Cooler temperatures tend to being restaurant guests inside, but you can still use your outdoor patio well into the fall, with a few tweaks and intentional action. While you may not have the desire to make it a four-season space, extending its use into the cooler weather can help fill more seats, increase traffic, and provide something your competition may not be offering.

Create functional ambiance

Cooler weather means that people may be hesitant to eat outdoors, so create a space that’s warm – literally and figuratively. Adding soft lighting and seasonal décor can make it a desirable atmosphere for guests, but functional additions like heaters, blankets, and portable fireplaces make the space a place for guests to enjoy through the season.

Put fall on the menu

Guests have likely enjoyed your patio all summer long, so visiting before the winter may not be enough motivation to drive fall traffic. Create seasonal tastings with pairings, share plates, and limited-time flavours to get attention for your menu, offering signature fall beverages and themed kids’ menus. Remember, filling those patio seats is the main goal, so ensure that your menus are available exclusively to those visiting guests.

Host seasonal events

Fall events are a great way to drive traffic and offer something new. Make events interactive with s’mores stations, live music, and trivia or movie nights so guests can make some extra end-of-summer memories. Host lunches or brunches that encourage groups to gather with comfort food and a fun experience. You could also partner with local vendors, celebrate neighbourhood businesses, or add a charitable element to help attract like-minded customers.

As the weather get cooler, people might assume that outdoor dining spaces are closed, so make sure to communicate that you still have a patio, post event details on social media, advertise special menu son your website and make the most of the short fall season to fill your patio and boost the bottom line.