Al Fresco Terrace

Outdoor Dining in Santa Rosa — Al Fresco Terrace at Capriciano
The Al Fresco Terrace at Capriciano — outdoor dining in Santa Rosa the Italian way — under the open sky, in the heart of wine country.

The Al Fresco Terrace is our seasonal answer to outdoor dining in Santa Rosa, part of the restaurant at 505 Mendocino Ave, with dinner from 5 PM.

There is something about eating outside that no indoor room can quite match — the late afternoon light, the gentle breeze of a wine country evening, a glass of cold Italian white as the sun goes down. Our Al Fresco Terrace at Capriciano is built exactly for these moments. Seasonal, sun-warmed, and set in the heart of Santa Rosa’s wine country, the terrace is the perfect place to share antipasti, sip an aperitivo before dinner, or linger over a long Italian meal with friends and family.

What Makes The Al Fresco Terrace Special?

Under the Wine Country Sky
Italians have always known that food tastes better outside. Whether it is a long dinner on a Tuscan piazza or an aperitivo on a Roman rooftop, Italian dining belongs to the outdoors as much as to the table. Our Al Fresco Terrace brings this tradition to Santa Rosa. Warm in the summer evenings, lit gently after sunset, surrounded by the easy rhythms of wine country, the terrace turns even a simple plate of pasta into something memorable. It is open seasonally, and during the warmer months it is one of the most loved seats in the house.
Highlights of The Al Fresco Terrace
  • Outdoor wine country dining — open seasonally for warmer months and clear evenings
  • Sunset aperitivo and dinner service — the best light of the day, served with a glass of something cold
  • Group-friendly seating — tables that can be configured for couples, family meals, or celebrations
  • Full Capriciano menu — antipasti, handmade pasta, wood-fired pizza, and the full wine list available outside
  • Quiet, unhurried atmosphere — the pace of an Italian summer evening, no rush to the next course
  • Available for private bookings — reserve the terrace for milestones, corporate dinners, or family gatherings
Is the Al Fresco Terrace Right for Your Visit?
Our terrace is built for:
  • Long Italian evenings under the open sky
  • Aperitivo hour before dinner
  • Wine country date nights
  • A glass of Prosecco at sunset
  • Sunday family meals outside
  • Casual catch-ups with old friends
  • Engagements, anniversaries, and small celebrations
  • A quiet pasta dinner under the evening sky
The Al Fresco Terrace seats up to 50 guests and is available on a first-come, first-served basis during the warmer months, and can be requested when you book. For private events, the terrace can be reserved for your party in advance. Email hi@capriciano.com or call (707) 800-7904 — we will check the weather, the calendar, and find the right spot for you. The terrace is also one of our favourite places for a quiet evening for two — our local guide to Italian date night in Santa Rosa covers when to come and how to order.
What to Expect at Your Table
Dining on the Al Fresco Terrace arrives the way an Italian outdoor evening should — with a beautifully set table, a glass of something to start, and a server who is happy to walk you through the wine list under the open sky. The full Capriciano menu is available, the wine is poured generously, and the pace is yours to set. Cool breezes in the summer, warm light at sunset, and the unhurried hospitality of a Northern Italian osteria — that is the Al Fresco experience. You’ll find us at 505 Mendocino Ave in downtown Santa Rosa — get directions on Google Maps.
Why Choose Our Terrace for Outdoor Dining in Santa Rosa?
Italian Dining, Outdoors

The terrace is built for the way Italians prefer to eat in the warmer months — outside, slowly, with a long view of the evening ahead. Whether you are starting with a glass of Prosecco at sunset or finishing with an espresso under the stars, the Al Fresco Terrace is one of the most rewarding seats at Capriciano.

A Setting Worth Lingering In

Some meals are about the food, some are about the company, and some are about the setting. The Al Fresco Terrace is for the meals where all three meet. Order generously, pour another glass, and stay as long as the night allows. The terrace, like the wine country it sits in, is best enjoyed slowly.

Outdoor Dining in Santa Rosa: Planning a Terrace Evening

Outdoor dining in Santa Rosa at Capriciano means our Al Fresco Terrace, which opens seasonally rather than all year. Access is step-free, as it is in the main dining room and the restrooms, and the terrace is part of the restaurant on Mendocino Avenue in downtown Santa Rosa. Dinner begins at 5 PM, six nights a week, and we are closed on Tuesdays. The answers below cover the essentials for planning an evening outside.

Patio tables under striped umbrellas for outdoor dining in Santa Rosa at Capriciano Osteria
Patio seating with striped umbrellas and set tables at Capriciano Osteria
Capriciano Osteria exterior in downtown Santa Rosa
Wine glasses on a table set for dinner at Capriciano Osteria

Is outdoor dining in Santa Rosa available all year at Capriciano?

No. The Al Fresco Terrace is seasonal, so there are months when all of our dinner service is indoors. If a terrace table matters for your evening, call (707) 800-7904 or email hi@capriciano.com before you plan around it, and we’ll tell you whether the terrace is open for your date. Our indoor dining room is open for dinner six nights a week.

Is the terrace accessible?

Yes. The terrace has step-free access, as do the main dining room and the restrooms. Service animals are welcome at Capriciano, and large-print menus are available on request. If you have an accessibility question before your visit, email hi@capriciano.com or call (707) 800-7904, and we’ll help you plan the evening.

What are your dinner hours?

We serve dinner only: Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday from 5 to 9:30 PM, and Friday and Saturday from 5 to 10 PM. We are closed on Tuesdays. Walk-ins are welcome when we have a table, and we recommend booking ahead for weekends, for parties of four or more and for special occasions.

Is there a corkage fee?

Yes. Corkage is $25 per bottle, up to three bottles, and the fee is waived for each bottle you buy from our list. Please bring wines that are not already on our list. With Italian, Sonoma County and Napa Valley wines by the glass and bottle, plus Italian-style craft beer, there is plenty to pour on a warm evening outside.

When the evening is warm, reserve a table online or through OpenTable, and get directions to 505 Mendocino Ave.

Private Events & Groups
Plan Your Experience at Capriciano

Be prepared before your visit. Read our FAQ’s.