Explore the best of Al Fresco Dining NYC with 13 restaurants that offer more than great meals. These are destinations where atmosphere, neighborhood, and season come together.

Few things feel more quintessentially New York in the warmer months than dining outdoors. A glass of something chilled in hand, the hum of the city all around, and a table set beneath leafy trees, café umbrellas, or skyline views. In this city, al fresco dining is no longer a novelty. It is a ritual—one that blends culture, cuisine, and community with the shifting rhythms of the season.

This summer, Brooklyn’s Lifestyle curates 13 vibrant destinations across Manhattan and Brooklyn where good food is just the beginning. These are spaces where design, setting, and neighborhood come together to create experiences that linger long after the final glass is emptied. From timeless Village sidewalks to hidden Brooklyn gardens and rooftop vistas, these restaurants embody New York’s enduring love affair with outdoor dining.

Bar Pitti

📍 Location: 268 6th Avenue — Greenwich Village, Manhattan

A Greenwich Village institution since 1992, Bar Pitti is as known for its fashionably rumpled regulars as for its Tuscan pastas. The sidewalk tables lining Sixth Avenue offer some of the best people-watching in the city—a front-row seat to Village life in all its effortless style. Order the rigatoni Pitti or a simple caprese and settle in with a glass of red.

Café Select

📍 Location: 212 Lafayette Street — Nolita, Manhattan

Tucked opposite the small Lt. Petrosino Square, Café Select brings a slice of Zurich to Nolita with its compact but charming sidewalk setup. By day, sunlight filters through the trees onto tightly packed tables where locals linger over coffee and the occasional schnitzel. By night, the scene shifts—bottles of natural wine replace espresso, and conversation hums beneath the glow of streetlamps. There is a certain European nonchalance here that makes it feel more like Zürich or Vienna than downtown Manhattan. It is not just the food, but the leisurely pacing, the feeling that you are meant to stay a while.

Sant Ambroeus

📍 Location: 265 Lafayette Street — SoHo, Manhattan

Elegant, understated, and unfailingly chic, Sant Ambroeus’s SoHo outpost channels Milanese café culture onto its Lafayette Street sidewalk with quiet sophistication. Mornings here are for polished locals reading Corriere della Sera over cappuccinos. Afternoons bring a swirl of well-dressed shoppers seeking respite between galleries and boutiques. Espresso, gelato, and aperitivo all arrive with understated ceremony, best savored while observing the endlessly stylish parade of SoHo passersby. It is as much a ritual as a meal, a place where time slows and conversations stretch.

The Odeon

📍 Location: 145 West Broadway — Tribeca, Manhattan

An icon of Tribeca’s dining scene, The Odeon’s red awning and sidewalk tables are pure New York nostalgia. Once the unofficial clubhouse for downtown creatives, it remains a beacon for those who appreciate a French-American menu served with a side of cinematic history. Steak frites, onion soup, and tartare arrive with practiced ease. But it is the atmosphere that continues to draw crowds—the orchestral hum of conversation, the soft glow of neon, and the certainty that you are dining somewhere with stories in its walls.

Palma

📍 Location: 28 Cornelia Street — West Village, Manhattan

Hidden behind Cornelia Street, Palma is the kind of place that feels like a secret, even though its reputation precedes it. The romantic courtyard blooms with greenery and flickers with candlelight, transporting diners far from the city’s chaos. Housemade pastas and Aperol spritzes are served with quiet ceremony beneath climbing vines and soft linen umbrellas. It is the kind of setting where conversations slow, laughter rises easily, and no one feels hurried to leave.

Maison Premiere

📍 Location: 298 Bedford Avenue — Williamsburg, Brooklyn

A Brooklyn classic, Maison Premiere’s lush garden patio feels like stepping into a New Orleans courtyard. Known for its oyster towers and absinthe cocktails served beneath wrought-iron chandeliers and creeping vines, this is a place where summer unfolds slowly. Time stretches between courses, cocktails arrive with a flourish, and conversation lingers long past sunset. The garden feels like a secret, half-shared between Williamsburg locals and those who make the pilgrimage for oysters and old-world charm.

Frog.

📍 Location: 358 Marcus Garvey Boulevard — Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn

Frog. feels like that friend’s backyard everyone wishes they had. Unpretentious, a little scruffy, and perfect for losing track of time. Tucked behind a modest wine bar on Marcus Garvey Boulevard, its shaded garden revolves around a single, towering tree that anchors the space. Here, natural wines are poured with curiosity and ease, and the rotating lineup of pop-up chefs brings unexpected variety to the menu. From handmade pasta to Vietnamese small plates. What starts as a casual glass often becomes a drawn-out evening beneath the string lights, where neighborhood regulars and first-timers mingle without pretense.

Laser Wolf

📍 Location: 97 Wythe Avenue — Williamsburg, Brooklyn

Perched atop The Hoxton Hotel, Laser Wolf delivers a slice of Tel Aviv’s high-spirited dining scene with a Brooklyn rooftop twist. Come golden hour, the space hums with energy as diners linger over smoky skewers, vibrant mezze, and playful soft serve desserts—all set against the backdrop of Manhattan’s shimmering skyline. The playlist leans upbeat, the cocktails skew refreshing, and the mood stretches well into the night. Skyline views aside, it is the flavors—bold, bright, and herbaceous—that keep this rooftop one of the city’s most joyful tables for a summer meal. Reservations remain essential; this is not a table you stumble into by chance.

Miss Ada

📍 Location: 184 DeKalb Avenue — Fort Greene, Brooklyn

A perennial neighborhood favorite, Miss Ada’s covered backyard feels like a secret garden tucked behind brownstone-lined DeKalb Avenue. Lush with greenery and softly lit in the evenings, it serves as the ideal stage for chef Tomer Blechman’s Mediterranean flavors. Whipped ricotta drizzled with honey, lamb shawarma wrapped in housemade laffa, and vibrant vegetable-forward plates that feel as nourishing as they are flavorful. The space blurs the lines between casual and celebratory, making it equally suited to a spontaneous Tuesday dinner or a slow, sun-dappled weekend lunch.

Morandi

📍 Location: 211 Waverly Place — West Village, Manhattan

Keith McNally’s rustic Italian trattoria serves as both a neighborhood haunt and celebrity magnet. Sidewalk tables here are a West Village rite of passage: martinis at lunch, pasta in the golden hour, always with a side of spectacle. The menu leans confidently into Roman comfort food—cacio e pepe, polletto alla diavola, fritto misto—while the setting offers a masterclass in casual glamour. This is where West Village afternoons stretch long into evenings, one Negroni at a time.

The River Café

📍 Location: 1 Water Street — DUMBO, Brooklyn

Anchored beneath the Brooklyn Bridge, The River Café delivers quintessential New York glamour with a view to match. Fine dining with an emphasis on American cuisine unfolds on a terrace that seems to float above the East River, offering jaw-dropping vistas of the Manhattan skyline. A jacket is still required, and the romance factor remains unmatched, from champagne carts to live piano. For all its polish, The River Café remains grounded in hospitality and timeless charm, making it an essential pilgrimage for summer dining done right.

Marea

📍 Location: 240 Central Park South — Columbus Circle, Manhattan

Overlooking Central Park South, Marea is the pinnacle of sophisticated seafood dining in Manhattan. The terrace offers a serene counterpoint to the energy of Columbus Circle, where crudo and lobster pasta arrive beneath crisp linens and attentive service. It is a stage for subtle indulgence: the quiet confidence of a well-built martini, the precise luxury of uni atop spaghetti, the slow pacing of a meal meant to be savored. Here, al fresco dining takes on the quiet rhythm of elegance.

The Yacht Club

📍 Location: 10th Floor, Starrett‑Lehigh Building, 212 Twelfth Avenue [between 26th & 27th Streets] — Chelsea, Manhattan

New for 2025, The Yacht Club is redefining rooftop dining with its expansive 20,000-square-foot terrace perched above Chelsea’s industrial blocks. Think seafood towers, chilled rosé, and cabana seating softened by billowing drapery and unobstructed Hudson River views. The scale here is unapologetically grand, meant for celebrations, group gatherings, and long, lazy afternoons that stretch into evening. If New York’s rooftop culture thrives on spectacle, The Yacht Club delivers it with polish and poise.

Why These 13?

Each of these venues tells a story of neighborhood character, culinary personality, and design. Some are steeped in history [Bar Pitti, The Odeon], others feel like well-kept secrets [Palma, Frog]. Some offer gardens that transport you [Maison Premiere, Miss Ada]; others deliver New York’s skyline on a silver platter [Laser Wolf, The River Café, The Yacht Club].

The thread that ties them together? A commitment to the art of hospitality, outdoors. These are spaces made for savoring—oysters shared slowly, a bottle opened without hurry, conversation stretching effortlessly into the hours ahead. They speak to the spirit of the city itself: adaptable, vibrant, alive to the moment.

Honorable Mentions: More Al Fresco Options to Love

If your summer dining calendar still has room, these additional spots are worth seeking out. Each offers its own distinct charm. Whether it is skyline views at sunset, a courtyard garden tucked behind weathered brick, or the kind of neighborhood energy that makes a table feel like home.

These are the places where locals linger, conversations stretch, and the spirit of outdoor dining feels just as vibrant—if a little more under-the-radar. Make a day of it: visit a gallery from our guide to the best art exhibits in NYC before settling in for dinner beneath the trees.

Nerina

📍 Location: 35 Commercial Street — Greenpoint, Brooklyn

Nerina’s offers a spacious, light-filled outdoor dining area that seats up to 70 guests—a relaxed yet elegant setting ideal for lingering over the restaurant’s modern Greek mezze-style menu. Expect fresh seafood, vibrant salads, and generous sharing plates. This is a space designed for both intimate dinners and convivial gatherings, matched by Nerina’s warm, hospitable atmosphere. The recent spring reopening introduced not only seasonal menus but also brunch service and wine classes.

Fornino

📍 Location: Pier 6, Brooklyn Bridge Park — Brooklyn Heights, Brooklyn
📍 Location: 849 Manhattan Avenue — Greenpoint, Brooklyn

A true Brooklyn staple for nearly two decades, Fornino has brought back its beloved seasonal rooftop at Pier 6 in Brooklyn Bridge Park—pairing wood-fired Neapolitan pies with sweeping views of the Manhattan skyline. For a different energy, the flagship Greenpoint location features a spacious backyard patio, offering a breezy retreat for laid-back afternoons or casual evenings spent sharing pizza, wine, and conversation.

baba cool

📍 Location: 33 Lafayette Avenue — Fort Greene, Brooklyn

A longtime Fort Greene favorite, baba cool has evolved from neighborhood coffee shop into a full-fledged café and wine bar, with a spacious backyard that feels like a well-kept secret. By day, expect coffee, brunch, and vegetable-forward plates. And by night, a convivial space for natural wines, small plates, and relaxed gatherings. Whether it is a quiet afternoon or a happy hour with friends, the backyard remains a welcoming retreat.

BABA on Withers

📍 Location: 47 Withers Street — Williamsburg, Brooklyn

Originally launched in Fort Greene, BABA on Withers has found its stride in Williamsburg as a cozy wine bar with a lush backyard garden. The vibe is easygoing and unpretentious: come for brunch, linger for natural wines, share a table for bites beneath the disco ball. This is a place designed for slow afternoons, lively evenings, and everything in between—always with good food and good company at its core.

Hole in the Wall

📍 Location: 292 Bedford Avenue — Williamsburg, Brooklyn

Located on a sun-drenched corner of Bedford Avenue, Hole in the Wall offers ample outdoor seating ideal for people-watching or simply soaking up Williamsburg’s energy. The menu spans from brunch staples like the Chili Scramble and Brekky Roll to heartier midday and evening plates like the Spicy Fried Chicken Sandwich or Crispy Pork Belly with sticky glaze and chili. Paired with an Aperol Spritz or a Blood Orange Negroni, this is al fresco dining with a laid-back, neighborhood vibe.

Why These Additions?

These Honorable Mentions reflect the ongoing evolution of New York’s al fresco culture. These spaces are where neighborhood charm, generous hospitality, and a slower rhythm of dining come together without fanfare. From sunlit rooftops and tucked-away courtyards to lively street corners, each offers its own perspective on how New Yorkers gather and savor the season.

Together, they complement the primary list by offering a more casual, neighborhood-driven lens, underscoring BKLS’s commitment to celebrating not only the iconic destinations. But also the quieter, more intimate corners where locals truly live, dine, and find joy in the everyday.

Al Fresco Dining NYC: Planning Your Visit

Outdoor dining remains in high demand this summer. And the city’s current regulations allow sidewalk cafés to operate year-round, with roadway setups permitted through late November. Reservations are strongly encouraged—many of these tables, particularly those at sunset, book weeks in advance.

For dress codes, note that The River Café and Marea lean formal [jackets recommended or required]. Elsewhere, the vibe embraces a more relaxed but polished aesthetic—New York casual in all its understated forms.

Timing, of course, is everything. Sunset offers the city at its most cinematic, but do not overlook the quiet magic of a midday lunch. And as any New Yorker knows, always have a Plan B. Most of these spots offer indoor seating should the weather—or the city’s mood—shift without warning.

For more ways to enjoy the season, explore our curated guide to things to do in NYC this summer, or pair your al fresco plans with a day spent poolside—our guide to NYC hotel pools has you covered.

Al Fresco Dining NYC: Why It Matters

To dine outdoors in New York City is to partake in a tradition that is as much about people and place as it is about plates. These 13 restaurants capture the city’s evolving relationship with space, style, and seasonality. They offer not just meals, but moments—beautifully staged, thoughtfully executed, unmistakably New York.

And for those who prefer something a little more under-the-radar, our Honorable Mentions deliver their own kind of magic. Sun-drenched rooftops, garden hideaways, and neighborhood favorites where the spirit of al fresco dining feels just as vibrant.

Reserve a table, raise a glass, and toast to summer—right here, right now, in the city that never sits still.