The 5 Best Decks/Patios/Rooftops Around Summit County

At elevations around 9,000 feet, outdoor dining in Summit County comes with scenery that is difficult to replicate indoors. A table outside might overlook Lake Dillon, sit beside the Blue River or frame the peaks surrounding Breckenridge, turning lunch, happy hour or dinner into a chance to spend more time in the mountain air. Fire pits, dog-friendly seating and seasonal gathering spaces help extend the experience when temperatures allow. The Best of Summit recognizes local establishments that make their outdoor spaces an important part of dining and drinking in the High Country.

5th Avenue Grille

5th Avenue Grille incorporates patio seating into its chef-driven steakhouse and craft cocktail concept on Frisco’s Main Street. The outdoor space is more than overflow from the dining room: The restaurant serves its sandwich menu on the patio throughout the day, with choices such as the 1921 Burger, Wagyu Bistro Burger, Signature Ribeye Dip and Shrimp Po’ Boy. Happy hour also extends outside, bringing discounted appetizers and drinks to patio tables. The food ranges from grilled filet tips and sesame Brussels sprouts to fish tacos and bang shrimp, while the bar pours beer, wine, martinis, mules and original cocktails. That combination lets the patio shift naturally from lunch into an afternoon drink and eventually dinner. Inside, the restaurant offers several different environments, including its Ember Room and tavern, but the patio gives diners the chance to take 5th Avenue Grille’s scratch-made food outside during Frisco’s warmer mountain days.

Sauce on the Blue

Sauce on the Blue takes full advantage of its location beside the Blue River in Silverthorne, where its patio can accommodate about 50 guests with the river as a backdrop. The outdoor setting accompanies an Italian menu that ranges from house-made pizza and pasta to appetizers, salads, seafood and meat entrées. Happy hour takes place in the bar and on the patio, giving outdoor diners access to specials on small plates, 10-inch pizzas, wine, cocktails, draft beer and well drinks. Pizza dough and sauce are made in-house, while appetizers include arancini, bruschetta, calamari, mussels and house-made meatballs. The beverage program adds wine, cocktails and an extensive whiskey and bourbon selection to the experience. Patio tables are not reservable, and Sauce on the Blue even maintains a live view of the outdoor area so guests can get a look at conditions before heading over.

Vue Rooftop

Vue Rooftop builds its identity around elevation and the panorama that comes with it. Located on the fourth floor of the Homewood Suites in Dillon, the restaurant combines indoor and outdoor seating with views toward Lake Dillon and the surrounding Rocky Mountains. Its outdoor area includes a fire pit, giving guests a gathering point when mountain temperatures begin to drop. The menu complements the setting with small plates suited to sharing as well as contemporary entrées, while the bar pours local craft beer and cocktails. Happy hour runs during the afternoon, making the rooftop a place to transition from a day on the lake or in the mountains into drinks and dinner. The outdoor space also functions as an event venue. Vue divides its rooftop patio into areas that can be reserved for private gatherings, and patio access can accompany events in its private dining room. Whether guests arrive for cocktails or a celebration, the open-air setting keeps Lake Dillon and the Ten Mile Range central to the experience.

Kenosha

Kenosha’s spacious back deck gives its Main Street restaurant an outdoor counterpart built for Breckenridge’s warmer months. The patio pairs mountain views with a menu of house-smoked barbecue, hand-cut steaks, burgers, salads and sandwiches, while more than 30 craft beers on tap emphasize Colorado breweries. Dogs are welcome in the outdoor picnic-bench area, and the restaurant has developed special events around that feature, including its deck-only Yappy Hour. A fire pit on the upper tier adds warmth and another gathering spot when temperatures cool. Kenosha also uses the outdoor space for seasonal events and food and drink specials, making the deck part of the restaurant’s social calendar rather than simply a collection of tables outside. Its position on Main Street and proximity to the Riverwalk make the patio a convenient stop before or after downtown events, with lunch, dinner and drinks all sharing the same open-air setting.

Saved by the Wine

Saved by the Wine brings the relaxed character of its Dillon wine bar outside with a dog-friendly patio. Founded in Summit County in 2020, the women-owned and operated business combines a global wine selection and wine on tap with cocktails, wellness-forward mocktails, whiskey and wine flights. Food is designed to accompany the drinks, including charcuterie, fondue, shareable comfort food and house-made desserts. The patio also becomes an event space in its own right. Saved by the Wine has used it for gatherings that combine activities such as barre classes, a DJ and local vendors, illustrating how the outdoor area extends beyond conventional dining. Dogs fit naturally into the setting and into the larger identity of the business: Saved by the Wine donates 2.5% of its net profits to animal nonprofits. That connection between outdoor gathering, wine and animal welfare gives the patio a character closely tied to the mission behind the restaurant.

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