Wausau, Wisconsin · Published by Emberlight Studios
Updated October 2026 · 9 places · Wausau
Quick answer
Our top picks are Back When Cafe, Red Eye Brewing Company and The Velveteen Plum.
These Wausau, Wisconsin restaurants and bars are listed by the local tourism organization or by their own websites as having patio or outdoor seating. Addresses and descriptions are limited to information confirmed for the Wausau locations; hours and seasonal availability can change.
606 N. 3rd St., Wausau, WI 54403
Back When Cafe serves New American cuisine in historic downtown Wausau and has a full bar with specialty wine and beer. The Wausau-area tourism site includes it in its patio-season dining guide.
Best for: downtown dinner
612 Washington St., Wausau, WI 54403
Red Eye Brewing Company is a brewpub and bar in Wausau. The local tourism guide highlights its patio, craft beer, and wood-fired artisanal pizza.
Best for: craft beer and pizza
1520 Elm St., Wausau, WI 54482
The Velveteen Plum is an elevated-casual restaurant and cocktail bar with a rooftop patio. Its website says it is known for handcrafted cocktails, weekend brunch, elevated menu items, and views of Rib Mountain.
Best for: rooftop dining
1300 N. River Dr., Wausau, WI 54403
Wausau on Water is a full-service restaurant and bar with a riverfront patio. Its venue website also describes an arcade and laser tag at the same Wausau destination.
Best for: riverfront dining
3309 Terrace Ct., Wausau, WI 54401
Vino Latte is a gourmet coffee shop, eatery, and wine boutique in Wausau. The local tourism guide identifies its patio as an outdoor dining option for wine nights and summer brunches.
Best for: coffee and wine
150 E. Stewart Ave., Wausau, WI 54401
The Mandarin is a Chinese restaurant in Wausau with patio seating and a daily lunch buffet. The Wausau tourism listing describes its food as familiar Chinese cuisine served in a casual setting.
Best for: Chinese food
2105 N. 2nd St., Wausau, WI 54403
Thrive Foodery is a chef-owned restaurant in Wausau. Travel Wisconsin lists seasonal outdoor seating and describes it as community-driven.
Best for: seasonal outdoor dining
151401 County Rd. NN, Wausau, WI 54401
Van Acre is a restaurant in Wausau with a patio and outdoor firepit seating. OpenTable’s listing also describes seasonal outdoor igloos or domes.
Best for: patio and firepit
1605 Merrill Ave., Wausau, WI 54401
Briq’s Soft Serve is a Wausau ice cream shop with drive-through service. Its Wausau location page lists a covered patio and outdoor seating.
Best for: soft serve