There are numerous restaurants in Virginia that offer outside patios and rooftop eateries, allowing people to take in the great outdoors while they dine. With the onset of summer, we’ve pulled together a shortlist of al fresco offerings that take dining to the next level, presenting more of a feasting experience than just a great way to grab a meal.
1. PICNICS MADE FOR A PRINCE – OR PRINCESS!
Picnic & Peonies is Alexandria’s premier picnic company, where picnickers can revel in photogenic luxury setups with the option of adding elevated cuisine from Hummingbird, the restaurant on the waterfront in Hotel Indigo (which offers its own incredible outdoor patio dining looking out over the famous Potomac River). The experience offers low-style picnic seating or regular table seating for a gorgeous pop-up tablescape. Or forget the fold-up chairs, beach towels, and basic deli sandwiches; book your luxury beach picnic in Virginia Beach with The VB Picnic Co. and Longboard Charcuterie offering pouf and rattan seating, luxurious linens, trendy tablescapes, and gorgeous boards of finger foods for your seaside celebrations.
2. WINING AND DINING
Plenty of Virginia’s more than 300 wineries offer a variety of food options to nosh on while you sip wine and take in the stunning landscape. But some take the outdoor dining experience to the next level. Specializing in agritourism before the word even became popular, Pippen Hill Farm & Vineyards offers some of Virginia’s most exciting cuisine – complete with a glorious view of the Blue Ridge mountains. The culinary team highlights the freshest ingredients from local farms, including their own Kitchen Garden, with seasonal shared plates, appetizers, and soups that showcase their wines. Located in the heart of the Shenandoah Valley just 15 minutes from Harrisonburg, The Bistro at CrossKeys Vineyards offers a masterpiece menu using only the freshest ingredients to be combined with their wine for the ultimate palate-pleasing experience.
3. FRESH SEAFOOD STRAIGHT FROM THE WATER
If you’re looking for the ideal opportunity to work up an appetite, take a kayak tour out to Blue Pete’s. Located on five gorgeous acres near the Back BayWildlife Sanctuary in Virginia Beach, Blue Pete’s has been serving up fresh seafood since 1972, in a cozy, casual atmosphere designed to show off mother nature’s beauty. Once you try the food, you’ll discover that kayaking there is only half the amazing experience. Or one can take a trip to an oyster farm and dine on oysters pulled right from the water only minutes before. Merroir, the on-site restaurant for Rappahannock Oyster Company, is adjacent to the actual farming operation, so you can walk out on the dock and learn some of the landside aspects of oyster farming.
4. FARM-TO-TABLE COMFORT FOOD WITH A TWIST
At Johnny Monarch’s, they have elevated the food truck concept with their European double-decker bus, billed as the original American Bustaurant. Enjoy farm-fresh fare and classic family recipes in the beautiful open-air of Marshall, Virginia. Besides being open to the public, the owners host special events and cater to private parties for groups. They like to brag that they make food that’s really good for you and tastes like food that’s really bad for you. Sounds like they have the meaning of comfort food down pat!
A vacation to Virginia is all about doing what you love with the people you love. To plan your vacation and for more information, please visit: www.virginia.org.
