Model Kristen Campbell on Madison’s new open-air patio. Guiseppe Barranco/@spotnewsshooter
A good patio can turn lunch into an all-day affair.
Take the Logon’s revamped back patio, for instance. We arrived one Saturday for a breakfast sandwich and left four hours later.
You know how it goes. One pitcher of mimosas turns to two as groups of friends come and go, their puppies basking in sunshine while everyone mixes and mingles and talks about all the things people talk about on Saturdays — how lovely the weather is, mostly.
Something about fresh air and the serendipity of the outdoors can really elevate the dining experience. We take that into consideration every year for our patio guide, which features a little of every kind of patio — covered, open-air, fancy, even sandy.
You’ll see a few recurring patios on our list — Luke’s, Suga’s and The Grill, obviously — but this year, several local establishments upped their patio game big-time with renovations and patio-specific specials and events.
Keep it easy and breezy with these patio picks — make sure you get some sun while the weather is still friendly enough to warrant such pleasantry.
Madison’s
Where: 4020 Dowlen Rd., Beaumont
Info: (409) 924-9777; Facebook.com/MadisonsOnDowlen
Great for: Lunch, happy hour, a night out or a laid-back Sunday brunch — basically anytime
For years, Madison’s covered and temperature-controlled patio has been the place to go when the weather’s not so great — but being so closed in made it kinda stuffy when too many smokers popped outside to get their fix.
Lucky for us sun-chasers, Madison’s unveiled a new open-air patio just in time for the season when we love patio-hopping the most. The area around the outdoor bar is still covered, but the patio was extended in back and enhanced with quirky, Austin-inspired accents that give the patio a little extra flavor.
There’s still a stage out back, along with a covered gaming area that now features an old-school skee-ball machine. We particularly enjoy the new open-air patio when we’re sipping $2 mimosas and eating crab Benedict at Madison’s old-school Sunday brunch.
2014 Beaumont Patio Guide
Suga’s Deep South Cuisine & Jazz Bar
Where: 461 Bowie St., Beaumont
Info: (409) 813-1808; SugasDeepSouth.com
Great for: Happy hour or an indulgent Sunday brunch
Let’s not mince words here: Suga’s patio is exquisite, and the building’s rich history only adds to its charm.
Suga’s is located in the Coale Building, which was built in 1914 and is listed in the National Register of Historic Places. Owned by former Beaumont mayor Ray Coale, the building has been home to some interesting tenants throughout the years — very interesting tenants.
David and Lynne Gomez enjoy breakfast on the patio at Suga’s Deep South Cuisine and Jazz Bar. Guiseppe Barranco/cat5
In the ’50s and ’60s, the building was part of Beaumont’s red light district and housed the Domino Club, an illegal gambling parlor. It was shut down in 1961 when the James Commission blew through downtown Beaumont, shutting down gambling and prostitution. For the next few decades, the building housed a few above-board businesses like law offices and a photo studio.
With the help of downtown revitalization champions Beaumont Main Street, the Coale Building was renovated and Suga’s opened in the space in 2005. The multi-level outdoor patio is lush and modern while still holding on to historic touches that make the Coale Building such a lovely spot.
If ever there was a place to enjoy some sunshine with a hand-crafted cocktail during a weekday post-work happy hour, this is it. We’ve long felt that Suga’s patio should become the bustling downtown Beaumont happy hour spot it’s so destined to be.
The Logon Cafe
Where: 3805 Calder Ave., Beaumont
Info: (409) 832-1529; LogonCafe.net
Great for: Some fresh air during a show or Saturday afternoon brunch
Logon has really been putting some effort into renovating the space they’ve occupied for more than 10 years, and the result makes this West End spot a little lovelier every time we stop in. Our favorite update: the back patio, which was given an added dose of color and some pleasant decorative touches.
Looking out over Phelan — which always proves interesting — the patio is particularly lovely during the Logon’s Saturday brunch, which they launched earlier this spring. Hosted from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. every Saturday, brunch features savory chicken crepes, a veggie-filled breakfast croissant and a patio full of flowy fashions and friendly canines.
Luke’s
Where: 2325 Calder St., Beaumont
Info: (409) 347-8139; Facebook.com/LukesBeaumont
Great for: A sunny afternoon beer
Luke’s patio is the best bar patio in town — there, we said it. And we stand by it.
With a large covered portion and an open-air oasis framed by strings of lights, this patio is a great place to lose a few hours. On sunny weekends, their hangover brunch brings out masses of young humanity, some with friendly canine companions in tow.
There’s trivia on the patio every Tuesday night and crawfish on weekends. This is one of the few bars in town that uses TapHunter, the app that lets you see what beer is on tap before you even step foot in the bar.
Enjoy your reigning title, Luke’s. Don’t let it get to your head.
The p;atio at Lupe Tortilla. Guiseppe Barranco/@spotnewsshooter
Lupe Tortilla
Where: 2050 I-10 S., Beaumont
Info: (409) 347-8908; Facebook.com/LupeTBeaumont
Great for: Entertaining the kiddos during a casual dinner
This popular new Houston franchise has in-house-made tortillas, a menu full of Tex-Mex favorites and — for once — a well-crafted margarita made with only fresh ingredients. That said, this creative patio was made with someone other than marg aficionados in mind — kids.
With a winding sandbox, tons of toys and rows of rocking chairs nearby, this patio was created for young kids and the parents who know that dinner goes a little more smoothly when the kids are entertained. This festive eatery has a three-margarita limit, which means they’re committed to the whole family-friendly thing.
That said, we won’t judge any parent who sips a fresh-squeezed lime margarita while watching their offspring go to town in Lupe’s giant custom-made sandbox.
Texas Rose Saloon
Where: 2013 S. MLK. Pkwy., Beaumont
Info: (409) 833-3900; “Texas Rose Saloon” on Facebook
Great for: Drinking cheap beer, hearing live music and mingling with fellow smokers
Our favorite MLK dive recently renovated its patio, making most of this beer bar now basically an all-weather patio.
Smokers love it here because the live music and most of the seating is part of the rustic, metal-lined patio, but we love it because there’s a barbecue pit outside great for grilling links while you catch a band or go head-to-head in a washer tournament.
Pine Tree Lodge
Where: 3296 Pinetree Rd., Beaumont
Info: (409) 796-1600; ThePineTreeLodge.com
Great for: Lunch, dinner or a Sunday afternoon of live zydeco
This isn’t a patio so much as it’s a veritable outdoors oasis. Pine Tree Lodge, situated right on Taylor’s Bayou, is an institution for several reasons, most notably its Sunday afternoon live music on the recently renovated patio.
With a brand new — and much bigger — outdoor bar, it’ll be easier than ever to get yourself a bucket of beer before you settle in for an afternoon of dancing to bands like the Port Arthur Playboys, who play from 2 to 6 p.m. this Sunday.
If you don’t want to park it next to the band, there are small covered patios next to the bayou, or you can do what we do: lay a blanket on the lawn and spend the afternoon basking in sunshine, zydeco, Lone Star and fried oysters.
Dylan’s
Where: 8601 9th Ave., Port Arthur
Info: (409) 722-1600; Dylanson9th.com
Great for: Sunday Funday crawfish and washer tournaments
This Mid-County party bar has a patio that’s useful on all fronts. It’s all-weather, filled with distractions like washers, and even has its own specials, like Texas Tuesdays, when Texas beers are $3 and Texas liquors are $4.
Plus, who can say no to Sunday Funday? Crawfish, cold beer and a little fresh air will do you good.
The Grill’s Cabana patio
The Grill
Where: 6680 Calder Ave., Beaumont
Info: (409) 866-0039; TheASPGrill.com
Great for: An upscale, alfresco dinner or happy hour
With white linen table cloths and tiny white lights strung though the trees, The Grill’s patio and Cabana bar make for an excessively lovely dining experience. It helps that they’ve got the best happy hour in town, with half-price cocktails and beer from 3 to 7 p.m. — take notes, every other joint in town. That’s a special to get happy about.
We suggest sipping a cocktail like the French 75 — made with gin and champagne — while you sample from their $16 artisan cheese tasting plate.
Tia Juanita’s Fish Camp
Where: 5555 Calder Ave., Beaumont
Info: (409) 434-4533; “Tia Juanita’s Fish Camp” on Facebook
Great for: A breezy lunch
This eatery — and its lovely wrap-around, all-weather patio — opened recently in the former Tibideaux’s, and its menu is small but pairs well with a gentle spring breeze. Order at the counter (the fish tacos are the most popular item here so far) and grab a spot on the patio, which has nice, big tables perfect for small groups.
We like the (currently) BYOB policy and the flavorful fillets on our fish taco.
The Orleans St. Pub & Patio
Where: 650 Orleans St., Beaumont
Info: (409) 835-4243; “Orleans OrleansPub” on Facebook
Great for: Getting a little fresh air when you just can’t dance another second
This is one of the best patios in town, and not a lot of people know it’s there.
Overlooking the historic — albeit empty — Hotel Beaumont, the massive patio behind the Pub is almost always full of friendly faces. This gay bar is a popular late-night spot on weekends, with drag shows starting at 11:30 p.m. every Saturday night and plenty of dancing to follow.
We love this patio because you never know who you’ll meet out there. It could use a little TLC, but sometimes that’s part of the appeal.
beth@thecat5.com
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