The best outdoor restaurants in New York City

New York comes to life like no other during the summer, in large part due to the city’s rich culinary scene. Outdoor patios, rooftops and secret gardens become prime real estate, and tables spill onto the sidewalks.

From Brooklyn to Manhattan and West Village to Lower East Side, we’ve rounded up the best bars and restaurants with outdoor spaces to visit this summer. Start at a floating oyster bar on the Hudson River and finish with sundowners on a rooftop in Williamsburg.

Brooklyn

Maison Premiere

Best for: Southern-inspired cocktails and oysters; weekend brunch
Address: 298 Bedford Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11249
Price: $$

The world-recognised Maison Premiere bar in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, is considered one of the best bars in New York, year round. With wrought iron chairs and overgrown plants all around, its lush back garden is the best seat in the house on warm days. Grab a spot beneath the vine-laced pergola and pick from more than 30 oyster varieties, alongside towering shellfish platters and absinth cocktails. Try the refreshing house take on a piña colada, served in a whole coconut and flavoured with rum, pineapple, and lime.

Frog

Best for: Natural wine and pop-up menus in a backyard setting
Address: 358 Marcus Garvey Boulevard, Brooklyn, NY 11221
Price: $$

Frog is a natural wine bar located in Bed-Stuy in Brooklyn and possibly New York’s only wine bar with a pool table. Shaded by a giant tree, the backyard is one of the best spots in New York for a low-key glass of pet nat, and packs out on balmy evenings. Food comes in the form of diverse pop-up menus, which has included fried chicken by Disco Birdies, beef ribs and spicy shrimp dumplings by Delicious African Orchards and Khmer cuisine from Kreung Cambodia. Head next door to sibling venue Tadpole for live music in the evening.

Roberta’s

Best for: Wood-fired pizzas and natural wine
Address: 261 Moore Street, Brooklyn, NY 11206
Price: $$

One of New York’s most iconic restaurants is Roberta’s, the rustic wood-fired pizza spot from chef Carlo Mirarchi. The original Bushwick location picked up a Michelin star in 2023 and is still as busy as ever. During warm weather, the spacious outdoor patio – complete with its own bar – beckons crowds Italian wines with pizzas topped with seasonal ingredients like market greens, mozzarella, lemon, and parmesan. It’s worth noting that while bookings can be made for indoor seats, the patio operates on a first come, first served service.

Westlight at The William Vale Hotel

Best for: Sweeping sunset views and small plates
Address: 111 North 12th Street, Brooklyn, NY 11249
Price: $$$

Brooklyn boasts a cluster of rooftop hotel bars within a small radius of one another, including Wythe, The Hoxton and Arlo Williamsburg. Westlight at The William Vale has the edge for its large wraparound patio with indoor and outdoor seating for spectacular views of the Manhattan skyline. Chef Andrew Carmellini – also behind Italian-inspired menus at ground floor Leuca – presents a menu of street food-inspired small plates. Order spicy chicken empanadas, Moroccan-spiced lamb tacos and charred octopus skewers as you take in the view. Cocktail-wise, the purple and fancy is a good place to start, mixed with bombay gin, guava, dragon fruit, lemon and agave.

elNico at Penny Williamsburg

Best for: Rooftop cocktails and Mexican small plates
Address: 288 North 8th Street, Brooklyn, NY 11211
Price: $$$

This Mexican concept is found on the rooftop of Penny Williamsburg hotel. There is a mole menu of creamy dips served with plantain tostones, alongside zesty guacamole variations and all kinds of tacos. Sink into a smart green banquette on the outdoor terrace to watch the sun go down, and order a Wonderful Nothings cocktail, mixed with Aperol and pink guava.

Laser Wolf at The Hoxton

Best for: Open-flame cooking
Address: 97 Wythe Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 1124
Price: $$$

Israeli chef Michael Solomonov moved his beloved shipudiya (skewer house) to the roof of The Hoxton, Williamsburg on Wythe Avenue in 2022. The open-air restaurant is a year round hotspot thanks to the excellent views of the East River, Brooklyn Bridge and Manhattan. The bar spans the full length of the rooftop and serves fresh citrusy cocktails such as the sour patch kidz – a refreshing, sharp cocktail made with tequila, sour cherry and lime. Drop in for the set menu of fire-kissed proteins and vegetables alongside pitta and a vibrantly-flavoured spread of small salads and dips, like kale baba ganoush and cucumber harissa. The restaurant has no hobs, so all food is cooked over open flame.

Claro

Best For: Seasonal Mexican food and agave drinks
Address: 284 3rd Avenue Brooklyn, NY 11215
Price: $$$

Embracing the hyper-fresh seasonality of Oaxacan cuisine, chef TJ Steele’s Michelin-starred Claro in Gowanus is home to one of Brooklyn’s best courtyards. The space is decked out with simple tables and bar seating. Choose from a deep mezcal and tequila collection, which the team weaves into thoughtful cocktails beyond a margarita like a tequila and mezcal-spiked milk punch flavoured with pineapple, lime and Campari. Like the restaurant’s tiles and ceramic dishes, most of the ingredients here are imported from Mexico.

Roosevelt Island

Panorama Room

Best for: Escaping the city
Address: 22 North Loop Road, New York, NY 10044
Price: $$$

The Graduate New York hotel isn’t necessarily the most convenient outdoor venue in terms of location, but it’s perfect for those looking to escape the city. Hop on the F train or take the ferry over to Roosevelt Island for this polished 18th-floor rooftop bar and lounge from Los Angeles hospitality team Marc Rose and Med Abrous. Snag an outdoor seat on the wraparound terrace with 360-degree views of Manhattan, Brooklyn, The Bronx, and Queens. Floor-to-ceiling doors connect the patio with the red marble-topped bar surrounded by glass. Drop in for a bold mix of Caribbean flavours, including oxtail croquettes served with a rich curry aioli, and extra-crunchy hand-cut fries tossed with pork and chicken crackling. We particularly recommend the BMW M1 for a blend of tequila and mezcal with mango, coconut water, and lime.

West Village

Dante West Village

Best for: Martini and spritz enthusiasts, brunch
Address: 551 Hudson Street, New York, NY 10014
Price: $$

Dante’s outdoor tables are a hot commodity during summer, arranged below two lush, foliage-adorned outdoor dining areas. The bar and restaurant – which was crowned the World’s Best Bar in 2019 – pays tribute to Italy’s aperitivo culture with specific attention to the spritz and martini, of which a myriad of variations are on offer, alongside wood-fired seafood plates. Try the gin-laced Mediterranean tonic with Manzanilla sherry, olive butter, tonic water and salt, and pair it with the house charcuterie board with 24-month-aged prosciutto. Looking for a breakfast or brunch reservation? It’s served here daily.

Grand Banks

Best for: A floating oyster bar with sunset vistas
Address: Pier 25 Hudson River, New York, NY 10013
Price: Small plates from 19 USD; large plates from 33 USD

One of New York’s most idyllic places to catch the sunset with a glass of rosé and plate of freshly-shucked oysters is Grand Banks, parked at Tribeca’s Pier 25. Occupying a Sherman Zwicker fishing boat that dates back to 1942, the waterfront set-up offers unparalleled views of downtown Manhattan. Drop in for chef Kerry Heffernan’s sustainably sourced seafood, including the signature herb-specked Maine lobster roll, plus light tropical cocktails like the vodka-spiked watermelon and lime tropicalia. Pro tip: sunset gets especially busy here, so pop in on a weekday afternoon to avoid the crowds. Brunch runs on weekends only.

Palma

Best for: Homemade pastas and a plant-lined courtyard
Address: 28 Cornelia Street, New York, NY 10014
Price: Small plates from 7 USD; large plates from 30 USD

This romantic Italian restaurant in West Village has the exact vibe of an Italian trattoria in midsummer: wooden furniture, strings of fairy lights, a vibrant trellis of climbing roses, and a retractable roof. Expect perfectly executed classic Italian plates like homemade bolognese and gnocchi served with sourdough focaccia and olive oil – as well as Aperol spritz on tap. The Palma team is set to launch cooking classes later this year, so you can try your hand at creating your favourite dish on the menu.

Bar Pisellino

Best for: Bistro seating and espresso martinis
Address: 52 Grove Street, New York, NY 10014
Price: Food from 5 USD; cocktails from 15 USD

This small all-day West Village bar offers bistro-style tables along charming Grove Street – the perfect spot to spend hours watching the world go by. Mornings are busy with locals gathering for meetings over espresso and bomboloni alla crema (a traditional Italian donut), while evenings focus on amari and vermouth-based drinks. The cocktail offering is short but sweet with just four options to choose from: pistachio, fizz, martini and frappe. There are three variations of negroni on the menu, and a handful of wines available.

Wayla

Best for: Thai cooking in a tropical courtyard 
Address: 100 Forsyth Street, New York, NY 10002
Price: Small plates from 12 USD; large plates from 21 USD

Lower East Side is not short of impressive restaurants, but Wayla takes the crown for its authentic Thai cooking, imaginative cocktails and tropical courtyard. Head chef Tom Naumsuwan plates up authentic Thai street food like moo sarong (crispy noodles wrapped in a pork meatball) and poh pia pu (crab and truffle spring rolls), classic rice and noodle dishes, and larger plates such as gaeng salmon (grilled salmon curry with chillies, aubergines and basil). Inside, the low-lit space is pared back with brick walls and minimal furnishings. Outside, a small courtyard is replete with vintage rugs, printed cushions, lanterns, potted plants, fairy lights and inviting egg chairs. Make it your choice for a midweek dinner with friends, or swing by on the weekend for brunch.