Raise a glass to the NYC outdoor dining season. As of April 1st, the al fresco festivities are officially underway.
Restaurants across the five boroughs who are participating in the new and improved Dining Out NYC program are pulling their tables and chairs street-side and waiting for customers to request their dinner sans walls. (Although April 1st 2025 happens to be rather cold.)
“Every April, New Yorkers celebrate that time-honored tradition of shedding our winter layers and basking in those first warm days of the year. But this year, we have something new to celebrate — that outdoor dining is here to stay,” said Deputy Mayor for Operations Jeff Roth. “The nation’s largest permanent outdoor dining program, already over twice the size of our legacy program, will bring renewed life to our streetscape with safer, cleaner setups citywide. We look forward to the program’s growth in each successive year.”
Through Dining Out NYC, businesses are permitted to have roadway dining seasonally from April 1st through November 29th and sidewalk setups year-round. The NYC DOT learned from its mistakes during pandemic times and will improve upon its services: there won’t be any new fully-enclosed structures for safety reasons, the length and width of the streeteries will be in accordance with safety and cleanliness guidelines, and rentals will be available for a little over $1,000 a month, or $33 a day for the eateries who need them.
DOT Commissioner Rodriguez said, “New Yorkers came to enjoy outdoor dining during the COVID-19 pandemic, and we are proud that it is now a permanent part of our streetscape. Outdoor dining is a lifeline for many small businesses across the five boroughs and helps make our streets more lively and welcoming. Today, all food establishments with approvals may begin operating their roadway setups.”
Although the al fresco meals are underway, there was quite a process during the winter as restaurants alleged they were submitting applications that were not being processed. Roughly 2,450 roadway and sidewalk setups are ready to serve guests at the time of publication, and more are expected within the coming weeks. The majority of sidewalk applicants are already allowed to operate while their applications are pending, per the DOT.
If you’re looking to dine outdoors but take things up a level, explore our favorite terraces and rooftops in NYC. Buon appetite!