One not so well-known but very pretty patio can be found at Traci Des Jardins' Presidio Mexican spot, Arguello. There's an awesome array of tequila and mezcal, and some patio furniture to lounge on. Read more.
One of the most tranquil oases in the city is the lush, secluded patio in back of Arlequin and Absinthe, off Hayes. Any given day you can grab a glass of wine in and take it to the back garden. Read more.
It's got a pretty rad brunch menu if you're in the market for an off-the-beaten-path brunch that (I think) not many people know about just yet. And really, it is all about that patio. Read more.
A fenced-in outdoor bar in the middle of Hayes Valley, Biergarten is a fave with Euro expats (my German father-in-law loves this place) and beer-and-brat loving locals alike. Read more.
The cozy, den-like interior of this Tenderloin spot at the always hip Phoenix Hotel has one of the best, most L.A.-like outdoor spaces in the city, surrounding an actual swimming pool. Read more.
This classic example of a SoMa leather bar, opened in the early 1980s and was revived under new owners just a couple years back. It boasts one of the biggest bar patios in the city. Read more.
The grand, homey patio at El Rio is home to one of the biggest monthly dance parties in town. Their Margaritas and Palomas are good and strong, they sell $2 Tecates, and the bartenders are cool. Read more.
This Mission rooftop oasis is a popular spot for after-work margaritas and quesadillas that, thanks to their glass wind guards along the railings, remains comfortable even after night falls. Read more.
They've got a down-market patio with million-dollar views (but still on the wrong side of the Bay Bridge and a bit in the shadows), pretty cheap beer, and a full food menu with a passable burger. Read more.
The drinks are stiff, and the patio can be either pleasant or crowded. In short, it makes for a perfect stopping off point on the way back from a park day, or on a rare warm evening. Read more.
You come here to drink, or perhaps to have a hangover brunch, and you come here when it's sunny out. Because if the conditions are right, this is a prime spot with plenty of space to move around. Read more.
Sparrow's lovely back patio is a great place to linger over breakfast, lunch, or dinner, and with an inventive beer and wine list. They also have a sweet happy hour menu of nibbly things. Read more.
Blissfully mellow, with board games galore and an intimate vibe that's hard to find in the neighborhood. The best part? The oft-overlooked back patio, where beer lovers can sun on cozy picnic tables. Read more.
There's a small outdoor area with a ping pong table and picnic benches that's a winner with locals. It's a good place to hang out, and there's lots of bar food, like a huge mac and cheese burger. Read more.
There is now a bonafied nice spot to enjoy a patio cocktail at Ghirardelli Square that's not a total tourist trap, and that's Waxman's, the first San Francisco restaurant from Jonathan Waxman. Read more.
