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Boucherie’s heated outdoor seating
Boucherie/Official

21 Heated Restaurant Patios for Winter Outdoor Dining in New Orleans

When the temperature creeps down, turn to these top New Orleans restaurants to keep dining cozily outside

by Clair Lorell Updated
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Boucherie’s heated outdoor seating
| Boucherie/Official
by Clair Lorell Updated

Cold weather dining in New Orleans — it doesn’t happen often, but it happens, and New Orleanians like their courtyards. And, since outdoor dining is still the safest way to patronize restaurants during the COVID-19 pandemic, more and more local spots have added patio heaters in the last two winters to ensure the option is available in most weather. Now in New Orleans, there are a range of places to visit for al fresco dining with a side of warmth, from barbecue joints to elegant French Quarter courtyards to family-friendly Mexican restaurants. Here are a select group of restaurants offering heated outdoor spaces this winter, great for open-air dining no matter the temperature.

Did we miss a heated restaurant patio in New Orleans? Send an email or leave a comment.

Health experts consider dining out to be a high-risk activity for the unvaccinated; it may pose a risk for the vaccinated, especially in areas with substantial COVID transmission.

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Eater maps are curated by editors and aim to reflect a diversity of neighborhoods, cuisines, and prices. Learn more about our editorial process. If you buy something or book a reservation from an Eater link, Vox Media may earn a commission. See our ethics policy.

Boucherie

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Back in its original digs on Jeannette Street, Boucherie now boasts a lovely patio in addition to seating inside the romantic, charming cottage. The patio is fully heated for the winter with industrial room heaters, making for a cozy date night destination involving Nathanial Zimet’s refined seafood and meat offerings and a great wine list.

8115 Jeannette St, New Orleans, LA 70118
(504) 862-5514
(504) 862-5514
Boucherie

Also featured in:

Tito's Ceviche & Pisco

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Magazine Street’s Peruvian haven is always a fun departure from the cuisine most commonly found in town, with bright, fresh ceviches and tiraditos; flavorful, traditional Peruvian entrees, and excellent pisco and pisco-based cocktails. The outdoor setup to the side of the restaurant is adequately spaced and each table has its own heater, making it a great winter option.

5015 Magazine St, New Orleans, LA 70115
(504) 267-7612
(504) 267-7612

Also featured in:

Vals

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Vals feels like a party as soon as you approach, with a large, covered patio lined with picnic tables and surrounded by bright green turf beckons for tacos and margaritas. Outfitted with ceiling fans for hot weather and heaters for cold, it’s easy to stay warm dining outside here, especially with a spicy margarita and bowl of pozole.

4632 Freret St, New Orleans, LA 70115
(504) 356-0006
(504) 356-0006

Also featured in:

Misa

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The year-old Misa sits Uptown at the corner of Magazine and Bordeaux Streets, boasting a tree-draped front patio that makes for casual but elegant outdoor dining on a menu Israeli and Lebanese specialties, as well as solid cocktails. The cozy patio is also outfitted with a number of heaters of various shapes, making it a year-round option for refreshing Mediterranean fare.

4734 Magazine St, New Orleans, LA 70115
(504) 510-2791
(504) 510-2791

Also featured in:

The Velvet Cactus

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Kid-friendly, vibrant, and extravagantly decorated, the Velvet Cactus is a fun family outdoor dining destination for tasty Mexican and big margaritas. The massive, mostly covered and enclosed courtyard is outfitted with lush plants, colorful lantern lights, rock fountain structures, and of course, heaters that keep the party going in any temperature.

6300 Argonne Blvd, New Orleans, LA 70124
(504) 301-2083
(504) 301-2083
The Velvet Cactus

Also featured in:

Haiku Sushi

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Haiku Sushi on Magazine Street warms up diners two ways during winter — with its excellent ramen, and its lovely (heated) patio. Open daily, the covered patio outfitted with ceiling heaters is a great destination for lunch or dinner and Haiku’s extensive menu of rolls, sashimi, dumplings, and soups.

4430 Magazine St, New Orleans, LA 70115
(504) 301-0850
(504) 301-0850

Trep's

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Trep’s was built for pandemic-era dining and drinking — a mostly outdoor, kid-and-dog-friendly, full service restaurant and bar in Mid City. The various outdoor dining seating areas are equipped for all seasons, fully furnished with both industrial fans and heaters (part of its quest to serve as a game-day destination). The menu is a jumble of standard bar food and globally-influenced plates, but the burgers are good and the Friday oyster happy hour is solid.

4327 Bienville St, New Orleans, LA 70119
(504) 581-8900
(504) 581-8900

Also featured in:

Red Gravy

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Roseann Rostoker and Lou Lombardo now run their homey Northeast style Italian restaurant Uptown on Magazine Street, where an outdoor courtyard seats 38. If favorites like meatballs and red gravy, arancini, gnocchi, and chicken parmigiana don’t keep you warm enough, a table next to a vertical heater should do the trick.

4206 Magazine St, New Orleans, LA 70115

Vessel NOLA

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This church-turned-restaurant in Mid City offers a large covered and heated patio with a clear roof above stylish wooden slats — think an oversized pergola with pizzazz. There’s a tasty, crowd-pleasing all-day menu featuring Mediterranean favorites, salads and sandwiches, and a brunch menu served on weekends. Don’t miss the cocktails.

3835 Iberville St, New Orleans, LA 70119
(504) 603-2775
(504) 603-2775
Vessel NOLA

Also featured in:

Don Villavaso on the Bayou

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Don Villavaso on the Bayou is a great hangout, tucked away right off tree-lined Esplanade Avenue in the heart of Bayou St. John. The large, covered patio and cigar area is made even better with ceiling heaters in cold weather, making it a great stop for chargrilled oysters or a post-dinner nightcap.

3111 Grand Rte Saint John St, New Orleans, LA 70119
(504) 784-8179
(504) 784-8179

Also featured in:

Central City BBQ

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As if the fun, vivacious atmosphere and excellent barbecue weren’t enough, Central City BBQ also counts a huge, covered patio with hanging heaters as one of its draws. This spot is great for spaced-out, dog-friendly dining with friends — it’s also good for games.

1201 S Rampart St, New Orleans, LA 70113
(504) 558-4276
(504) 558-4276

Also featured in:

Copper Vine

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Copper Vine is one of downtown’s top brunch destinations for a reason — the wine pub’s lush, gorgeous patio makes for a dreamy setting that’s ideal for the leisurely nature of the weekend meal. Come winter, that patio and an upstairs balcony are fully equipped with heaters, so go ahead and order that second bottle.

1001 Poydras St, New Orleans, LA 70112
(504) 208-9535
(504) 208-9535
Copper Vine

Also featured in:

Gris-Gris

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Eric Cook’s popular LGD standby for contemporary Southern cuisine also offers some exceptional seating options, from a beautiful private room to an upstairs balcony overlooking Magazine Street. Both the balcony and the outdoor seating area down below have heaters, ensuring a warm wintertime setting for happy hour drinks, weekend brunch, or dinner.

1800 Magazine St, New Orleans, LA 70130
(504) 272-0241
(504) 272-0241
The upstairs balcony at Gris-Gris
Gris-Gris

Also featured in:

The Bower

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The Bower is still relatively new to the LGD’s booming dining scene, built during the pandemic by the owners of Tujague’s and sister restaurants Claret and Birdy’s. It boasts a large outdoor dining setup that’s protected from the elements and in the winter, outfitted with heaters. Try classic cocktails with a twist and new American cuisine like whole branzino with fennel; charred rapini with blueberries; and mussels with nduja.

1320 Magazine St, New Orleans, LA 70130
(504) 582-9738
(504) 582-9738

Also featured in:

Sidecar Patio & Oyster Bar

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It doesn’t get much better than dining on the patio at Sidecar — what’s not to love about a vast selection of oysters and natural wine to be enjoyed in a lovely, tree-embedded courtyard? Located next to the Rusty Nail on Constance Street, the outdoor Sidecar Patio & Oyster Bar delivers a large, heated patio (in winter), serving oysters by the piece or dozen, ceviche and tartare, and hefty burgers.

1114 Constance St, New Orleans, LA 70130
(504) 381-5079
(504) 381-5079

Also featured in:

More in Maps

Vyoone’s

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Vyoone’s has one of the best courtyards in town, and it keeps that status even in cold weather — between fire pits and portable heaters, you can stay toasty here, whether visiting for brunch, happy hour drinks, a Saints game, or a delicious French-Louisiana dinner. As a bonus, Vyoone’s is a festive destination for special occasion gatherings with groups, small or large.

412 Girod St, New Orleans, LA 70130
(504) 518-6007
(504) 518-6007

Also featured in:

SoBou

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This eclectic restaurant and bar located in the French Quarter’s W Hotel has always been about its stylish interior — a dark dining room outfitted with brass fixtures and lined with shelves of glass bottles lit by warm neon lights. The courtyard, however, can’t be beat — the piazza space was previously used for drinks and hotel guests only, but is now a dining area in its own right, complete with reservations available. SoBou’s patio, covered with heaters and string lights, is open for dinner Thursday through Monday.

310 Chartres St, New Orleans, LA 70130
(504) 552-4095
(504) 552-4095

Also featured in:

Orleans Grapevine Wine Bar & Bistro

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A true neighborhood gem, the French Quarter’s charming Orleans Grapevine can be counted on for its great wine selection and hidden courtyard, where individual table heaters come out when the weather calls for it. Visit for the rare wines, friendly atmosphere, and contemporary, hearty takes on American and French cuisine.

720 Orleans St, New Orleans, LA 70116
(504) 523-1930
(504) 523-1930

Also featured in:

Cafe Amelie

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For a special dining experience in a lush French Quarter courtyard, the romantic Cafe Amelie offers a great setting for dinner or a leisurely weekend brunch. Tables on the heated patio are available to reserve for brunch Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, and for dinner Friday and Saturday.

912 Royal St, New Orleans, LA 70116
(504) 412-8965
(504) 412-8965

Also featured in:

Galaxie

Copy Link

One of the many taquerias to open in New Orleans in the last few years, Galaxie on St. Claude Avenue transformed a former service station into a cool, garage-style restaurant with tons of outdoor space. There are a couple of outdoor dining options here, from the main covered patio out front to the semi-structured, heater-equipped space on the side yard, also decked out with colorful string lights.

3060 St Claude Ave, New Orleans, LA 70117
(504) 827-1443
(504) 827-1443

Also featured in:

Bacchanal Fine Wine & Spirits

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The backyard party at Bacchanal continues through winter, with live music nightly (except on Tuesday, when it’s closed). Choose a bottle of wine and cheeses and meats to sample on the heated courtyard or order from the excellent kitchen, serving Mediterranean-inspired small plates, fresh pasta dishes, and a few entrees.

600 Poland Ave, New Orleans, LA 70117
(504) 948-9111
(504) 948-9111

Also featured in:

More in Maps

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Boucherie

8115 Jeannette St, New Orleans, LA 70118

Back in its original digs on Jeannette Street, Boucherie now boasts a lovely patio in addition to seating inside the romantic, charming cottage. The patio is fully heated for the winter with industrial room heaters, making for a cozy date night destination involving Nathanial Zimet’s refined seafood and meat offerings and a great wine list.

8115 Jeannette St, New Orleans, LA 70118
(504) 862-5514
(504) 862-5514
Boucherie

Tito's Ceviche & Pisco

5015 Magazine St, New Orleans, LA 70115

Magazine Street’s Peruvian haven is always a fun departure from the cuisine most commonly found in town, with bright, fresh ceviches and tiraditos; flavorful, traditional Peruvian entrees, and excellent pisco and pisco-based cocktails. The outdoor setup to the side of the restaurant is adequately spaced and each table has its own heater, making it a great winter option.

5015 Magazine St, New Orleans, LA 70115
(504) 267-7612
(504) 267-7612

Vals

4632 Freret St, New Orleans, LA 70115

Vals feels like a party as soon as you approach, with a large, covered patio lined with picnic tables and surrounded by bright green turf beckons for tacos and margaritas. Outfitted with ceiling fans for hot weather and heaters for cold, it’s easy to stay warm dining outside here, especially with a spicy margarita and bowl of pozole.

4632 Freret St, New Orleans, LA 70115
(504) 356-0006
(504) 356-0006

Misa

4734 Magazine St, New Orleans, LA 70115

The year-old Misa sits Uptown at the corner of Magazine and Bordeaux Streets, boasting a tree-draped front patio that makes for casual but elegant outdoor dining on a menu Israeli and Lebanese specialties, as well as solid cocktails. The cozy patio is also outfitted with a number of heaters of various shapes, making it a year-round option for refreshing Mediterranean fare.

4734 Magazine St, New Orleans, LA 70115
(504) 510-2791
(504) 510-2791

The Velvet Cactus

6300 Argonne Blvd, New Orleans, LA 70124

Kid-friendly, vibrant, and extravagantly decorated, the Velvet Cactus is a fun family outdoor dining destination for tasty Mexican and big margaritas. The massive, mostly covered and enclosed courtyard is outfitted with lush plants, colorful lantern lights, rock fountain structures, and of course, heaters that keep the party going in any temperature.

6300 Argonne Blvd, New Orleans, LA 70124
(504) 301-2083
(504) 301-2083
The Velvet Cactus

Haiku Sushi

4430 Magazine St, New Orleans, LA 70115

Haiku Sushi on Magazine Street warms up diners two ways during winter — with its excellent ramen, and its lovely (heated) patio. Open daily, the covered patio outfitted with ceiling heaters is a great destination for lunch or dinner and Haiku’s extensive menu of rolls, sashimi, dumplings, and soups.

4430 Magazine St, New Orleans, LA 70115
(504) 301-0850
(504) 301-0850

Trep's

4327 Bienville St, New Orleans, LA 70119

Trep’s was built for pandemic-era dining and drinking — a mostly outdoor, kid-and-dog-friendly, full service restaurant and bar in Mid City. The various outdoor dining seating areas are equipped for all seasons, fully furnished with both industrial fans and heaters (part of its quest to serve as a game-day destination). The menu is a jumble of standard bar food and globally-influenced plates, but the burgers are good and the Friday oyster happy hour is solid.

4327 Bienville St, New Orleans, LA 70119
(504) 581-8900
(504) 581-8900

Red Gravy

4206 Magazine St, New Orleans, LA 70115

Roseann Rostoker and Lou Lombardo now run their homey Northeast style Italian restaurant Uptown on Magazine Street, where an outdoor courtyard seats 38. If favorites like meatballs and red gravy, arancini, gnocchi, and chicken parmigiana don’t keep you warm enough, a table next to a vertical heater should do the trick.

4206 Magazine St, New Orleans, LA 70115

Vessel NOLA

3835 Iberville St, New Orleans, LA 70119

This church-turned-restaurant in Mid City offers a large covered and heated patio with a clear roof above stylish wooden slats — think an oversized pergola with pizzazz. There’s a tasty, crowd-pleasing all-day menu featuring Mediterranean favorites, salads and sandwiches, and a brunch menu served on weekends. Don’t miss the cocktails.

3835 Iberville St, New Orleans, LA 70119
(504) 603-2775
(504) 603-2775
Vessel NOLA

Don Villavaso on the Bayou

3111 Grand Rte Saint John St, New Orleans, LA 70119

Don Villavaso on the Bayou is a great hangout, tucked away right off tree-lined Esplanade Avenue in the heart of Bayou St. John. The large, covered patio and cigar area is made even better with ceiling heaters in cold weather, making it a great stop for chargrilled oysters or a post-dinner nightcap.

3111 Grand Rte Saint John St, New Orleans, LA 70119
(504) 784-8179
(504) 784-8179

Central City BBQ

1201 S Rampart St, New Orleans, LA 70113

As if the fun, vivacious atmosphere and excellent barbecue weren’t enough, Central City BBQ also counts a huge, covered patio with hanging heaters as one of its draws. This spot is great for spaced-out, dog-friendly dining with friends — it’s also good for games.

1201 S Rampart St, New Orleans, LA 70113
(504) 558-4276
(504) 558-4276

Copper Vine

1001 Poydras St, New Orleans, LA 70112

Copper Vine is one of downtown’s top brunch destinations for a reason — the wine pub’s lush, gorgeous patio makes for a dreamy setting that’s ideal for the leisurely nature of the weekend meal. Come winter, that patio and an upstairs balcony are fully equipped with heaters, so go ahead and order that second bottle.

1001 Poydras St, New Orleans, LA 70112
(504) 208-9535
(504) 208-9535
Copper Vine

Gris-Gris

1800 Magazine St, New Orleans, LA 70130

Eric Cook’s popular LGD standby for contemporary Southern cuisine also offers some exceptional seating options, from a beautiful private room to an upstairs balcony overlooking Magazine Street. Both the balcony and the outdoor seating area down below have heaters, ensuring a warm wintertime setting for happy hour drinks, weekend brunch, or dinner.

1800 Magazine St, New Orleans, LA 70130
(504) 272-0241
(504) 272-0241
The upstairs balcony at Gris-Gris
Gris-Gris

The Bower

1320 Magazine St, New Orleans, LA 70130

The Bower is still relatively new to the LGD’s booming dining scene, built during the pandemic by the owners of Tujague’s and sister restaurants Claret and Birdy’s. It boasts a large outdoor dining setup that’s protected from the elements and in the winter, outfitted with heaters. Try classic cocktails with a twist and new American cuisine like whole branzino with fennel; charred rapini with blueberries; and mussels with nduja.

1320 Magazine St, New Orleans, LA 70130
(504) 582-9738
(504) 582-9738

Sidecar Patio & Oyster Bar

1114 Constance St, New Orleans, LA 70130

It doesn’t get much better than dining on the patio at Sidecar — what’s not to love about a vast selection of oysters and natural wine to be enjoyed in a lovely, tree-embedded courtyard? Located next to the Rusty Nail on Constance Street, the outdoor Sidecar Patio & Oyster Bar delivers a large, heated patio (in winter), serving oysters by the piece or dozen, ceviche and tartare, and hefty burgers.

1114 Constance St, New Orleans, LA 70130
(504) 381-5079
(504) 381-5079

Related Maps

Vyoone’s

412 Girod St, New Orleans, LA 70130

Vyoone’s has one of the best courtyards in town, and it keeps that status even in cold weather — between fire pits and portable heaters, you can stay toasty here, whether visiting for brunch, happy hour drinks, a Saints game, or a delicious French-Louisiana dinner. As a bonus, Vyoone’s is a festive destination for special occasion gatherings with groups, small or large.

412 Girod St, New Orleans, LA 70130
(504) 518-6007
(504) 518-6007

SoBou

310 Chartres St, New Orleans, LA 70130

This eclectic restaurant and bar located in the French Quarter’s W Hotel has always been about its stylish interior — a dark dining room outfitted with brass fixtures and lined with shelves of glass bottles lit by warm neon lights. The courtyard, however, can’t be beat — the piazza space was previously used for drinks and hotel guests only, but is now a dining area in its own right, complete with reservations available. SoBou’s patio, covered with heaters and string lights, is open for dinner Thursday through Monday.

310 Chartres St, New Orleans, LA 70130
(504) 552-4095
(504) 552-4095

Orleans Grapevine Wine Bar & Bistro

720 Orleans St, New Orleans, LA 70116

A true neighborhood gem, the French Quarter’s charming Orleans Grapevine can be counted on for its great wine selection and hidden courtyard, where individual table heaters come out when the weather calls for it. Visit for the rare wines, friendly atmosphere, and contemporary, hearty takes on American and French cuisine.

720 Orleans St, New Orleans, LA 70116
(504) 523-1930
(504) 523-1930

Cafe Amelie

912 Royal St, New Orleans, LA 70116

For a special dining experience in a lush French Quarter courtyard, the romantic Cafe Amelie offers a great setting for dinner or a leisurely weekend brunch. Tables on the heated patio are available to reserve for brunch Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, and for dinner Friday and Saturday.

912 Royal St, New Orleans, LA 70116
(504) 412-8965
(504) 412-8965

Galaxie

3060 St Claude Ave, New Orleans, LA 70117

One of the many taquerias to open in New Orleans in the last few years, Galaxie on St. Claude Avenue transformed a former service station into a cool, garage-style restaurant with tons of outdoor space. There are a couple of outdoor dining options here, from the main covered patio out front to the semi-structured, heater-equipped space on the side yard, also decked out with colorful string lights.

3060 St Claude Ave, New Orleans, LA 70117
(504) 827-1443
(504) 827-1443

Bacchanal Fine Wine & Spirits

600 Poland Ave, New Orleans, LA 70117

The backyard party at Bacchanal continues through winter, with live music nightly (except on Tuesday, when it’s closed). Choose a bottle of wine and cheeses and meats to sample on the heated courtyard or order from the excellent kitchen, serving Mediterranean-inspired small plates, fresh pasta dishes, and a few entrees.

600 Poland Ave, New Orleans, LA 70117
(504) 948-9111
(504) 948-9111

Related Maps