With spring and summer weather returning to Ohio, downtown Columbus will begin to look a lot sprightlier as we look forward to apartment pool parties, biking adventures, rooftop cookouts, sports leagues and–quite literally–everything else under the sun!

Higher temperatures also mark the season for outdoor dining. What better way to spend a warm day than relaxing on the patio of your favorite downtown Columbus restaurant with a cold drink, delicious food and great friends or neighbors?

To give Columbus residents and visitors a better sense of the al fresco dining options available, here is our list of six local downtown favorites.

Brekkie Shack

What’s better than brunch and lunch at Brekkie Shack? Fueling up for the day with your favorite cocktails, scratch baked good and healthy plates in the sunshine on their patio. Brekkie shack is ready to open their retractable doors for spring and let the fresh air in.

Sunny Street Café Arena District

Located in the heart of Columbus’ Arena District, Sunny Street Café is a downtown restaurant serving tasty breakfast, brunch and lunch, including signature coffees, fluffy buttermilk pancakes, eggs benedict, buffalo chicken salad and big BLTs. The café also offers catering to downtown Columbus–providing boxed lunches and breakfasts, fresh salads and gourmet sandwich platters.

Sunny Street Café features great al fresco dining on their sprawling patio overlooking the Arena District, making it a great restaurant to visit before kicking off a busy day in downtown Columbus!

If you’re a Resident of the Yard VIP member, flash your card to receive $2 off any breakfast or lunch dine-in/carry-out purchase of $20 or more.

nada 

Craving tacos and cocktails? Then Nada Columbus, located in the Arena District, is the place to go! Boasting some of the best guacamole and salsa in downtown Columbus, Nada offers an energizing Modern Mexican cuisine, as well as a wide variety of margaritas and local craft beers.

The best way to enjoy Nada’s great menu during the warm weather months is in their beautiful outdoor dining area – surrounded by trees and colorful flowers and situated right across the street from Nationwide Arena.

Resident of the Yard VIP members get free original queso with the purchase of tacos or an entrée – just flash your card to get the perk!

Buca di Beppo Arena District

If you’re looking to add some authentic Italian flair to your downtown Columbus dining repertoire, then you’ll love Buca di Beppo in the Arena District! With an eclectic, vintage atmosphere, this restaurant specializes in family-size dishes perfect for celebrations and groups of all sizes. Local favorites include fried calamari, chopped antipasti salad, chicken marsala and a variety of specialty pizzas and pastas.

On a beautiful day, the large, private outdoor patio of Buca di Beppo offers a relaxing environment away from the hustle and bustle of the Arena District. Vine-clad walls and replica Italian statues add a bit of romanticism to this downtown Columbus restaurant, making it a great place for an al fresco dinner date!

Lindey’s 

Lindey’s is a modern, upscale restaurant in downtown Columbus serving fine American cuisine. Housed in a New York bistro-style atmosphere filled with original art and designer furniture, this eatery features lunch, brunch and dinner with specialties including Ohio Amish Chicken, New Zealand Lamb, Duroc Pork Chop and Spiced Duck Breast – not to count out their wide variety of mouthwatering seafood, pastas and steaks.

Fans of outdoor dining in downtown Columbus hail Lindey’s as one of the best in town. The restaurant’s award-winning courtyard has consistently been voted the best patio in Columbus, according to OpenTable. Its nature-filled setting and private locale create a relaxing and enjoyable dining experience for all types of groups.

Where is your favorite restaurant for outdoor dining in downtown Columbus? Share your recommendation in the comments!