Eating Outdoors: 8 Alfresco Restaurants in NYC

When the weather is good, sitting down inside for a lunch or dinner is just a shame since we spend way too much time inside anyway. Al fresco dining (from the Italian, al fresco – outdoors, in the open) is certainly one of the coziest ways to enjoy a meal, whether it's with friends or for business. And in NYC there are literally hundreds of such options available – some are located at central and prominent spots and are well-known, while others are secretly tucked away in some small or remote street and are only waiting to be discovered. With that said, we have picked a few outdoor restaurants for your consideration – a few famous ones and some that are not so well-known.

Shake Shack

Shake Shack in Madison Square Garden is the so-called mothership of all Shake Shack restaurants. What started out as hot dog cart has by now become a well-known and respected brand. Though Shake Shack is more of a burger place, rather than a restaurant, the one in Madison Square Garden is certainly worth visiting – burgers are juicy and tasty, fries are fresh and crisp, and the whole atmosphere is very enjoyable. It is not by chance that the place was named "Best Burger 2005" by the New York magazine. Because of its popularity, the Shack can have over-an-hour wait lines during the summer and has even added a webcam to its website to show how many people are currently there.

The Loeb Boathouse

Another prominent and nice location is the Loeb Boathouse in Central Park. Depending on your needs, The Boathouse offers a lakeside restaurant, an outside bar and an express cafe. It is both an ideal place to have brunch, as well as a romantic dinner at the lakeside or maybe just to grab a coffee. And in the spirit of tradition, there are rowing boats which you can rent and drift about on the surface of the lake. Furthermore, the Loeb Boathouse is a Certified Green Restaurant, according to the criteria of the GRA.

Alma

Alma in Brooklyn is another one of NYC's famous outdoor dining restaurants. It has three floors with the roof-top being open year-round – heated in the winter and open in the summer. The second floor as well as the rooftop offer a breathtaking view of Lower Manhattan. And because of its great quality and service, as well as chef Hans Dannerhoj's input, the restaurant was also recommended in the 2010 Michelin guide as a top dining choice.

Applewood

Contrary to the above examples, Applewood is a small and almost hidden restaurant off 7th Avenue in Park Slope which also offers outdoor seating. It has a cozy and homey atmosphere that features an ever-changing daily menu that is devised around seasonal, sustainable and locally grown foods. There is actually a whole farm, owned and maintained by the owners of Applewood – Laura and David Shea – which produces the food that is then cooked and offered to customers. The best aspect of Applewood is its authenticity and the genuine countryside feeling which it manages to evoke.

Lavender Lake Bar

Lavender Lake in Gowanus, Brooklyn, is another one of those small, hidden gems that NYC secretly houses. It is a neighborhood joint, as the website says, created by a group of designers and housed in an old horse stable. It, too, has a very cozy atmosphere, almost dreamy and surreal, with a very simple and even somewhat Scandinavian look. It is unpretentious and maybe that is the reason that it is so popular and successful. Another nice feature of the joint is the screening of movies on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. If you're feeling like simply relaxing somewhere on a nice evening, Lavender Lake Bar is a good choice.

Il Bambino

Il Bambino, a crossover between Italian and Spanish cuisine, is a restaurant in Astoria that can offer you, apart from its delicious food, a very pleasant alfresco dining experience. Zagat termed its paninis "fantastic" made with quality ingredients, such as hand-made meats and cheeses. Il Bambino also features a nice selection of affordable wines and beers to go along with the quality food. Its back garden is simply charming, with a nice and fresh design which is certainly reminiscent of the Mediterranean.

Basik

Basik, or bāśik as the name really goes, derives its name from the idea of going back to basics. It is a bar in Williamsburg which seeks to revive the idea of the "public house" – a place for meeting up with friends to have a chat and relax. The bar has a very clean industrial style featuring many rustic elements and, most notably, a 19th century butcher block bar, which gives it its simplicity and leaves one feeling at ease and relaxed. It is certainly worth a visit though it is more of a bar, rather than a restaurant – its snacks and sandwiches are just the right thing for the setting.

The Rabbit Hole

Last but not least is The Rabbit Hole, a bakery and bistro, also located in Williamsburg. It has a very fine and somewhat rustic atmosphere, without being luxurious, offering both a nice café and bar experience as well as a more formal restaurant and outdoor garden dining setting, alongside quality food and pastries. Pastries are made in the restaurant's own bakery without any pre-made products whatsoever, and are one of The Rabbit Hole's selling points. Don't miss going down that rabbit hole if you happen to pass by.