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Ten eateries in NYC's Theatre District with heated or covered alfresco seating
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With New York City restaurants back to 100% indoor capacity, winter coming and propane heaters banned, it may feel like the outdoor dining season is coming to a close. However, due to the ongoing pandemic, some of us still don't feel comfortable dining indoors. (I won't even do a shed unless at least one side is completely open!) Still, we don't want to freeze. Happily, a number of NYC restaurants are continuing to offer outdoor dining with heaters or, in some cases, covered locales that are relatively warm. Here are ten eateries near Times Square with cozy alfresco dining.
Be sure to call ahead to verify these outdoor spots are open! As the weather gets colder and snowier, some may take a hiatus. Reservations are also encouraged at most restaurants.
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Bryant Park, 42nd Street between Fifth and Sixth Avenues next to the ice-skating rink
Reservations required.
More of an experience than an eatery, the plastic igloos in Bryant Park offer toasty outdoor dining for up to eight people. Admittedly, the packages are pricey and the menu limited—a $200 nonalcoholic package for up to four folks includes a carafe of hot chocolate or apple cider, chicken fingers, hot dogs or pretzels, and fries. But this is a fun activity for families with awesome views of the green space's ice-skating rink and Christmas tree. Bryant Park isn't the only place doing this: Here are six other spots offering igloos in NYC, including City Winery at Rockefeller Center. Eating with people outside your pod? Try the outdoor terrace at the Bryant Park Grill for more traditional dining. Seating is on a first-come, first-served basis.
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626B Tenth Avenue between 44th and 45th Streets
212-586-0811
Reservations encouraged.
Serving traditional Oaxacan dishes such as burritos, quesadillas and tacos, this Mexican restaurant has indoor dining, a sidewalk shed out front and a tented and heated back patio. The eatery is only open for dinner on weekdays, but serves brunch as well on weekends. A favorite of TDF's social media followers—multiple theatregoers recommended it!
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135 West 42nd Street between Sixth and Seventh Avenues
212-319-1660
Reservations encouraged.
The Times Square outpost of this high-end national steakhouse chain has a flower-festooned outdoor Patio located inside a pedestrian walkway adjacent to the restaurant. Tuesday to Friday happy hours feature drink specials and half-priced food off the Patio menu.
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132 West 47th Street between Sixth and Seventh Avenue
212-466-9000
Reservations encouraged.
Rooftop lounges are all the rage, but many attract a bar crowd even if they serve food. Located atop the Sanctuary Hotel, Haven offers full menus for weekday lunch, weekend brunch and dinner. While the dishes aren't necessarily adventurous (salads, pasta, steak), the locale and view are sumptuous. Dress code is business casual, so don't come from the gym. A nice destination for a date night or to impress your tourist friends. Other rooftop eateries in the area include Magic Hour atop the Moxy Times Square and The Terrace at the Times Square Edition Hotel.
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1515 Broadway but the entrance is on 45th Street between Broadway and Eighth Avenue
212-302-2000
Update: Junior's patio is now closed for the season, however, you can still grab takeout and eat at the tables.
This comfort-food haven serves up potato pancakes, blintzes, brisket, pastrami and its world-famous cheesecake in a cavernous dining room meant to evoke the iconic Brooklyn original. There are actually two Times Square locations of this local chain within blocks of each other. If you're looking to dine outdoors, head to the 45th Street outpost, which has a covered wraparound patio with well-spaced tables. It isn't heated, but I ate here on a recent 45-degree day and felt fine in a coat. If you just need a snack, Junior's also has a café right next door with its own outdoor seating area where you can grab drinks, pastries and, of course, cheesecake.
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145 West 53rd Street at 6½ Avenue
212-520-7714
Reservations are recommended.
This vibrant French restaurant and steakhouse has multiple Manhattan outposts. But the one located inside the 6½ Avenue pedestrian passageway boasts a covered and cozy outdoor seating area for up to 150 diners. Yes, it seems like you're indoors, but you can feel the air flowing through the open ends of walkway. I've had many a fancy brunch here.
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630 Ninth Avenue between 44th and 45th Streets
212-333-2323
Reservations recommended.
A two-decade-old brasserie serving French staples such as bouillabaisse, couscous and escargot, Marseille has an outdoor dining shed that's completely open on one side with overhead heat lamps to keep it toasty. Tree planters give diners a bit of privacy from the sidewalk. A TDF social media favorite!
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628 Tenth Avenue between 44th and 45th Streets
212-582-6300
Reservations are recommended.
Multiple friends of mine recommend The Marshal, which specializes in farm-to-table cuisine, including a wide variety of wood-fired pizzas. The outdoor dining shed has one side completely open and overhead heat lamps to keep it comfortable.
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631 Ninth Avenue between 44th and 45th Streets
212-397-9650
Reservations encouraged.
Don't let the generic name fool you: This colorful eatery serves authentic Turkish fare, including hearty kebabs and hot and cold meze. Ask for a seat in the restaurant's intimate and heated backyard, far away from the bustling street.
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325 West 51st Street between Eighth and Ninth Avenues
212-399-9291
Reservations encouraged.
Since 1999, this neighborhood mainstay has been dishing out hearty Italian classics made from scratch with all ingredients produced locally or imported from Italy. The interior is warm and lovely, but the backyard garden is the place to be, with heat lamps and a partial tent covering. The eatery is only open for dinner on weekdays, but serves brunch as well on weekends.
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Did we miss your favorite heated outdoor dining spots near Times Square? Share your go-tos in the comments. Looking for heated outdoor dining beyond the Theatre District? Check out this list on Eater NY.
Raven Snook is the Editor of TDF Stages. Follow her at @RavenSnook. Follow TDF at @TDFNYC.
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