There’s nothing quite like spring’s first few warm days in New York City. After a long winter spent hibernating, the moment the temperature rises above 70 degrees is a cause for celebration. Residents and visitors flock to the city’s parks, side streets and area eateries, eager to embrace the season. When it comes to the latter, the city has everything from sidewalk setups to hidden terraces for savoring a meal and a glass of rosé.
If you’re hungry for more, keep reading for five of our favorite spots to welcome the return of alfresco dining.
The Mark Restaurant by Jean-Georges
Forbes Travel Guide Four-Star The Mark has claimed a particularly enviable block in the Upper East Side. The Mark Restaurant by Jean-Georges‘ terrace, thanks to its coveted position at East 77th Street and Madison Avenue and steps away from Central Park, is a mainstay among locals.
Beneath the hotel’s stylish signature black-and-white striped umbrellas, you’ll find white tablecloths and a menu of comfort food flavored with French flair. At lunch, enjoy a standout Maine lobster burger topped with green chili mayonnaise and yuzu pickles. For dinner, indulge in the signature black truffle and fontina cheese pizza that pairs well with a crisp glass of rosé to complete a dining experience as classic as the neighborhood.
And although not technically a dining venue, The Mark’s famous Haute Dog Cart sits outside the hotel’s lobby door. It’s a whimsical take on a Manhattan street food staple, elevated by chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten’s touch.
Marea
Much like the joy New York City residents feel as they shed their winter coats, Forbes Travel Guide Recommended seafood restaurant Marea welcomes the warmer weather in style. The spot for upscale Italian cuisine celebrated the official opening of its courtyard terrace in early May with an afternoon of unlimited pours of Champagne Delamotte and a curated oyster experience from the Montauk Pearl oyster farm.
Terrace season here proudly welcomes the Amalfi Coast (hello, charming blue-and-white umbrellas) to Central Park South. The thoughtfully crafted menu features coastal Italian dishes that are tailor-made for outside dining: sea bass tartare, perfectly pan-seared scallops and a renowned fusilli with octopus and bone marrow.
Nougatine
Can you keep a secret? Just a few steps away from notoriously hectic Columbus Circle lies a tranquil garden oasis on the fringes of Central Park. Led by chef Vongerichten, Nougatine serves as the more relaxed sister restaurant to Five-Star Jean-Georges, both in the Five-Star Trump International Hotel & Tower New York. The seasonal Nougatine Terrace extends its laid-back, breezy atmosphere.
The park-facing area, designed by Philippe Starck, features Dedon hand-woven furniture and a hedged wall that helps maintain a serene hush, occasionally broken by the sounds of clinking glasses, satisfied sighs and easy laughter.
The terrace shares Nougatine’s menu, and the straightforward nature of dishes like sashimi with spicy white ponzu and steamed black sea bass with herbaceous butter and new potatoes seamlessly complements the relaxed vibe of the space.
Tartine
The West Village has no shortage of appealing corners, but the leafy, townhouse-lined spot at West 4th and West 11th streets that Tartine occupies might be the neighborhood’s best. Like any savvy city-dweller, the French bistro makes the most of its prime real estate with outdoor sidewalk seating.
Taking its cues from Paris’ café culture, Tartine is unpretentious in a way that reads as undeniably chic. The restaurant doesn’t take reservations. It only recently began accepting credit cards. Patrons are also encouraged to bring their own bottles — although it is not explicitly stated, it’s probably best if said pour was French.
Between sips on a warm Sunday afternoon, savor a croque-madame with house-baked brioche, ham, cheese and a runny poached egg from the weekend brunch menu. Or you could take a leisurely lunch to enjoy a brioche burger or make the most of a long summer evening with steamed mussels served with a tangy shallot, white wine and parsley marinière.
Fanelli Cafe
Rightfully considered a New York City icon, Fanelli Cafe also earns the designation of being the city’s second-oldest food-and-drink establishment in the same location, having operated at 94 Prince Street since 1847.
As a rule, legends tend to attract other legends, and Fanelli Cafe is no exception. During Soho’s transition from a rundown manufacturing district to artists’ lofts in the ’60s, Bob Dylan was a regular. Today, thanks in large part to the restaurant’s COVID-era outdoor seating expansion, Fanelli’s cobblestone sidewalk scene is still in full swing.
The café’s Instagram-friendly neon sign and trendy surroundings cater to Soho’s creative set, making the patio feel like the front row at a fashion show. But menu doesn’t go for fads — the juicy burger, stiff martinis and beloved open-faced tuna melt are always in style.
