39 of the Best Restaurants for Outdoor Dining in NYC Right Now

Whether you’re still not entirely comfortable dining indoors or want to make the most out of the innovative outdoor dining setups that many restaurants have come up with this winter (igloos, yurts, basically—the works!), we've got you covered with our roundup of the best outdoor dining in NYC. Many top restaurants around the city have kept their revamped outdoor setups from earlier on in the pandemic or upgraded their digs altogether, while new spots have opened up with al fresco dining top of mind, giving New Yorkers a plethora of safe and beautiful options to kick back with friends and enjoy a delicious meal. From heated lamps to garden patios, check out these 39 restaurants featuring truly excellent outdoor dining options.

4. Barn Joo Nomad

This Korean gastropub is a great place to meet coworkers or friends after work: the inventive cuisine is made to share, and the cocktails are on point. Pro tip: Try the Jalapeño Margarita and the Drunken Tiger. Grub highlights include fried chicken wings, the soft shell crab, the crispy chicken buns and an Uni Bibimbap that will keep you coming back. The standard warming huts get the outdoor dining job done if there’s a wind tunnel, with plastic insulators and heaters.

34 W 35th St., Manhattan, barnjoo.com

5. Rolo’s

Queens never really gets the love it deserves, and Rolo’s is a testament of that. Opened by four Gramercy Tavern veterans, it’s become a local secret that we’d really hate to reveal, but ultimately must. Almost everything here is cooked over a wood fire, including polenta breads (!) in multiple varieties, a chicken dish with Fresno chili relish, and a spicy pork T-bone, not to mention a mouth-watering double cheeseburger. There are also homemade pastas that your nonna would absolutely approve of and fresh breads straight from the oven. The contemporary cocktail menu includes a fancy-pants creative spin using almost every type of spirit, from Mezcal and tequila to rum, rye and gin. But the best part: their outdoor dining setup with picnic table seating, overhead heater and twinkling string lights.

853 Onderdonk Ave. Ridgewood, Queens; rolosnyc.com

7. Hamilton Hall

This Hamilton Heights beer hall opened its doors during the pandemic but has been popular with locals ever since, thanks to its excellent selection of draft beers, tasty eats and heated outdoor dining booths in front of the restaurant. (Psst: We also hear that the burgers and chicken wings are seriously good.)

3489 Broadway; (646) 454-9797 or hamiltonhallnyc.com

8. Jeju Noodle Bar

When evening temperatures start to drop, you can stay cozy in one of the covered, heated tents on the sidewalk at this Michelin-starred Korean restaurant (the first noodle restaurant to receive a Michelin Star in the country, NBD) in the West Village. Slurp on flavor-packed ramyuns like the gochu ramyun with pork belly, kimchi and and scallions or the family ramyun with shrimp, squid and mushrooms. Yum.

679 Greenwich St.; (646) 666-0947 or jejunoodlebar.com

11. Dr. Clark

Forget dinner under the stars, we want to eat dinner under a disco ball. And at Yudai Kanayama’s newest restaurant in Chinatown, you can do exactly that. To sit at the kotatsu dining table (with a sparkling disco ball hanging up above), guests remove their shoes before being seated at the low wooden table. Specializing in Hokkaido comfort-food like jingisukan lamb BBQ, house smoked sashimi, uni, and "zangi" fried chicken, the hip restaurant now has a karaoke bar up and running indoors.

104 Bayard St.; (646) 998-3408 or drclarkhouse.com

19. Nami Nori

This Japanese restaurant in the West Village specializes in open temaki hand rolls and has an outdoor seating area in the front of the restaurant, complete with lush plants acting as a barrier between tables and cozy candles on each table. When seated, each guest also receives a (clean) hot stone to hold in their hands to keep warm throughout service.

33 Carmine Street; naminori.nyc

20. Olmsted

The popular Prospect Heights spot showcases seasonal and creative vegetable-forward dishes that highlight produce from the lush backyard garden as well as local farmers and purveyors. For outdoor dining in the garden and out front of the restaurant, Olmsted offers both Sunglow heaters and a selection of soft, colorful Pendleton blankets to keep guests warm while they’re outside.

659 Vanderbilt Avenue, Brooklyn; olmstednyc.com

21. Red Rooster

The Harlem eatery from Marcus Samuelsson has heated outdoor patio seating along Malcolm X Boulevard, where hungry diners can tuck into Red Rooster classics like shrimp and grits, chicken and waffles and rum-chocolate cake.

310 Malcolm X Blvd; (212) 792-9001 or redroosterharlem.com

24. Hütte

Hütte is bringing the Alps to the Upper East Side this season. The backyard eatery has the feel of an après ski lounge with a menu chock full of Austrian-style comfort foods. We love the cozy tents decked out with string lighting, electric heaters, farmhouse wooden tables, and chairs and couches draped with cozy blankets. The menu features game meats and charcuterie, along with dishes like fondue and venison goulash, perfect to pair with a glass of Austrian wine like Blaufränkisch or Grüner Veltliner.

1652 2nd Ave.; huttenyc.com

27. Maki Kosaka

This recently-opened casual sushi restaurant by the team behind Michelin-starred Kosaka shares the space with Kinka, a plant speakeasy where chef Sho Boo creates fun takes on handrolls. The covered outdoor seating boasts heat lamps in a garden-like box with plants outlining the area.

55 West 19th Street; makikosaka.com

28. Ten Hope

Ten Hope’s open air garden patio in Williamsburg is the perfect spot to tuck into squid ink gnocchi, a juicy 10-ounce burger or a kofta burger paired with one of their speciality cocktails like Todd’s Hot Date (a hot toddy with brandy, bourbon, date molasses, lemon and clove) or Cran-Apple Mule (vodka, fresh apple cider, ginger beer, cranberry, orange bitters).

10 Hope St., Brooklyn; tenhopebk.com

29. Isabelle's Osteria

Gramercy spot Isabelle’s Osteria serves comforting Italian favorites like lumache with pork ragu, pumpkin pappardelle and more, with all the pastas made in-house daily. The enclosed, airy whitewashed outdoor veranda is fully heated—and features a swing!

245 Park Avenue South; isabellesnyc.com

31. Amor Cubano

This East Harlem institution known for its excellent Cuban sandwiches has a semi-enclosed outdoor space outside the restaurant on Third Avenue with heaters to keep diners warm. We recommend dining with a group so that you can get the classic sandwich and some of the other standout dishes including ropa vieja, churrasco and homemade empanadas...all washed down with a mojito, of course.

2018 3rd Ave.; (212) 996-1220 or amorcubanonyc.com

32. Restaurant Daniel

Enjoy your meal in the sidewalk bungalows in front of the world-renowned Michelin-star restaurant. You can’t miss the red and white striped cabins with peaked roofs and porthole shaped openings on the sides. Marine cabin heaters come with every Boulud Sur Mer bungalow for an extra warm and cozy feeling (tip: this one’s a great date spot!). Rather than a wood door or plastic, the warm yet well-ventilated bungalows open with the swoop of a curtain. How dramatic!

60 E 65th St, New York, NY 10065; danielnyc.com

33. Lilia

Another restaurant, another yurt village: the yurts at this Williamsburg spot are quite handsome, outfitted in mid century inspired green chairs and a white round table so everyone can face one another.

567 Union Avenue, Brooklyn; lilianewyork.com

36. Loulou

The thrumming (and gorgeous) recently opened French bistro and speakeasy is named after owner Mathias Van Leyden’s adorable rescue dog (who loves to greet diners!). Located on the corner of 19th Street and 8th Avenue, their heated outdoor dining setup features strewn overhead paper lanterns and an abundance of flowers. Specialties include duck leg confit, ratatouille, whole grilled branzino, steak frites and a rib eye. Brunch signatures include a croissant French toast, smoked salmon, The Loulou Burger, and eggs Benedict.

176 8th Avenue; loulounyc.com

39. American Brass

Looking for dinner with a view? Check out this Long Island City spot that boasts 34 heated greenhouses overlooking the East River. Each one can hold up to six people so you and your pod can safely enjoy gazing at the Manhattan skyline while tucking into seared scallops, steak frites and wild mushroom risotto.

2-01 50th Ave, Queens; (718) 806-1106 or americanbrasslic.com