Here comes the sun! Where to enjoy it with a drink on a patio

After suffering one of the "coldest summers of your life," you — and everyone in San Francisco — deserve to skip out on work and head for a patio for a refreshing drink and bite. (Maybe three drinks, come to think of it.)

But we're not talking about the obvious spots — the showy rooftops, the Mission Rocks, the Zeitgeists. We prefer a cloistered space — the kind discovered way in the back, past the bathrooms and the pool table. The kind that makes you feel like you’ve stumbled upon a sweet little late-summer bash. Here are some of our favorites.

The latest bar to open in the Marina is less bro, more femme. The interior, with its skylight and seafoam-tiled fireplace, is as pretty as a spa. Meanwhile, the huge back patio, decorated with native plants and wooden seating, is equally civilized. The cocktails are also fairly priced and decidedly pretty, like the Tam Tam, made with gin, carrot juice, saffron, honey, lime, and crushed ice. (It’s the kind of cocktail that presents as if it just happens to have alcohol in it.) Sliders, smoked salmon crudo, and other bar bites can make a light meal. And yes, dogs, are welcome. Day drinkers take note: During the week, doors open at 2 pm, and on weekends, at noon. 2263 Chestnut St., Marina

This is the fifth location of Woods, which has outposts across the city. But none has a back patio as charming as the Cole Valley location, where picnic tables sit under the shade of sprawling trees and a fireplace keeps things cozy when the fog rolls in. Don't be surprised if your drinking company includes neighborhood families — parents sipping on pints of Retro Pilsner while the kids devour a hot dog or burger from resident pop-up Lovely's. 848 Cole St., Cole Valley

The de facto watering hole of the quaint Cole Valley neighborhood, Finnegans Wake is the kind of pub where you’re guaranteed to find barflies nursing cold beers or one of the famed bloody marys. But the real draw, for those in the know, is the charming back patio, where dogs sit at the feet of friends enjoying unfussy drinks under strings of lights. In cold weather, heaters are rolled out, but the mural-adorned walls and wooden fences do a nice job of cutting the wind. There are even a couple of TVs out back, so expect a crowd on game days. 937 Cole St., Cole Valley

Though Arlequin functions primarily as a shop, it also offers a robust list of wines by the glass and charges a minimal $10 corkage fee. The friendly staff will help you navigate the wide selection of bottles from both the new and old worlds, which you’ll want to open and take out back. The patio is a lush garden with a canopy of trees, an escape that feels miles away from the city. Sister restaurant Arbor shares the outdoor space, so you can order fries, salads, and hearty sandwiches when you start to feel snacky. 384 Hayes St., Hayes Valley 

If you’re a football fan, then the friendly Valley Tavern allows you to breathe in the fresh air while watching the game. There’s a large selection of beer on tap, but they’ll whip up a martini if asked. In the back of the classic Noe Valley pub, a little bi-level patio and deck comes complete with plants, plentiful blue sky, and picnic tables that each come with their own little TV. For a sports bar, it’s bordering on bucolic. 4054 24th St., Noe Valley

Inside, Mothership is a psychedelic Space Age scene with jewel-toned walls and moody, neon lighting. Out back, the patio is usually occupied by sweaty patrons in search of a reprieve from the dance floor or smokers stepping out for a break. But unlike other bar/nightclubs, Mothership doesn’t specialize in two-ingredient cocktails. Order the Knee Deep ($14), a spicy combination of mezcal, chile liqueur, ginger, lemon, and Szechuan peppercorn salt. 2310 30th St., Mission

One of the city’s most epic back patios is at a high-end Chinese restaurant in Cow Hollow. Unexpected? A little. A find? 100%. The Blue Whale, which opened in the fall, has a sweeping patio that’s a true oasis, complete with tropical palms, stylish seating and a full bar — and plenty of heaters in case the bay breezes start to bite. Try the Kurobuta pork buns, the XLB and crispy duck salad. They pair well with an Asian-inspired cocktail such as the Highnoon, a refreshing highball made with Suntory Toki whisky, yuzu and shiso. 2033 Union St., Cow Hollow

Complete with a brick wall and palm trees, Birba's back patio is fully realized rather than a second thought. Like any self-respecting wine bar, there is a selection of tinned fish, a charcuterie board, and — yes —burrata. To drink? It's almost all European wines. Not only is there a "summertime orange," a chilled red, and a txakolina rosé, but there's also a selection of vermouth, to which you should definitely add tonic. 458 Grove St., Hayes Valley 

Casements’ patio is a hard-won achievement: a reclaimed patch of derelict parking lot that the bar transformed into a sunny spot complete with plants, AstroTurf, murals and live music. (It’s open until 11 p.m. on weekdays and midnight on weekends.) The patio is the result of a compromise with restive neighbors who tried to put the kibosh on one of the few small businesses that has managed to thrive on a challenging block of Mission Street. All the same, Casements remains an essential neighborhood bar — “if Ireland had a beer garden in the Mission,” in its own words — with a staggering list of hard-to-find single-malt whiskeys, Irish beers and belly-filling fare, like a beef-and-Guinness stew with a side of curry fries. 2351 Mission St., Mission

This cute addition to La Lengua opened in December at the base of Bernal, serving up a snacky, Asian-inspired menu that includes everything from bao to peanut noodles. The equally cute patio, strung with colorful paper lanterns, comes with a bonus for parents: Kids are welcome. While you sip your boba cocktail infused with matcha, gin and rum; lychee martini spiked with Lillet Rosé and Dolin Blanc vermouth; or a beer from a large selection of choices on tap, your offspring can enjoy a Martinelli’s apple juice. No judgment. 3472 Mission St., Bernal Heights

Six months into its tenure on Geneva Avenue in the old Broken Record space, the Halfway Club straddles the line between bar and restaurant, providing the edge-of-the-Excelsior hood with a great watering hole. The kitchen serves pub classics like sour-cream-and-chive dip and chicken wings with chili garlic oil alongside a full cocktail list, including the five-spice cucumber collins (on tap) and beers from up-and-coming San Francisco producer Enterprise Brewing Co. Beyond the dining room, which has a cool grandpa’s-basement vibe, there’s a backyard with picnic tables crowned with red-and-yellow Vienna Beef umbrellas — the perfect place to snap into the overstuffed Chicago Dog. The relish might not be electric-green, but it’s tangy and pickle-heavy — the perfect accompaniment to a pint of pilsner. 1166 Geneva Ave., Crocker-Amazon

Pulling up to Sunset Cantina on one of those rare sunny days in Outer Sunset, you might think all the front patio seats are taken. But fear not, there’s a sneaky space in the back that’s sublime for sipping Mexican-inspired cocktails in a setting that’s more Newport than Nayarit. Try the Jalisco Old Fashioned, with chili bitters, if you’re feeling bold — or the watermelon michelada if you’re not. Peckish? The carnitas flautas are a hearty serving of four individually wrapped beauties. But the true lure of the patio is not the sight (and sound) of the nacho machine whirring behind you; it’s the privacy and filtered sunlight. 3414 Judah St., Sunset