City Cast Madison logo

The Best Patios in Madison (& Beyond)

Posted on July 30, 2024   |   Updated on September 30, 2025
Ava Wojnowski

Ava Wojnowski

An outdoor Patio in Madison.

Patio dining is a great way to soak in Madison summers. (Ruthie Hauge / Cap Times)

City Cast

Where Are Madison’s Best Patios?

00:00:00

Madison has many opportunities to enjoy great patios during the summer months. City Cast Madison host Bianca Martin sat down with Cap Times photographer Ruthie Hauge to discuss hot patio spots in and around town. They laid out a ton of patios in the podcast there are 10 more that weren’t mentioned!

Banzo: Enjoy some delicious Mediterranean food while sitting on the patio of this quaint, green-colored house. With string lights and hanging plants, this cozy patio is not to be missed. It’s also covered, so even if it rains, you can still enjoy this patio. 2105 Sherman Ave.

Blind Shot Social Club: Known for its golf simulators, this is a great place to grab a drink and practice your shot. What you may not know is they have a great patio for people to enjoy. Full of Adirondack chairs, what’s a better place to kick back and enjoy yourself? 177 S Fair Oaks Ave.

Camp Trippalindee: If you go to the entrance to the left of the Graduate, you will find Camp Trippalindee. Here, you are transported to a cozy bar that will make you feel like you’re at summer camp. Their patio overlooks part of downtown and you can even catch a glimpse of Lake Mendota. 601 Langdon St.

Christy’s Landing: Located on Lake Waubesa, this patio will make you feel like you have gone to an ocean-side town on the East Coast. With waterfront dining, a tiki bar, boat docking, volleyball, and more, there is a ton to do while enjoying the outdoors. 2952 Waubesa Ave.

East Side Club: Catch some live music at the East Side Club’s famous Tiki Bar. They also serve food every night of the summer including a brat fry hosted by the American Legion on Friday Nights. 3735 Monona Drive

Great Dane Downtown: The Great Dane downtown is home to their outdoor patio known as “The Garden.” When you step into this patio, you are transported to somewhere in Europe with ivy-covered walls and string lights adorning the sky above you. 123 E Doty St.

Indie Coffee: For a great cup of coffee and some fresh air, head over to Indie Coffee on Regent Street. With a huge tree in this back patio, shade is often provided making this a great spot on a hot summer day. 1225 Regent St.

Lakeside Coffee House: Another great coffee spot with a patio is Lakeside Coffee House located right on Monona Bay. Enjoy a sandwich along with a yummy latte while sitting underneath the trees outside of this house-turned-cafe. 402 W Lakeside St.

Mariners Inn: Set up in a beautiful location along the Yahara River, Mariners Inn gives the vibe that you traveled to the Outer Banks of North Carolina. With plenty of seafood and steak to go around, this patio is great for a nice dinner with your friends. 5339 Lighthouse Bay Dr.

Youngblood: Located on King Street, the Youngblood patio is a great spot to grab a tasty IPA, or any beer really! With both big and small tables, this is a great date spot or a place for you and all of your friends to gather. 112 King St.

BONUS if you want to travel a little further. Check out Wollersheim Winery & Distillery. This winery is located in Prairie du Sac, about 40 minutes outside of Madison. It feels like you’ve completely left Wisconsin, and the U.S., and landed in a vineyard in Europe. 7876 WI-188, Prairie du Sac

see more:outdoors,food

Share article

Hey Madison

Sign up for your free daily toolkit to get the most of the city you love.

Can't subscribe? Turn off your ad blocker and try again.

Madison's Best

See All
Madison's BestSeptember 23

‘Park People’ Will Satirize Madison’s Protest Culture

Madison filmmaker Corey Holl launches a crowdfunding campaign for his new political satire, "The Park People." Explore the proof-of-conce...

Two production staff members on the left hold equipment and a microphone for two actors sitting on a park bench being filmed.
Madison's BestSeptember 8

Ann Garvin Has a Surprise in Store For Her Readers

Madison author Ann Garvin shares her glee in throwing readers a curveball with her poignant, messy new novel, hitting stores September 8.

Author Ann Garvin poses in front of a red wall.
Madison's BestSeptember 1

What To Do in Madison in September 2026

Discover the best things to do in Madison, Wisconsin, in September 2026! From vibrant fall festivals to concerts and athletic events, pla...

A post for the theater show "Steady as She Goes" by Erica Berman. An illustration of a woman with blue flowing hair that looks like ocean waves.
Madison's BestAugust 17

Madison Artist Knocks It Out of the Park With Brewers Mural

Madison artist Emily Balsley unveils her new "Seventh Inning Stretch" mural at Fitchburg’s McKee Farms Park, inspired by her Brewers T-sh...

A woman paints a mural on a wall. The mural has a cornflower blue background and is populated with people and animals in Brewers uniforms and caps..
Madison's BestAugust 6

The Best Fish Fries in Madison

Friday fish fries are a tradition in Wisconsin, and Madison has lots of options. Here are some of our favorites, including Dexter’s Pub,...

A plate of fried fish and french fries.
Madison's BestJuly 31

Madison’s Best: Your Guide To August 2026 in Madison

Discover the best events, festivals, and activities in Madison this August 2026. Don't miss out on the ultimate summer highlights—plan yo...

The City Cast Madison team stands in front of a pop-up tent at the 2025 Magic Pride Festival.
Madison's BestJuly 17

An AC/DC Fan’s Guide to Madison

Get all the details for the AC/DC Power Up Tour at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison! Discover how to get tickets, show times, and where to...

Brian Johnson of AC/DC stands on stage with his arms extended out the side during a concert in Sao Paulo, Brazil
Madison's BestJuly 7

A Phish Head’s Survival Guide to Madison

Are you going to see Phish in Madison at the Kohl Center this week? Here’s what to know, from your chance to score last-minute tickets to...

A crowd of people wearing colorful t-shirts and bracelets smile at a Phish concert.

The latest in Madison

Madison, ExplainedSeptember 28

What To Know About The Proposed BECI Transmission Line

The 190-mile BECI high-voltage transmission line aims to secure Wisconsin’s grid, but locals and the Dane County Board are demanding dela...

Two large electric towers stand next to a white house.
Food & DrinkSeptember 24

The Best New Restaurants in Madison

This month’s list of the area’s best new restaurants includes a new outpost for a wildly popular local pizza chain, a new sushi spot near...

People eating at booths in a restaurant with a glassed-in kitchen at the rear.
Madison, ExplainedSeptember 22

Know the Constitutional Amendments On Your Fall Ballot

Wisconsin's Nov. 3 election features key governor and legislative races—plus three Republican-backed constitutional amendments. Learn wha...

Multiple red, white, and blue "I Voted" stickers are scattered on a white table.
Madison, ExplainedSeptember 21

Big Changes Planned For Madison’s Breese Stevens Field

As Breese Stevens enters its second century, its owners plan to increase the number of concerts and events. But some neighbors of the fie...

A band playing on an outdoor stage in front of an audience.
Madison, ExplainedSeptember 15

The House on the Rock Is Even Weirder Than You Think

Located about an hour west of Madison, The House on the Rock is one of Wisconsin's most infamous, and certainly oddest, tourist attractio...

People in a narrow room covered in glass.
Madison, ExplainedSeptember 15

How To Guard Against Ticks in Wisconsin This Fall

Tick season isn't over yet. Learn what to expect from fall tick activity in Dane County and get expert tips on how to protect yourself an...

A close-up photo of a small eight-legged insect on a human arm.
Madison NewsSeptember 14

How the Historic Meta Settlement Will Impact Wisconsin

Get the details on Wisconsin’s $200M share of the historic $17B Meta settlement as Attorney General Josh Kaul joins City Cast Madison to...

Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul stands at a podium
Food & DrinkSeptember 10

How the Essen Haus Has Avoided the Wrecking Ball...So Far

Celebrate Oktoberfest 2026 at Madison's iconic Essen Haus on Saturday, Sept. 12! Enjoy a full day of live indoor/outdoor music, German be...

The front of The Essen Haus - a grey building with gold trim. The restaurant sign is pink.