The garden at Yampa Valley Kitchen is an idyllic setting for a lunchtime toast. Photo by Ben Duke.

It's patio season! Here's where to enjoy al fresco meals all day long in Steamboat Springs.

Breakfast

Belly up to breakfast at Yampa Valley Kitchen where the chefs use as many local ingredients as possible to create delectable dishes like omelets, benedicts and crêpes. Bonus: A patio seat means a spot right in the middle of the garden among the fresh herbs, plants and flowers.

Lunch

Head to the base of the mountain where post-hike or bike, you can snag a patio seat at Los Locos to refuel with tacos and margs. Next door is Slopeside, where you’ll find pizzas, wings, salads and burgers. While parents sit in the shade and sip cool drinks, kids can run around in the grass and splash in the stream known as Burgess Creek Beach.

Happy Hour

Stop by Mountain Tap for local beer, wood-fired pizzas and small plate snacks. The family-style tables out front can accommodate larger groups and there are games inside to bring out to the table while you wait. Get up even higher on the rooftop of Salt & Lime. You’ll get a killer view of downtown Steamboat and Sleeping Giant in the distance, served up with ice cold margaritas and housemade guacamole.

Dinner

At Aurum Food & Wine, the patio offers a front row seat to watch the Yampa River flow by – wave to those kayakers as they pass by. Mambo is in the heart of downtown, serving up classic Italian fare under string lights on their front porch. E3 Chophouse offers hearty steaks – and classic chophouse fare – also with a side of fantastic river views. Locals’ tip: for dinners outside, bring an extra layer; once that sun dips down behind the mountains, the temps will drop lower.