10 Corso Como Café
The cobblestone streets surrounding this South Street Seaport spot make it feel all the more like a European import. (10 Corso Como’s original outpost is in Milan.) Aside from the artful Italian food, graphic black-and-white designs on the café’s dishware and tabletops add plenty of visual interest, as does people-watching.

Bar Primi
Bar Primi is a summertime favorite thanks to its frosé and outdoor seating. Enjoy plates of homemade pasta while cheerful red awnings and lush flower boxes liven up your dining experience.

Bobo
Bobo’s airy parlor-floor terrace is open year-round, but it’s at its most charming on a sunny summer day. A table in this light-filled space and French entrées like the filet au poivre or duck leg confit definitely merit a reservation.

DaDong
Near the lush open spaces of Bryant Park you’ll find another relaxing outdoor hangout. DaDong, a Beijing import specializing in Peking duck, offers a modern terrace and lounge area with great views of Midtown Manhattan.

Lafayette
In the warmer months, spot this popular French café and bakery by its bright blue umbrellas and awnings. Marble tabletops, greenery in the outdoor seating area and baskets of French pastries bring the feeling of Parisian sidewalk cafés to the bustling Noho intersection of Lafayette and Great Jones.  

Maiella
Modern Italian dishes come with a side of Manhattan skyline views at Maiella. The Long Island City eatery makes use of its waterfront locale with an expansive open-air seating area that also gives diners a glimpse of Queens’ iconic Pepsi-Cola sign.

Narcissa
Narcissa’s picturesque back garden is lined with greenery, colorful sculptures and comfy booths, perfect for dining out with a group. The New American menu is also a crowd-pleaser, featuring vegan dishes like toasted rye cavatelli and meaty fare like crackling porchetta.

Riverpark by Tom Colicchio
This elegant American restaurant earns its name due to its location beside the East River. Enjoy waterfront breezes by the dining area, where the menu includes seasonal ingredients from the restaurant’s on-site farm.

Serra Fiorita by Birreria
Eataly’s rooftop restaurant transforms its look seasonally. This summer a flower-filled greenhouse theme (serra is Italian for “greenhouse”) takes over the space. Rustic dishes like pesto gnocchi and broccoli rabe burrata—plus a menu of refreshing spritzes to drink—recall the feeling of dining in the Italian countryside.

Sofrito on the Hudson
You’ll be able to spot the George Washington Bridge from a waterfront table at this Upper Manhattan restaurant, located within Riverbank State Park. The Latin American menu delivers summery fare like grilled shrimp with mango chili sauce and a daily ceviche special.

Tavern on the Green
Central Park is undoubtedly prime real estate for summertime lounging, as is this classic restaurant located on its west side. At twilight, elm trees and lantern light surround the courtyard, where timeless dishes like lobster risotto and carmelized rack of lamb are on offer.

All the restaurants featured are participants in this summer’s NYC Restaurant Week, which runs July 22–August 16. See the full list of participating restaurants and book your table beginning July 9.