The Resy Guide to Outdoor Dining in New York

Alfresco in Manhattan

At L’Artusi, pasta is a given: The cacio e pepe is done with pici, garganelli gets paired with mushroom ragu and topped with ricotta salata, and tagliatelle comes with a Bolognese bianco. Savor it all in the enclosed covered patio seating, a lovely option as you take in the West Village passersby. And if you can’t seem to nab a Resy, here’s how.

Awadh is dead, long live Baazi! Yes, the Upper West Side Indian staple has been rebranded, and yes, chef-owner Gaurav Anand is still running the kitchen, but this time around, he’s presenting his most ambitious menu yet (“baazi” is Hindi for “bet,” after all). Think Goan specialties (like a Cornish hen in a cilantro marinade), a twist of fish and chips with okra fries, a meat-free butter chicken, and more. Do not skip the outdoor setup, a sunny extension of the blue dining room, and one of the prettiest patios we’ve seen yet.

A brasserie with a Buenos Aires soul, Balvanera is your best bet for empanadas, croquetas, pulpo a la plancha, and other delightful plates meant to be shared. Order yourself a glass of Malbec (their wine list is worth getting lost in) and pretend you’re basking in that port city air. And know that their outdoor deck is winterized, with the strongest of heat lamps overhead.

For a boisterous LES vibe, hit the heated patio of this mainstay to enjoy grade-A guac, tacos, and enchiladas. Barrio Chino is also an excellent choice if you’re in the mood for margs — made with Tequila or mezcal in flavors ranging from a very spicy habañero grapefruit to floral hibiscus and sour tamarind.

The outdoor setup at Il Buco reflects the restaurant’s long-held position as the utmost master of rustic aesthetic and cuisine. Worn wooden tables and chairs and even still life paintings have been installed on the sidewalk to complement salumi plates, seasonal salads, and roasted meats.

Because Casa D’Angelo is in the heart of Little Italy, an outdoor seat is a guarantee you’ll have your housemade gnocchi Sorrentina with a side of people-watching: the covered sidewalk patio is right on Mulberry Street, after all, so get ready.

A Chelsea fixture, Cookshop remains a go-to for lunch, brunch, and dinner, pulling the absolute best produce from the farmers market. We’d highlight the many ways the kitchen is making use of winter citrus, but will you catch it in time before the season ends? Do book an enclosed and heated patio table, set right on 10th Avenue for your people-watching needs.

Outside Essex Market, wherein Chintan Pandya and Roni Mazumdar’s brand-new restaurant resides, Dhamaka has set up a colorful enclosure for outdoor dining. Make a Resy to enjoy papdi chaat, goat belly kebabs, paneer methi, and other “unapologetic” Indian fare.

A gastropub with a nice outdoor setup set on a cozy corner of the West Village, Due West deals in excellent bar food, thanks to former Locanda Verde chef Victor Bonano. Look to the hot crab dip, baked oysters, and duck fat fries, and do get a round of their excellent canned cocktails for easy sipping.

Heated outdoor dining is back on at Manhattan’s favorite Asian-tinged diner, and if there’s one thing to know about Sam Yoo’s Golden Diner, it’s that they like to keep things fun (see: any of their Diner Drops). Pro tip: Brunch is for the honey butter pancakes, dinner’s for the matzoh ball soup.

Chase your pickle spears and biscuit sandwiches with craft beer from Jacob’s Pickles’ spacious and heated streetside setup. This Upper West Side establishment has been serving up comfort food classics — don’t skip mac ‘n’ cheese — for over 10 years now, for good reason.

Ignacio Mattos’ elegant Italian-inspired caffé in Rockefeller Center boasts some very nice terrazzo seating, stunning einkorn chocolate croissants, fresh ricotta and mozzarella made in-house daily, and ice cream churned to order. Come for breakfast, dinner, and everything in between.

Modeled after the tried-and-true Brauhäuser (brewery restaurants) of Cologne, Loreley Beer Garden delivers on its outdoors biergarten experience. Think beer from the oldest brewery in the world, boozy hot chocolate, spiked egg nog, giant pretzels, and a heated garden that feels like a proper winter wonderland.

See also: Our guide to the best beer halls and breweries in New York.

This Italian gem made headlines when it unleashed roomy and waterproof tent-bubbles onto Amsterdam Avenue. Come rain or shine, Lucciola has perfected al fresco dining — that, and its pasta, too. You’re definitely not going to want to miss the handmade tortellini — an ode to Bologna, the hometown of the owners — or the luxe $199 tasting for two.

At this sophisticated restaurant under the 59th Street Bridge, you’ll find New York-Italian classics from longtime restaurateur and chef Pino Luongo (Coco Pazzo Trattoria). Think housemade pastas like rigatoni buttera made with hot and sweet sausages, peas, and cream; and house specials like braised rabbit and a generous Berkshire pork chop. The outdoor terrace is a lovely retreat.

If spam musubi topped with caviar isn’t enough to lure you to Noreetuh (made extra cozy with its heated outdoor patio in the winter), consider the Michelin-recognized Hawaiian restaurant’s treasure trove of wines. Partners Chung Chow and Jin Ahn have built one top-notch team, and everything from the crudo offerings to the mentaiko spaghetti is sure to blow you away.

Happy hours in the West Village don’t get better than out in the Perry Club’s flower-filled garden, where $7 drinks and a $10 thin-crust Margherita pie reign (drop by Monday through Friday from 4:30 to 7 p.m.).

Trust us, when it comes to udon, Raku reigns supreme in Manhattan. Bouncy, chewy, and homemade on the daily, the noodles Raku delivers are texture-perfect, so do sit outdoors, let the steam envelop your face, and slurp it down quickly as the well-heeled Soho shoppers pass by.

Some days, all you really want is a plate of glistening charcuterie, and for those moments, Salumeria Rosi is waiting on the Upper West Side with plenty of heated patio seating (furry friends are welcome!). Formaggi (lots of it) is on the menu as well, in addition to a selection of classic pasta dishes.

When you make the weather-appropriate switch to warm soba, you’re going to want to sample it at Sarashina Horii. Designed with Japanese minimalism in mind, the 20-seat patio is heated, comfortable, and tucked just a block away from the quiet of Gramercy Park.

Shuka’s sister restaurant in Chelsea is distinct for its house-made breads for dipping galore and generous use of a charcoal grill. And there’s something about sharing smoky-charred lamb skewers, crispy squid, and stuffed grape leaves while perched outside in the enclosed patio that feels so right. Nab a patio Resy and get ready to feast.

Head to this Upper West Side newcomer for Malaysian fare ranging from honey-chili-sambal chicken wings to Singaporean black pepper prawns, plus Thai- and Indian-influenced dishes such as larb fries and nasi biryani. The menu is as diverse as it is expansive, so assemble a crew and grab a Resy (perhaps on their covered patio?).

The Lower East Side’s worst-kept “secret” garden is not one to miss in your outdoor rotation. Antique furniture from wicker chairs to “wedding banquet” tables act as your charming backdrop while you tuck into the daily curry, or whatever Thai deliciousness Wayla has in reserve to brighten your day.

Enjoy Yellow Rose’s self-described “Genuine Cosmic Texas Cookin’” in the midst of New York City’s bustling East Village by grabbing a table in their covered shed — booming speakers included — on 3rd Ave. Better yet, now that the gussied up taqueria is on Resy, you can plan ahead for barbacoa, vegan queso, and sheet cake alfresco.

Outdoors in Brooklyn

Clinton Hill’s darling neighborhood Italian spot remains ever-popular for dinner and brunch, especially for those looking to outdoor dine. That’s thanks to its rows of sturdily-constructed, forest green alfresco booths. Pasta is the move at night, while weekend afternoons bring classic fare like salmon hash and buttermilk pancakes.

Because Cafe Spaghetti’s backyard is where you’re going to want to be. (The front patio is very nice, too.) Start with an extra-refreshing sfumato blood orange aperitivo, order the spiedini alla Romana (the Italians’ answer to grilled cheese), and go big on the pastas — if the ravioli’s on the menu, do not skip it.

As one of Greenpoint’s essential brunch go-to’s, Esme has the neighborhood on lock with freshly baked cinnamon rolls and buttermilk pancakes. Book the patio; it’s one of Esme’s best seats in the house, both indoors and out.

Because Faun’s extremely lovely garden patio may be Prospect Heights’ best-kept secret. Lush in the warmer days, heated when it’s cold, the patio is one cozy nook made even cozier by the Italian-leaning fare Faun deals in: smoked gouda arancini, braised artichokes, and incredible seasonal pastas.

Wood-fired flatbreads topped with sautéed ackee and shrimp or braised oxtail, hot chocolate cocktails, plus vegan items like whole roasted cauliflower with jerk sauce, are some of the hits this excellent Caribbean spot has to offer. A patio decked out for winter makes it all the more alluring.

Make a reservation at Maison Premiere, then politely request a garden table upon arrival for the utmost atmospheric experience. Between the 30-plus varieties of freshly shucked oysters and a team of bartenders that can suit your tastes to the ideal cocktail, you’re in good hands.

Persian tapas, excellent cocktails, and a dance party presided over by a disco ball are but some of the things this gem of a late-night haunt has to offer. Luckily, Williamsburg’s Masquerade has an A+ patio, too — string lights, waterproof coverings, plants, and all — with room for 50 people should you want to celebrate in numbers.

Housemade labneh, halloumi skewers, and an excellent brick chicken are sometimes best shared and devoured in Miss Ada’s extra nice covered back garden. The modern Israeli food is always on the point and there’s something about it eating it al fresco that simply feels right, especially when there’s wine on the table (the list veers natural and is very fun).

Japanese fan favorite Nami Nori’s second location is officially open in Williamsburg, with new vegan dishes and alfresco dining, too. The fun here lies in customizing the playful menu to suit your tastes, so share some apps and then create your own temaki set.

This Mediterranean gem has been a Fort Greene staple since 2005 for good reason. Its corner location of Lafayette and Adelphi makes for ample alfresco square footage to enjoy dips, soups, salads, patatas bravas, and all kinds of paella. Pro tip: Olea is especially friendly to vegans, so come one, come all.

Pips is a Brooklyn Heights wine bar inspired by coastal Italy. So, you can expect snacks and seasonal shared plates, Negronis and spritzes, plus lots of Italian wines and amari (to finish). Sidewalk seating on Atlantic Avenue makes it all the more European.

Some nights are best spent in the lovely covered backyard at Popina, preferably with a plate of their always-stellar pasta at hand. In addition to the pastas, you can always count on this Cobble Hill standby for its wines, seasonal plates, and hot chicken Milanese.

Chef Alex Raij’s elegant Cobble Hill fisherie has covered alfresco seating, and you’re going to want to grab a Resy for a smattering of snacks (whipped mackerel pâté, stracciatella with smoked trout roe), chilled dishes like octopus with pipian verde and roasted tomatillo juice, and hot plates such as squid à la plancha and cod pot pie. Do not disregard the Spanish-leaning cocktails, sherry, and coastal European wines, too.

Suffice to say, with an outdoor enclosure of 1,700 square feet, Strangeways has worked its alfresco setup more than well. Think spaced-out picnic tables in a lush private garden that’s heated and covered (when needed), all of which makes for a cozy ambiance fit for its rustic American menu — lots of vegan-friendly options included.

Good news: This Brooklyn Heights all-day fixture has kept its perfect garden and roadside seating for the wintery season. And with Resys from 9 a.m. till late, you can drop by Pineapple Street whenever it best suits you: for breakfast burritos in the morning, freshly pressed paninis in the afternoon, or the full-fledged Italian menu at night.

Whether you visit Walter’s before or after a stroll through Fort Greene Park is entirely up to you, but you shouldn’t miss this corner fixture and its lovely, covered patio. Don’t skip the raw bar and the eponymous Walter’s burger, which arrives on a sesame potato roll.

Patio-Side in Queens

If you’re looking to book for a very large group, Nowadays has you covered. The Ridgewood venue takes Resys for up to 29 guests (yes, 29) and the outdoor space is something else: a huge backyard with twinkly lights and picnic tables, fire pits, top-notch music system and all, with food from the team behind Dr Clark.

If you’re in the mood for warm cubes of sesame-crusted feta, roasted bone marrow, and lamb and beef kebabs, Ovelia is the modern Greek trattoria for you. Blending tradition with novelty is what this Astoria spot does best, especially come brunch (are you ready for baklava pancakes?). And the alfresco experience is delightful, thanks to Ovelia’s heated-when-needed street-side cabin.

Astoria’s new American bistro is always a sure bet for taco Tuesdays, live music happenings with local bands, and weekend brunch, with a stellar draft beer selection to boot. Make a beeline to the patio on sunnier days.

Wood-fired cooking steals the show at this Ridgewood stunner — do start with the incredible wood-fired polenta bread before making your way through the rest of the excellent menu (lasagna verde, housemade mortadella, crispy potatoes …) Better yet, book a Resy for a heated outdoors table, where weekend lunch is best served.

Because the ceviches at Rosatoro in Astoria, Queens are executed to the nines. Tack on a round of pisco sours, get yourself a patio table, and keep your eyes peeled for their live music programming.