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Diners' Choice: Great for outdoor dining restaurants in Charlottesville

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OpenTable
Updated 05 January 2025

Looking for the best restaurants that are great for outdoor dining in Charlottesville? You’re in the right place. Each month, OpenTable analyses nearly 2 million global diner reviews from the past four months. We sort the results by location and category to help you discover new favourite restaurants. It's a great partnership: you book, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!


A photo of Public Fish & Oyster restaurant
4.9
4.9 (2638)
$31 to $50
Seafood
Charlottesville
About the restaurant
Public Fish and Oyster serves only the freshest and responsibly sourced seafood. We believe in the complete dining experience and our knowledgeable staff is eager to provide you with the best dining experience Charlottesville has to offer.
Top review
William
Dined 3 days ago
Public Fish & Oyster is our favorite restaurant for dinner.
A photo of Black Cow Chophouse restaurant
4.9
4.9 (495)
$31 to $50
Steakhouse
Charlottesville
About the restaurant
Black Cow Chophouse is Charlottesville's spot for steaks, chops, fine wines, modern & classic cocktails and fun times. We feature a huge daily selection of both dry-aged and non dry-aged local and nationally sourced beef, as well as pork, game and lamb cuts. Our beverage program is carefully crafted and our hospitality is second to none. For the budget conscious, visit during our daily happy hour from 4:30 to 6:00 for Charlottesville's best steak deal and discounted drinks.
Top review
Donnie
Dined 4 days ago
Food and service were amazing!! The choice of cuts was extensive and everything was prepared beautifully.
A photo of Hamiltons' At First & Main restaurant
4.8
4.8 (2341)
$30 and under
Contemporary American
Charlottesville
About the restaurant
Contemporary Fine Dining in Charlottesville, Virginia Located in the heart of Charlottesville’s Downtown district, Hamiltons’ is the perfect spot for a delicious afternoon lunch or a romantic evening dinner. A cheerful, cozy atmosphere and attentive service ensure our guests enjoy an outstanding dining experience, be they Charlottesville natives, out-of-town visitors, or University students and staff. We also feature outdoor patio seating seasonally, providing our guests the opportunity to dine amidst the bustle of the Downtown Mall.
Top review
Laura
Dined 5 days ago
Had a wonderful experience. While technically no "kids" menu, we were able to order a lunch sized entree for our child which was perfect. Wait staff super accommodating and friendly. Always love the vegetarian blue plate special.
A photo of Maya restaurant
4.7
4.7 (1514)
$31 to $50
Southern
Charlottesville
About the restaurant
Maya is now accepting reservations from 4:30-8:30 Monday through Saturday as well as curbside take out orders during the same hours. Please visit our homepage to see our updated selections daily. Please call if you require a reservation over 8 guests. Seating preferences will be honored based on volume and staffing.




Located in the center of Charlottesville Virginia’s Midtown, MAYA serves dinner 6 days a week. Our “made from scratch” menu is prepared daily in honor of the Old Southern Kitchen.

Top review
LouisVIP
Dined 4 days ago
This is a fun, casual neighborhood gem! If we lived here, we definitely would be regular customers. They have an innovative cocktail list with items as potent as they are tasty. All of the food from appetizers to entrees to desserts were delicious and full of flavor. And the friendly, engaging, attentive service was the topper to a great dining experience!
A photo of Cafe Frank restaurant
4.7
4.7 (333)
$31 to $50
Contemporary French / American
Charlottesville
About the restaurant
Café Frank is a vibrant, intimate Franco-Italian restaurant and cocktail bar on Charlottesville's Historic Downtown Pedestrian Mall. We can't wait to serve you!


Top review
MarkVIP
Dined on 27 Dec 2024
Love this outpost in C’ville. Almost can imagine sitting in Paris. Bar service is exceptional.
A photo of Rapture restaurant
4.6
4.6 (223)
$30 and under
Southern
Charlottesville
About the restaurant
Rapture features playful, farm-to-table Southern cuisine in a swank-but-cozy atmosphere. We have outdoor dining, billiards tables, and live music several nights a week.
Top review
Joe
Dined on 27 Dec 2024
Our waiter/server was excellent. So was the food. We will be back again.
A photo of The Local restaurant
4.5
4.5 (2534)
$30 and under
Contemporary American
Charlottesville
About the restaurant
UVA Graduation Weekend: May 17-19: Please see experience listed below

Come visit and experience The Local!

We believe everyone should experience meals that feature delicately prepared fresh local ingredients in a great atmosphere. In our corner of the world, everyone's a Local. EAT, DRINK, & BE LOCAL.

Note that when selecting outside, you will be in a covered area.

Top review
Nicole
Dined 2 days ago
Great service, cocktails🔥, mushroom ragout amazing!
A photo of 1799 at The Clifton restaurant
4.5
4.5 (751)
$50 and over
Farm-to-table
Charlottesville
About the restaurant
We are serving a wonderful ala carte menu with many delicious & unique options. We have an award winning wine list, and cocktail menu available as well - ask about our 'smoked' cocktails.

Set in a charming and historic house on a ridge overlooking The Rivanna River in Charlottesville, Virginia, 1799 at The Clifton is committed to cooking beautiful, locally sourced food in a warm yet chic atmosphere. Michelin Starred Chef Matthew Bousquet and his team are dedicated to giving you the best of new Piedmont cooking in a special way. Come and explore the offerings of our Chef’s seasonal menus, featuring the bounty of our own organic vegetable and herb garden. We look forward to making your visit truly memorable! Please make any requests on seating preferences, using the reservation notes. We will do our absolute best to accommodate all request based on availability.

Top review
LindaVIP
Dined 4 days ago
We had a great anniversary, lunch and beautiful setting with fantastic food and service
A photo of The Good Sport restaurant
4.2
4.2 (94)
$30 and under
Pub
Charlottesville
About the restaurant
The Good Sport delivers classic tavern fare, local craft beer and a sense of familiarity in a warm and relaxed setting – the perfect pre- and post-game spot, or a reprise after a long workday. This gathering place serves up comforting classics, such as Wagyu Brisket Slider with hydro watercress, fresh grated horseradish crème and shaved onion, along with a classic Fried Chicken Sandwich, with kimchi slaw, chili crisp mayo and pickled cucumbers. A large selection of signature cocktails, as well as whiskeys, local wines, and other spirits rounds out the bar experience. Valet parking is available, free for the first two hours with validation. Street parking is also available without a permit after 5pm daily and on the weekends.
Top review
Andrea
Dined on 31 Oct 2024
Smash burger and fries were both fabulous!! Service was great.
A photo of The Ridley restaurant
4.1
4.1 (504)
$30 and under
Southern
Charlottesville
About the restaurant
The Ridley is THE destination for upscale-casual dining and fresh seafood offerings in Charlottesville, Virginia. Located within The Draftsmen boutique hotel, The Ridley combines convenience and accessibility with an unparalleled dining experience. As one of Charlottesville’s Black-owned restaurants, the concept pays homage to Dr. Walter N. Ridley, the first Black student to graduate from The University of Virginia and receive a graduate degree from any major, historically white public university in the South.
Top review
Patricia
Dined on 25 Dec 2024
We were happy to celebrate Christmas dinner at The Ridley, a new restaurant for us near home. Our server was the best we’ve ever had! She was very attentive and sweet, even offering to take our picture. The southern-style Christmas buffet was excellent, especially the collards and desserts, according to my partner. I had blackened salmon, perfectly prepared.
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