Riverfront tables, rooftop dining, farm patios, and places to eat outside
Outdoor Patio Dining A Great Way To See Southwest Michigan
What kind of outdoor meal do you want? If I’m meeting friends for dinner, I might choose a table beside the boats in New Buffalo. For an easy lunch, I’d be just as happy at a farm patio in Buchanan or a cafe in Benton Harbor. A rooftop has its own appeal, but it may come with age restrictions that matter if children are joining you.
This guide helps you choose by setting, food, and the sort of visit each place suits. Outdoor seating is often weather dependent, and opening dates can change. Once you’ve picked a restaurant, confirm that its patio is serving guests on the day you plan to go.
Best Outdoor Patio Restaurants at a Glance
| Restaurant | Town | Outdoor setting | Go here for |
| Bentwood Tavern | New Buffalo | Marina-side patio | A dinner centered on the harbor setting |
| Plank’s Tavern on the Water | St. Joseph | St. Joseph River patio | A longer meal with a river view |
| Clementine’s Too | St. Joseph | Dockside patio | Casual dining with family or friends |
| The Butler | Saugatuck | Open-air riverfront patio | A meal during a downtown visit |
| The Old Boat House | Saugatuck | Large riverfront patio | A lively lunch or dinner |
| The Stray Dog Bar & Grill | New Buffalo | Seasonal rooftop | An adults-only rooftop meal |
| New Park Gastropub | South Haven | Large outdoor patio | A casual meal near the beach |
| River Saint Joe | Buchanan | Farm patio | Food and drinks away from the waterfront crowds |
| Froehlich’s Kitchen & Pantry | Three Oaks | Outdoor seating | Lunch or dinner during a Three Oaks visit |
| Haymarket Taproom | Bridgman | Casual patio | Pizza and beer |
| Mason Jar Cafe | Benton Harbor | Outdoor cafe seating | Breakfast or lunch |
The distinction I’d make first is between dining beside the water and simply dining outside. Plank’s, Bentwood, and the Saugatuck restaurants put the view at the center of the meal. River Saint Joe, Haymarket, and Mason Jar give you other reasons to choose a patio.
Waterfront and Harbor Patios
Bentwood Tavern — New Buffalo
Bentwood is my pick from this group when dinner is the main event and I want to sit close to the harbor. The restaurant is at Marina Grand Resort, and its dockside patio looks toward New Buffalo’s marina. You’re watching boats and activity on the water here, not eating on the Lake Michigan shoreline. That distinction matters if someone in your group is imagining a beachside table.
The restaurant’s dinner menu gives you more room to linger than a quick waterfront lunch would. It also serves weekend brunch, which is worth considering if you want the marina setting earlier in the day. Patio seating is weather permitting, so I’d ask specifically for an outdoor table when making plans and keep the indoor dining room in mind if conditions change.
Plank’s Tavern on the Water — St. Joseph
I’d choose Plank’s for a sit-down meal where the St. Joseph River is part of the experience but everyone still wants a broad restaurant menu. It’s at the Inn at Harbor Shores, with an outdoor patio overlooking the water. That makes it useful for a mixed group: the setting feels like an occasion, but you don’t have to organize the whole outing around one specialty dish.
There is a useful distinction to make when you contact the restaurant. Plank’s lists an outdoor patio, while its separate Dockside operation is marked closed for the 2026 season. Ask about a patio table at Plank’s rather than assuming Dockside service is available. Reservations are offered, but confirm whether your reservation can include an outdoor seating request.
Clementine’s Too — St. Joseph
Clementine’s Too is the more casual St. Joseph choice I’d suggest to friends who want to watch the river without planning a formal dinner. Its dockside patio faces the St. Joseph River, and the restaurant serves familiar American and seafood dishes. For a family or a group with different tastes, that can be easier than choosing a narrower menu solely for its view.
The restaurant does not take reservations. If your group has its heart set on sitting outside, I’d avoid building a tight schedule around an immediate patio table. Call before heading over to confirm the patio is open, then allow time for a possible wait.
The Butler — Saugatuck
The Butler makes the most sense when you’re already exploring downtown Saugatuck and want the meal to fit into that visit. Its open-air patio overlooks the Kalamazoo River harbor and boardwalk. You can settle in for a casual meal while still feeling connected to what is happening along the waterfront.
This is a central, active setting, so I wouldn’t choose it on the assumption of a quiet, tucked-away dinner. I would choose it when the people-watching and boat activity sound like part of the fun. The Butler describes a two-story open-air patio; if a particular level or view matters to you, ask about seating when you arrive.
The Old Boat House — Saugatuck
The Old Boat House is another Kalamazoo River option, but I’d steer a different group here. Its expansive patio and live music schedule suit friends who want to spend time over lunch or dinner in a livelier setting. The menu includes sandwiches, baskets, and flatbreads, making it a practical choice when the group wants a casual meal rather than a drawn-out dinner.
Check the music schedule if you have a preference: an event can add energy to the meal, while a quieter time may be better for conversation. The restaurant has stated for music events that an RSVP does not guarantee a seat or table. I’d confirm the current seating arrangements directly instead of treating an event sign-up as a patio reservation.
If your main goal is to compare the views, my waterfront restaurants in Southwest Michigan guide covers more choices and explains the difference between riverfront, marina, and other waterside settings.
Rooftops and Lively Outdoor Spaces
The Stray Dog Bar & Grill — New Buffalo
The Stray Dog is the rooftop choice I’d bring up for an adults-only outing in New Buffalo. It’s a livelier setting than Bentwood’s dockside patio, so the decision between the two depends on the evening you want: rooftop energy or a meal beside the marina. The restaurant serves food year-round, but the rooftop operates in season.
The rooftop is 21 and older, and dogs are not allowed there. That is easy to miss when planning for a family or traveling with a pet. Families can use the restaurant’s other dining areas, but I would call ahead if sitting outside together is an essential part of the plan.
New Park Gastropub — South Haven
New Park is a choice when your group wants a roomy patio and a casual restaurant meal, without needing a waterfront table. The gastropub says it has the largest outdoor patio seating area in downtown South Haven and is a short walk from the beaches. Its menu and drinks make more sense for a relaxed gathering than a meal chosen for a particular view.
I’d consider it for a group arriving after separate activities: you can meet for food and spend time outside without making everyone commit to a formal dinner. Check the current patio setup and menu before going, especially if you’re counting on a specific seating arrangement for a larger party.
Patios Away From the Waterfront
River Saint Joe — Buchanan
River Saint Joe is where I’d send a friend who wants outdoor dining to feel like a break from the busy restaurant districts. The brewery serves food on a farm outside Buchanan, with outdoor patio seating and a menu that changes with the season and the farm’s harvests. Come for the setting as well as the meal; checking the current menu is wiser than arriving set on a particular dish.
The service arrangement is useful to know beforehand. You order at the counter, and tables are first come, first served. That keeps the visit flexible, though it means a large group should not count on immediately finding adjacent outdoor seats. The restaurant currently permits leashed dogs on its patio; I’d still confirm that policy before bringing one.
Froehlich’s Kitchen & Pantry — Three Oaks
Froehlich’s suits a day spent in Three Oaks. You can sit down for lunch or dinner at the Kitchen & Pantry and browse its preserves and other pantry goods while you’re in town. I’d suggest it to someone who cares more about the food and the stop itself than having a dramatic view from the table.
Froehlich’s has outdoor dining, but I wouldn’t promise a specific patio arrangement without checking on the day. Also pay attention to which Froehlich’s location you’re heading to: the Kitchen & Pantry and the bakery and deli are separate places across the street from one another.
Haymarket Taproom — Bridgman
Haymarket is the straightforward choice for an outdoor meal built around wood-fired pizza and beer. Its Bridgman taproom has a patio in warmer weather, giving you a casual stop that works well if the group doesn’t want a reservation-centered dinner.
I’d look at the current taproom menu before going if someone wants more than pizza, and check that the patio is open. It’s a different outing from a waterfront restaurant: you’re choosing a relaxed brewery meal, with outdoor seating as a welcome part of it.
Mason Jar Cafe — Benton Harbor
Mason Jar Cafe is the breakfast-and-lunch option I’d keep in mind for Benton Harbor. It serves both meals in the Arts District, and regional tourism information notes additional outdoor seating in summer. That gives you an alternative to planning every patio meal around dinner.
Because outdoor cafe seating can be limited, I’d check availability if sitting outside is the reason for your visit. Otherwise, choose Mason Jar for the meal and treat a patio table as a bonus. It works particularly well when you want to eat first and spend more of the day exploring afterward.
Before You Ask for a Patio Table
A few direct questions can save a disappointing arrival. Is the patio open today? Can you reserve an outdoor table, or are those seats first come, first served? If it rains, will your party have an indoor table? For lunch, ask about shade if anyone in your group would find a long meal in direct sun uncomfortable.
Check rules for the exact seating area, too. The Stray Dog’s rooftop is 21+, while The Butler allows only service dogs on its patio. River Saint Joe says leashed dogs are welcome outdoors. Policies differ even among restaurants with patios, so I would never assume that “outdoor dining” means “dog-friendly dining.” If you’re bringing a dog, use my pet-friendly restaurants in Southwest Michigan guide to narrow the options, then confirm the restaurant’s current policy.
Closing
I’d pick the restaurant for the meal and setting you actually want, then confirm the outdoor seats before leaving. A patio request is more useful when you know whether you want marina activity, a lively rooftop, or a quieter meal inland. If the weather changes your plans, the Southwest Michigan restaurants guide has more places to eat across the region.