expert Neapolitan-style pizzas are the primary draw for this Beacon Hill hideaway, thanks to their light and slightly salty crusts. The garlic mussels, baccala fritters, and grilled octopus with corona beans are also exceptional, and reservations often go fast. The sidewalk patio — great for people watching on Beacon Avenue —  has propane heaters between each table and vines growing on trellises. 

This Madison Valley restaurant serves constantly changing 8-10 course tasting menus packed with locally sourced ingredients, and also has a wine bar with a menu of exclusively Washington wines as well as a-la-carte snacks reminiscent of Spanish tapas or northern Italian cicchetti. The patios for the restaurant and wine bar are both fully covered, with heaters for each table and canvas to help block the breeze.

This boisterous local enterprise is known for its modern Vietnamese cuisine mixed with local PNW ingredients. The U Village location has a tented patio strung with lights — and chandeliers for a special touch — and is outfitted with unobtrusive heaters.

Columbia City’s Korean-Hawaiian brunch spot has two large tents set up outside the restaurant in a parking lot with ordering available via QR code to minimize contact. On the menu are comfort food items such as spam sliders, loco moco, and pancakes with toasted macadamia butter. Plus, the malasadas are stellar.