The best restaurant patios do three things: they keep guests warm, they block the wind, and they give people something to look at. Get the heat right first, because a cold patio empties before dessert. Then add shelter on the open side, and a fire feature or grill station as the focal point. Here is how to do each, and what to check before you buy.
Heat the Seating First
Mount heaters over the tables, not around the edge. Overhead heaters on the wall, the ceiling or a beam aim their heat down at guests, take no floor space, and stay out of the way of servers. Put them along the building wall and along the open side of the patio, where most heat is lost, and aim each one across the tables rather than straight down.
Electric for covered patios, gas for big open ones. Electric infrared heaters such as the Infratech WD Series and Bromic Tungsten Electric suit a covered patio or pergola: no flame, no fumes, and nothing for staff to refill. Gas heaters such as the Calcana High Output put out more heat per heater for a large open patio.
Portable propane heaters come with rules. Most US fire codes follow the International Fire Code, which keeps portable propane heaters at least 5 feet from buildings, exits and combustible awnings, bans them indoors, in tents and on balconies, limits each tank to 20 pounds, and forbids swapping tanks while guests are present. Many cities also require a permit. Our commercial patio heater guide covers layouts, voltage and the code in full.
Block the Wind on the Open Side
A windbreak makes every heater work harder for you. Sunpak says that "windbreaks can be extremely effective in increasing comfort and reducing heating costs." Glass panels, planters, a solid screen or drop-down patio curtains on the windward side keep the warm air where the guests are. On a windy site, read our guide to patio heaters for windy areas.
Make Fire the Focal Point
A fire feature is what guests photograph and come back for. A long fire table down the middle of a lounge area, or a fire bowl by the entrance, gives the patio a center and a glow you can see from the street. Browse our gas fire pits for options.
Choose gas with electronic ignition. Gas lights with a switch, burns clean and shuts off at closing with no embers to watch, and wood-burning fire pits are often restricted on commercial patios and near buildings. For a restaurant, pick a fire table with electronic ignition: that is usually the version makers certify for commercial use. The Top Fires Alameda fire table by The Outdoor Plus, for example, comes with 12V or 110V electronic ignition. Confirm the listing for your model before you order, since some fire tables, like Endless Summer's DualHeat line, are sold for residential use only, and check with your fire marshal.
Fire is a focal point, not the heating plan. A fire table warms the people sitting at it. Keep overhead heaters over the rest of the seating so the whole patio stays comfortable.
Add a Fireplace to a Covered Patio
An outdoor fireplace turns a covered patio into an outdoor room. It anchors a lounge corner and makes a backdrop for the bar. Our outdoor fireplaces come in vent-free gas and wood-burning models; confirm the listing and clearances for your space before ordering, as with any fire feature.
Put the Grill Where Guests Can See It
An outdoor grill station adds theater and smell, which sells. A built-in grill along the patio edge lets guests watch the cooking and frees up the kitchen on busy nights. For heavy use, choose a grill built for it: PGS sells its PGS Legacy grills as a commercial line, with a one-hour gas timer that shuts the gas off if a burner is left on. Browse our gas grills.
Plan the Layout Before You Buy
Sketch the patio with the heat in mind. Mark the tables, the open sides, the doors and the overhead structure, then place the heat sources: overhead heaters over the seating, a fire feature as the centerpiece, a windbreak on the open side. Keep portable propane heaters and fire features clear of exits and walkways. Our free design service will do this for you: send us the dimensions and a few photos and we will recommend the heaters, how many, and where to put them.
Ready to Plan Your Patio?
Email support@patiofever.com or use our free design service, and we will put together a heating plan for your restaurant, bar or hotel patio.
Pin this article:
