Best Outdoor Dining Restaurants in Brooklyn Heights & Downtown Brooklyn (11201)
7 hand-picked restaurants, critic-reviewed and ranked
Last Updated: January 2026
Our Top Pick
The River Café
Iconic waterfront fine dining with skyline views and formal romance.
Essential Picks
9.0
The River Cafe is a landmark fine-dining destination cantilevered over the East River with floor-to-ceiling views of the Manhattan skyline and Brooklyn Bridge. A jacket-required room, live piano, and a polished tasting-style menu make it one of the city’s classic special-occasion restaurants. Couples come here for once-a-year celebrations where the setting, service, and composed plates all feel deliberately theatrical.
Must-Try Dishes:
Seared Foie Gras, Rack of Lamb, Chocolate Brooklyn Bridge Dessert
What makes it special: Iconic waterfront fine dining with skyline views and formal romance.
Notable Picks
8.8
Cecconi’s Dumbo is a waterfront Italian restaurant in the Empire Stores complex where dressed-up diners eat hand-made pasta and pizza under vaulted ceilings and chandeliers or on a covered patio facing the skyline. It’s more about the full scene—views, cocktails, and polished service—than chasing the best value in town.
Must-Try Dishes:
Zucchini fritti with lemon aioli, Cacio e pepe, Wood-fired pizza with seasonal toppings
What makes it special: A high-ceilinged, waterfront Italian dining room where hand-made pasta and pizzas share equal billing with Manhattan skyline views.
8.8
Time Out Market New York is a two-story food hall in Empire Stores with a fifth-floor rooftop terrace looking out at the Brooklyn and Manhattan Bridges. Dozens of curated vendors serve everything from ramen and barbecue to pastries and cocktails, so groups can mix and match while sharing skyline views. It’s the go-to rooftop option when you need something for everyone without leaving DUMBO.
Must-Try Dishes:
Clinton St. Pancakes from Clinton St. Baking Company, Bark Barbecue brisket sandwich, Mr Taka Ramen bowl
What makes it special: Multi-vendor food hall with a dedicated rooftop bar and bridge views.
Luke's Lobster runs a waterfront shack in the old Smokestack Building at Brooklyn Bridge Park serving Maine-style lobster, crab and shrimp rolls with chowder and bisque. Locals and visitors line up for consistently sweet, wild-caught seafood in toasted split-top buns with one of the best bridge views in the city.
Must-Try Dishes:
Lobster Roll, Seafood Roll Flight, New England Clam Chowder
What makes it special: Waterfront shack for award-winning lobster rolls and chowder under the Brooklyn Bridge.
8.6
Tucked on a cobblestoned block near the waterfront, Vinegar Hill House pairs a wood-burning oven and seasonal, New American plates with one of Brooklyn’s coziest dining rooms and a leafy back garden. It reads more like a country inn than a city restaurant, which makes it especially appealing for low-key dates. Regulars treat it as a go-to for celebratory brunches, fireside dinners, and intimate parties in the carriage house.
Must-Try Dishes:
Red Wattle Pork Chop, Chicken Liver Mousse, Pear Sourdough Pancakes
What makes it special: Rustic townhouse dining with a wood-fired menu and romantic garden.
#6
Celestine
8.5
Celestine is a Mediterranean-leaning restaurant at the base of the Manhattan Bridge with wraparound windows framing the skyline and river. Its mezze, lamb, and seafood skew slightly upscale without feeling formal, making it a favorite for date nights that hinge on both flavor and views. The terrace and soft, candlelit interior tilt romantic whether you’re sharing a bottle of wine or a family-style spread.
Must-Try Dishes:
Seasonal Mezze Platter, Harissa Roasted Chicken, Whole Branzino
What makes it special: Riverfront Mediterranean plates with dramatic bridge views and soft lighting.
Worthy Picks
Perched at Pier 6 in Brooklyn Bridge Park, Fornino serves wood-fired pies and salads on a multi-level deck with umbrellas and harbor views. It’s a casual choice for families and groups who want pizza, pitchers, and outdoor tables steps from the playgrounds and lawns.
Must-Try Dishes:
Margherita Pizza, Seasonal Vegetable Pie (e.g., Corn or Squash), Arancini
What makes it special: Wood-fired pizzas served on a tiered deck overlooking the harbor and park.