The 13 best restaurants to dine outdoors in New York City

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’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.

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.

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 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 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.

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.

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’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.

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.