It’s no secret that the COVID-19 pandemic is changing the landscape of travel. 2020 has seen many restaurants forced to improvise, leading to an explosion in outdoor dining options. In 2021, we think this trend will continue – with many gourmands continuing to look for restaurants with patios and open air dining spaces. To help inspire your next trip, we’ve listed 12 of the world’s best cities for eating and drinking outdoors.

Cities across the world are subject to lockdowns and restrictions – always check destinations before you travel and follow local social-distancing guidelines. Restaurants and cafés may have reduced seating in order to ensure customer safety so it is advisable to book ahead where possible to avoid disappointment.

In Greece’s capital city, buzzing cafés and fusion food restaurants spill out onto the streets, rubbing shoulders with ancient ruins and Byzantine churches. While away an afternoon over meze small plates and ouzo with a view of the Acropolis at Monastiraki’s traditional tavernas, or take to the cobbled streets of the bohemian Psyrri neighborhood for a walking tour of its street food. 

Bangkok is the undisputed king of street eats. Here, you never need travel far to find a roadside vendor cooking up mouth-watering delicacies such as kluay tod (deep fried banana) and moo ping (grilled pork skewers). To experience the best of the city's vibrant street food scene, head straight to Yaowarat Road in Chinatown, home to hundreds of no frills food stalls and restaurants serving inexpensive and authentic cuisine.

This picture perfect city is full of cozy terraces ideal for al fresco dining, whether you want to sample world-renowned Belgian beer, hearty traditional dishes or contemporary Michelin-starred cuisine. The Markt, Bruges’ old market square, is home to a multitude of cafés and restaurants – the best place to indulge in the famous twice-fried frites and mouth-watering waffles.

There’s nothing quite like sipping an espresso on the Piazza della Signoria as the morning sun hits the Palazzo Vecchio, the promise of another sunny day filled with fantastic sights hanging in the air. From breakfast on tiny tables down cobbled side streets to cocktail hour at Ponte Vecchio, aperitvos on rooftop terraces to contemporary cuisine in ultra-cool San Frediano, outdoor dining is practically a religion in Florence.

The culinary capital of South America, Lima is a treat for the taste buds. A city blessed with an all-year-round mild climate, this is the perfect destination for alfresco dining. The modern restaurants in the Larcomar shopping mall provide outdoor seating with an ocean view while bohemian Barranco offers cozy gardens with wood-burning ovens and outdoor bars. For something extra special, dine out on a patio facing the spectacular ruins of Huaca Pucllana, a temple constructed around AD 400.

London’s sensational food scene plays out across trendy rooftop terraces, cozy café courtyards and leafy pub gardens. At the city’s numerous open-air markets, stalls, trucks and even converted shipping containers serve delicious and authentic street eats from every country imaginable. When the current lockdown restrictions are eased, expect restaurants and pubs to make their outdoor spaces as warm and safe as possible to entice customers back – even in the cold winter months!

Madrileños thrive on alfresco living, their city brimming with rooftop terrazas and showpiece squares that provide ample opportunity to dine outdoors. A city for night owls, long sultry evenings are spent on sidewalk-cum-salons where locals linger over drinks and small plates before getting serious about dinner around 10pm. Compact enough to travel around with ease, Madrid promises to keep foodies well fed for little effort.

When the sun sets, Marrakech’s spectacular main square, Jemaa el-Fna, is transformed into a giant open-air restaurant. Here, hundreds of stalls sell traditional dishes of freshly grilled meats, fish and vegetables. Sit back on one of the many benches surrounding the square and soak in the ambience while the air fills with the aroma of spices and the sounds of storytellers entrancing audiences.

The Open Restaurants Program, which has allowed restaurants in New York City to extend seating onto streets, sidewalks and public spaces during the COVID-19 pandemic has been made a permanent fixture. This means that foodies can enjoy all year round alfresco dining in the city where just about every type of cuisine is showcased, from Colombian and Armenian to Korean and Senegalese.

Of course, it's no surprise that Parisians dine in style. Make like the locals and caffeinate outside centuries-old cafés with the smell of freshly baked pastries wafting through the air, take a leisurely lunch on beautiful garden-facing terraces, or sip Bordeaux vintages under bistro awnings strung with fairy lights while the setting sun amplifies the city’s romantic aura.

A delicious melting pot of cultures, this tropical city-state is a fusion food heaven where colorful pre-war shophouses lining the waterfront have been reborn into hip cafés. There’s no shortage of spots to dine outdoors with a spectacular view of the iconic skyline reflected on the bay. For tasty cuisine that won't break your budget, head to Singapore's vibrant hawker centers (open-air food courts).

Tel Aviv has taken inspiration from central European café culture and elevated it to the next level. The gastro delights of the city can be enjoyed at Paris-style sidewalk cafés and shady Bauhaus gardens, as well as in the hipster establishments of south Tel Aviv’s Florentine neighborhood. Spend the day on Rothschild Boulevard eating your way along its central strip of kiosks and unwind in the evening at one of the city’s numerous rooftop bars.

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