’Tis the season for eating al fresco—for pleasure, not necessity. It’s time for leisurely, European-style, two-hour mid-workday lunches, dinner dates under fairy lights, and hungover photosynthesis over brunch. And while there is an overabundance of street dining sheds leftover from the dark days, not all outdoor dining experiences are created equal. Coveteur tapped a few trusted New Yorkers (and some honorary New Yorkers), including Bon Appétit’s Zaynab Issa, dating coach Tiff Baira, New York Magazine’s resident party girl Brock Colyar, and DJ Isaac Hindin-Miller to advise on their favorite go-to’s, from the Roberta’s patio in Bushwick to Lola Taverna’s flowery oasis in Soho.
Photo: Courtesy of Restoration Hardware
“I used to live down the block from Roberta’s in college, and it was arguably the best part about living off the Morgan L. More often than not, a res required a 2-hour wait so my roommates, and I would order a pie to-go from the take-out storefront. When the pizza was secured, we’d walk over to the garden next door and eat on the wooden tables under fairy lights. The music is good and their pizza is unreal—my go-to order is the famous original with honey. For a more upscale experience, RH rooftop’s sister restaurant, Dining Room at RH Guesthouse, is a favorite for breakfast. A row of tables line the exterior of the restaurant—though not technically outdoor in the ‘open air' sense since the tables are enclosed by a glass awning–it’s definitely a sun-drenched oasis from the busy street. Located in the Meatpacking District, it’s on the same block as Hermès, Loro Piana, and Louis Vuitton. The people watching is just as good as the steak and eggs, and the Belgian waffles with an obscene amount of butter (their words not mine).”
Photo: Giada Paoloni
“There is something so timeless about Dante. It’s one of the few restaurants where the Old New York café culture and elevated hospitality blend so effortlessly. After one (or five) mini martinis you will definitely end up talking to the person next to you, or if you’re like me, getting all the hot guys’ numbers and feeling the NYC rush slow down for a while. Outside at Dante, it’s not just a restaurant to me, it’s one of the few places in NYC that is filled with the magic of familiarity as well as possibility; you never know who you’ll meet or run into, but you are always guaranteed to leave with a new memory. ”
“I have four favorites: two are cafés—Lyria and C&B because both have created such amazing communities that they’re like clubhouses. Whenever I have downtime or am feeling bored or aimless, I can stop by and sit outside and chat with everyone who’s going in and out. I do the sage iced tea at Lyria and the iced coffee and chicken sandwich at C&B. My favorite lunch spot is Ruby’s. I like the one on Mulberry, but I go to the one on East 11th Street most. The Blueys sandwich is incredible, and I always get it with a fresh young coconut. Then for dinner, I like Lola Taverna—it’s great Mediterranean food, and it’s amazing for people watching; it’s like the Instagram explore page come to life.”
“When the summer rolls around, I find it personally challenging to avoid the now TikTok-dominated, scene-y staples of downtown outdoor drinking and dining—Fanellis for a ‘tini and a burger, or Cervo’s for wine and a plate of prawns. But when I’m sick of waiting in lines and clout-chasing, I stick to my neighborhood: Greenpoint. I’m especially in love with The Esters, a delightfully unpretentious wine bar that opened near McGolrick Park last year which serves homemade pizza and a rosemary-flavored sangria that I’m unashamedly addicted to. It has a long porch outside that reminds me of growing up in the South. Other ‘local’ favorites include Le Gamin, a French bistro with so-so food but a lovely garden often filled with hot, cigarette-smoking, middle-aged Europeans, a couple of rats, and the best Bloody Mary in the city. Greenpoint Fish and Lobster is my favorite string-light-lit date-night spot with a killer fried fish sandwich. And then I love Troost, a cocktail bar on Manhattan Avenue with a quiet backyard and homemade Chex Mix that I too often rely on for dinner.”