Outside, Please!

Writer: Stephanie Maxwell Newton

Looking for a table where you can enjoy the fresh air? Read on for a few of the state’s most beloved al fresco options

FOR HAPPY HOUR

Dive bar Town Pump (Little Rock, 501.663.9802) has been a gathering place for friends and coworkers for 55 years. Weave past the bar to a no-frills back patio perfect for those 75-cent wings (on Wednesdays) and jello shots with friends. In historic Stifft Station, The Oyster Bar (Little Rock, lroysterbar.com) also offers a low-key atmosphere. Order a dozen fresh-shucked oysters and stick around for live music Thursdays through Saturdays.

Drinks on the patio at The Oyster Bar.

Once a service station in the Park Hill neighborhood, The Filling Station (North Little Rock, thefillingstationnlr.com) is now a food truck park that is perfect for outdoor dining. Find a rotating lineup of trucks outside Wednesdays through Sundays. There’s more food truck fun at The Porch at Huntington Square (Jonesboro, huntingtonsquare.net), where pool tables, Baggo games, and even a pickleball court can keep you entertained for hours.

With 30 beers on tap and flights available for whiskey and Bloody Marys, Mulekick (Magnolia, mulekickmag.com) sure knows how to have a good time—and its covered patio ensures you can be outdoors rain or shine. The spacious deck at Theo’s (Fayetteville, theosfayetteville.com) has long been a favorite for drinks after work right off Dickson Street. Snag a table from 5-6:30 p.m. to take advantage of happy hour pricing on both cocktails and appetizers.

The Arlington Hotel’s front porch is a coveted spot for pre-dinner drinks.

FOR DATE NIGHT

Take a step back in time with a visit to The Arlington Hotel Resort & Spa (Hot Springs, arlingtonhotel.com), which was built in 1875. Order a drink inside at The Lobby Bar, then step outside to enjoy it from the hotel’s veranda while watching the action on the promenade below. At Crescent Hotel, another famed, historic Arkansas hotel, take an elevator to the top floor for outdoor dining with a view at Skybar Gourmet Pizza (Eureka Springs, crescent-hotel.com).

Omar’s Uptown (Jonesboro, omarsuptown.com) serves a blend of familiar American and international flavors approached in inventive ways, making this spot ideal for a special occasion. While its upstairs patio had to close following storm damage last year, stay tuned for a much-anticipated reopening. The back patio of Argenta’s Crush Wine Bar (North Little Rock, 501.374.9463) is intimate and cozy, the perfect place to split of a bottle of your favorite red—especially on Tuesdays during “bottle night,” when every bottle $50 or less is priced at $25. Enjoy sandwiches, apps, and desserts alongside your vino of choice.

With a diverse menu that’s heavy on the Mexican influence, Laredo Grill (El Dorado, laredoeldorado.com) is great for a casual night out; and, with patio dining situated right on the historic square, the location makes for great people watching. Craving Japanese food? Kemuri (Little Rock, kemurirestaurant.com) has two locations, each with outdoor dining, so you can get your sushi fix while enjoying favorable weather.

FOR COCKTAILS

Cheers, you’ve made it to the weekend! Let’s celebrate with carefully crafted cocktails out on the deck. At Bark Bar (Little Rock, barkbar.com), we like that you can sip a Tug of War (a cheeky mix of craft beer and liquor) while playing a game of the same name at the dog-friendly joint. With locations throughout the state, the back patio at Spa City’s Rolando’s (Hot Springs, rolandosrestaurant.com) has a magical, secret garden quality, and the cocktail menu extends beyond margaritas. The same can be said for the offerings at The Fold (Little Rock, thefoldlr.com), though the tequila-based cocktails—including spiced pear and jalapeño margaritas—are plentiful, as are those with rum, vodka, and gin.

Taste from a rotating array of seasonal sips on the rooftop bar at Feed & Folly (Fayetteville, feedandfolly.com), which is conveniently in the mix right off College Avenue. In the Capital City, the upstairs bar at Cache Restaurant (Little Rock, cachelittlerock.com) offers a sweeping view of the River Market. Cache’s cocktail menu features new twists on old favorites, such as a Lavender 75 and Sarsaparilla Old Fashioned. In Benton, ask for seating on the terrace at RŌBER Culinary & Cocktails (Benton, eatrober.com) and choose from a full page of specialty drinks, all featuring the bar’s generous 2-ounce base pours.

With an earthy palette and plenty of plants, even Hail Fellow Well Met’s interior feels like an extension of the outdoors.

FOR BRUNCH

Hail Fellow Well Met (Johnson, hailfellowwellmet.com) boasts a beautiful front patio striking enough to rival its on-trend interiors. Its avant garde brunch menu of inspired offerings (including congee, shakshuka, and Lemon Ricotta Pancakes) is available 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. For home-cooked favorites, check out Harold’s Diner, Soda Fountain & Farmacy (Eureka Springs, haroldsgatherings.com) where classics like pancakes and fried potatoes are best enjoyed on the neighborhood spot’s colorful front porch.

While not technically a brunch service, The Rail Yard (Little Rock, therailyardlr.com) offers weekly “Sunday Fundays” featuring mimosa buckets and Bloody Marys along with a full bar and food menu. Known for its bowling alley, The Social (Jonesboro, 870.336.1134) is also a great meeting place for weekend brunch on the patio. Try the chicken and waffles or breakfast quesadillas with a mimosa, then hit the lanes or shuffleboard tables.

For an upscale experience, visit Uncork’d (Fort Smith, uncorkthefort.com) on Saturdays to enjoy specialities like the Wagyu Patty Melt and Crab Cake Benedict on the covered patio. Lady Slipper (Bentonville, ladyslippernwa.com) has a special menu of brunch cocktails to accompany their elevated take on breakfast favorites. Enjoy both on the upper or lower level of the eatery’s double-decker outdoor patios. Grumpy Rabbit (Lonoke, grumpyrabbitlonoke.com) also boasts a two-story outdoor dining space—as well as a mouthwatering brunch menu on Saturdays and Sundays.