Driving through the Fan, down West Main Street and turning on Robinson, there are a couple of things that are immediately noticeable.

Bad parking jobs, terrible visibility at intersections and an abundance of restaurants are a few of them, but my favorite is the fantastic selection of patio dining options.

Richmond is filled with restaurant patios. From the one with retractable windows at 3 Monkey's and the covered patio at Starlite to the fenced off collection of bistro tables at Can Can, there are plenty of patio options all over town.

But this time of year, the challenge isn't finding a patio to sit on; it's finding a vacant seat. In nice weather, Richmond's restaurant patios fill up fast. By the looks of things on my daily commute, by 5 p.m. on any given weekday, the patios of the Fan are completely full.

According to the staff of some of Richmond's hottest patios, there are two "rushes" for the seats. One is the happy hour rush just before, or exactly at, 5 p.m. The other is the dinner rush just before, or exactly at, 7 p.m. So if you want to be sure to get a table, you should avoid the rushes, or beat them by 20 minutes or so.

But where are the best spots for Richmond patio dining? What are the rules and regulations of each patio and can you reserve a table? Richmond.com has you covered, we'll tell you where the patios are, what to expect when you get there, whether or not you can reserve a table and, since this is Richmond, whether or not you can smoke when you get there.

Richmond Patios:

3 Monkeys: 3 Monkeys was the first patio in Richmond to go from outdoor dining to year-round, non-weather contingent patio dining. This may explain why it's seemingly impossible to get a table out there. 3 Monkeys' patio is heated, cooled and covered - in short, it's fabulous. There is full table service and a host will seat you. Sorry, no patio reservations. Smoking is permitted after 10 p.m. 2525 W. Main St., 804-204-2525

Amici Ristorante: Amici is home to one of Carytown's best patios for people-watching. Since Amici can partially enclose the patio, it's open year round. So if you want to sit out there, just ask. Full table service is available once a hostess seats you. Sorry, no patio reservations. Smoking is permitted. 3343 W. Cary St., 804-353-4700

Babe's: This Carytown spot is probably best known for its "diverse" clientele, but in my opinion they have one of the best patios in the city - because in addition to a lovely little seating area it has its own sand volleyball court. The patio is tucked behind the restaurant and is open whenever the restaurant is open. You seat yourself outside, but grab your drinks from the bar on the way out. Sorry, no patio reservations. Smoking is permitted. 3166 W. Cary St., 804-355-9330

Baja Bean Company: Baja's patio is fabulous. It's expansive with an all-out cabana theme and its own bar. The patio is open in nice weather and you should see a host to be seated. You will be served at your table until 9 p.m. when the "bar scene" sets in. Then you can seat yourself and grab your drinks from the outdoor cabana bar. Sorry, no patio reservations. Smoking is permitted. 1520 W. Main St., 804-257-5445

Baker's Crust: There seems to be something about Carytown and hiding patios because this place does it as well. The patio is always open, if you want to sit out there, and a host will seat you. And since the patio is tucked away, it's relatively unknown, making securing a table a lot easier. Sorry, no patio reservations. Smoking is permitted. 3553 W. Cary St., 804-213-0800

Beauregard's Thai Room: The Thai Room's patio is arguably the most beautiful in the city. Gas streetlights, fountains and flowers make this courtyard a little piece of paradise downtown. Reservations are accepted, a hostess will seat you and there is full table service. The courtyard is open April through October, weather permitting. And you can smoke, too. Paradise indeed. 103 E. Cary St., 804-644-2328

Bin 22 @ Betsy's: This casual Carytown patio is the perfect place to sip wine and people watch. It's open in nice weather and, after 5 p.m., it's staffed by a server and one is sat by a host. Even better though, patio reservations are accepted. Smoking is permitted. 3200 W. Cary St., 804-358-4501

Black Finn: The urban, laid-back patio at Black Finn is the perfect place to grab a drink or grub with friends. The patio is open for lunch and dinner whenever you want to sit out there. A host seats you, server serves you and smoking is permitted. Patio reservations are accepted. 1001 Haxall Point, 804-643-3466 Added 4/10

The Bleu Bistro: The West End's hip, fun patio is open in nice weather and fully staffed by a host and a server. Patio reservations are accepted and smoking is permitted. 8982 Quioccasin Road, 804-750-1120 Added 4/10

The Boathouse Restaurant: This former Sunday's Restaurant is home to one of the best patios around. The outdoor eating area is open when the weather is nice and features its own bar and a gorgeous view of Swift Creek Lake. The Boathouse takes reservations, seats you via host, serves you at your table and smoking is permitted. 4602 Millridge Parkway, 804-744-2545

Bottega Bistro: This Southside bistro's patio is open year-round, weather permitting. But if that weren't enough, Bottega takes reservations for its covered patio. Full table service is available once a host has seated you. Smoking is permitted. 11400 W. Huguenot Road, 804-379-9899

Buddy's: Robinson Street is of the most popular destinations for patio dining and Buddy's kicks off the strip. Or ends it, depending on how you look at it. There isn't a formal seating policy, but check-in with someone who works there before you sit down. When the weather is nice the patio is open and staffed by a waitress. Sorry, no patio reservations. Smoking is permitted. 325 N. Robinson St., 804-355-3701

Cafe Gutenberg: This Shockoe Bottom spot is one of my favorites. Its patio is open in nice weather and staffed by a host and server. Patio reservations are accepted and smoking is permitted. 1700 E. Main St., 804-497-5000 Added 4/10

Can Can Brasserie: Can Can's patio is one of the newest in town. It's open whenever the weather is nice, offers full table service (and plenty of Carytown views) and a hostess will seat you. Best of all though, patio reservations are available. Smoking is permitted. 3120 W. Cary St. 804-358-7274

Capital Ale House: Innsbrook's favorite patio destination offers full table service and will have a host seat you. The patio is open when the weather is nice. Sorry, no reservations. Smoking is permitted. 4024-A Cox Road, 804-780-2537

Capital Ale House Downtown: Technically Capital Ale House calls its patio a beer garden. You can seat yourself out there depending on business. And a server will serve you. Sorry, no reservations. Smoking is permitted. 623 E. Main St., 804-643-2537 Added 4/10

Cary Street Café: Cary Street's patio is often overlooked even though it's just off the popular Robinson strip. This makes it a perfect choice since it usually means you can get a table. The patio is always open and always staffed, regardless of the weather. Feel free to seat yourself, but do the staff a favor and let them know you're out there. They're not psychic and don't intuitively know when someone has chosen to arrange themselves at a table. Sorry, no reservations. Smoking is permitted. 2631 W. Cary St., 804-353-7445

Cha Cha's Cantina: Cha Cha's Shockoe Bottom patio is open in nice weather and the staff will seat and serve you. Sorry, no reservations. Smoking is permitted. 1419 E. Cary St., 804-726-6296

Cielito Lindo: This lovely little Westover Hills Mexican spot has a fantastic patio that is always packed. It's open, weather permitting, whenever the restaurant is and the patio is always staffed by a server. You seat yourself for lunch, but reserve the honor for a host at dinner. Sorry, no reservations. Smoking is permitted. 4702 Forest Hill Ave., 804-233-3022

Curbside Café: Curbside's patio is open when the restaurant is, but due to city ordinance, closes down at 11 p.m. And I'm going to say this the way I'm sure the staff wants to: SEE A WAITRESS BEFORE SEATING YOURSELF. There's even a sign that tells you to do it, but apparently it's become a problem - so stop it. There's even a waitress whose entire job for the night is to work the patio. Sorry, no reservations. Smoking is permitted. 2525 Hanover Ave., 804-355-7008

Double T's Real Smoked Barbeque: This Carytown spot's patio is open whenever someone wants to sit out there. A server will serve you and a host will seat you. Sorry, no reservations. Smoking is permitted. 2907 W. Cary St., 804-353-4304

Easy Street: This popular Fan patio spot takes reservations for parties of eight or more, provided that you're willing to get there before the dinner rush, around 7 p.m. If you didn't make a reservation and you spot a table that's not reserved, feel free to seat yourself and a waitress will serve you. The patio is open when weather permits and smoking is permitted. 2401 W. Main St., 804-355-1198