It’s that time of year again. After a very long, cold and snowy winter, New Yorkers are emerging from their apartments and hitting the great outdoors. Which means outdoor watering holes, of course. We’re city dwellers, after all, so let’s keep this outdoor thing in perspective and hey, is there any better way to break the ice than having a beverage or two under the sun or brilliant evening sky with a friend?
Click here to see all 6 places now!
PH-D @ the Dream Hotel
355 West 16th Street
Most of us are so heads down and nose to the grindstone so much of the time, we sometimes forget how breath-taking a city New York really is, and since many of us are here with the intention of reaching new heights, sometimes you have to get out there and go for broke. That’s when you head to PH-D. The views are spectacular and a good reminder of why we’re here. (The ambiance doesn’t suck, either.)
Biergarten @ the Standard Hotel
848 Washington Street
Anywhere you go in the meatpacking district on a warm spring or summer night is going to be packed and the Biergarten is no exception. A good first stop to meet up with friends – once you all manage to find each other – and if you want to take in an amazing sunset and views of the city, head up to the Top of the Standard (even the bathrooms give you a view of the city). If you want to the rooftop, the stairs are behind the bar.
The Frying Pan
Pier 66 @ 26th Street and 12th Avenue
Of course it’s a dive bar. This historic lightship spent three years at the bottom of the Chesapeake Bay before being salvaged and brought to Chelsea Piers. Good place to meet up with friends and watch the comings and goings on the Hudson. There are beer and burgers available on the pier and you might even catch a water salute from the neighboring John J. Harvey fireboat, if you hit it right. No mater. Just being on the water makes it worthwhile.
West 79th Street Boat Basin Cafe
West 79th Street @ Riverside Drive.
Does it get any better than this? Grab a seat on the water, look out at the boats and you might just forget that you’re in New York City, if only for a moment or two. The food is nothing special, and ditto on the drinks, so stick with burgers and beer and remember: location, location, location.
The Ides Bar
80 Wythe Avenue, Brooklyn
Ok, you live in Brooklyn. You work in Brooklyn. So do a lot of your friends, or d) all of the above. We both know you’re not necessarily planning on heading into Manhattan, so if you’re looking to hang out with friends, be outdoors and have Manhattan – and Brooklyn – at your feet, this is the place to be. Note to self: Williamsburg is the new Meatpacking District, so of course there’s going to be a line.
