The NYC outdoor dining scene isn’t just a warm-weather perk. It’s a year-round ritual, with heated patios, rooftop greenhouses, and sidewalk setups as iconic as the skyline itself. Across the boroughs you’ll find Australian breakfast with sidewalk service in the West Village, Italian classics with Brooklyn Bridge views in Dumbo, and a showstopping brasserie to rival Paris in Midtown West.
From hidden courtyards to dog-friendly patios, the best NYC outdoor dining includes tables of just about every style, but you’ll often need a reservation to score a seat at one of these top spots.
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For the best NYC outdoor dining before a show — book The Smith (Lincoln Square)
On the Upper West Side, The Smith delivers upscale American cuisine in a lively space on busy Broadway. Start with housemade potato chips and warm blue cheese fondue, then try skillet-seared mac and cheese or The Smith burger with bacon shallot jam and house pickles on a brioche bun. The spacious outdoor sidewalk cafe is great for brunches and lunches in the sunshine, and especially charming for pre-event dining before performances at Lincoln Center across the street.
For the Parisian sidewalk cafe experience in NYC — make a reservation at La Grande Boucherie (Midtown West)
La Grande Boucherie drops full-scale French elegance into Midtown West with a sweeping Art Nouveau arch adorned with gold trim, carved marble, stained glass, and intricate mosaic tile. Begin with red wine-braised chicken, mushrooms, and lardons of coq au vin, or order the pappardelle Bolognese made with veal, beef, and ricotta salata. The sprawling outdoor arcade is framed by ornate ironwork and glowing lanterns, seating 150 for refined al fresco dining year-round in a heated, covered space.
For Aussie brekkie and more in the East Village — reserve a table at Little Ruby’s Cafe (East Village)
Little Ruby’s Cafe explores Australian cafe culture in the East Village with a laid-back atmosphere and all-day dining menu. The signature Bronte burger combines a 7-ounce patty with Swiss cheese and sweet chili with mayo on a toasted ciabatta bun, while the avo toast topped with feta, chili flakes, and poached eggs on sourdough remains a top brekkie selection. The cafe’s sidewalk tables create a relaxed outdoor space for quintessential NYC brunching or all-day gawking at the East Village crowd.
For peak skyline views in the West Village — snag a seat at RH Rooftop Restaurant at RH New York (West Village)
Crystal chandeliers, heritage olive trees, and skyline views set the mood at RH Rooftop Restaurant atop RH New York in the West Village. It’s part garden fantasy, part design showroom, with a short but dialed-in American menu. Get the classic RH burger with sharp American cheese and dijonnaise or the luxe roadside lobster roll. The year-round garden has fountains, London plane trees, and chandeliers, but even the glass-wrapped conservatory has outdoor vibes for a similar experience.
For the rich red romance fantasy of Paris in New York — secure a spot at Boucherie (West Village)
Tables spill onto Seventh Avenue under red awnings at Boucherie, a West Village brasserie that channels the swagger of Paris indoors and out. The moules dijonnaise come swimming in a garlicky mustard cream, and the steak frites arrive hot with a thick pat of herb butter and a reasonable heap of fries. Glass-paneled doors open to blur indoors and out, but the sidewalk scene is the real draw, especially during brunch when the cocktails flow and the Viennoiseries are peak orders.
For the best NYC outdoor dining on the water — book a table at Mezze on the River (Battery Park)
In Battery Park, two outdoor terraces and uninterrupted views of the Hudson make Mezze on the River one of Manhattan’s most scenic spots for Mediterranean dining. Try pistachio-crusted rack of lamb with mint chimichurri or roasted branzino filet in bright ladolemono sauce. Sunset seatings stretch long into the evening on warmer nights, when the limone ripieno is an ideal dessert to enjoy with the riverside breeze, white cloth tables, and sailboats slipping past the skyline beyond.
For outdoor Italian with bridge views — lock in a spot at Cecconi’s Dumbo (Dumbo)
Cecconi’s Dumbo delivers its velvet-and-marble aesthetic to the Brooklyn waterfront with dramatic results. The lobster spaghetti is tossed in tomato-chili sauce and plated like a sculpture, while the classic Italian menu also stars dishes like a classic, wood-fired margherita pizza. Outdoor tables under striped awnings reveal views of the Brooklyn Bridge and Manhattan Bridge at what is one the city’s most cinematic spots for an aperitivo. This Dumbo hotspot is dog-friendly too.
For Eastern Mediterranean with a Levantine emphasis — score a table at Pera SoHo (SoHo)
Tucked just far enough from West Broadway to feel like a find, Pera Soho plates refined Mediterranean dishes in a lush, green-filled courtyard. Start with the Portuguese fried calamari with soujouk sausage and Calabrian chili aioli, then move on to a pan-seared salmon with trout caviar or marinated lamb t-bone steak. Despite its lively and vibrant atmosphere, the outdoor space is well-designed to support friends and small groups catching up with great convo.
For outdoor dining in one of NYC’s most cinematic spaces — reserve Tavern on the Green (Midtown West)
Inside Central Park’s walls but completely its own world, Tavern on the Green remains one of NYC’s most iconic spots for American dining with classic city romance. Starters here might include blackberry BBQ rib salad or jumbo lump crab cake, while mains can range from simple three-cheese ravioli to caramelized rack of lamb with mint jus. Having appeared in countless films and series, dining under fairy lights in the central courtyard is a quintessential New York moment by day or night.
For notable outdoor dining in Harlem — grab a table at Lido (Harlem)
A neighborhood darling and NYC favorite. Lido is where you go for relaxed Italian dining in Harlem. Share a basket of zucchini fritti with lemon aioli and a rich plate of creamy garlic Parmesan bread before topping your spicy spaghetti arrabbiata with jumbo shrimp and finishing with an affogato. Shaped by blue umbrellas and awnings, the pet-friendly, outdoor tables wrap the corner of Frederick Douglas Boulevard and 117th Street on this much-photographed stretch of Harlem’s restaurant row.
Whether you’re on the hunt for a sunny sidewalk brunch on a busy street rich in people-watching, or a romantic rooftop dinner with twinkling skyline views for two, outdoor dining is a top NYC experience. And not just in the summer. Options are abundant, but New Yorkers’ love of open-air eating means the best al fresco tables in NYC are often booked ahead, so you’ll want a reservation before heading to your top choice.
Book top NYC outdoor dining with OpenTable now.
For more top dining in NYC, try these expert guides:
- 10 can’t-miss family-friendly restaurants in NYC
- 20 MICHELIN-Starred restaurants in NYC to book ASAP
- 12 top restaurants for solo dining in NYC
- Where to eat brunch in NYC
Brandon Schultz is an award-winning food and travel writer based in New York City. His work has appeared in Forbes, AAA, Thrillist, Travel + Leisure, andThe Daily Meal, among many others. He is the author of six books, including three cookbooks. Follow his adventures on Instagram @thebrandonalexandr.
