5 NYC Restaurants to Visit When the Weather Warms Up

From waterfront views to outdoor patios, these spots are perfect for spring and summer dining in the city.

Apr. 8, 2026 at 8:05am

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An impressionistic, out-of-focus photograph depicting the blurred silhouettes of people dining outdoors, surrounded by hazy, colorful shapes representing tables, greenery, and other elements of an al fresco dining scene in New York City.As the weather warms, New Yorkers flock to the city's top outdoor dining spots to enjoy scenic waterfront views, lush garden settings, and classic seasonal fare.NYC Today

Lifestyle writer Amber Sutherland-Namako shares her top 5 favorite New York City restaurants to visit as soon as the weather starts warming up each year. The list includes Brooklyn Crab, Elias Corner for Fish, Popina, The Waverly Inn and Garden, and Johnny's Reef, highlighting the best outdoor dining, scenic views, and seasonal menus the city has to offer.

Why it matters

As New Yorkers emerge from the winter months, these warm-weather restaurant recommendations provide a guide to the city's top al fresco dining options, allowing readers to make the most of the spring and summer seasons and discover some of the best waterfront, rooftop, and garden settings the city has to offer.

The details

The article covers five standout NYC restaurants that the author frequents as soon as the weather starts warming up each year. Brooklyn Crab in Red Hook offers scenic waterfront views and a rooftop deck, while Elias Corner for Fish in Queens is praised for its romantic BYOB policy and seafood-focused menu. Popina in Brooklyn's Columbia Street Waterfront District is highlighted for its peaceful back garden oasis, while The Waverly Inn and Garden in the West Village is known for its lush conservatory dining space. Finally, Johnny's Reef in the Bronx's City Island neighborhood is touted for its classic fried seafood and frozen cocktails.

  • As soon as the first hints of spring arrive in New York City.
  • Before the summer crowds descend on the city's top outdoor dining spots.

The players

Amber Sutherland-Namako

A lifestyle writer who has covered food and drinks in New York City for nearly two decades.

Brooklyn Crab

A restaurant in the Red Hook neighborhood of Brooklyn that offers scenic waterfront views, seafood dishes, and cocktails from a rooftop deck.

Elias Corner for Fish

A Queens-based restaurant known for its romantic BYOB policy, seafood-focused menu, and breezy outdoor deck.

Popina

A Brooklyn restaurant located in the Columbia Street Waterfront District, featuring a peaceful back garden oasis.

The Waverly Inn and Garden

A West Village restaurant with a lush, greenhouse-like conservatory dining space.

Johnny's Reef

A seafood restaurant in the Bronx's City Island neighborhood, offering classic fried seafood and frozen cocktails on a waterside patio.

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What they’re saying

“Spring in New York City is one of the only times of year that the whole town takes on the romantic comedy quality so many people imagine.”

— Amber Sutherland-Namako, Lifestyle Writer

“The tableau from the roof deck includes a peek at the Statue of Liberty and the New York Bay.”

— Amber Sutherland-Namako, Lifestyle Writer

What’s next

As the weather continues to warm, readers should make plans to visit these top NYC restaurants before the summer crowds arrive.

The takeaway

These five restaurants showcase the best of New York City's warm-weather dining scene, from waterfront views and rooftop decks to lush garden oases and classic seafood fare, providing readers with a guide to the city's top outdoor dining destinations as the seasons change.