Top 7 Restaurants for Outside Seating in the Burlington Area 

The Farmhouse Tap & Grill

160 Bank St., Burlington, farmhousetg.com

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• Matthew Thorsen
• The Farmhouse Tap & Grill

Sitting at a picnic table in the backyard beer garden at this gastropub, surrounded by growing herbs and flowers, you'd never guess that the previous restaurant in this spot was ... a McDonald's. These days, 160 Bank Street serves local burgers, homemade charcuterie, comfort food and innovative specials. The tucked-away garden is great for sippin' from Burlington's finest — and farthest-reaching — beer list and forgetting about the rest of the world. But you can also snag a table on the sunny front patio, perfect for people watching.

ArtsRiot

400 Pine St., Burlington, artsriot.com

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• ArtsRiot Truck Stop in Burlington

Enjoy beef tartare, the signature 400 Burger or popcorn chicken underneath twinkly lights in the hip open-air patio. On summer Fridays, a fleet of food trucks parks out back.

The Inn at Shelburne Farms

1611 Harbor Rd., Shelburne, shelburnefarms.org

Most of the meats and veggies are sourced from the farm at this elegant inn-restaurant, open May through October. Sit outside for a view of the formal flower gardens and sparkling Lake Champlain.

Istanbul Kebab House

175 Church St., Burlington, istanbulkebabhousevt.com

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• Oliver Parini
• Istanbul Kebab House

Sample sizzling kebabs, savory casseroles and apple-maple baklava — not to mention rose-scented Turkish delight. Rooftop tables offer the best outdoor dining in town.

Leunig's Bistro & Café

115 Church St., Burlington, leunigsbistro.com

French-inflected fare and great views of Church Street make for a memorable meal. The upstairs lounge has made-to-order tapas and inventive cocktails.

Splash at the Boathouse

0 College St., splashattheboathouse.com

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• Oliver Parini
• Splash at the Boathouse

Eat on the lake — literally. Grab a seat on the floating dock and enjoy the view of Lake Champlain and the Adirondacks while eating Malibu Rum coconut shrimp or fish tacos.

Waterworks Food + Drink

20 Winooski Falls Way, Winooski, waterworksvt.com

Patio seats are in high demand at this former textile mill overlooking the Winooski River. The wood-fired oven turns out flatbreads that pair well with inspired cocktails.