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People sitting outside the Tin Building in the Seaport.
Some outdoor tables at the Tin Building offer shelter as well as others with a stunning view of the Brooklyn Bridge.
Robert Sietsema/Eater NY

10 Places to Dine Outside in Manhattan Right Now

A guide to easy-to-get outdoor seats as well as perfect perches for spring dining al fresco

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Some outdoor tables at the Tin Building offer shelter as well as others with a stunning view of the Brooklyn Bridge.
| Robert Sietsema/Eater NY

Warm-weather outdoor dining is a few weeks away, but it’s understandable if you’re ready to dine outdoors right now. Holdovers from the year-round outdoor setups of the pandemic are still an option. From streetside patios to snug backyards or sprawling waterfront scenes, here are 10 worthwhile spots in Manhattan.

Health experts consider dining out to be a high-risk activity for the unvaccinated; it may pose a risk for the vaccinated, especially in areas with substantial COVID transmission.

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Harlem Tavern

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This neighborhood restaurant and beer garden has a large red tent setup that is well-suited for group hangs (it seats about 40). Stop by the covered patio rain or shine to order from this Harlem spot’s extensive menu of pub fare like Buffalo chicken wraps, steak tacos, and fried green tomato flatbreads.

Shukette

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It’s less loud and more chill and heated in the outdoor seating at Shukette. The enclosed tables make for added warmth, privacy, and ambience as this always packed restaurant.

Three people hold plates and dishes around a yellow table filled with spreads of vegetables, meats, breads, and dips.
A spread of dishes at Shukette.
Kyle Nunez/Shukette

Check out Pojangmacha-style dining at this Koreatown restaurant where you feel like you’re in your own little outdoor abode. Kick off the night with Korean beer or soju standards, or a selection from the menu of Japanese whisky. Move on to skewers and bar food like sweet potato fries and clams tang. Or consider a late-ish order Korean fried chicken: The kitchen is open until 11 p.m.

An outdoor dining structure sits in a bike line with open windows. The building’s walls are red and its roof appears to be black.
The exterior of Osamil.
Osamil

Can’t get into Claud? Bundle up and visit as a walk-in on a brisk evening and prepare to sit in the outdoor heated backyard, with the same great food and drink and, chances are, no wait, from 5 to 8 p.m.

A yellow neon sign show the name of the restaurant in italic.
The exterior of Claud.
Robert Sietsema/Eater NY

Il Buco Alimentari & Vineria

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Sit at the sidewalk tables or out back — no worries: both areas are covered — at this market slash restaurant and all-day workhorse. Whether you’re here to snack Italian-style or you’re looking for chef Justin Smillie’s spin on pastas, pizzas, panini, or mains, every diner at your table is likely to find something that hits the spot.

This French Indonesian restaurant has been holding things down in Nolita since 2019, drawing crowds for its east-meets-west menu and dining room that Eater once called “dark and sexy.” No surprise here, but the outdoor setup is just as stunning: There’s potted plants, patterned wallpaper, and decorative lanterns. And yes, it’s tented and heated.

The face of a restaurant, Wayan, in Manhattan’s Nolita neighborhood.
Outside Wayan.
Alex Staniloff/Eater NY

Loreley Beer Garden

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Head out back at this Lower East Side bar for an outdoor beer garden vibe with plenty of room to spread out. The backyard’s picnic tables are great for groups, as are the restaurant’s oversized pretzels, bratwurst, schnitzel, and beer (available by the half liter and liter in most cases).

Picnic tables and overhead heaters are arranged in the backyard of a Manhattan bar.
The backyard of Loreley Beer Garden.
Loreley Beer Garden

Wu's Wonton King

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Wu’s Wonton King took full advantage of the expansive stretch of sidewalk outside the restaurant and set up a sprawling covered outdoor dining structure with spaced-out tables set up under a string of lights and well-positioned electric heaters in colder months. The vibe out front, where a BYOB policy reins supreme and whole suckling pigs are occasionally carried out to tables, is just as good as inside — and possibly better if dining in a group, as tables out here can be rearranged to fit larger parties with a little notice.

A corner restaurant has brightly lit, block font signs saying Wu’s Wonton King.
Outside Wu’s Wonton King.
Robert Sietsema/Eater NY

Golden Diner

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The sturdy outdoor structure at Golden Diner is often just as packed as its indoor dining room. It’s heated for chillier days, well-covered if there’s a chance of rain, and well worth a stop to hang out on Madison Street and dig into some crispy Korean fried chicken wings, griddled tuna melts, and overstuffed chicken katsu clubs.

Tin Building by Jean-Georges

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While you can’t dine outdoors for House of the Red Pearl or the handful of sit-down restaurants, if you’re looking for sushi to go, a dosa, or a meal from one of the many fast-casual stalls in Jean-Georges’ food hall there are plenty of outdoor tables available. Grab a seat in the sheltered area near the main entrance for prime people-watching, or sit at a table with a full-on view of the Brooklyn Bridge.

A photo of T Cafe in the ground level of the Tin Building from Jean-Georges Vongerichten.
T Cafe in the ground level of the Tin Building in the Seaport.
Nicole Franzen/Tin Building

Harlem Tavern

This neighborhood restaurant and beer garden has a large red tent setup that is well-suited for group hangs (it seats about 40). Stop by the covered patio rain or shine to order from this Harlem spot’s extensive menu of pub fare like Buffalo chicken wraps, steak tacos, and fried green tomato flatbreads.

Shukette

It’s less loud and more chill and heated in the outdoor seating at Shukette. The enclosed tables make for added warmth, privacy, and ambience as this always packed restaurant.

Three people hold plates and dishes around a yellow table filled with spreads of vegetables, meats, breads, and dips.
A spread of dishes at Shukette.
Kyle Nunez/Shukette

Osamil

Check out Pojangmacha-style dining at this Koreatown restaurant where you feel like you’re in your own little outdoor abode. Kick off the night with Korean beer or soju standards, or a selection from the menu of Japanese whisky. Move on to skewers and bar food like sweet potato fries and clams tang. Or consider a late-ish order Korean fried chicken: The kitchen is open until 11 p.m.

An outdoor dining structure sits in a bike line with open windows. The building’s walls are red and its roof appears to be black.
The exterior of Osamil.
Osamil

Claud

Can’t get into Claud? Bundle up and visit as a walk-in on a brisk evening and prepare to sit in the outdoor heated backyard, with the same great food and drink and, chances are, no wait, from 5 to 8 p.m.

A yellow neon sign show the name of the restaurant in italic.
The exterior of Claud.
Robert Sietsema/Eater NY

Il Buco Alimentari & Vineria

Sit at the sidewalk tables or out back — no worries: both areas are covered — at this market slash restaurant and all-day workhorse. Whether you’re here to snack Italian-style or you’re looking for chef Justin Smillie’s spin on pastas, pizzas, panini, or mains, every diner at your table is likely to find something that hits the spot.

Wayan

This French Indonesian restaurant has been holding things down in Nolita since 2019, drawing crowds for its east-meets-west menu and dining room that Eater once called “dark and sexy.” No surprise here, but the outdoor setup is just as stunning: There’s potted plants, patterned wallpaper, and decorative lanterns. And yes, it’s tented and heated.

The face of a restaurant, Wayan, in Manhattan’s Nolita neighborhood.
Outside Wayan.
Alex Staniloff/Eater NY

Loreley Beer Garden

Head out back at this Lower East Side bar for an outdoor beer garden vibe with plenty of room to spread out. The backyard’s picnic tables are great for groups, as are the restaurant’s oversized pretzels, bratwurst, schnitzel, and beer (available by the half liter and liter in most cases).

Picnic tables and overhead heaters are arranged in the backyard of a Manhattan bar.
The backyard of Loreley Beer Garden.
Loreley Beer Garden

Wu's Wonton King

Wu’s Wonton King took full advantage of the expansive stretch of sidewalk outside the restaurant and set up a sprawling covered outdoor dining structure with spaced-out tables set up under a string of lights and well-positioned electric heaters in colder months. The vibe out front, where a BYOB policy reins supreme and whole suckling pigs are occasionally carried out to tables, is just as good as inside — and possibly better if dining in a group, as tables out here can be rearranged to fit larger parties with a little notice.

A corner restaurant has brightly lit, block font signs saying Wu’s Wonton King.
Outside Wu’s Wonton King.
Robert Sietsema/Eater NY

Golden Diner

The sturdy outdoor structure at Golden Diner is often just as packed as its indoor dining room. It’s heated for chillier days, well-covered if there’s a chance of rain, and well worth a stop to hang out on Madison Street and dig into some crispy Korean fried chicken wings, griddled tuna melts, and overstuffed chicken katsu clubs.

Tin Building by Jean-Georges

While you can’t dine outdoors for House of the Red Pearl or the handful of sit-down restaurants, if you’re looking for sushi to go, a dosa, or a meal from one of the many fast-casual stalls in Jean-Georges’ food hall there are plenty of outdoor tables available. Grab a seat in the sheltered area near the main entrance for prime people-watching, or sit at a table with a full-on view of the Brooklyn Bridge.

A photo of T Cafe in the ground level of the Tin Building from Jean-Georges Vongerichten.
T Cafe in the ground level of the Tin Building in the Seaport.
Nicole Franzen/Tin Building

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