The Best Al Fresco Dining In Little Rock, Arkansas

Tacos and margaritas are Local Lime’s specialty and every cocktail is original and handmade with freshly squeezed juices, house-made syrups, and the best tequilas and liqueurs. Their year-round patio is equipped with oversized booths to make their experience more comfortable and relaxing. All of their taco plates are served with three tacos and your choice of two sides between cilantro lime rice, black beans, jicama-jalapeño slaw, drunken beans with smoky bacon, or spicy house-pickled vegetables. If a plate of tacos is too much, then consider the à la carte tacos. Happy hour is Monday to Friday from 2pm-6pm and house margaritas are five dollars at those times. Take advantage of this time and order a frozen, or on the rocks, local time margarita made with reposado tequila, lime juice, and simple syrup, served with a salted rim. It’s best to enjoy this drink while taking in the sights from the patio.

17815 Chenal Pkwy, Ste F-105, Little Rock, AR, +1 501 448 2226

Winner of the Best Food Truck Around The State and Best Restaurant Benton/Bryant and runner-up for the Best Mexican Around The State, Baja Grill aims to please and give the best food they can make in their kitchen. Great quality food includes fresh, reliable ingredients and it is no surprise that Baja Grill uses locally made flour tortillas and their house-made four-cheese blend for their quesadillas. All of the quesadillas are served with a side of sour cream and pico de gallo (a salad with tomatoes, onions, and lime juice). The passing traffic adds to the experience of enjoying this award-winning menu outside. The outside seating adds to the freshness that Baja Grill serves and regardless of whether there is snow, rain, or shining rays of sunlight, customers flock here to enjoy the Mexican cuisine of this wonderful al fresco restaurant.

5923 Kavanaugh Blvd, Little Rock, AR, +1 501 722 8920

Choose among the many appetizers, salads and soups, tacos, burritos, tortas, and tamales at The Fold: Botanas & Bar. Here, customers can enjoy a barbecue and beef tamale that is topped with queso, pico de gallo, cilantro, and queso fresco while enjoying their outdoor seating. If you do not want to be completely outside, there is a garage-style door that lifts to let in natural sunlight and the outdoor sounds of the streets, the whir of the passing cars’ engines, and birds chirping.

3501 Old Cantrell Rd., Little Rock, AR, +1 501 916 9706

Enjoy the sunset over the sparkling waters on Cajun’s Wharf patio while eating their sampler platter called the surf and turf where filet mignon, Alaskan king crab, and barbecue shrimp are all on the same plate, served with wild rice. Or, if you are looking for a surprise try their fresh fish of the day. The catch of the day will be sautéed, finished with crawfish meunière and served with delightful garlic-sausage yellow pepper grits. Then, as the sun is going down, guests can look over the horizon on the Arkansas River. A dessert menu, with a decadent and sweet white chocolate bread pudding with whiskey caramel sauce, can round off a wonderful night at Cajun’s Wharf.

2400 Cantrell Rd., Little Rock, AR, +1 501 375 5351

Try Loca Luna classics that have been top sellers for 20 years. The Loca Luna seafood platter is a perfect creation of grilled jumbo shrimp and sea scallops grilled in a sweet and spicy thai sauce, and served with lobster crab cake with chipotle cream, seasonal veggies, and grilled wild salmon with a tequila-cranberry glaze. All of this is served with your choice of the potatoes or fiesta rice as your side. According to Bon Appetit Magazine, Southern Living Magazine, and Rachael Ray’s Tasty Travels, Loca Luna is ‘one of America’s best neighborhood restaurants’. The intimate setting of the outdoor seating is delightful, the tables are surrounded by many beautiful trees, while the tables are topped with large umbrellas and the ground is brick laid.

3519 Old Cantrell Rd., Little Rock, AR, +1 501 663 4666