The 13 best restaurants to dine outdoors in New York City

Photo credit: Liam Sheehan for Bar Primi
A backlit bar and burgundy bar stools across Moynihan Train Hall at Bar Primi in New York City

New York City is constantly reinventing itself—and so are its outdoor dining setups. Secret gardens, open-air oases, and scenic verandas let New Yorkers dine outside in all five boroughs.

Head to the airy terrace at an Italian favorite for unbeatable Brooklyn Bridge views. At a French American staple in TriBeCa, a seasonal sidewalk cafe is a welcoming oasis. A flower-filled courtyard at an Upper East Side pub brings mellow British taproom vibes to New York City.

For a few precious months every year, New Yorkers can max out on all things alfresco. Read on for a guide to the 13 best restaurants for outdoor dining in NYC right now.

Cecconi’s Dumbo (Dumbo)

A black and white awning covers the outdoor seating area at Cecconi’s Dumbo, with views of the Brooklyn Bridge.
Dine under the black-and-white verandas at Cecconi’s Dumbo for epic Brooklyn Bridge views. | Credit: Dave Burk for Soho House

Cecconi’s Dumbo packs a triple punch with an unbeatable location along Water Street in Brooklyn Bridge Park, the resulting stunning views of Manhattan, and classic Italian fare. Catch a sunset dinner under the restaurant’s black-and-white verandas or head to brunch on the weekend where there are housemade pastas, pizza, salads, and an expansive wine menu.


Montesacro BK (Williamsburg)

A retractable glass ceiling and large potted plants at the outdoor dining space at Montesacro BK in New York City
A retractable glass ceiling adds drama to the outdoor space at Montesacro BK. | Credit: Montesacro BK

Montesacro’s only East Coast outpost is right in Williamsburg. A dramatic retractable glass ceiling creates a spectacular outdoor space complete with hanging plants and heaters. The menu takes cues from Roman taverns where diners come together at long wooden tables to enjoy a meal. The pinsa—a Roman style pizza made with a blend of soy, rice, wheat flour, and dried mother yeast—is the star of the show here, and there are more than ten kinds to choose from.


Parklife (Gowanus)

Orange umbrellas, string lights, and trees in the backyard at Parklife in New York City
Brooklynites love Parklife for its large backyard and picnic-like setting. | Credit: Parklife

Brooklynites have long flocked to Parklife in groups for a massive backyard that always makes it feel like the best picnic hang. It’s an especially exciting time to visit because owners Scott Koshnoodi and Julie Kim recently debuted a new menu inspired by Tex Mex and Persian food. Head over earlier in the afternoon for low-key vibes or stop by after a show at the nearby Littlefield (same owners) for weekend dance parties. Hot tip: Tuesday-night trivia is a great intro to Parklife.


Tavern on the Green (Midtown West)

This timeless space across Sheep Meadow in Central Park has served a country club-inspired American menu of crispy chicken sandwiches and grilled salmon since 1934. Its elegant interiors (with several different dining rooms) evoke a grand farmhouse, but it’s the outdoor courtyard that shines in warmer weather for its elm trees and miniature chandeliers, strung to look like the roof of a circus tent. 


The Odeon (TriBeCa)

The Odeon is a quintessentially New York City restaurant: chic but edgy, which explains why the American bistro is still a destination after 30 years in TriBeCa. Things heat up in spring and summer when the sidewalk cafe rolls out its striped awning. Lined with fragrant flowers, greenery, string lights and the (sort of) starry night sky above, it feels like a welcoming oasis in a world of concrete. Sip on an ice cold martini, dig into a tray of oysters, and feel the stress melt away. 


Bar Primi (Penn District and Bowery)

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Low-slung seats and a crackling fireplace make you forget you’re across the street from Penn Station at Bar Primi’s latest location. | Credit: Liam Sheehan

Bar Primi has served al fresco negronis and bowls of beautiful pasta on the Lower East Side for nearly a decade, but a new location is upping its game even further. The latest outdoor space is a terrace roughly the size of a football field, anchored by a back-lit bar with lush and leafy surroundings. It’s easy to forget you’re across the street from Penn Station when you’re sipping a Piazza Julep—a bourbon cocktail served in a striking ceramic mug—on one of the patio’s comfy couches. 


Gallow Green (Chelsea)

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 Gallow Green is an unexpected garden-like space on top of the McKittrick Hotel. | Credit: Gallow Green

“Nonstop garden party” describes the vibe at the McKittrick Hotel’s rooftop bar. The lush space overflows with greenery and is known for gin and rum punches and drinks-friendly snacks like Sonoran-style hot dogs and cheddar cheese curds. Gallow Green is especially popular during the summer months when its surroundings are in full bloom, but a fireplace and cushy chairs make it great for wintertime, too.


Laduree Soho Restaurant (Soho)

Parisian vibes fill Laduree’s stunning courtyard, a shaded tree- and flower-filled garden made for warm weather. The French teahouse is famous for its macarons and other traditional pastries, but there’s also a full savory menu here with dishes like quiche lorraine, a chicken club sandwich, and skirt steak with peppercorn sauce.


Jones Wood Foundry (Upper East Side)

A wooden table topped with pancakes, avocado toast, a traditional English breakfast, and eggs with “soldier” style toasts at Jones Wood Foundry in New York City
Jones Wood Foundry’s charming outdoor courtyard takes you to a pub in the English countryside. | Credit: Jones Wood Foundry

When you want to be transported to a charming English countryside pub, head to this cozy spot. Book a seat on the open-air back patio surrounded by exposed brick walls and ivy for an intimate evening or the sidewalk set-up for a livelier night out. Either way, it’ll be a meal well spent over pub favorites like bangers and mash and fish and chips. Don’t think about skipping dessert—the sticky toffee pudding is phenomenal.


La Grande Boucherie (Midtown West)

Large green plants, bistro-style tables and chairs, and soaring ceilings at La Grande Boucherie in New York City
La Grande Boucherie’s outdoor dining setup looks like a Parisian promenade in Midtown. | Photo credit: La Grande Boucherie

Even though it’s set in a covered, open-air passageway in Midtown, La Grande Boucherie’s outdoor dining area channels one of the enclosed galleries that connect many streets in Paris. Come for pitch-perfect French classics like steak tartare, croque monsieur, and escargot, which pair well with the restaurant’s extensive absinthe selection.


Brunetti Pizza (West Village)

It’s not common to find a gorgeous backyard at a restaurant in the West Village, so Brunetti’s is a rare gem. It’s tucked between brick buildings and made charming with string lights, greenery, and a striped awning. Top-notch Neapolitan pizza and a deep wine list round the spot out, making it a delightful way to have a meal alfresco, especially with a group.


Pera Soho (Soho)

Pera Soho’s gazebo takes you away to Istanbul. The atmosphere is breezy—fans deck the lush garden in the warmer months—and channels the artsy Turkish neighborhood the restaurant is named for. Get together over Mediterranean-inspired dishes like Greek yogurt-marinated chicken breast and Levantine seafood cake. Go for al fresco happy hour on weekdays from 4 pm to 6 pm and snack on hummus and calamari with Calabrian aioli, best washed down with Pera’s top-tier margaritas and martinis.


Harlem Tavern (Harlem)

The outdoor space at Harlem Tavern buzzes with life on any given warm day. Its canopy of red umbrellas provides crucial shade and is a go-to place for watching sports on the tavern’s mounted televisions. The bar hosts special events frequently in honor of holidays like Cinco de Mayo, Mother’s Day, and more. Expect excellent small bites like crispy fish tacos, plus heartier mains including bourbon-braised short ribs with mashed potatoes and sauteed spinach.

Known for her pioneering food blog, The Strong Buzz, Andrea Strong covers restaurants, chefs, trends, and big picture stories about the intersection of food, business, policy and the law for publications such as The New York Times, Fast Company, Food & Wine, New York Magazine, Eater, and more. She lives, eats, and loads and unloads the dishwasher in Brooklyn. 

Stefanie Tuder, Aarti Virani, Ameena Walker, and Tanay Warerkar contributed to this guide.

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