The 27 best outdoor dining spots in NYC

What is it? Nico Russell's take on an all-day cafe that follows the seasons. 

Why we love it: Cafe Mado's all-day operation is inviting any time of day, whether it be a morning stop-and-go order of coffee and pastries or a leisurely place to park for grilled whipped beans and tartines after a visit to the Brooklyn Museum. Anchoring it all is the restaurant's garden space, charming us with string lights, bushels of flowers and a tree overlooking it all. The atrium is a nice sell if the outdoor space is taken, flourishing with its own greenery hanging from the ceiling. 

Time Out tip: If you want to elevate the early half of the week, the restaurant's Steak Mondays are here to serve. Dry-aged strip steak cooked over charcoal and a martini menu in the garden? It is the best start of the week that we can think of. 

Address: 791 Washington Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11238

Hours: Tues and Wed closed; Breakfast and lunch Mon and Thurs–Sun 8:30am–3pm; Dinner Mon and Thurs and Sun 5–9pm Fri and Sat 5–10pm

What is it? A rooftop sushi and omakase counter that hovers above the Manhattan skyline.

Why we love it: The gem of the Gansevoort Hotel lies with Saishin. The long black marble counter is overseen by executive chef Isaac Kek for 14- to 19-course omakase that overlooks the Manhattan skyline. When the spring season arrives, the floor-to-ceiling windows slide back for an open-air experience. The rooftop booths are more casual, offering a la carte sushi still in view of the sky. 

Time Out tip: No reservations are needed, making it one of the easier omakase and rooftops to access. 

Address: 18 9th Avenue, New York, NY 10014

Hours: Closed Mon and Tues; Wed–Sat 6–10pm; Sun 5–9pm

What is it? Jean Georges seaside restaurant located a few steps away from Pier 17. 

Why we love it: The views walking up to The Fulton at Pier 17 downtown are breathtaking to tourists and longtime New Yorkers alike, and they're even more satisfying with a drink and some sensational seafood. Many of The Fulton's seating areas offer views of The East River, the shores of Brooklyn and the bridge that gets you there, including the patio. 

Time Out tip: Pop over for happy hour for $1 oysters and wine flights. 

Address: Northeast corner of Pier, 89 South St #17, New York, NY 10038

Hours: Dinner Mon–Sun 5–10pm; Lunch Mon–Fri 11:30am– 3pm; Brunch Sat and Sun 11:30am–3pm

What is it? A New Orleans-style cocktail bar whose oysters and absinthe offerings have topped our best bars list. 

Why we love it: Raw bar items, martinis and absinthe abound at this Williamsburg classic. Its interior garden always feels special, and it's even lovely enough to compete with MP's lovely dining room. Ordering a tableside martini in the lush greenspace makes it even more special. 

Time Out tip: The garden is now open until November. So get in on the greenery and sunshine while you can. 

Address: 298 Bedford Avenue, Brooklyn, New York 11249

Hours: Mon–Fri noon–1am; Sat and Sun 11am–1am

What is it? Kwame Onwuachi's stellar restaurant that backs up to the Lincoln Center. 

Why we love it: One of the best restaurants in New York City is, as often happens, is also one of the hardest to reserve. But Tatiana by Kwame Onwuachi has a chic, first-come, first-served outdoor space at Lincoln Center ideal for the same sensational braised oxtails, short rib pastrami and fantastic frozen drinks that they serve in the stylish dining room.

Time Out tip: There are only 32 seats to be had outside, and much like everything else here, they get snapped up quick. So show up early if you can. 

Address: 10 Lincoln Center Plaza, New York, NY 10023

Opening hours: Tues–Sat, 4pm–10pm; Closed Sun and Mon 

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by BABA (@babaonwithers)

What is it? A fun, natural wine bar in Williamsburg where the wines flowing well into the wee hours of the morning. 

Why we love it: Inside, Baba on Withers is cool enough as is, with its mirrored ceilings, checkered floor and nightly tunes that spin R&B beats and funk. But outside is just as nice, as the garden is flanked by green vines with string lights and disco ball spinning up above. Snacking includes Little Neck Clams ($17) in a herby, green sauce and Whipped Ricotta ($16) with bee pollen for snacking, while Duck Leg Confit ($28) and the Crispy Chicken Sandos ($17) are made for larger appetites. 

Time Out tip: Happy hour offerings (from 5-7pm) include $9 wines and a few bites (think Brussels sprouts and polenta fries) all under $15. 

Address: 47 Withers Street, Brooklyn, NY 11211

Hours: Mon and Tues 5–10pm; Wed and Thurs 5–11pm; Fri 5pm–1am; Sat 10am–1am; Sun 10am–10pm; Brunch Sat and Sun 10am-4pm; Happy Hour Sun–Thurs 5-7pm 

Why we love it: This large waterside patio in the Bronx is beyond its popular counter-service seafood inside. Collect your clams, oysters, shrimp, lobster and soft-shell crab at the register and settle into a picnic table for peaceful views and a fishing village aesthetic right here in NYC. 

Time Out tip: Nothing's better than a fried something and a frozen, so head to the bar for both. 

Address: 2 City Island Avenue, Bronx, NY 10464

Hours: Daily Sun–Thurs 11:30am–9:30pm; Fri and Sat 11:30am–10:30pm

What is it? An Italian refuge in Fort Green run by a Top Chef alumna. 

Why we love it: Silvia Barban's gem of an Italian restaurant gives us plenty chance to spin pasta in the summer sun. The recently redone backyard is a find with plenty of shrubs, string lights and a tree that's built into it all. Plus, the makeshift cover on top will keep you dry if an errant spring or summer storm makes its way overhead. It is all very romantic, so share a bottle of wine or pasta dish with someone special.

Time Out tip: Naturally, Barban and company make fresh pasta every day, so a dinner without ordering one is basically unheard of. The Smoked Spaghetti Aglio & Olio is one of the best. 

Address: 387 Myrtle Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11205

Hours: Dinner Mon–Thurs 5–10pm Fri and Sat 5–11pm Sunday 5–10pm; Brunch Sat and Sun noon–4pm

What is it? Fort Greene's self-billed neighborhood bistro from April Bloomfield. 

Why we love it: Yes, it is still a bit of stretch to get a seat at Sailor. But now that the spring weather has brough outdoor tables that flank both sides of this corner restaurant, there is hope. The blue and white wicker chairs that face the street give a bit of a Parisian feel, making it the place to knock back a few martinis and that wonderful roasted chicken. 

Time Out tip: Walk-ins are always welcome, so it may be a bit easier to snag that coveted chair during brunch or lunch. 

Address: 228 DeKalb Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11205

Hours: Dinner: Sun–Wed, 5–10pm; Thurs–Sat, 5–10:30pm; Lunch: Wed–Fri, 11:30am–2pm; Brunch: Sat and Sun, 10am–2pm 

What is it? Wood-fired dishes are the name of the game of this Greenpoint restaurant. 

Why we love it: This Michelin-starred modern Mexican restaurant from the Speedy Romeo team spotlights wood-fired dishes like lamb barbacoa tacos, market fish and the best bavette you’ll find in town. They bring the outside in with plenty of greenery in the dining room, but it’s especially intoxicating to sip wine, beer, cocktails and frozen drinks on Oxomoco’s inviting patio. 

Time Out tip: Need to cool off? Get the sweet and spicy frozen Nopalito with mezcal, cucumber, mint, and citrus.

Address: 128 Greenpoint Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11222

Hours: Brunch: Mon–Fri, noon–3pm; Sat and Sun, 11am–3pm;  Dinner: 5:30–10pm

What is it? A pizzeria and then some that put Bushwick on the map back in early 2000s.

Why we love it: Although it’s grown to other locations since first opening in 2008, our favorite Roberta’s is still the string-light lit, industrial block original. The ever-hip love letter to market cuisine and artisanal pizza still grows some of its ingredients on-site, a balm to the hyper-locavores who shed a tear seeing the pies in their grocery store’s frozen aisle. 

Time Out tip: While Brooklyn is the OG spot, their latest outpost near Penn Station has a rooftop that overlooks MSG, perfect for a pre or post-celebration. 

Address: 261 Moore Street, Brooklyn, NY 11206

Hours: Mon–Thur noon–10pm; Fri noon–11pm; Sat 11am-11pm; Sun 11am–10pm

What is it? A Caribbean affair from husband and wife team Ria and Kevol Graham.

Why we love it: We liked Kokomo’s outdoor space so much that we honored it with a Time Out Best of the City award in 2021. Caribbean-influenced menu items throughout its chic spaces include roasted stuffed sweet plantains, flatbread varieties, braised oxtail and jerk chicken. 

Time Out tip: A made for outdoors dish: the Ceviche Negro made with a bright yellow curry, served with torn pieces of roti. 

Address: 65 Kent Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11249

Hours: Dinner: Mon–Wed 5–10pm, Thurs and Fri 5–10:30pm, Sat 11am–10:30pm and Sun 11am–9pm; Happy Hour Mon–Fri 5–7pm

What is it? A charming Crown Heights restaurant where keeping it local is more than just a saying.

Why we love it: This destination-worthy neighborhood spot’s outdoor dining setup spans both sides of its corner location. Get situated at its sidewalk seats for sensational baked goods, breakfast sandwiches and large plates like whole fried fish and half chicken. 

Time Out tip: There are over 40 vermouths to choose from, perfect for a streetside sip. 

Address: 755 Dean Street, Brooklyn, NY 11238

Hours: Vinyl hour: Wed–Fri 1–4pm; Bar service: Daily 4–5pm; Brunch: Sat and Sun 10am–4pm; Dinner: Mon–Thurs and Sun 5–10pm and Fri and Sat 5–11pm

What is it? An alum of Alinea, Blue Hill at Stone Barns and Per Se takes a spin on a seasonal restaurant that elevates the neighborhood restaurant genre. 

Why we love it: Tables at Olmsted have always been hard to come by, but sometimes space in the backyard, where they grow some menu ingredients, is a little easier to snag. Prepare your patience, hope for the best and eventually you’ll be sitting down to its frequently refreshed selections.

Time Out tip: From now until June 30, the restaurant is celebrating its nine year anniversary with throwback prices, so take advantage of $13 cocktails and 50 bottles of wine priced at $50. 

Address: 659 Vanderbilt Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11238

Hours: Closed Mon and Tues; Wed–Sun 5–10pm

What is it? One of Astoria's best beer and cocktail bars that has a pretty rockin' patio to boot. 

Why we love it: The Bonnie is one of Astoria's best bars for a lot of reasons; good, better than bar food and great drinks primary among them any time of year. The glass-encased backyard also adds to the greatness of it all, a homey find with picnic tables and rolling fans that keep the air moving on those super hot days. It's also a perfect venue if you are looking for a solid backyard brunch with friends.

Time Out tip: If you end up boozing until the wee hours of the night, the Smash Burger with double the patty and melty white cheddar on a Big Marty's sesame bun is here to feed ya. 

Address: 29-12 23rd Avenue, Astoria, NY 11105

Hours: Mon–Thurs 4pm–midnight; Fri noon–2am; Sat 10am–2am; Sun 10am–midnight 

What is it? A Michelin-starred revue that deals in Oaxacan cuisine.

Why we love it: Claro is one of the best Mexican restaurants in NYC, and its secluded patio really makes it shine. The restaurant nixtamalizes its own corn, making tortillas, memela and empandas stuffed with sweet potates and trout roe. Spring for the curated mezcal pairing, too, it will be $50 well spent.

Time Out tip: The scallop Aguachile with a balance of sweetness from the strawberries and spice from the combo of serrano and charred habanero is a dish best scooped on the patio.

Address: 284 3rd Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11215

Hours: Closed Tues and Wed; Fri and Sat 5:30–10pm; Sun, Mon and Thurs 5:30–9pm

What is it? A neighborhood bar where beer and bites are the name of the game, going 20 years strong and counting.

Why we love it: This longtime Astoria favorite has sidewalk patio tables and a picturesque, mostly enclosed interior patio where you may gaze upon the sky without being fully outside. Sample Sweet Afton's wide-ranging brunch, dinner and drink menus across configurations. 

Time Out tip: If a sweet brunch is what you seek, look no further than the Sweet Potato Flapjacks with a pecan-maple syrup, slices of Granny Smith apples and créme fraiche. 

Address: 30-09 34th Street, Astoria 11103

Hours: Mon–Fri 4pm–4am; Sat and Sun 10am–4am

What is it? A quintessential neighborhood restaurant in Williamsburg run by fine dining alums. 

Why we love it: Although a one-day-a-week restaurant would be an interesting endeavor, Sunday in Brooklyn is open for brunch and dinner all seven. The rustic three-story space boasts an outdoor patio, to-go window, private dining room and rooftop garden, perfect for warm-weather dining.

Time Out tip: Yes, the dome-shaped Sunday Pancakes are still a dream, ladeled with a hazelnut maple praline and brown butter. You can still get them past the brunch hours all they way until 4pm. 

Address: 348 Wythe Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11249

Hours: Breakfast Mon–Sun 8am–9:30am; Brunch Mon–Sun 9:30am–4:30pm; Midday Wed–Sun 4:30–5pm; Dinner Mon–Sun 5–10pm

What is it? A timeless restaurant housed in a West Village townhouse. 

Why we love it: The ivy-laced garden at Graydon Carter’s little hobby is as close as most of us will ever get to having a private yard in the West Village. And, while reservations used to be harder to get than a mortgage—with people and celebrities alike clamoring for tables—these days you can pretty much sit right down. Pop in and make up for all those years you weren’t ordering the $90 mac and cheese. 

Time Out tip: The chicken pot pie is iconic for a reason. 

Address: 16 Bank Street, New York, NY 10014

Hours: Dinner daily 5—11pm; Brunch Sat and Sun 11am–5pm

What is it? Dishes imported straight from the streets of Thailand can be found here, including the appetizer that started a frenzy: the crispy noodle wrapped meatballs. 

Why we love it: Wayla is stylish inside and out. While the covered street shed is no longer, the back patio is still just as popular. There's a bit of greenery and lights to offset the industrial feel of it all, making it the perfect scenery to nosh on homestyle plates. 

Time Out tip: Feast like a king with the Whole Fried Branzino balancing that sweet and sour bite with limes and chilies wrapped in. 

Address: 100 Forsyth Street, New York, NY 10002

Hours: Mon–Thurs 4pm–4am; Sat–Sun 10am–4am; Brunch Sat and Sun 10am–4pm

What is it? A cozy French bistro where the inside is just as charming as the outdoors. 

Why we love it: This breezily-chic French restaurant serves unexpectedly generous portions of mussels, steak tartare, pâté and duck confit alongside excellently calibrated cocktails on Atlantic Avenue. The dining room can handily serve as a special occasion spot, and its ivy-lined backyard casually competes with the best of ‘em.

Time Out tip: If rains, no worries, the patio has a retractable roof to keep you and your dinner dry. 

Address: 320 Atlantic Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11201

Hours: Lunch Tues–Fri 11:30am-3pm; Dinner Sun–Mon 5–9pm Tues–Thurs 5–9:30pm Fri and Sat 5–10:30pm; Brunch Sat and Sun 11am-3pm

What is it? A classic Parisian bistro from Keith McNally.

Why we love it: This bold-name magnet had a respectable 15-year run, followed by a half-decade hiatus before reopening a stone’s throw from its original Meatpacking District location in 2019. The French bistro is lovely as ever, and dining on its stretch of sidewalk seating feels particularly decadent, especially midday over a bottle of crisp white wine. 

Time Out tip: Brunch on the patio includes baked goods, a selection of cheeses and Croque Monsieur and Croque Madame sandwiches. 

Address: 52 Gansevoort Street, New York, NY 10014

Hours: Mon and Tues 8am–11pm; Wed and Thurs 8am–11pm; Fri 8am–midnight; Sat and Sun 10am–midnight

What is it? A seasonal taco stand from one of NYC's most prolific restaurateurs. 

Why we love it: Danny Meyer’s candy-colored taqueria recalls Madison Square Park’s Shake Shack, which began as a simple stand before blowing up into the behemoth we know and love and endlessly stack up against In-N-Out today. Order tacos stuffed with carne asado, pollo adobo or fried fish in Williamsburg’s waterfront park.

Time Out tip: If you show up with a group, get a pitcher of margs. There are four options to choose from—Tacocina Margarita, Cadillac Margarita, Hibiscus Margarita, Spicy Margarita and Mezcal Ancho Margarita—so choose wisely. 

Address: 25 River Street, Brooklyn, NY 11249

Hours: Daily 11:30am–9pm

What is it? A summertime, seasonal patio where fish tacos are your best friend. 

Why we love it: This summer-only beach staple is as sweet as all the season’s songs, and just as fleeting. For days when you don’t feel like packing up a cooler full of what will inevitably become real-deal sandwiches, Tacoway’s there for a slightly more formal dining experience, replete with fish tacos, guac and booze that didn’t recently see the inside of a water bottle. 

Time Out tip: If the sun is really beating you down, you can most definitely cool off with one of the freshly pressed juices. Add on the Watermelon or the Pineapple Mint Juice for $5 bucks more.  

Address: 302 Beach 87th Street, Far Rockaway, NY 11693

Hours: Mon–Sunday 11am–8pm

What is it? A small cafe found inside this 28-acre public garden and cultural center in the Bronx. 

Why we love it: Wave Hill is a wonderful public garden in the Bronx, replete with sprawling lawns and oodles of blooms. That's a lot of room to roam and work up an appetite, and The Café has plenty to slake any tummy rumbling. Produce is sourced locally from Katchkie Farm in upstate New York and afternoon teas in view of the green is most certainly a perk.

Time Out tip: You can picnic but only in designated areas and there is a strict no blanket rule. 

Address: 675 West 249th Street Inside the Wave Hill House Bronx, NY 10471

Hours: Mon closed; Tues–Sun 10:30am–4pm

What is it? A casual neighborhood Italian restaurant found near the waterfront. 

Why we love it: This Columbia Waterfront District favorite has a sprawling backyard where they’ve been known to host shrimp boils, barbecues and chef collaborations. Its regular menu includes pappardelle, spaghetti, rigatoni and the particularly popular hot chicken Milanese with radicchio and ranch.

Time Out tip: They take their wine seriously here, even hosting a wine club for the most dedicated of drinkers. So ask a lot of questions and be rewarded with a vino tailored to your liking. 

Address: 127 Columbia Street, Brooklyn, NY 11231

Hours: Sun-Thurs 5–9pm; Fri and Sat 5-10pm

What is it? A rustic Italian restaurant that backs up to the waterfront. 

Why we love it: With views of the Manhattan skyline across the river and the “Cola” half of Long Island City’s iconic Pepsi-Cola sign up close, Maiella’s patio has as dramatic a backdrop as any destination in the area–plus a lengthy, large-group pleasing menu of Italian plates.

Time Out tip: Pasta spun out of cheese wheel done tableside? Get your camera ready. 

Address: 4610 Center Boulevard, Long Island City, NY 11109

Hours: Dinner Mon–Fri 5–10pm Sat 5–10pm Sun 4–8pm; Lunch Sat noon–4pm and Sun noon–3pm

NYC has plenty of beer gardens, patios and terraces for those boozy afternoons in the city.