The 10 Best Restaurant Patios in Lansing, MI

Last updated September 18, 2026 · ranked from 10,079 Google reviews · How we rank

The best patios in Lansing, MI pair outdoor seating with distinct reasons to visit: slow-smoked barbecue, homemade soup, weekend brunch, or drinks at a sports bar. Meat BBQ at 1224 Turner Rd leads this selection in both Google rating and review volume, with 4.7 stars from 5,220 reviews. It serves barbecue and handmade sides, allows dogs outside, and usually has a wait; reservations are not accepted. Soup Spoon Café at 1419 E Michigan Ave follows with 4.6 stars from 3,234 reviews. Its outdoor seating comes with breakfast-through-dinner service, regional beer, and vegan and vegetarian choices. The café opens at 8 a.m. Monday through Saturday and recommends reservations for brunch and dinner. Farther along E Michigan Ave, The People's Kitchen serves creative comfort food and weekend brunch, with dogs welcome outside and a 4.5 rating from 1,672 reviews. For another dog-friendly option, Cask & Company Kitchen & Bar at 3415 E Saginaw St combines outdoor seating with a free parking lot and accepted reservations. Evening schedules offer another useful comparison: Art's Pub is open until 11 p.m. daily, while Nuthouse Sports Grill closes at 2 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. Both have outdoor seating, happy-hour food and drinks, and sports viewing.

1. 1

   Soup Spoon Café

   4.6(3,234)· Google4.6 out of 5 from 3234 reviews (Google rating)

   Restaurant · $$ · Eastside / Michigan Avenue

   Open now · closes 9:00 PM

   Outdoor seating, an all-day menu, and a 4.6 Google rating from 3,234 reviews put Soup Spoon Café at No. 1 among restaurant patios in Lansing, MI. At 1419 E Michigan Ave, the café serves breakfast through dinner, with homemade soups, homestyle food, and vegan and vegetarian options. Reviewers praise the soups, including smoked tomato bisque and chicken noodle. Regional beer, cocktails, and wine broaden the drinks selection, while table service and accepted reservations add practical reasons to plan a meal here.

   • Outdoor seating
   • Homemade soups
   • Regional beer

   “I had the 4 soups and ALL of them are amazing. I had leftovers. The smoked tomato bisque was great and I'm not a huge tomato soup fan. Our server was polite, the food good. Highly recommended”

2. 2

   PetalPop Café

   4.6(289)· Google4.6 out of 5 from 289 reviews (Google rating)

   Restaurant · Downtown / Capitol

   Closed · opens 7:00 AM

   Outdoor seating and a breakfast-and-lunch focus earn PetalPop Café the No. 2 spot for daytime patio dining in Lansing, MI. At 519 W Ionia St, the café serves craft sodas on tap, coffee, and vegan and vegetarian options. Reviewers praise the chicken and waffles, breakfast skillet, omelette, and shrimp and grits, with one noting friendly service. Its 4.6 Google rating from 289 reviews adds support, while daily hours of 7 a.m.–2:30 p.m. make this a morning or midday stop.

   • Outdoor seating
   • Craft sodas
   • Breakfast and lunch

   “BEST CHICKEN AND WAFFLES OF MY LIFE I will be back with friends and family 😊 Thank you guys so much!!”

3. 3

   Cask & Company Kitchen & Bar

   4.5(1,290)· Google4.5 out of 5 from 1290 reviews (Google rating)

   Restaurant · $$ · Frandor

   Open now · closes 11:00 PM

   Dog-friendly outdoor seating and a broad food-and-drink selection earn Cask & Company Kitchen & Bar the No. 3 spot. At 3415 E Saginaw St in Lansing, MI, the casual restaurant offers small plates, comfort food, and vegan and vegetarian options, alongside beer, wine, cocktails, and happy-hour food and drinks. Reservations, free lot parking, and a children’s menu add practical appeal for groups and families. Its 4.5-star Google rating across 1,290 reviews is supported by guest praise for service and a comfortable, laid-back atmosphere.

   • Dog-friendly outdoor seating
   • Happy-hour food and drinks
   • Vegan and vegetarian options

   “Our waitress was great, hosts were great. Food….not good. We got chips and queso, our first batch of chips were so stale, I kindly asked for different ones, they were also stale. My husband got a burger, it was over cooked which is what…”

4. 4

   The People's Kitchen

   4.5(1,672)· Google4.5 out of 5 from 1672 reviews (Google rating)

   Restaurant · $$ · Frandor

   Open now · closes 10:00 PM

   Dog-friendly outdoor seating and weekend brunch put The People's Kitchen at No. 4 among restaurant patios in Lansing, MI. Located at 2722 E Michigan Ave, it serves creative comfort food, small plates, and craft cocktails, with vegan and vegetarian options available. Reviewers praise the food and service, including a specific recommendation for weekend brunch. Friday and Saturday hours run from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m., offering time for breakfast through dinner, and dinner reservations are recommended.

   • Dog-friendly outdoor seating
   • Weekend brunch
   • Craft cocktails

   “As always, excellent food and service. Fish Tacos were delicious.”

5. 5

   Moriarty's Pub

   4.5(584)· Google4.5 out of 5 from 584 reviews (Google rating)

   Bar · $ · Stadium District

   Open now · closes 2:00 AM

   Outdoor seating and a casual pub setting earn Moriarty's Pub the No. 5 spot among patios in Lansing, MI. At 802 E Michigan Ave, this Irish-American pub serves basic bar food, beer, cocktails and wine, with happy-hour offerings for both food and drinks. Its entertainment lineup includes live music, comedy, darts tournaments and trivia nights. Open daily from 3 p.m. to 2 a.m., the pub also provides table service and free parking in a lot and on the street.

   • Outdoor seating
   • Happy-hour food and drinks
   • Free parking

   “I can't speak on the food there, but service was good and had a good time playing darts with people there.”

6. 6

   UrbanBeat

   4.5(396)· Google4.5 out of 5 from 396 reviews (Google rating)

   Restaurant · Old Town

   Open now · closes 11:30 PM

   Outdoor seating paired with dinner, drinks, and a live-music program earns UrbanBeat the No. 6 spot. This century-old eatery and bar at 1213 Turner Rd in Lansing, MI serves comfort food, dessert, and late-night food, with beer, cocktails, and wine available from its on-site bar. Reservations are accepted, and free street parking is listed. A reviewer praises the tasty food and friendly staff while describing UrbanBeat as a hub for music, culture, and community connection.

   • Outdoor seating
   • Live music
   • Late-night food

   “Food is tasty and reasonably priced ... Staff is very friendly. They are a local hub for music, culture, and community connection. An important asset to Old Town and to the Mid-Michigan area!”

7. 7

   One North Kitchen and Bar - Lansing

   4.4(1,668)· Google4.4 out of 5 from 1668 reviews (Google rating)

   Restaurant · $$ · Westside / Saginaw Highway

   Open now · closes 12:00 AM

   Outdoor seating and a broad food-and-drink selection earn One North Kitchen and Bar its No. 7 spot. At 5001 W Saginaw Hwy in Lansing, MI, the restaurant offers comfort food, small plates, and vegan and vegetarian options, plus beer, wine and cocktails. Happy-hour food and drinks add another reason to plan a visit. Reservations, children’s menus and free lot parking are useful for group outings, while a 4.4 Google rating from 1,668 reviews rounds out its credentials.

   • Outdoor seating
   • Happy-hour food and drinks
   • Free lot parking

   “This restaurant used to be one of my favorite restaurants, but the last few times that we have went, the food quality has gone downhill. We were there a couple of weeks ago for my Birthday dinner and 3/5 of us were disappointed. My steak…”

8. 8

   Kelly's Downtown

   4.3(390)· Google4.3 out of 5 from 390 reviews (Google rating)

   Bar · $ · Downtown / Capitol

   Open now · closes 9:00 PM

   Sidewalk seating on S Washington Square gives Kelly's Downtown its outdoor draw, earning it the No. 8 spot for a casual meal in Lansing, MI. The modest, Irish-themed bar pairs familiar bar fare with beer, cocktails, and happy-hour food and drinks. Fast service and table service add practical appeal, whether stopping alone or gathering with a group. Its 4.3 Google rating from 390 reviews provides additional support, with one longtime customer praising the atmosphere and food.

   • Sidewalk seating
   • Happy-hour food
   • Beer and cocktails

   “Wonderful atmosphere, incredible food. Been frequenting this place for 20 years.”

9. 9

   Lansing Shuffle

   4.3(556)· Google4.3 out of 5 from 556 reviews (Google rating)

   Restaurant · $$ · Downtown / Capitol

   Open now · closes 12:00 AM

   A riverfront patio paired with seven restaurants earns Lansing Shuffle the No. 9 spot, giving groups several food choices in one stop at 325 Riverfront Dr in Lansing, MI. The reimagined Lansing City Market space also has two full-service bars, five shuffleboard courts and live music. Dining is casual and counter-service, with vegetarian and vegan options alongside comfort food and small plates. Dogs are allowed outside, and weekend opening hours start at 11 a.m. for an earlier visit.

   • Riverfront patio
   • Seven restaurants
   • Five shuffleboard courts

   “Went on a Friday night around dinner time with family and the shuffle board area was open but was full of sleeping homeless people. If the Lugnuts are playing be prepared to deal with lots of traffic and parking congestion. Food from thi…”