Patios and Parasols
Alfresco Dining at Home and Local Eateries
By Berit Mason
Alfresco, Italian for “in the fresh air”, is often casual and party-like outside dining, which is especially popular in the summer months.
Maury Henry Biddle Paul is credited for the 1915 phrase, “café society.” He referred to the beautiful people who gathered at fashionable establishments. Parisian sidewalk cafés are about seeing and seen, while Greek tavernas are practically all outdoors.
It’s about a relaxed attitude towards life–very insouciant.
Europe has long winters and fall, so they really embrace summer and open-air environments. San Antonio has a warm, sunny climate and it’s a town that likes to party, so alfresco is in style. But San Antonio summers are scorchers. Nevertheless, there are strategies to create that perfect alfresco environment. Outdoor seating here must offer shade. Before air conditioning, fans were fashioned into “misters” that blew on buckets of cold water to cool a room – which are used outdoors today.
San Antonio architects and design group, DADO Group, provide tips on how to create an alfresco set-up at home.
Paloma Blanca Mexican Cuisine
“Obviously, shade is a must for the summer months,” says DADO’s Kristin Hefty. “A combination of shade options provides different qualities of experience, and can even provide rain protection. I especially like the quality of dappled light underneath a large tree, although that doesn’t keep the rain out. Air movement is critical, so having the space open on three sides is ideal for cross-ventilation.”
“Don’t tuck the patio into a corner,” she says. “Fans can be hung from shade covers and mister fans can help. Fountains fulfill a similar role, adding a soothing sound and creating a focal point. Plants soften the hardscape [landscaping designed by hard, nonliving natural materials] and bring life to the space. A screened porch is a versatile option for all seasons; it will keep bugs out and tall ceilings and fans keep the air moving.”
If you don’t want to go through all that hassle to enjoy a meal in the summer breeze, Scene In SA has picked out some perfect patios for you to check out!
“Patio dining continues to be an important revenue driver for roughly 5,100 restaurants in the San Antonio region,” says Kelsey Erickson Streufert, Chief Public Affairs Officer for the Texas Restaurant Association. “Spending data repeatedly affirms that, even amidst inflation, Texas consumers are willing to invest their time and resources at restaurants that prioritize value and experience. Patio dining is a great way to deliver on that experience.”
La Fonda on Main has one of the prettiest courtyards in town in which to dine.
“Our patios at La Fonda on Main are just as popular in the summer because of the lush gardens and shade from the magnificent 400-year-old oak tree,” says restaurateur Cappy Lawton. “The original patio was the backyard of a house that was built in the 1920s. Today, we have multiple patios, from our urban sidewalk patio with southeasterly breezes and umbrellas to our backyard patios with their vibrant greenery, artistic water features, and numerous trees. We have fans strategically placed throughout, as well as mesh sunshades the color of the Texas sky.”
At Chicken N Pickle on UTSA Boulevard, the experience is about bringing people together, combining eating out with sports, where guests can talk and mingle.
“We cultivate a vibrant, inclusive community, where families, friends and colleagues create memories and connect in a playful backyard setting that fosters human connection.”
A famous establishment seats customers in the middle of a forest. Grey Moss Inn Cocina Mexicana sits on two acres in Grey Forest, Helotes, where one can dine under tall Texas trees next to a cozy fire pit.
“Our Spicy Mojito or the Mary Howell Margarita, named after the original owner of the Grey Moss Inn, are two of our most popular drinks and are perfect to enjoy in our patio under the shade of majestic oak trees and patio lights,” says co-owner Martha Valadez. She suggests ordering their signature ceviche, for a cooler summer night out.
The famous Casa Rio restaurant along the River Walk, then and now
Paloma Blanca Mexican Cuisine offers shady areas. “Our fans and light water misters help guests enjoy a Heights Margarita and Ceviche del Mar, even on the hottest of days,” says manager Oscar Balderas. “With light Latin inspired background music and colorful floral gardens throughout you’ll feel like you’ve traveled to a Mexican hacienda.”
Patios are not just for people! Pets can come along for a nice venture out. The Cove welcomes pets to its huge backyard, but with the caveat: “Dogs must remain on a leash at all times, because we don’t want anyone taking home the wrong dog!”
Some restaurants have added stages for bands to perform, so there’s lots more live music. San Antonio native and professional musician Dave Deering and his band are regularly booked.
“Performing music at venues with outdoor seating is fantastic in San Antonio,” he says. “My Mainstream Jazz trio plays On The Bend on the San Antonio River Walk, and the band and patrons are energized by the fun, outdoor atmosphere. If the weather is hot, mist machines keep us all cool. Most of the year, it’s pleasant, with a nice breeze coming off of the river.”
Chef Eduardo Castillo is president of the San Antonio chapter of the Texas Chefs Association. He says a good summer menu is a light menu. “I like light and refreshing items: a chilled salad, grains, beans, chilled grilled lettuces or cabbages. Also something with fresh fruit or good seasonal produce. Finally, a good piece of fish, or scallops lightly cooked.”
The San Antonio River Walk is one the town’s greatest draws. Relaxing next to the river with a margarita and a Mexican food plate helped bring some 35 million visitors in 2022, according to Visit San Antonio.
“The River Walk embodies the cultural richness, history and vibrancy of the city. Where in the modern world could one dine under century-old cypress trees and alongside a natural ecosystem that nourished the growth of a city?” says President and CEO of Visit San Antonio, Marc Anderson. “With over ten new restaurants and bars and two new hotels opening on the River Walk since the pandemic, and the launch of River Walk Live!, Visit San Antonio’s new monthly concert series, the San Antonio River Walk continues to attract more locals and visitors every year.”
A most photographed symbol of the city is also its oldest continually operating restaurant. Established in 1946 is Casa Rio, with a colorful canopy of tables that sit at the river’s edge.
“Casa Rio was almost entirely built around the alfresco dining experience,” says Elizabeth Lyons Houston, Vice President of Los Leones, which own Schilo’s and Casa Rio. “Realizing customers preferred dining outside and the company of towering cypress trees, we developed the restaurant around that preference over 78 years ago. And to this day, one of the most iconic moments you can have in our city limits is dining under a colored umbrella, sipping a margarita, and listening to the roaming mariachis sing ‘Volver, Volver.’ Is there anything more San Antonio than that?” ■
