Dining Al Fresco in Downtown New York
The downtown restaurants turning outdoor dining into an essential summer ritual.
There’s nothing like downtown New York when the sun’s out and the sidewalks come alive, transforming into open-air dining rooms filled with clinking glasses, Aperol spritzes, and the steady hum of city life. From hidden garden patios to bustling corner cafés, locals linger a little longer to graze on small plates, catch up over cocktails, and soak in that golden-hour glow. Whether you’re posted up in SoHo, the West Village, or the LES, these downtown restaurants turn dining al fresco into an essential summer ritual.
The Soho Grand Hotel’s Soho Diner has officially unlocked the garden gates for the season, turning its West Broadway patio into a greenery-filled hangout for golden hour cocktails and late-night bites. Happy hour runs daily from 5 to 7 PM (and again from 10 PM to close, with Mondays going all night), with $10 cocktails like the spring-friendly “Lookin’ For A Kiss” (rosé-infused vodka, lychee, lemon, sparkling wine) and the crowd-favorite “NY Fashioned,” their downtown spin on an old-fashioned. There’s also $10 house wine (red, white, or rosé), $5 PBRs, and a tight, satisfying lineup of snacks—crispy cheese curds, hot wings, and a double smash burger that just hits different outdoors.
310 W Broadway; T. (212) 965-3011
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Major Montauk vibes return to West Broadway on May 1st. In other words, The Soho Grand Hotel’s laid-back, beachy, palm-fringed hotspot (AKA Gilligan’s!) is back just in time for the warm weather. Grab a seat under the umbrellas with downtown’s cool crowd and order chilled bottles of rosé, limoncello piña coladas, or—if it’s your first time—their iconic, Instagram-famous frozen watermelon margarita, served by the glass or pitcher. Tip: Don’t skip the sky-high seafood tower, which is delicious, fresh, and ideal for sharing with friends long after the sun goes down.
310 W Broadway; T. (212) 965-3271
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Nestled on the corner of St. Mark’s Place and 2nd Avenue, Café Maud is a bright and airy all-day café that feels like a longtime neighborhood fixture, despite only opening last summer. Attached to The Rhymers Club, an Irish-influenced Prohibition-style bar, this impossibly charming spot, complete with a brick pizza oven, offers brunch (the lemon ricotta pancakes and breakfast burrito are tasty standouts) and dinner with a killer happy hour in between. Then there’s their people-watching-friendly outdoor seating, where you can cool off with frozen margaritas, coquitos, or a refreshing matcha lemonade while taking in the East Village’s vibrant energy.
132 2nd Ave; T. (212) 218-3919
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Located on the ground floor of a historic Greenwich Village brownstone at the corner of Bank Street and Waverly Place, The Waverly Inn is a perennially buzzy haunt known for its upscale comfort food and glitzy old New York vibes. Inside, the low-ceilinged saloon feels like a secret clubhouse, with red leather banquettes, roaring fireplaces, and a sprawling mural by The New Yorker’s Edward Sorel depicting NYC legends like Allen Ginsberg, William Burroughs, and Fran Lebowitz. Sure, you might spot a martini-sipping A-lister tucked into a shadowy corner booth, but come warmer months, it’s all about the ivy-covered back patio, a lush oasis that feels worlds apart from the bustle of the city streets. It’s an unbeatable spot for lingering over cocktails, digging into burgers with a side of crispy onion rings, and soaking in the timeless charm of this Greenwich Village institution.
16 Bank St.; T. (917) 828-1154
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Opened in 1998, Bistro Les Amis feels like stepping into a sun-filled, beyond-charming Parisian café. This SoHo staple serves classic French comfort dishes like bubbling French onion soup, lump crab cakes, coq au vin, lamb shank, and crispy pomme frites. But once the weather warms up, the best seats in the house are outside—lining the scenic corner of Spring and Thompson Street—where you can sip an Aperol Spritz, snack on frites, and watch SoHo hum by.
180 Spring St.; T. (212) 226-8645
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This ever-buzzy Thai joint tucked away on Forsyth Street has been a magnet for foodies, influencers, and those in the know since it opened in 2019. Head chef Tom Naumsuwan serves up homestyle Thai dishes that pack a punch, from spicy noodle-wrapped meatballs to crab fried rice. With the weather heating up any day now, another major draw is the patio—a potted-plant-filled space with oversized wicker chairs, fairy lights, boldly patterned floor pillows, and vintage rugs. When the LES heats up, this is the place to be for bold flavors, creative cocktails, and perfect nights outdoors.
100 Forsyth St; (212) 206-2500
WORDS Alex Catarinella