alfresco

adjective or adverb

al·​fres·​co al-ˈfre-(ˌ)skō 

: taking place or located in the open air : outdoor, outdoors

an alfresco lunch

an alfresco café

dining alfresco

Did you know?

In addition to describing a type of dining, alfresco can also describe a kind of painting. The word fresco, which comes from the Italian adjective fresco, meaning "fresh," refers to a method of painting on fresh plaster. Although the "outdoors" sense of alfresco is by far the most common in current use, the term is sometimes used to describe painting done in the fresco manner—that is, on fresh plaster.

Synonyms of alfresco

• outside
• out
• outdoors

Examples of alfresco in a Sentence

the restaurant's shaded terrace is highly recommended for those seeking to dine alfresco

during the summer months, the theater company puts on a series of alfresco performances

Recent Examples on the Web

The rooftop terrace has an alfresco dining area alongside an outdoor kitchen. — Wendy Bowman, Robb Report, 25 Sep. 2026

Diners spilled out of restaurants with alfresco seating, taking wine glasses into the street. — Nate Freeman, Vanity Fair, 25 Sep. 2026

Socialites also frequent La Terrasse Montaigne, the hotel's alfresco dining space lining Avenue Montaigne. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 11 Sep. 2026

There’s banquette, high-top and bar seating inside and patio tables for alfresco sipping. — Kate Bradshaw, Mercury News, 25 Aug. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Italian

First Known Use

1753, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for alfresco

• fresco

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