Later sunsets and warmer weather is all a New Yorker needs to know outdoor dining season has officially kicked off. And considering NYC is home to the nation’s largest permanent outdoor dining program there’s certainly ample opportunity to sip on a spritz at your favorite sidewalk café.
Each year, online restaurant-reservation service OpenTable looks at diner reviews and demand metrics to unveil the perfect summer spots for outdoor dining across the country, helping us to determine which spots are actually worth flocking to for some open-air eating a la people watching, and this year’s list has arrived!
Here are the top ten picks for outdoor dining in NYC (in alphabetical order):
1. Cafe Cluny
2. Cafe Luxembourg
3. Carmine’s
4. Casa Mono
5. La Masseria
6. Ocean Prime
7. Red Rooster Harlem
8. RH Rooftop Restaurant
9. Tavern On the Green
10. The Odeon
From Italian fare and French-style comfort food to upscale Spanish dishes, the list certainly covers its cuisine bases, and we gotta say we agree with their picks.
Cafe Luxembourg is one of our favorite spots on the UWS, for example, particularly for the steak and parmesan fries, and the Michelin-Star Casa Mono is one of our favorite Spanish restaurants in NYC–and one of the city’s most affordable Michelin Star restaurants, where you can indulge in upscale Spanish tapas and enjoy a wine list with 600+ variations.
Red Rooster, on the other hand, is a true Harlem staple, serving diverse meals influenced by Black American staples and arguably one of the best fried chicken spots in NYC. And Central Park’s landmark Tavern On the Green is obviously just an iconic must-visit, where you can enjoy your meal surrounded by Central Park’s luscious greenery.
At least we know what we’ll be doing this weekend! See the full ranking here.