25 Great Places to Eat and Drink Outdoors in NYC

One of the crucial steps in becoming a New Yorker is redefining your conception of the great outdoors. There's no doubt that it can be tough out there—in a city this packed, there's only so much space for folks to throw down a picnic blanket in the grass (witness the throwing of 'bows on sunny weekends in Central Park), and private rooftop bars and pools simply play into NYC's "haves and have-nots" dichotomy. Thankfully, all is not lost for casual sun-seekers who just want to get out of their box-size, AC-deficient apartments to eat and drink in the open air. From sleek beer gardens to ramshackle backyard dives and oasis-like restaurant gardens, there are plenty of awesome places to hang out when the weather warms up. To help you get ready for summer, here are 25 First We Feast-approved outdoor restaurants, bars, and al fresco food markets. 

Neighborhood: Astoria, Queens Address and phone: 35-33 36th St (718-383-1001) Website: studiosquarenyc.com What it is: A 30,000-square-foot beer hall with an industrial look and a sports bar vibe. Outdoor space: A massive cobblestoned courtyard with a fire pit and picnic tables galore, plus a projection screen for games. Go-to order: Brews, and brews only. Beers on tap are constantly changing but include a mix of German and American craft-brew standards. Good for: Stein-swilling friends looking to get tipsy in the sun. Numerous events—like an annual BBQ with David Burke or an intimate concert from the Roots—are also a draw.

Neighborhood: Meatpacking District Address and phone: Enter between Little West 12th and West 18th Streets on the High Line Website: thehighline.org What it is: An outdoor food court of artisan food vendors—Blue Bottle Coffee, Delaney Barbecue's SmokeLine, La Newyorkina, L'Arte de Gelato, Melt Bakery, People's Pops, Sigmund's Pretzels, and The Taco Truck—lined up along the city's prettiest stretch of repurposed railway. Outdoor space: The High Line. Duh. Go-to order: Blue Bottle's superb New Orleans-style iced coffee and Delaney's gluttonous brisket sandwich. Got a sweet tooth? There is no shortage of inventive desserts here. Grab a slice of pie with your brisket, or take your pick of regional frozen treats, from Mexican ice pops to Italian gelato. Good for: Tasty people watching.

Neighborhood: Flatiron Address and phone: 200 5th Avenue, Manhattan (212-937-8910) Website: www.eataly.com/birreria What it is: A rooftop brewpub atop Mario Batali’s Italian superstore, Eataly. Outdoor space: The sprawling, neatly-appointed space features views of the Flatiron Building and the Empire State Building, plus a sliding-glass roof that allows it to remain open year-round. Go-to order: House beers, made on site and devised by Sam Calagione of Dogfish Head, Teo Musso of Baladin, and Leonardo Di Vincenzo of Birra Del Borgo. Excellent but pricey beer-drinking grub includes fennel-laced grilled quail and fat probusto sausages. Good for: Enjoying a rooftop bar that isn’t fueled by vodka tonics and ridiculous guestlists.

Neighborhood: Chelsea Address and phone: Pier 66 Maritime, W 26th St (212-989-6363) Website: no website What it is: A salvaged lightship, built back in 1929, that doubles as one of the city's most boisterous singles scenes. For young New Yorkers, getting a little loose at this fratty al fresco dive bar is a rite of passage—some only need to do it once, while others can't get enough. Outdoor space: You're on a boat! Gaze out across the water toward New Jersey, or check out DJs and other entertainment on the stage at the back. Go-to order: Don't expect craft cocktails or gourmet grub. This is all about the scene, so grab your favorite bottom-shelf standard and start spitting game. Good for: Pretending you're still in college.

Neighborhood: Upper West Side, Manhattan Address and phone: W. 70th Street and Riverside Park South (none) Website: peiricafe.com What it is: A breezy riverside cafe offering coffee, light bites, and happy-hour specials on a newly revamped stretch of Riverside Park. Outdoor space: Umbrella-covered tables at the entrance to Pier 1, which hosts cultural events (with an emphasis on dance) all summer. Go-to order: Treat yourself to summer favorites like Pat La Frieda burgers, fresh squeezed blueberry lemonade, and white wine sangria while watching boats sail up the Hudson. Good for: Relaxing after a West Side Highway run, or pretending (just for a minute) that Manhattan is Essex, CT.

Neighborhood: Clinton Hill, Brooklyn Address and phone: 546 Clinton Ave. , Brooklyn, NY 11238,(718-230-5800) Website: no website What it is: An old-timey, industrial-chic neighborhood bar in what was once an auto-repair garage, with a penchant for '80s music. Outdoor space: A very large concrete slab out front with picnic benches, lawn chairs, and high walls (to shield patrons from the bustle of Atlantic Avenue).You can be loud and drunken until late in night, since the bar doesn't have any neighbors who'll complain. Go-to order: Choose from the wide variety of craft beer on tap, or the solid selection of bourbons and whiskeys, and chat up the friendly bartenders while you're at it. If you want some booze-friendly grub, Little Brother barbecue next door will deliver straight to your outdoor table. Bring cash with you, though. Good for: Dressed-down drinking late into the night.

Neighborhood: Park Slope, Brooklyn Address and phone: 249 4th Ave (347-457-5606) Website: missiondoloresbar.com/blog What it is: A dog- and kid-friendly craft-beer bar built into an old auto-repair shop on Fourth Avenue. Outdoor space: This is the place to feel like you're spending time in the fresh air (or as "fresh" as it can be off of a major Brooklyn thoroughfare) without baking in the sun. There's a central, concrete-and-wood–heavy central courtyard which leads through huge open glass doors to the bar, where you'll find 20-plus beer taps waiting for you. Go-to order: Scour the list for whatever low-ABV, day drinking-friendly session beers are on tap that day. You might find Peekskill Simple Sour from just up the Hudson River Valley, or a Ballast Point Calico Copper Amber Ale from the West Coast. Good for: Beer nerds with dogs.

Neighborhood: Bushwick, Brooklyn Address and phone: 1037 Flushing Ave (281-827-1800) Website: narrowsbar.com What it is: An unpretentious, off-the-radar cocktail bar where you can go highbrow (the rye-based Caufield's Dream, featuring cava, lemon, demarara syrup, and spearmint grown in the backyard) or lowbrow (a $4 Bud) without anyone caring which you choose. Outdoor space: An oasis-like garden full of flowers and mismatched furniture. Go-to order: It doesn't get much better than a pint of Fuller's ESB and some $1 oysters (daily until 7pm) in the sun. Good for: A pre- or post-Roberta's drink.

Neighborhood: Bushwick, Brooklyn Address and phone number: 261 Moore St (718-417-1118) Website: robertaspizza.com What it is: The de facto hangout of the Brooklyn food scene, specializing in excellent wood-fired pizzas and simple, Italian-leaning dishes made with fresh produce. Outdoor space: A funky outdoor bar and patio sitting next to a garden where the restaurant grows some of its herbs and vegetables. Go-to order: The Bee Sting pizza with mozzarella, sopressata, chili, and honey, plus a bottle of wine or beer from a solid local-leaning tap list. Good for: Recreating that scene from Girls where Marnie and Charlie get back together.

Neighborhood: Williamsburg, Brooklyn Address and phone: 298 Bedford Ave (347-335-0446) Website: maisonpremiere.com What it is: A throwback cocktail bar, inspired by historic New Orleans and specializing in oysters, absinthe, and classic cocktails. Outdoor space: A leafy, secluded garden out back, filled with tables mostly for two to four people. Go-to order: A dozen oysters and a Sazerac, especially during happy hour (4-7pm daily) when the bivalves are a buck each. A section of the drinks list devoted to juleps is also worth exploring when it's nice out. Good for: Day-drinking in a Seersucker suit.

Neighborhood: Meatpacking District Address and phone: 848 Washington St (212-645-4646) Website: standardhotels.com What it is: A classic German beer garden with a sleek, yet subtle, downtown twist. Outdoor space: A huge open-air bar beneath the High Line with communal tables, as well as ping pong. Go-to order: One hour at the reservations-only Stammitish tables. Beer is piped directly to your seat, so there's no crowds and no waits. Not balling like that? At lunch, $15 garners a sausage, salad, pretzel, or strudel and a beer taster. It's the perfect way to jumpstart a summer Saturday. Good for: Kicking back after hitting the Chelsea galleries, strolling the High Line, or watching models strut down 14th Street.

Neighborhood: Red Hook, Brooklyn Address and phone: 127 Columbia St (718-923-9322) Website: pokpokny.com What it is: The New York outpost of Andy Ricker’s wildly successful Thai restaurant from Portland. Outdoor space: Outdoor tables with huge Singha-emblazoned umbrellas, in a ramshackle backyward that make you feel like you’ve been transported to a streetside restaurant in Chiang Mai. Go-to order: Vietnamese fish sauce wings, mango sticky rice, and the house specialty jelly beer—essentially a Singha frozen in the bottle into a kind of slushy, then served with a tall plastic straw. Good for: A memorable meal with friends you don’t mind waiting in line for hours with.

Neighborhood: Greenpoint, Brooklyn Address and phone: 222 Franklin St (718-389-8102) Website: anellabrooklyn.com What it is: An intimate restaurant high on scruffy Brooklyn charm, serving simple seasonal fare with well-balanced flavors. Outdoor space: A sunny patio out back surrounded by a garden that provides the kitchen with some of its produce. Go-to order: Freshly baked bread served in a flower pot and any of the specialty cocktails on offer during their twice daily happy hours (4-6pm and 11pm-1am). Good for: Impressing a date with after-dinner drinks while not breaking the bank.

Neighborhood: East Village Address and phone: 190 Avenue B (212-388-1990) Website: backfortynyc.com What it is: An approachable farm-to-table gastropub from locavore pioneer Peter Hoffman. Outdoor space: A 40-seat outdoor garden with a rustic feel. Go-to order: The grass-fed beef, built from a cow broken down in-house, is always a hit, paired with a local craft beer. Good for: Lunch with friends after the farmers market, or a group dinner under string-up Christmas lights.

Neighborhood: Williamsburg, Brooklyn Address and phone: 229 South 4th St (347-844-9578) Website: traifny.com What it is: A New American small plates spot that is hyper-seasonal and distinctly unkosher. Outdoor space: The outdoor patio surrounded by foliage is a great escape from the tightly packed narrow dining room, especially at brunch. Go-to order: Anything from the monthly themed Monday Night Cocktail Bar, complete with cocktail-driven snacks. Also, bacon donuts. Good for: Classy but casual Monday evening drinks.

Neighborhood: Dumbo, Brooklyn Address and phone: 5 Front St (718-852-2789) Website: www.granelectrica.com What it is: A new-school Mexican spot from the folks behind Colonie, using highend local ingredients. Outdoor Space: A huge backyard garden with stellar views of the Brooklyn Bridge and waterfront. Go-to order: Margaritas, of course, especially during happy hour (M-F 5:30–7pm), when drinks are buy one get one free. Standouts from the menu include carnitas and lengua tacos, plus the torta ahogada, which is drenched in so much spicy sauce that diners rock plastic gloves to eat it. Good for: A fancy-pants taco night.

Neighborhood: Gowanus, Brooklyn Address and phone: 323 Smith St (718-246-1321) Website: no website What it is: A scruffy outdoor beer garden that smells deliciously of grilling frankfurters and feels like the backyard you never had. It's high on irony since there isn't any water in sight, let alone a yacht. Minus points for an appalling bathroom. Outdoor space: A concrete lot (sandwiched between Bagels by the Park and the F/G subway stop) newly refitted this season with brightly-colored benches and picnic tables, topped with makeshift umbrellas. Go-to order: Frosty beer in plastic cups, burgers and hotdogs from a makeshift grill, cash to pay for it all—you get the idea. Good for: Cheap al fresco drinking before or after your main plans for the night.

Neighborhood: Williamsburg, Brooklyn Address and phone: Every Saturday in East River State Park, every Sunday in Brooklyn Bridge Park Website: smorgasburg.com What it is: The city's largest outdoor food market that often seems like a microcosm of New York's  artisanal food scene. It's best experienced with a picnic mat and a ravenous appetite. Outdoor space: Smorgasburg's home on Saturdays—East River State Park—is bigger, but so are the crowds. Be ready to wait in lines around the food tents. On the bright side, there's more grassy area to spread your mat and enjoy the view of the Manhattan skyline as you eat. Go-to order: Try mazeman noodles at Yuji Ramen, duck confit nachos at El Gato Nachos, brisket sandwiches at Mighty Quinn's, and fried anchovies from Bon Chovie—all washed down with a rhubarb thai-basil soda from Brooklyn Soda works. Finish it up with Push Pops from Alchemy Creamery or donuts from Dough. Food runs out pretty fast, so get there early and visit an ATM on the way. Good for: Stuffing your face while getting some sun.

Neighborhood: Gramercy Address and phone: 113 E 29th St (212-686-5480) Website: cannibalnyc.com What it is: Part butcher shop, part bar, part beer store—all man cave. The meat-centric fare from chef Preston Clark is top notch, and the brew selection is one of the most unique (if pricey) in the city. Outdoor space: A lovely backyard with bike racks mounted on the wall and picnic tables fit for warm-weather bacchanals. Go-to order: If you go during the day, grab an excellent Cuban sandwich or a grilled cheese stuffed with pork belly. At dinner, highlights include a roasted half pig's head, lamb shoulder, Detroit-style coney dogs with beef-heart chili, and lamb tartare—bring a crew so you can really feast. Good for: Guy's night out, or midday beer-drinking sessions.

Neighborhood: Upper East Side Address and phone: 401 E 76th St (212-249-2700) Website: joneswoodfoundry.com What it is: A well-heeled English gastropub with a popular front bar and a cozy back dining room, where Anglophiles can eat house made crumpets and lemon curds amid bookshelves filled with British tomes. Outdoor space: A genteel garden fit for a tea party, as well as a lovely atrium that's ideal for groups at brunch. Go-to order: Pick your poison: A champagne cocktail, a pint of Fuller's London Pride, or a glass of wine. Pair it with some very good, properly British food (kedgeree, savory pies, sausage and mash), or go for one of city's best fancy-pants burgers, with a custom LaFrieda blend of dry-aged beef. Good for: Finding refuge before or after hitting some museums on the UES (why else are you there?).

Neighborhood: Greenpoint, Brooklyn Address and phone: 1073 Manhattan Ave(718-389-8990) Website: lobsterjoint.com/greenpoint What it is: A laidback seafood shack that serves a mean lobster roll, plus cocktails and beers to match. Outdoor space: A simple, tree-shaded patio with picnic tables and umbrellas, and the occasional view of line-drying laundry. Flip-flops will fit right in. Go-to order: Any of the lobster rolls, or the crispy oyster roll with a side of fried clam strips. Be sure to wash it all down with a Lobster Bloody Mary (or several), which comes with a whole lobster claw in it. How dramatic! Good for: Feeling like you're on a beach holiday without ever leaving the city.

Neighborhood: Park Slope, Brooklyn Address and phone: 191 Fifth Ave (718-230-7600) Website: bierkraft.com What it is: A beer-shop-cum-bar with one of Brooklyn's best stashes of craft brews. Outdoor space: The garden is a mecca for Kings County beer nerds, who gather around picnic tables under giant umbrellas. Go-to order: Grab a 64-ounce growler of a nice session beer—this summer, Carton Boat Beer is a fine choice—and share it with friends. Good for: Beer obsessives looking to catch a farmer's tan.

Neighborhood: Astoria, Queens Address and phone: 12-21 Astoria Blvd (718-204-8313) Website: hellgatesocial.com What it is: A quintessential neighborhood bar—complete with game nights, burlesque performances, and open mic sessions—whose artist clientele don’t mind the out-of-the-way locale. Outdoor space: A sprawling area with benches, tables, and a giant projection screen for the frequent viewing of '80s flicks. Go-to order: A pint of one of the ever-changing craft brews on tap, such as Troegs Nugget Nectar Amber Ale, along with vittles like spicy yogurt sauce-laced vegetarian gyros. Good for: A laidback mix of conversation and retro-inspired entertainment.

Neighborhood: Long Island City, Queens Address and phone: 45-58 Vernon Blvd (718-786-5400) Website: licbar.com What it is: An old-timey saloon with a tin ceiling, antique wood bar, and a reputation for showcasing emerging music talents. Outdoor space: Picnic benches and metal tables mingle with brick walls and willow trees. From late May through early September, live music performances unfold on the alfresco stage. Go-to order: Craft cocktails do not exist here, but the single-malt selection is tops, so nights should be devoted to Scotch. Good for: Music-lovers on the prowl for an afternoon tipple and a chill atmosphere.

Neighborhood: Woodside, Queens Address and phone: 64-13 39th Ave (718-899-9599) Website: sripraphairestaurant.com What it is: Perhaps New York’s most famous Thai restaurant, packed nightly with locals and tourists, tackling fiery dishes such as whole fried red snapper topped with green mango sauce. Outdoor space: A gurgling fountain gives it the serene appeal of dining in a friend’s comforting, oversized backyard. Go-to order: Duck-laden green curry, naturally ordered “Thai spicy.” Wash it down with a quenching Thai iced tea, or Singha beer. Good for: Large groups who want to while away the evening passing around endless bowls of tangled noodles.