Decorating & Design
10+ Outdoor Dining Areas That Will Inspire You
Updated on November 28, 2023
From brunch to barbecues, the best summer activities often revolve around dining al fresco with friends or family. These designated outdoor eating areas will inspire you to get creative — whether it’s setting the scene with beautiful centrepieces or choosing the right lighting or furniture to withstand the elements. Scroll down and get inspired by some of our favorite outdoor dining rooms from the H&H archives.
In this sleek Toronto backyard, a neat inlaid ipê-wood path leads guests to the dining zone, where a mod table and sturdy aluminum chairs make room for everyone. The wood path was left unstained, so it’ll develop a soft grey patina.
Homeowners Mathieu and Marc-André (pictured) are avid gardeners, so creating a space where they could spend time outdoors was high on the design brief for their recent renovation. String lights and lush plants adds a magical touch to their English courtyard-inspired backyard in Montreal’s Rosemont-Petite-Patrie neighborhood.
To establish the lush, private environment these homeowners were after, landscape designer Aaron Teer created a jungle-esque space by surrounding the outdoor dining area with a new Portuguese laurel hedge (Prunus lusitanica) and an artisanal stone wall. A sleek aluminum dining set with comfortable blue cushions is the “perfect space for entertaining guests” notes homeowner Ashley Teer, pictured with her children, Lyla, on the left, and Fiona.
In his Bedford, N.S. house, Colin Blanchard of 31 Westgate sets the outdoor dining table with oversized glass pillar candle holders. For Colin and Kenneth McRobbie, the house had a “Cotswolds vibe” that reminded them of the English countryside. Originally designed by architect Andrew Cobb in 1937, the house and gardens were designed with an eye to entertaining.
“I wanted the interior of the house and the backyard to have a seamless connection,” says landscape designer and homeowner George Coito. In warm weather, George and his wife Marta host friends and family for alfreso feasts in their sprawling backyard. Clusters of modern orbs surrounding the dining area are a magical touch.
On this sprawling terrace in Toronto, a dining area that can seat 12 includes U-shaped ipê benches (topped by comfortable cushions) that offer extra seating for larger gatherings. Long, built-in planters help obscure the balcony railing and frame the east-facing view over the park. “Layering a variety of groundcover and mid-height perennials provides a lot of seasonal interest,” says landscape architect Kate Fox-Whyte.
Landscape designer Joel Loblaw dreamed up this backyard’s sunken dining area, which creates a sense of intimacy and occasion. Oversized rattan pendants and woven chairs lend a California feel.
A simple, fuss-free picnic table feels elevated with the addition of a table runner and lantern. “I wanted everyone to enjoy the place without worrying about damaging anything or being messy,” says designer Caroline Bouffard (pictured right) of her quaint cottage in the Eastern Townships.
In this sleek outdoor dining area in Toronto, corten steel planters and a privacy screen made of ipê-wood subtly screens the deck from neighbors. A clean, modern dining set suits the character of the home, seen in our May 2023 issue.
Rosie Daykin’s 1950s Vancouver rancher was inspired by the English countryside. On the lush terrace, baskets and planters with a mix of perennials soften the hardscaping around the dining area.
In her backyard, homeowner Teresa Mihalik (pictured) embraced the Californian concept of extending outside enjoyment a little longer than in a typical Montreal yard. In doing so, she created a cool space where friends and family would want to gather — including a dining area that features a slatted divider for privacy and a breeze.
“I was having a hard time finding outdoor furniture with enough soul,” says garden design pro Sarah Keenleyside of her own backyard makeover. The designer ended up bringing her 1970s Italian chairs with snap-off upholstery outside. “Adding pendant lighting outside also creates so much intimacy and acts like a ceiling,” she says. She spray-painted the shade black and tucked the wiring along the fence.
“We wanted a space that could incorporate the outdoors for entertaining,” says the homeowner of this Toronto home. The outdoor area includes a spacious deck for playing, lounging and dining, as well as a sleek pool. “Our designer gave me the confidence to choose a black palette.”