20 best patios + porches in Cola ☀
When you live in Columbia, “springtime” arrives in February. Through the end of April, the random 80+º days balance out with the blustery, overcast days below 50º, averaging out to a pleasant (albeit bipolar) mid-60s – a.k.a. the perfect porch sittin’ weather. Which begs the question, “Where can we go to eat outside?”

If you’re like us and dream of a master list of Cola’s best outdoor porches + patios for indecisive moments like this, we have good news. We made one (thanks to your help).

☀ Salty Nut

✔ Partially covered porch with wifi, heaters, cheap pitchers, dog-friendly

🍴 Menu

A Five Points staple with a big, partially-covered outdoor porch that’s home to college + grad students and domestic beer pitcher enthusiasts. Lots of sandwiches, apps + bar food (for all ages), sunshine + brewskis.

Salty Nut | Photo by @hotssosross

☀ Grill Marks

✔ Covered patio with wifi, kid + dog-friendly

🍴 Menu

What’s better than just a burger + fries? A burger, fries + a FreakShake. Take your kids, dogs or date to this patio for Vista views and major treat yo’ self moments. 🍔🍦

Grill Marks | Photo by @honeysucklebliss

☀ Pawleys Front Porch

✔ Covered + kid-friendly with wifi

🍴 Menu

Featured on Food Network’s Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives, Pawleys is home to some of Cola’s biggest burgers (try the IOP – it’s topped with pimiento cheese + jalapeno bacon). And every Monday from 4 p.m. ‘til close, kids eat for $1. How’s that sound for an after-school snack?

☀ Burger Tavern 77

✔ Covered + kid-friendly

🍴 Menu

“Build Your Own” burger = you are in control of your own greasy destiny. Open year-round, this patio is family-friendly + offers views of the Devine St. district. 🍔

Burger Tavern 77 | Photo by @devinestreet

☀ Old Chicago Pizza & Taproom

✔ Covered, kid-friendly + dog-friendly patio with wifi

🍴 Menu

An extensive menu of Chicago-style pizza – even an entire selection for the kids. And you might just get to meet Founder. 🍕

Old Chicago | Photo by @founder.the.doodle

☀ Jakes on Devine

✔ Partially-covered porch

🍴 Menu

Find 30+ craft beers + a new food menu from in-house eatery Rippers – plus Yappy Hour every Tuesday + Thursday night, dedicated to man’s best friend. 🐕 Also: Home to Cola’s very own dog whisperer/bartender extraordinaire.

☀ Cafe Strudel

✔ Covered, kid + dog-friendly patio with wifi

🍴 Menu

This ever-popular brunch spot in West Cola (with second location coming soon to Lexington's Main Street), has an outdoor patio to enjoy those famed Hangover Hashbrowns – with a side of fresh air. The endless coffee refills just taste better on the patio. ☕🥞

☀ Flying Saucer Draught Emporium

✔ Covered, dog-friendly patio with wifi

🍴 Menu

The place to be on “Trivia Tuesdays”, Saucer’s large covered patio has enough room for the whole office to unwind after work. (They also have wifi if you’re not quite finished with work but need to get out of the office.) 💻

☀ The GRAND

✔ Partially-covered Grand Plaza with wifi

🍴 Menu

Just outside of the bowling lanes, even more fun + games exist outside. Go to war with your crew in a board game of Battleship, practice your cornhole skills for tailgate or play bocce ball on their court. 🏏

The GRAND | Photo by @thegrandonmain

☀ River Rat Brewery

✔ Partially-covered, kid + dog-friendly porch + patio space with wifi

🍴 Menu

Home to the best (new) rooftop views of Willy-B, River Rat has become one of Cola’s go-to sunny day hangouts. They have board games for the adults, a mini playground for the kids, cornhole, a full food menu + a grass area for pups to play (while leashed). 🍻

River Rat | Photo by @riverratbrewery

☀ Publico Kitchen & Tap

✔ Kid + dog-friendly, partially-covered porch with wifi

🍴 Menu

Have y’all ever been out back behind Publico? Their hidden patio is one of our fav outdoor brunch spot in Five Points. Between their brews (BOGO brunch drinks on Sundays), tabletop games like giant Jenga, and Asian-fusion cuisine, what else does Publico have? A Puppy Menu – that’s what. 🐶

☀ Thirsty Fellow

✔ Covered, dog + kid-friendly porch with fans, heaters + wifi

🍴 Menu

About two blocks from Colonial Life Arena, Thirsty has a full bar, multiple TVs, a full menu (go for any pizza, the wings, or the wedge salad) – oh, and a big porch with tables, bar stools, heaters + fans. Stop in for a drink on the porch before the Gamecocks play at CLA, if you can get a spot.

☀ Cantina 76 on Devine St.

✔ Covered, kid-friendly patio with heaters

🍴 Menu

The OG Cantina is home to a popular heated patio (with roll-down plastic walls for winter) that almost always has a wait. But once you secure a table, kickback and order the trio (salsa, guac + queso).

☀Swamp Cabbage Brewing Co.

✔ Partially-covered, dog-friendly patio with pergola

Bring your pup + kids to this local brewery to enjoy an event (they host a bunch) under their shaded pergola. This Sunday, The Belgian Waffle Truck will visit to offer a four-course meal to pair with your brews, including french toast with maple butter + a grilled cheese Belgian waffle. Say no more. We’ll meet y’all there.

☀ Terra

✔ Open patio with umbrella-covered tables

🍴 Menu

Terra’s patio offers State Street’s signature views of the Cola skyline – when the weather’s right and it’s open. Their menu changes daily + offers an array of delicious cocktails. Get there Wednesdays for $12 pizza and Pinot.

Terra | Photo by @terrasc

☀ Motor Supply Co. Bistro

✔ Covered, enclosed patio with heater + fans

🍴 Menu

One of Cola’s original farm-to-table restaurants has great food and some of the best craft cocktails you can get in town. Their outdoor patio features roll-up, garage door-style windows that can convert it to open-air when the weather is feeling perfect. Plus, its two large, round tables can seat up to 8 people for group dinners.

☀ Henry’s on Devine and Cayce

✔ Covered, kid- and dog-friendly patio + roll-up plastic walls + fans

🍴 Menu

Henry’s may be known for their burgers, but have you tried their buffalo chicken salad or veggie wrap with a side of sweet potato fries? Their Devine St. location is in walking distance from surrounding neighborhoods like Shandon + Melrose Heights.

☀ Il Giorgione

✔ Open patio

🍴 Menu

Pretend you’re basking in the Tuscan sun with limoncello in-hand on Gio’s patio. Part of the patio is nestled into an alley and adorned with string lights. It’s as close to Italy as it gets in Cola; trust us.

☀ War Mouth

✔ Kid-friendly, open patio with wifi

🍴 Menu

The War Mouth regularly hosts events (like spoken word poetry slams) on their back patio, featuring picnic table seating + dreamy string lights. And with wifi, it’s one of our favorite places to finish work on a Friday before kicking off the weekend.

☀ Dano’s

✔ Covered, heated, kid-friendly patio with wifi

🍴 Menu

We’ve heard from real New Yorkers that you can’t get anything quite like Dano’s New York-style pizza anywhere else in town. Their casual porch is visited by Rosewood neighbors on the reg – and we can see why. It’s super laid back – and they have cheap pitchers.

☀ Rosewood Market

✔ Covered, dog + kid-friendly patio with wifi

🍴Menu

This small (but mighty) local grocery store offers the best in natural + organic produce, juices and more. Pop in on a 20% off day to get your weekly shopping done, and order one of their many “Magnificent Bowls” + a La Croix to enjoy their porch – one of our team’s favorite weekly lunchtime activities.

Rosewood Market | Photo by @COLAtoday

Did we miss any of your fav patios/porches for outdoor dining? Reply to this email to let us know. Enjoy porch season before the humidity + mosquitos set in, y’all.

– Beth + Lauren