As the weather warms and people seek out sunny spots to enjoy a refreshing drink or two, restaurants can capitalize on their high-in-demand outdoor spaces.

The benefits are vast, with 90% of restaurants with outdoor seating saying they plan to continue to offer it.

Whether you’re looking for innovative ways to maximize your restaurant’s outdoor space without breaking the bank or looking to create an entirely new space under the open sky, it can be done with just a few strategic tweaks. 

Discover seven cost-effective strategies to transform your outdoor space into an inviting summer hotspot that brings in more patrons and profits.

From simple aesthetic upgrades to clever operational tactics, we'll show you how to make the most of the sunny season.

Benefits of Restaurant Patio Dining 

A successfully managed outdoor dining area can significantly boost a restaurant's visibility, customer satisfaction, and profitability. 

Top benefits of investing in an outdoor space include:

• Increasing capacity to accommodate more guests, especially during rush hour
• Providing a scenic atmosphere for those looking for unique dining experiences
• Catering to a broader range of consumer preferences and creating more service flexibility

Expanding your dining area to the outdoors not only optimizes your operational capacity but also taps into the trend of outdoor dining. By catering to this demand, you position your restaurant to capture a wider audience, ultimately driving greater revenue and success.

1. Prep Your Patio

Undertaking a full upgrade of the outdoor area may not be feasible when profit margins are already stretched thin. Before you construct a new layout, open a fresh paint bucket, or buy new outdoor furniture, start the season by giving your outdoor area a thorough scrub. 

This includes removing debris accumulated over the spring, power washing stains away, and checking furniture and equipment for wear and tear. 

Instead of replacing them entirely, clean outdoor textiles like cushions and umbrellas with budget-friendly supplies such as dish soap, water, vinegar solution, and upholstery cleaner.

Ensure you regularly upkeep these items throughout the season and properly store them to maintain the cleanliness and appeal of the outdoor space and extend their lifespan for the following year. 

A thorough cleaning checklist can help you get the job done. This initial investment in maintenance ensures your space is welcoming and safe, preventing costly repairs or new purchases later.

2. Comfort is Key

Some restaurants opt to close their patios when temperatures soar during the summer months, but they may be cutting off a significant source of their income by doing so.

With the summers tending to be a slower season, you may be setting yourself up for missed revenue opportunities by cutting down on your restaurant’s seating space. 

The key to a successful patio season even in the heat is comfort. Incorporate shading options like umbrellas or awnings to protect guests from the harsh sun and install outdoor fans or portable air conditioners to keep the area cool. 

For cooler evenings, provide blankets and utilize heating solutions. If you’re looking to invest in new furniture, opt for multi-functional seating that doubles as storage; this is an excellent way to keep those blankets handy without the need to spend extra on additional furniture pieces.

No one likes to share their plates with bugs. Integrating certain plants that not only serve as a pop of decorative color but also as dish ingredients and bug-repellant is a win-win-win for all. 

Plants like lemongrass, basil, marigolds, rosemary, chrysanthemums, and lavender deter pests and enhance the aesthetic appeal of a dining space. These plants are low-maintenance and add a fresh scent, improving the overall dining experience.

3. Outdoor Restaurant Design Visuals

Create a visually appealing space with budget-friendly DIY projects. Paint a mural on a visible wall to add a vibrant touch that also serves as a perfect backdrop for Instagram-worthy photos. Choose themes that resonate with your brand identity or local culture to engage your audience more deeply.

Implement efficient lighting solutions to set the right mood. String lights, solar-powered lamps, and upcycled fixtures can provide sufficient and cost-effective lighting. Strategically place lights to highlight dining areas and pathways while enhancing the overall ambiance. 

Enhance each table with candles for an added glow, choosing scents like eucalyptus, lavender, peppermint, and tea tree. These scents not only create a pleasant atmosphere but also naturally repel insects, adding functionality to their aesthetic appeal.

4. Service

Often, the journey from back-of-house to patio dining is more than just a walk—it’s a trek. This back-and-forth between the cool comfort of air conditioning and the challenging outdoor heat and humidity can really wear on your staff. A practical fix? Consider installing air conditioning units outdoors to bridge the comfort gap.

Another way to beat the heat is through a flexible uniform design. If your team sports company-provided uniforms, offering a version with short sleeves or even sleeveless tops for those working the patio can make a world of difference. 

Outfitting your team in breathable fabrics and protective, non-slip footwear ensures they’re dressed not just for the job, but for the weather too. A comfortable team is a productive team, after all.

Efficiency isn’t just about speed; it’s about smart planning. Equip patio servers with mobile POS systems and optimize your patio layout with the kitchen in mind to cut down on unnecessary foot traffic. Implementing satellite service stations equipped with essentials like water, utensils, and condiments can significantly ease the strain on your staff.

5. Summer Menu Design

Effective menu design is both a science and an art, balancing aesthetic appeal with profitability.

Introduce summer specials that enhance the outdoor dining experience, focusing on light and refreshing dishes that are quick to prepare and serve. 

Utilize seasonal ingredients to craft high-quality offerings while also reducing ingredient costs. These strategic menu updates not only cater to the preferences of diners looking for lighter fare in warmer weather but also optimize kitchen efficiency and cost-effectiveness.

Testing out new recipes? MarketMan’s Digital Cookbook provides restaurateurs a way to curate perfectly portioned meals, view reports on prime cost and shrinkage, easily train kitchen staff, and guarantee consistent dishes, every time.

6. Scheduling Staff

Summer weather can be unpredictable, shifting quickly from thunderstorms one minute to bright sunshine the next. 

This unpredictability can complicate managing outdoor reservations, whether that’s needing to move outdoor reservations indoors due to bad weather or accommodate last-minute outdoor reservations for an unforeseen sunny afternoon. 

‍Ensuring you’re never understaffed is a challenge throughout the year, but with seasonal fluctuations added to the mix, you’ll want to be prepared.

To handle this effectively, leverage your restaurant's historical sales data and trends to craft more accurate staffing schedules. 

Utilize scheduling software to keep a close eye on labor costs, swiftly adjust schedules, and enable easy shift swaps. Additionally, cross-train your team across multiple areas so they are versatile and can adapt quickly. This approach helps your team never miss a beat and ensures guests leave happy.

7. Outdoor Entertainment

Utilizing your outdoor space for entertainment like games and live music can significantly enhance your restaurant's appeal, drawing in more customers. Adding outdoor games like cornhole or Jenga also creates a playful touch, and encourages patrons to stay longer, increasing the likelihood of additional sales.

For live music, setting up a small, modular stage that can be assembled and disassembled as needed allows you to host a variety of events without committing to a permanent structure. For those on budget, leverage partnerships with local musicians who may perform for reduced rates in exchange for exposure, and invest in durable, multi-use game sets that require minimal maintenance.

MarketMan is a cloud-based restaurant inventory management software that takes the guesswork out of running a restaurant and simplifies all back-of-house operations. Streamline everything from inventory and vendor management to reporting and budgeting all on one unified platform. Book a demo and learn how MarketMan can help your business today!