Recently verified heated outdoor gathering spots in New York City
January 2, 2024 12:25 PM Subscribe
I'm seeking casual gathering places (pubs, cafés, etc.) that serve food and/or drink, and that have truly outdoor seating, and that are suitable for groups of 6-12, and that have some form of outdoor heating such as firepits or heat lamps. Please only recommend venues where you personally have empirically verified the existence of real outdoor seating, within the last month, with your own senses. A roof plus two walls is fine, three walls is possibly okay as long as there's a lot of airflow, four walls is not okay.
I'm most interested in Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Queens, but also curious about Bronx and Staten Island.
The food or drink doesn't need to be particularly delightful but shouldn't be utterly vile. If you're suggesting a bar that doesn't serve food, I'm hopeful they'd let customers bring in takeout from elsewhere.
I'm most interested in places where it's possible to get a drink for under $10 or a meal for under $25 but I'm curious about places more expensive than that.
I'd prefer places within a 15-minute walk of a subway/MTA stop.
(You might infer, from how I have phrased my request and what I have boldfaced, that I am a little frustrated that it's hard to gather this kind of information and ensure it's fairly up to date purely through online scouting plus phone calls. You would be correct.)
I'm most interested in Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Queens, but also curious about Bronx and Staten Island.
The food or drink doesn't need to be particularly delightful but shouldn't be utterly vile. If you're suggesting a bar that doesn't serve food, I'm hopeful they'd let customers bring in takeout from elsewhere.
I'm most interested in places where it's possible to get a drink for under $10 or a meal for under $25 but I'm curious about places more expensive than that.
I'd prefer places within a 15-minute walk of a subway/MTA stop.
(You might infer, from how I have phrased my request and what I have boldfaced, that I am a little frustrated that it's hard to gather this kind of information and ensure it's fairly up to date purely through online scouting plus phone calls. You would be correct.)
Veselka in the East Village.
posted by virve at 12:52 PM on January 2 [1 favorite]
posted by virve at 12:52 PM on January 2 [1 favorite]
The majority of the seating at Loreley Beer Garden in LES is heated and outdoors, and they have a simple and decent bar food menu.
posted by windbox at 12:59 PM on January 2 [1 favorite]
posted by windbox at 12:59 PM on January 2 [1 favorite]
Left field but: the ice rink adjacent bar/food hall at Bryant Park is up until early March and has outdoor space with heat lamps! And because people kinda forget it exists after New Year’s, it’s not usually super crowded this time of year. It’s called the Lodge.
posted by showbiz_liz at 3:32 PM on January 2 [1 favorite]
posted by showbiz_liz at 3:32 PM on January 2 [1 favorite]
In my neighborhood on the upper west side, there are quite a few places with sidewalk sheds that will meet your 3side& heated criteria. 2walls only is going to be hard to swing, since you asked this question I kept an eye out for outdoor seating that could suit and yea it’s slim pickings, but not impossible. you’ll also get less people around on a mon-wed week night. (Dive75 was empty outside at 7pm tonight)
Dive 75 has an outdoor shed with heaters that is pretty barebones (think folding chairs) but rarely busy so you could easily move some of the tables together to seat 6-12 people there. They don’t serve food, beers on tap are $8.
Playa Betty’s sidewalk shed is pretty breezy and heated, and they definitely serve food and drink. It’s not mind blowing food, but their outdoor space is more welcoming than dive75’s.
That’s two places just on my commute home, I’m sure you’ll have just as good luck in most neighborhoods tbh.
posted by larthegreat at 6:09 PM on January 3 [1 favorite]
Dive 75 has an outdoor shed with heaters that is pretty barebones (think folding chairs) but rarely busy so you could easily move some of the tables together to seat 6-12 people there. They don’t serve food, beers on tap are $8.
Playa Betty’s sidewalk shed is pretty breezy and heated, and they definitely serve food and drink. It’s not mind blowing food, but their outdoor space is more welcoming than dive75’s.
That’s two places just on my commute home, I’m sure you’ll have just as good luck in most neighborhoods tbh.
posted by larthegreat at 6:09 PM on January 3 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: Thanks all!
From this Fediverse thread I've also gotten recommendations for Industry City in Brooklyn, Belo in Sunnyside in Queens, and PJ Horgan's also in Sunnyside.
And a friend attests to Brooklyn Noosh, 988 Atlantic, Prospect Heights, Brooklyn, as having a firepit available in the backyard.
posted by brainwane at 8:16 AM on January 9
From this Fediverse thread I've also gotten recommendations for Industry City in Brooklyn, Belo in Sunnyside in Queens, and PJ Horgan's also in Sunnyside.
And a friend attests to Brooklyn Noosh, 988 Atlantic, Prospect Heights, Brooklyn, as having a firepit available in the backyard.
posted by brainwane at 8:16 AM on January 9
Response by poster: Another few I can attest to: The Skillman in Sunnyside, Gowanus Gardens in Park Slope, and Bohemian Hall (Astoria Beer Garden) in Queens. All have electric heat lamps above actual outdoor seating that is suitable for groups.
posted by brainwane at 2:12 AM on January 13
posted by brainwane at 2:12 AM on January 13
« Older What was this @$@#$ feminist SF book? | How do you handle the background stress of a... Newer »
You are not logged in, either login or create an account to post comments
posted by praemunire at 12:33 PM on January 2 [2 favorites]