Summer heat shouldn’t keep you from dining al fresco

Even during the scorching summer months, you can still find places to eat on a patio in Las Vegas. You just have to do it at night. Not to say there aren’t plenty of outdoor options when the sun is up (thank goodness for misters). But at temperatures of more than 100 degrees, you’re better off enjoying a meal in the evening air. Check out these top spots for al fresco dining in Las Vegas.

Culinary Dropout, Hard Rock Hotel When you think of the Hard Rock, you probably think of its infamous pool party, Rehab. But there are other open-air spots that aren’t so rowdy. Culinary Dropout’s 3,000-square-foot patio gives you a great view of one of the hotel pools and features quirky and vintage-themed furniture, including a few couches and low tables to make you feel like you’re in an old-school rec room. Meet here for happy hour or dinner to enjoy fun, casual bites such as the legendary fried chicken. Or explore the well-curated cocktail list, which includes a three-bitter Manhattan. Hard Rock Hotel, 702.522.8100, www.culinarydropout.com.

Lakeside Grill, Wynn Las Vegas The airy and light Lakeside Grill occupies the opposite end of the patio from SW Steakhouse at Wynn, and both share a view of the luxury hotel’s Lake of Dreams. Several times a night it becomes an attraction, with a giant, singing animatronic frog and abstract light shows set to music. Lakeside’s menu features wood-roasted lobsters and fish flown straight from Hawaii the day before, ideal for a memorable meal next to a serene body of water. In Wynn Las Vegas, 702.770.3310, www.wynnlasvegas.com.

Mix, Mandalay Bay If you want al fresco dining with one of the most stunning views of the Las Vegas Strip, head up to the 64th floor of THEhotel at Mandalay Bay. Mix ratchets up the ambience on the terrace with spectacular views served alongside haute French cuisine for which Michelin-starred chef Alain Ducasse is famous. High panes of glass block the winds you’d otherwise experience at such dizzying heights and assure that the only thing soaring skyward will be your spirits. In Mandalay Bay, 702.632.7200, www.mandalaybay.com.