#LTnyc,  new york

new york city’s best outdoor bars + restaurants

the-romantic-the-winoCall us predictable, but, in spite of our pale skin, one of our favorite things about summer is drinking outside. Lucky for us, New York City has no shortage of amazing outdoor bars and restaurants! So where in this concrete jungle are the best options for getting your drink on?

The Lazy Travelers investigate! aka: we spent many summer months getting drunk at these locales.

The Standard Biergarten, 848 Washington Street // Ok, so techniiically this biergarten has a roof and is hidden away from the sunshine, but in the summer months it’s completely open air. Connected to the ultra hip Standard Hotel in the Meatpacking District and directly beneath the High Line, it’s got more of a scene than The Lazy Travelers can normally cope with. But, any place that specializes in liters of German beer and soft pretzels the size of your head? A-OK in our books.

standardPhoto courtesy of The Standard

Also of note: The Standard Biergarten has something called the Stammtisch Table, where you pay by the hour and they serve you as much unlimited beer as you can handle. We can get behind that.

Boat Basin Cafe, West 79th St in Riverside Park // This outdoor restaurant and bar is perched on the edge of Riverside Park overlooking the Hudson. Open daily for lunch and dinner, it’s the perfect spot to cool off with a cold drink after a walk through Central Park or the streets of the Upper West Side.

Added bonus? It’s pup friendly, which means you can bring-your-own-pug or just spend time staring at other people’s dogs.

Birreria, 200 5th Avenue (at 23rd St) // There are many places within Eataly that we could waste away the day (mmmm, pizza) but if you’re looking to spend time in the fresh air, head upstairs to the restaurant and brewery, Birreria. The rooftop bar has a retractable glass ceiling for the summer months and lets in the cool breeze.

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If you’re a craft beer lover, you’ll adore the unfiltered cask ales they brew in house. They serve them all through traditional hand pumps, at room temperature. If you’re NOT a craft beer lover, that’s ok too! They have plenty of delicious Italian wines on hand. And let’s not ignore a menu that reflects all the delicious Italian delicacies downstairs. Come hungry and thirsty, for sure.

The Frying Pan, Pier 66 at West 26th St. in Hudson River Park // All New Yorkers know that it’s not really summer until happy hour pics from The Frying Pan start flooding your newsfeed. On nice days, it’s usually packed. It’s also a little out of the way. We suggest you get there early or have a back up plan. Lord knows you won’t be able to just stumble into the bar next door if you can’t find a table. If you luck out and claim a space of your own, order a bucket of beer, sit back, and relax.

the frying pan

Central Park Great Lawn, Central Park West & 79th Street Entrance // Ok so, this isn’t technically a bar… and, actually, technically you’re not supposed to drink here. But everyone does it, and we’d be remiss not to mention it. Central Park is the city’s backyard, and Manhattanites treat it as such. Grab some blankets, call your friends, and set up a meeting stop somewhere in or around Belvedere Castle.

central park - sheep meadow.jpg

It’s prime for people watching and sunburning, so what more could you really want?

And there you have it, little darlings. The very best places to imbibe outdoors, in our humble opinions. Any you’d add? What’s your favorite city for such madness?

xo!

the romantic & the wino

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The Lazy Travelers are two transatlantic best friends who have mastered the art of exploring a new city. Though Ashley is based in London and Carolyn is in Philadelphia, we'll use any excuse to reunite around the world. We’re professional bar hoppers, pub crawlers, and food testers, and you’ll never see us zipping around, checking things off a list of “must-sees.”

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