The 6 Best Outdoor Bars In New York
When the sun is shining and you want nothing more than a cold drink on a warm day, these are the haunts to hit up.
- (credit: The Delancey)
In the shadow of the Williamsburg bridge, this tri-level bar with rooftop garden draws mixed crowds, hipsters & B&T, depending on the night. There's an event every night, which is why The Delancey packs in the DJs and live performances, especially since Bjork DJ'ed on their opening weekend.
Studio Square, which is often called the "new" beer garden in Astoria and causing some concern that it's looking to dethrone the Bohemian Beer Gardens. But don't worry, Bohemian fans, Studio Squarehas established itself as a completely different scene and has earned its spot on the streets of Astoria. Long picnic tables and pitchers of exotic beers, with plenty of fun: board games, flat screen TVs and some good eating - check out the new sushi menu.
On the 16th floor of the hotel Ink48, PRESS offers spectacular views in a casual setting. Check out the Manhattan skyline or peer down the Hudson as you enjoy expertly crafted cocktails and inventive cuisine. There is a glass-enclosed lounge, spacious deck with outdoor seating and a reflecting pool.
Set on the esplanade along the Hudson in Riverside Park South, the newly-constructed Pier i Café (yes, the lowercase is deliberate) might at first seem concealed from the crazy rush of everyday city business. Yet it's surprisingly close and easily accessible to anybody seeking shade, a soft summer breeze and a beautiful waterline vista (just descend the staircase at 68th Street and walk under the West Side Highway). There's an outdoor bar & grill with two-dozen shaded tables (plus lounge chairs), the drinks are inexpensive (beer, sangria wine only) and the water is FREE and ICE COLD. Also, if you're up for affordable noshes (all entrees under $20), try the La Frieda burger and fries, both of which are out of this world.
Chelsea Brewing Company
212-336-6440
Pier 59, Chelsea Piers
New York, NY
http://www.chelseabrewingco.com
Located along the Hudson River, customers can sip on one of 20 handcrafted microbrews made on-site or select from an extensive wine, scotch and premium liquor list. The mahogany wood bar with floor-to-ceiling windows is a relaxing spot to dine and drink if it's too chilly for the outdoor seating. Overlooking a 60-slip Hudson River marina, Chelsea Brewing also offers a private cigar lounge and tours of the brewery (call for reservations). Pier 59 is also home to New York City's only high-tech driving range, so stop by before or after hitting the greens.
Only in a maritime-based metropolis like Manhattan would someone have the creativity and ingenuity to take a sunken 1929 lightship and turn it into a dive bar. Perhaps that's why The Frying Pan has become one of the city's biggest summertime hot spots, in every sense of the term. Rustic, gritty and ever so slightly steampunk (its exposed engine room is a sight to see), The Pan once spent three years at the bottom of the Chesapeake before it was salvaged and turned into this half-sunny, half-moody industrial ode to old school ocean travel. Seating is first come, first served and it crowds up fast; so, if you're with a large group, get there early. And, fair-weather warning to all booze-loving landlubbers, the tables on this temporary tidewater sometimes wobble with the waves, so if you're the sort who's easily seasick, you're better off staying on terra firma.
