Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
Food
Best NYC Bars for Outdoor Relaxing and Snacking (Plus a Couple Restaurants)
By
John Del Signore
Published Jun 4, 2009
Modified Jun 5, 2009
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
Gothamist
View all 14
By
John Del Signore
Published Jun 4, 2009
Modified Jun 5, 2009
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Click on the images above for details on 13 other sweet spots for al fresco drinking, including the Extreme WOW (Presidential) Suites in Midtown East, Ortine in Prospect Heights, Spuyten Duyvil in Williamsburg, T.B.D. in Greenpoint, Studio Square in Long Island City, The Diamond in Greenpoint, LIC Bar in Long Island City, Nita Nita in Williamsburg, Huckleberry Bar in East Williamsburg, The Hotel Gansevoort in the Meatpacking District, Vutera in Williamsburg, 5 Ninth in the Meatpacking District, and The Brooklyn Ice House in Red Hook.
Yes, most of those are in Brooklyn, but that's also where most of the space and most of the still-somewhat-tolerant neighbors are to be found. And before you rush to the comments to wonder why we didn't include your favorite place like Revel, we'd like to acknowledge that this selection is highly, um, selective. How could we have omitted Williamsburg's Iona, Carroll Gardens' Gowanus Yacht Club, Astoria's Bohemian Beer Garden, the Water Taxi Beaches, and the Hudson River's Frying Pan? If you only knew how many drinks we had to force down to put this together, perhaps you'd understand. Anyway, let us know where your favorite spot is so we can all go there once it stops raining this weekend!
Tagged
al fresco
bar
best
brooklyn
dining
downtown
manhattan
new york
nyc
outdoor
where
John Del Signore
Originally from the Albany area, John Del Signore has called NYC home since 1995. In addition to his thousands of meticulously-crafted bespoke blog posts for Gothamist, his writing has also been published in The Awl, Deadspin, The Nervous Breakdown, and performed at The Brick Theater in Brooklyn.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE food
Why NYC restaurants are playing coy about sustainability
Though it has multiple benefits, the practice remains popular for one basic reason: it saves money.
By
Samantha Dady
Published Oct 26, 2026
Where are the cheapest drinks in NYC? A new report details the city's average prices.
The median price of a cocktail in the city is now $16, and $9 for a draft beer.
By
Hannah Frishberg
Food
Where are the cheapest drinks in NYC? A new report details the city's average prices.
The median price of a cocktail in the city is now $16, and $9 for a draft beer.
By
Hannah Frishberg
North African restaurants are rare in NYC. These 10 are the best.
By
Robert Sietsema
10 dishes that demonstrate the delicious diversity of curry in New York City
By
Robert Sietsema
Frozen yogurt is back in New York City. So are the super long lines.
By
Sonia Rao
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .