As New Yorkers navigate the volatile whims of a Northeastern spring, each clear, sunny day demands to be taken immediate advantage of. And how better to do so than to camp out on one of the city’s many rooftops, terraces, and gardens? These French restaurants in New York have some of the best outdoor seating in town, perfect for pretending that you’ve absconded to a Left Bank cafe or a charming gîte in the French countryside.
NYC Bistros with Rooftops, Terraces & Gardens
1. Ladurée Soho
Ladurée, the French pâtisserie and salon de thé known for its world-famous macarons, has a number of New York outposts, but its Soho location is by far the most magical. Once you step out of the chaos of West Broadway and into this beautiful tea room, it’s hard not to feel like Marie Antoinette could walk in at any moment, so follow her epicurean spirit out into the back garden, where cherry trees are strung with lights in the evening, and each confectionary that finds its way to your table feels like it was spirited there by Cordon Bleu-educated fairies.
2. T. Brasserie
The Tin Building, the upscale Seaport market and food hall from Jean-Georges, has a few restaurants worth braving your way through throngs of finance guys at happy hour down the cobblestones of Fulton Street. One is T. Brasserie, whose terrace offers partial views of the nearby Brooklyn Bridge. This is the perfect place to enjoy your apéro with friends at sunset, and you’re going to want to order as many apps as possible. The baked brie with lemon jam, pistachio, and honey is not to be missed—this is not a drill! Balance its creaminess with a light but satisfying yellowfin tuna tartare, served on top of a nutty spread, which can be scooped up with delightfully crispy lotus root chips. From here, if you don’t want to fill up on the decadent Gruyère cheeseburger, opt for a classic steak-frites with your choice of sauce.
If you happen to be in the neighborhood earlier in the day, the adjacent T. Café also offers terrace seating, as well as a sumptuous array of pastries. Grab a seat outside, or take a few on the road for a picnic by the water.
3. Bar Blondeau
Bar Blondeau, the Wythe Hotel’s rooftop bar, has some of Williamsburg’s most underrated waterfront and skyline views. With cocktails that nod towards the Mediterranean, like the Martini Blonde and the Spritz au Crocodile, and a variety of French-inflected plates for sharing, Le Crocodile’s sister bar is the perfect place to go from peckish to refreshed on a hot summer night. They also offer an Afternoon Tea, an excellent weeknight happy hour, and a group prix fixe option for larger parties. No matter the time of day or night, Bar Blondeau has something for everyone.
4. Boucherie West Village
Boucherie’s four NYC locations all offer romantic atmospheres in which to enjoy a fabulous meal out, but perhaps none captures the essence of Paris cafes along the grands boulevards than Boucherie West Village. When the days begin to stretch into early evening and the sun makes the asphalt on 7th Avenue South sizzle, scoot into one of the wicker bistro chairs that spill out onto the sidewalk through the restaurant’s open French doors, protected by an awning overhead. Grab a mimosa or a bottle of Sancerre, and settle in for some of the city’s best people watching in one of the West Village’s main arteries.
5. Brasserie Le Mistral
For a casual yet lively lunch or dinner in Park Slope, snag one of the tables along the sidewalk, or just inside the open French doors of Brasserie Le Mistral. As the restaurant’s name, which is borrowed from the famed Provençal wind, would suggest, this brasserie on the corner of 5th Street and 5th Avenue in Brooklyn offers Southern French favorites like bouillabaisse and ratatouille, alongside the requisite escargot and poulet rôti.
6. Juliette
Juliette, the stalwart bistro in Williamsburg, offers not one, but two outdoor dining options. Their Winter Garden, with its slanted glass ceiling dripping with greenery, allows you to take your brunch surrounded by nature, no matter the time of year. In the warmer months, they open Le Rooftop Bar, where you can enjoy a casual drink at the bar or at a table, on a terrace that still feels secluded despite being steps from the neighborhood’s bustling main drag.
7. Recette
Another Williamsburg favorite, Recette is located on a quiet corner on Havemeyer Street, where the sidewalk seating won’t leave you at risk of getting swiped by a passing bike or thrown off your lunch by a loud group of chattering tourists. It is definitely worth taking advantage of those summer Fridays and popping in for happy hour, where $10 glasses of wine and $11 appetizers (steak tartare, escargot, and more) arrive to sate your appetite until dinnertime. Recette is open for lunch, brunch, and dinner, serving French classics every day of the week.
Catherine Rickman is a writer, professional Francophile, and host of the Expat Horror Stories podcast. She is currently somewhere in Brooklyn with a fork in one hand and a pen in the other, and you can follow her adventures on Instagram @catrickman.