By Stephanie Thara Metzinger
As Southern California starts to heat up, you may be looking for a place where you can enjoy the nice weather with a fresh, frosty brewski in hand. We have you covered.
My friends, family and I have journeyed all throughout Orange County to compile a list of the top craft breweries with outdoor patios that can offer a haven during these summer months. These breweries were selected based on a methodical formula that factored in elements such as the size and quality of the outdoor venue; beer and food selection; activities/entertainment available; and of course, vibe.
Let’s get into it.
2210 E Orangewood Ave, Anaheim, CA 92806
Golden Road has the best beer garden I’ve ever seen. Ever. There are numerous outside areas you can escape to – whether it’s in the endless sea of umbrella-covered benches atop artificial grass or just relaxing on the couches surrounding a fire pit. It has three full bars outside, along with a portable mini bar and taco stand. Multiple water stations are available outside to keep you well hydrated without having to go inside the taproom.
You can find games like cornhole, ping pong, and massive Connect 4, and the brewery turns up the vibe at night with café lights and music.
Pros:
- Seating galore
- A huge selection of beers (~30 beers on tap)
- In-house kitchen with shareable items
- Kid-friendly/dog-friendly
Cons:
- It gets very crowded – especially when there’s an Angels game
Pro tip: peak hours tend to be 2 hours prior to game time, so check the Angels schedule to avoid the crowds - Free parking is scarce (on game days, they have reserved lots that are $20)
17877 Von Karman Ave, Unit 110, Irvine, CA 92614
If you read my “Top 8 Kid-Friendly Breweries” blog, you know how much I sing Hangar 24’s praises for being the most kid-friendly brewery in Orange County. And that’s mostly because of its kick ass outdoor area.
Hangar 24 sports an insane amount of open space and seating, with six different areas you can choose to sit in. The expansive space includes an outdoor bar, basketball court, aviary, two areas of artificial turf to run around/play sports, and multiple stages for live entertainment.
Pros:
- Plenty of outdoor seating, with covered areas
- In-house kitchen with a solid menu
- Ample parking
- Live entertainment on the weekends
- Kid-friendly/dog-friendly
Cons:
- Tends to be overrun with children
3191 E La Palma Ave, Anaheim, CA 92806
I thoroughly enjoy the wide selection of beers that Brewery X offers on tap. As a bonus, the beers are unique and quite tasty. Brewery X’s Biergarten is expansive with numerous zones of seating and also houses the brewery’s own restaurant, X EATS.
Pros:
- Large selection of tasty beers
- Wide variety of food options
- Kid-friendly/dog-friendly
Cons:
- Small parking lot & no street parking that’s respectable walking distance
- Outdoor area fills up quickly & finding seats can be tough
555 S Anaheim Blvd, Anaheim, CA 92805
Villains maintains a large outside patio with a few different seating areas that are, for the most part, shaded. While the beers are okay at best, the food served from the in-house restaurant is delicious. I’m also a fan of its vibe, with notorious villains painted on walls and doors throughout the facility.
Pros:
- Finger-licking good food
- Cool look, feel & vibe
- Kid-friendly/dog-friendly
Cons:
130 S Highland Ave, Fullerton, CA 92832
First off, Bootlegger’s beers are phenomenal. If you want a good selection of beers, where every single beer is delicious, then definitely head to Bootleggers. The patio at its Fullerton location is substantially large with ample seating – but it’s a lot of concrete. It typically has a food vendor during peak hours. Bootleggers also has a Costa Mesa location, which has a much smaller patio.
Pros:
- Big selection of well-brewed beers
- Dog-friendly
Cons:
- Lack of shade in the non-covered patio areas
2948 Randolph Ave, Unit C, Costa Mesa, CA 92626
Salty Bear’s outdoor patio is always high energy and has a happening vibe. With bench seating that wraps around the facility, patrons can choose to sit either in the eclectic concrete jungle or welcoming gravel oasis. As every patron here usually has a dog, this is one of the most dog-friendly breweries I’ve visited in the OC.
Pros:
- Large selection of well-brewed beers
- Kid-friendly and VERY dog-friendly
- Occasional live entertainment
Cons:
- With rotating food vendors on occasion, it’s a hit or miss with food
2957 Randolph Ave, Ste B, Costa Mesa, CA 92626
Though Green Cheek’s tap room is quite spacious, its outdoor patio satisfies if you are looking to enjoy a solid beer outdoors. It has several rows of bench seating atop artificial turf. It also has a portable mini bar when the brewery reaches peak hours. Additionally, Green Cheek has a location in Sunset Beach with a small, rooftop patio that’s outdoors.
Pros:
- In-house kitchen with notable food options
- Kid-friendly
Cons:
- Gets very crowded on nights and weekends
- Can be overrun with kids at times
859 Laguna Canyon Rd, Laguna Beach, CA 92651
The patio area is built out into the parking lot and not as big as the previous breweries mentioned, but it’s still pretty comfortable. What wins me over about Laguna Beer Co is its ample selection of beers (trust me, each and every beer is yummy!) and that it has a kitchen with a solid selection of shareables and flatbreads.
Pros:
- Many delicious beers on tap
- Chill, relaxed vibe
- In-house food options
- Dog-friendly
Cons:
717 Dunn Way, Placentia, CA 92870
Although its taproom is small, the Bruery has created a fairly large makeshift outdoor patio in the parking lot that’s outfitted with artificial grass, ample seating, shade and a barrier of barrels to act as a wall. The Bruery is known for its experimental beers, so if you are looking for a unique collection of beers, this is your place.
Pros:
- Calm, relaxing vibe
- Occasional live entertainment
- Unique selection of beers (your go-to for adventurous, small-batch beers)
- Kid-friendly/dog-friendly
Cons:
- Unique selection of beers (if you want standard beer types, you may be hard pressed to find them)
- Food trucks are a hit or miss, so food options are limited
1501 W Orangewood Ave Ste. 101, Orange, CA 92868
Everywhere is a hidden gem. While its taproom seating is fairly spacious, the patio is where the brewery really shines – especially at night. When the sun goes down, café lights overtake the outdoor patio and cast a romantic glow that creates a welcoming, warm vibe. Everywhere’s desert-themed artwork/design plus its delicately lit patio truly creates a vibe that beckons for a good pint of beer and comforting conversation.
Pros:
- Amazing ambiance
- Easy parking
- Dog-friendly
Cons:
- No in-house restaurant but there are rotating food vendors during peak hours
Now, these are just the Top 10. I would be remiss if I didn’t share the full list of breweries throughout Orange County with a respectable patio. I had a little help from CaliBeerBear—my beer influencer buddy—to collect the data, but here it is!
Have we missed any that you feel should be added to the list? Share them below in the comment section or email us at [email protected]. We’d love to hear from you!
Until next time, cheers!
— Stephanie
Instagram @stephzinger
https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephaniethara
