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Not that you needed us to tell you, but outdoor dining is back, baby!
It’s finally warm enough to dine al fresco in the Big Apple and, instead of opening street-side and sidewalk cafes willy-nilly, NYC restaurants and bars have had to apply for outdoor dining permits this year.
It was all a part of the city’s new efforts to streamline and universalize the way outdoor sheds look, following a free-for-all-like period during the pandemic when each eatery got to set up its own version of open-air seating arrangements.
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“Dining Out NYC is more than just a meal—it’s a representation of New York City’s vibrant streets, energy, and culture,” said Mayor Eric Adams in an official statement. “What started as a way to save 100,000 jobs during the pandemic has transformed into one of the most popular programs across our city. As we launch another season of outdoor and roadway dining, we are reaffirming our commitment to supporting small businesses, revitalizing our economy, and ensuring that every New Yorker can enjoy the benefits of a thriving and equitable dining scene. Whether you’re out for a special dinner with your boo or enjoying brunch with friends, here’s to another season of dining al fresco at the finest restaurants in the greatest city in the world.”
Participating businesses can operate sidewalk setups year-round, while roadway dining operates seasonally, from April 1 through November 29.
How many outdoor dining permits has NYC approved?
Nearly 2,450 roadway and sidewalk set ups across the city have been approved. Currently, 80% of all sidewalk setups are allowed to operate as their applications are processed.
The Department of Transportation estimates roughly 600 roadway dining applicants and nearly 1,850 sidewalk applicants are able to operate this year “thanks to the Adams administration’s efforts to cut red tape by granting conditional approvals,” it says. Dining Out NYC is already more than two-and-a-half times the size of the pre-COVID sidewalk cafe program, the city states.
We used its list of approved outdoor dining applications to create our own Google map so you can easily see where you can sit outside to eat and drink.
Which neighborhoods are seeing the most outdoor dining setups?
Manhattan definitely has the majority of outdoor dining setups, especially the Lower East Side, the West Village and the Upper West Side. In Brooklyn, Williamsburg and Greenpoint have the majority of al fresco dining and in Queens, it’s Astoria. No surprise there.
To help these spots participate in the Dining Out program, the city has a directory called the Dining Out NYC Marketplace that sells or rents out outdoor dining set-ups and services, starting at over $1,000 a month, or $33 a day, helping to provide set-up options that do not require storage in the winter.
None of these applications apply to the Open Streets program, which shuts down entire swaths of roadway to traffic.
Our favorite outside dining spots for 2025 from the list so far
While there’s so many to love, our immediate call outs have to be: Talea, Someday Bar, Ainslie, Bar Madonna, Bunna, Cafe Mogador, Dolly’s Swing and Drive, Jack’s Wife Freda, L’Appartement 4F, L’Industrie Pizza, Red Hook Lobster Pound, Sea Wolf, Win Son, Nowon, Golden Diner, Little Wayla, Don Ceviche, Shukette, Shuka, Fish Cheeks, Dante, Dimes, PJ Clarke’s, Cafe Reggio, Thai Villa, Loulou, Left Bank, St. Tropez Wine Bar, The Odeon, Veselka, White Horse Tavern, The Grand and Telly’s Taverna.
But check our own list for the best outdoor dining and best outdoor bars to enjoy this season—these spots have been vetted and enjoyed. See you out there!