Best New Patios

Best new patios: Dine outdoors at these 10 hotspots — and you may spot a celebrity, too

Spring is prime time for alfresco dining in Houston. No matter your zip code, a cool patio awaits. Here are 10 new patios we'll be frequenting as long as the weather remains this delightful.

Toulouse Cafe & Bar
Freshly opened Toulouse Cafe & Bar at River Oaks District features local chef Philippe Schmit, formerly of Philippe Restaurant + Lounge, at the kitchen helm. Dining al fresco is extra fun at the Dallas import thanks to its climate-controlled, 50-seat patio that features a retractable awning. The menu offers classic French fare (think: fresh mussels, bouillabaisse and New York strip with pomme frites and béarnaise). In May, sister restaurant Taverna will present Italian eats, from homemade pasta to wood-fired pizza, and a patio with room for 40 when it opens in an adjacent space in May.

Axelrad Beer Garden
An eclectic mix of art, lush landscaping, live music and a garden patio with room for 200 set the background at this sprawling brew spot with a curated selection of 31 craft beers on tap, plus additional beers in cans and bottles. Those seeking to lounge in one of the space's signature hammocks should get there early. They fill up fast!

Killen's Steakhouse
Celebrities ranging from Houston Texans’ defensive end J.J. Watt and outside linebacker Whitney Mercilus to hip hop superstar Bun B know to hit up Ronnie Killen’s Pearland-area restaurant for killer chops, plus tasty brisket nachos and lobster quesadillas. The upscale eatery features a 10,000 square-foot patio, perfect for enjoying cooler temps. P.S. Keep an eye out for the upcoming Killen's Burgers, slotted to open May 28.

The Burger Joint
Power forward Donatas Motiejunas of the Houston Rockets knows there's no better place to nosh outdoors than at this new Montrose neighborhood gem. A spacious 2,500-square-foot dog-friendly deck seats 142. Don’t skip the Mexi burger topped with grilled ham, avocado, queso fresco, jalapenos and chipotle mayonnaise. Pair it with any of the 24 beers on tap.

Eight Row Flint
Housed in a former gas station, this Heights-area modern icehouse doesn’t hold back when it comes to its patio (it seats 200) or its tasty sips. Choose from the large whiskey selection, 10 beers on tap, 30 beers by the bottle, frozen cocktails, and carbonated drinks, among them the unmissable Ranchwater made with sotol, clarified lime juice, lime oleo saccharum and salt. A selection of tacos are made with the same high-quality, locally-sourced ingredients that have earned sister concept Coltivare such acclaim.

The Dunlavy
There’s not a bad seat in the glass-enclosed house at The Dunlavy. If you can see past the eye-catching, chandelier-clad interior, the private-event-space-and-cafe is also decked out with outdoor seating for 40, complete with picturesque views of Buffalo Bayou Park. The list of standout fare includes avocado toast and Chinese chicken salad. Grab a bite and then go on an kayak adventure: There's a rental spot just a few steps away.

Irish Cowboy
Drink, eat and play at this new Midtown gathering spot with an Irish-pub-slash-icehouse vibe and Texas-sized backyard that can accommodate over 800. Up the outdoor game with 70 draft beers, live music, barbecue smoked on-site, giant Jenga, ping pong and more.

Barking Pig
Catch some rays on the patio at welcoming neighborhood joint the Barking Pig, and then dig into must-try items from mushroom pizza with goat cheese, pesto and truffle oil to meatballs served with mozzarella and bruschetta. Wash it all down with a craft cocktail or beer.

Raven Tower
At Raven Tower enjoy the great outdoors at a picnic table. Choose from a roster of 24 beers on tap — and dozens more by the bottle, wine and cocktails including the off-menu, Luisa's Paloma. The house twist on the classic showcases smoky mezcal instead of tequila. Drink up and then catch a music act next door at White Oak Music Hall. An on-property food concept should launch later this year, but trompo tacos from popular truck La Macro will do for now.

Bernadine's
Like its neighbor Hunky Dory, Bernadine's features a sprawling patio that seats about 100, and it's pretty much the perfect environment for snacking on chef Graham Laborde's Gulf Coast cuisine. Feeling particularly indulgent? Spring for the I-10 Tower that mixes a range of cold and raw ingredients for only $70.

The Dunlay offers picturesque views of Buffalo Bayou Park and must-try dishes like the avocado toast.

Houston, The Dunlavy, April 2016, avocado toast

Photo courtesy of The Dunlavy/Facebook

The Dunlay offers picturesque views of Buffalo Bayou Park and must-try dishes like the avocado toast.

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Oh, Donna

New Houston cocktail bar serves up a house party fueled by music and martinis

Courtesy of Donna's

People are flocking to Donna's.

It hasn’t taken long for Houston cocktail fans to discover Donna’s. Ever since it opened Thanksgiving weekend, the new cocktail bar in the Heights has been packed with people eager to check out the new project from Anvil owner Bobby Heugel and veteran Houston bartender Jacki Schromm.

Named for Schromm’s grandmother, both partners use the word “house party” to describe the kind of atmosphere they want to create at Donna’s. That party can be very energetic on busy weekend nights and a little quieter and more intimate during the week — allowing patrons to choose what kind of experience they want to have.

Heugel and Schromm worked with collaborators on the design, music, and art for Donna’s. So far, people seem to be enjoying themselves.

“It’s really f---ing awesome,” Schromm tells CultureMap. “It has been really remarkable to have people in this building. To see the room full is a rewarding experience. The feedback we’ve received has just been really positive.”

To transform the former Ready Room into Donna’s, the partners collaborated with Brittany Vaughn of Garnish Design. Known for her work at establishments such as Tiny Champions, Maximo, and Milton’s, Vaughn helped divide the retro-styled cocktail bar into two distinct interior spaces. The main bar area is defined by high-top, organically-shaped tables that allow large groups to congregate or smaller groups to share without being on top of each other. The more intimate living room section features a large couch and a spacious booth.

“There’s a lot of smart utility in the space,” Heugel explains. “We kept talking about how it’s a small space. We want to find a seat for everybody as much as possible.”

To honor the space’s history of hosting live music, the partners worked with Chicago-based firm Uncanned on a powerful vintage stereo that includes both a reel-to-reel tape deck and a turntable. Known locally for their work at restaurants such as Nancy’s Hustle and Nobie’s, the Uncanned team gave Donna’s the ability to kick out the jams with ultra-clear sound while not being so loud that people can’t talk to each other. It also opens up the possibility of people playing their favorite albums on select nights.

“Jacki and I both had the bold opinion when we started talking about Donna’s that cocktail bars were boring. We wanted to add more layers to the onion,” Heugel says. “Having music be here as an additional component to the bar makes the room feel really good. That’s important to us, and we’ll have some programming related to that.”

Keli Hogsett of Austin’s CoCollect helped Schromm and Heugel select the room’s distinctive art on its walls. Heugel describes the works as museum-quality, contemporary pieces from regional artists that are a cut above what’s usually seen in bars. Hogsett will also source the art for the new restaurant Heugel and chef Justin Yu are opening next year in the former Vibrant space.

Schromm, who partnered with Heugel after working at Anvil and Reserve 101, created the opening cocktail menu herself. One highlight is the Jacki’s Martini, a nod to the “Bobby’s Martini” served at Refuge and the “Terry’s Martini” served at Squable. It’s a 50-50 mix of gin with Cocchi Americano and Dolin Blanc vermouth. She describes it as more “sessionable” than a traditional martini.

“I think this cocktail menu has a lot of personality,” she says. “Some of my flair, whether it’s a spirit I chose or a flavor I like.”

Although parking on the property is limited, Heugel notes that street parking on White Oak is relatively plentiful. A nearby pay lot is available, or people can skip the issue altogether by using their favorite rideshare service.

Of course, the adjacent restaurant space won’t stay empty for long. As CultureMap has previously reported, Austin-based pizzeria Home Slice has claimed the building for its second Houston location that will open in fall 2026.

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Donna's, 2626 White Oak Drive. Open daily from 2 pm-2 am

Courtesy of Donna's

People are flocking to Donna's.

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