14 New York Restaurants With Outdoor Seating Locals Plan Their Evenings Around
Summer nights in New York have a way of tugging you outside, where dinner feels like a small celebration and the city becomes your soundtrack. I’ve been mapping out my evenings around patios, rooftops, terraces, and quiet courtyards that make a plate of pasta or a cocktail taste like a tiny vacation.
You’ll find spots where twinkling lights meet excellent menus, where friends linger and time politely slows down. Ready to grab a table under the sky and make a night of it?
1. The Terrace and Outdoor Gardens at the Times Square EDITION
Stepping off Broadway’s rush into this leafy aerie feels like exhaling after a sprint. The Terrace and Outdoor Gardens unwrap a serene canopy of greenery where cocktails glow like little lanterns and crisp service never breaks a sweat.
I love sliding into a cushioned banquette and plotting the night over roasted chicken with pan jus or a bright market salad that tastes like the season.
You’ll find it perched at the Times Square EDITION, 701 7th Avenue, where the views nod to the city without shouting. Evenings stretch long here, and the terrace becomes a stage for lingering, people watching, and second rounds.
Order a martini, then share the fries and a grilled fish special while the city’s neon hum melts into leaves and laughter.
What matters most is how the open air turns polished American cooking into something relaxed and romantic. Ask for a table near the balustrade for that quiet sense of height.
When dessert lands, you understand why locals plan ahead.
2. La Grande Boucherie
Bustling and glam, this brasserie makes Midtown feel like a postcard from Paris mailed straight to your table. The terrace arcs around Belle Epoque details, framing steak frites, escargots, and tall flutes of Champagne that sparkle under city glow.
I come for the ritual: a sharp martini, bread still warm, and a butter-rich sauce that insists on extra fries.
Find it at 145 West 53rd Street, where the patio invites both impromptu lunches and celebratory dates. Servers glide with brassy confidence, and the energy twirls between chic and neighborly.
Order the salmon with béarnaise or the roasted chicken, then surrender to a crème brûlée that cracks like thin ice.
Outdoor seating here is theater, but the food holds the spotlight. Book at sunset when Midtown’s rhythm becomes a backdrop rather than a drumbeat.
If you like a little pomp with your patio, this is where evenings unfold into stories worth retelling.
3. Riverpark
Down by the water, Riverpark feels like a secret softened by breeze and clinking glasses. The terrace stretches toward the East River, a cool slipstream that pairs perfectly with herb-loaded cocktails and precise seasonal plates.
I lean into the crudo, then move to pasta or a roasted fish that respects the market.
Set yourself for arrival at 450 East 29th Street, tucked within the Alexandria Center campus. The skyline rises like a polite spectator, letting conversation wander into the soft shuffle of river traffic.
Order the farmer’s market vegetables, then split something hearty, because lingering here is part of the equation.
What makes it special is that rare waterfront calm without the tourist churn. Service reads the table well, and the menu never shouts to impress.
By the time the sun lingers low, you’ll understand why locals guard this terrace like a favorite bench in the park.
4. Da Andrea – Greenwich Village
Casual in the best way, this West Village standby serves pasta that tastes like a friend cooked it lovingly, then insisted you take seconds. Sidewalk tables spill joy across the block while Aperol spritzes sparkle beside steaming bowls of pappardelle.
I like to start with burrata before leaning into any handmade pasta the kitchen is proud of that night.
Make your way to 35 West 13th Street, where the terrace hums with neighborly chatter. Servers know the menu inside out and will nudge you toward something seasonal and bright.
The lamb ragu clings just right, the pizzas blister beautifully, and dessert might be a tiramisu that evaporates.
What keeps me returning is the easy generosity: big flavors, fair prices, and a patio that makes Wednesday feel like a tiny festival. Grab a table near the edge for prime people watching.
By espresso time, you’ll be mapping out your next visit.
5. Death Ave
On 10th Avenue, this greenery wrapped hideout turns Chelsea evenings into soft focus gatherings. The patio glows under string lights as mezze plates parade across wooden tables and crisp wines keep conversation buoyant.
I always order grilled octopus and a lemony salad before diving into a braised lamb dish.
You’ll find it at 315 10th Avenue, a quick wander from the High Line’s southern stretch. The crowd is a cheerful blend of neighbors, gallery hoppers, and couples plotting their next show.
Cocktails lean Mediterranean with citrusy edges that brighten the table.
What matters is how the outdoor room feels like a story in progress. Settle into a corner, and the city’s clatter softens into background percussion.
By dessert, the terrace energy drifts toward cozy, and you realize the al fresco setting is not decoration but the heartbeat of the place.
6. Olio E Più
Warmth rolls off this terrace like steam from a perfect plate of cacio e pepe. The outdoor sprawl is generous, the vibe celebratory, and the pizzas arrive blistered with char kisses that make slices vanish quickly.
I love sipping a Negroni while the kitchen sends out ribbons of pasta that taste both rustic and polished.
Point your steps to 3 Greenwich Avenue, where the sidewalk seating feels like a block party wrapped in grapevines. Service is swift but never rushed, ideal for grazing through antipasti before a main.
The tartufo pizza lands with earthy swagger, and salads punch above their weight.
Even on breezy nights, the terrace hums like a friendly chorus. This is where weeknights masquerade as weekends and conversations stretch past dessert.
Order an extra plate to share and watch the Village write your evening’s soundtrack right on cue.
7. The Mary Lane
Tucked just enough to feel private, this terrace turns quiet Bank Street into a gentle dining room. Seasonal American plates lean bright and composed, with herbs that taste freshly snipped.
I like to anchor the meal with a vegetable forward starter, then follow with a seared fish or standout chicken.
Set your map to 99 Bank Street, where the patio’s cadence is measured and kind. The staff’s calm energy keeps the evening smooth, while the cocktail list whispers citrus, spice, and garden notes.
Share a salad and a pasta to experience the kitchen’s range.
What wins hearts is the tempo: unhurried, neighborly, and decidedly delicious. Outdoor seating feels like a small garden party that remembered to hire a great chef.
When the streetlights flick on, you’ll wish every block had a hideaway like this.
8. Rubirosa
Thin crust legends meet sidewalk charm at this Nolita favorite. Tables line Mulberry Street as pies arrive with that signature crackle and a sauce that hums with balanced sweetness.
I usually split a tie dye pizza, then chase it with a simple salad and a glass of something Italian and crisp.
Head to 235 Mulberry Street, where the outdoor seats slip you into the neighborhood’s rhythm. Servers move with seasoned ease, and families, dates, and friends settle into easy chatter.
Pasta specials change often, but the vodka slice crowd knows why the ovens never nap.
What keeps people lingering is the feeling that dinner is a community event. The street itself becomes part of the meal, folding laughter into every bite.
If you want to feel like a regular in under ten minutes, this is the patio to claim.
9. RH Rooftop Restaurant at RH New York
Glimmering chandeliers and open sky make this rooftop feel cinematic without trying too hard. The terrace stretches above the Meatpacking bustle, serving salads with sharp crunch and mains that favor clean lines and fine sourcing.
I lean into a glass of rosé and a perfectly dressed lobster roll when the evening blush starts.
Make your way to 9 9th Avenue, atop the RH gallery, where the patio invites both photos and second courses. Service is polished, with pacing that lets conversation glide.
The roast chicken and truffled fries duo has a habit of turning quick bites into full dinners.
Here, decor collaborates with daylight, and the result is an easy luxury. Book around golden hour if you crave soft edges and a forgiving glow.
By the time candles take over, you’ll see why locals treat this place like a seasonal ritual.
10. Zou Zou’s
Spice and sunshine collide in the best way at this Midtown terrace. Dips shimmer with herb oil, flatbreads puff dramatically, and grilled meats carry fragrant smoke that makes strangers ask what you ordered.
I like to build the table family style so everyone gets in on the mezze action.
Find it at Manhattan West, 385 9th Avenue, with outdoor seating tucked beside sleek plazas and breezy walkways. The cocktail list balances citrus, pomegranate, and subtle heat, which plays beautifully with lamb skewers or whole branzino.
Service keeps the tempo high while letting courses breathe.
What stays with you is the celebratory mood without the chaos. Sit outside and let the city swirl while your table becomes a small island of clink and laughter.
When the tahini sundae lands, consider the evening officially won.
11. Lindens
Under soft lights, Lindens delivers modern American cooking that feels crisp and quietly indulgent. The patio is intimate without being precious, perfect for a round of oysters and a citrus forward cocktail before a shared mains strategy.
I always scan for seasonal vegetable plates because they rarely miss.
Plan your route to 2 Renwick Street, within the Arlo SoHo, where the garden setting feels pleasantly tucked away. Servers move gracefully, keeping drinks refreshed while letting you stretch the meal.
The burger is a sleeper hit, and pastas carry thoughtful, focused flavors.
Outdoor seating here feels like a secret you pass to a friend with a wink. Pace yourself and let the courses stack into a proper evening.
When dessert shows up with a clever twist, you’ll remember why some patios feel like small celebrations.
12. L’Artusi
Precision and pleasure meet on this West Village curbside stage. Pasta arrives silky and perfectly seasoned, with sauces that feel engineered for conversation to pause mid sentence.
I start with crudo or roasted mushrooms, then surrender to the radiatori or garganelli and a glass from the deep list.
Set your pin to 228 West 10th Street, where the outdoor tables sell out fast on fair evenings. Service is composed, and the pacing lets you fall into the rhythm of the street.
The olive oil cake has a cult following, and for good reason.
Dining outside here feels like being part of a well edited film. The flavors carry grace notes without showboating, and the terrace gives every bite extra lift.
Plan ahead, arrive hungry, and let the Village do the rest.
13. Buvette (Greenwich Village)
Tiny tables, big charm, and a menu that whispers Paris while feeling utterly New York. Outdoor seats turn bites into rituals: tartines, shaved vegetables with anchovy, and the softest scrambled eggs piled on toast.
I like to linger with a coupe of bubbles while the street hums in gentle waves.
Make for 42 Grove Street, where the sidewalk café layout invites leisurely conversation. The servers move with compact grace and a knack for recommending the right plate to share.
Order the croque and a simple green salad, then pretend you are on holiday for an hour.
What makes it magnetic is the combination of restraint and romance. Evenings here feel like a well kept secret you cannot help telling friends about.
By the time espresso lands, the neighborhood has fully wrapped you in its arms.
14. Grand Banks
Nothing says summer like oysters on a boat with the river winking back at you. Grand Banks bobs gently at Pier 25, turning seafood into a breezy ritual of lemon, mignonette, and crisp wine.
I love snagging a deck table where the skyline frames every slurp.
Find it at Pier 25, Hudson River Park, 225 West Street, with lines that reward patience on perfect evenings. The lobster roll is buttery without being heavy, and the ceviche lands bright and peppery.
Servers navigate swells of guests with good humor and quick pours.
Outdoors here is the whole point, a floating patio that makes time flex. Order a dozen, then another, and watch sunset tint the water copper.
When the bell of a passing boat rings, it feels like applause for your excellent dinner choice.