4th of July Al Fresco: 12 Hot L.A. Summer Patios

Some of these dozen outdoor offerings are new, while others tout recently installed chefs or fresh dishes just in time for the start of the season. From the skyscrapers of downtown L.A.s Financial District to the Malibu sand, they offer the ideal refuge from the summer sun.

MARI VANNA Bowing June 25 in the storied former Bastide address, this specialist in contemporized Russian classics is a West Coast outpost of a mini-chain started in St. Petersburg and Moscow. Take to the charming, birdhouse-adorned courtyard. Al Fresco Order: Blinis with caviar. 8475 Melrose Pl.

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WILLIE JANE Govind Armstrong and Brad Johnson of the acclaimed Post & Beam in Baldwin Hills help forge L.A.s New South trend at this laid-back Venice charmer. Al Fresco Order: Steamed mussels with Tasso ham, grilled spring onions and preserved lemon butter. 1031 Abbot Kinney Blvd.

CHAYA DOWNTOWN For the summer, Chaya'sbranch in L.A.'s Financial District has instituted a special Beer Garden menu for its sleek patio. The must-get is the uniqueKirin draft capped with a head of frozen beer foam that looks like a soft-serve topping.Al Fresco Order:Bacon-wrapped date skewers.525 S. Flower St.

CONNIE & TEDS One of the most buzzed-about entries of the season has been the new-school East Coast seafood shack from acclaimed chef Michael Cimarusti of Providence. Take a seat under the architecturally inspiring modernist veranda. Al Fresco Order: Lobster roll with hot drawn butter. 8171 Santa Monica Blvd.

NIKITA Just opened on July 1, this Larry Ellison-backed Italian-Mediterranean restaurant with the Zen-minimalist vibe situated directly on Malibus Carbon Beach offers stunning views of the Pacific. Al Fresco Order: The signature crispy sea bass cannolos. 22716 Pacific Coast Highway

TOP ROUND Go ahead, call it a fancified Arbys. This month-old, mid-city roadside roast beef stand from the minds behind Red Medicine and 800 Degrees is a perfectly art-directed bit of nostalgia, right down to the hard-top retro umbrellas. Al Fresco Order: Custards and curly fries. 1000 S. La Brea Ave.

THE LARCHMONT Once the home of a Paramount contract starlet, this quaint four-month-old restaurant with the secluded wraparound porch is housed in a restored bungalow a forks toss from the studio lot. Al Fresco Order: Pan-seared halibut with corn, wild mushrooms and salsa verde. 5750 Melrose Ave.

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4th of July Al Fresco: 12 Hot L.A. Summer Patios