Best Outdoor Dining Restaurants in Williamsburg
27 hand-picked restaurants, critic-reviewed and ranked
Last Updated: February 2026
Our Top Pick
Lilia
Chef Missy Robbins' Michelin-caliber handmade pastas in a converted garage with wood-fired cooking
Essential Picks
#1
Lilia
9.2
Chef Missy Robbins' wood-fired Italian destination transforms a former auto-body garage into one of Brooklyn's most sought-after dining experiences. Handmade pastas like the sheep's milk agnolotti and mafaldini with pink peppercorns showcase impeccable technique, while the grill delivers perfectly charred seafood and vegetables.
Must-Try Dishes:
Sheep's Milk Agnolotti, Cacio e Pepe Frittelle, Grilled Prawns with Fennel Pollen
What Makes it Special: Chef Missy Robbins' Michelin-caliber handmade pastas in a converted garage with wood-fired cooking
Notable Picks
8.9
Aurora is a long-running Williamsburg Italian restaurant known for handmade pastas, wood-fired mains, and a greenhouse-style back garden wrapped in ivy. Locals use it for date nights and small celebrations when they want rustic Northern Italian cooking in one of the neighborhood’s most atmospheric rooms.
Must-Try Dishes:
Pappardelle al ragù, Grilled octopus with potatoes, Housemade gnocchi with Gorgonzola
What Makes it Special: Rustic Northern Italian cooking served in a lush, glass-walled garden setting.
#3
MyMoon
8.8
MyMoon is a dramatic Spanish restaurant and event space in a converted factory, known for Catalan-leaning tapas, paella, and a lush courtyard that fits special-occasion dinners as comfortably as weddings. High-volume reviews across platforms highlight polished service, strong execution on classics, and an atmosphere that feels built for date nights and celebrations.
Must-Try Dishes:
Seafood paella, Croquetas de jamón, Patatas bravas
What Makes it Special: Spanish and Catalan cooking served in a striking indoor-outdoor factory conversion.
8.6
Meraki Greek Bistro brings a white-and-blue island aesthetic and generous Greek cooking to Grand Street, with platters, grilled seafood, and meze built for sharing. Portions are substantial and the menu leans classic—think souvlaki, gyro platters, and village salads—backed by friendly, attentive service. The enclosed back patio gives it extra appeal for small celebrations and laid-back date nights.
Must-Try Dishes:
Poikilia mixed grill platter, Calamari and gyro platter, Complimentary house baklava
What Makes it Special: Sun-drenched Greek taverna vibes with big portions and a backyard patio.
#5
Cafe Mogador
8.5
The Williamsburg outpost of this long-running Moroccan café has become a default choice for vegetarians thanks to its halloumi eggs, shakshuka, mezze platters, and couscous bowls with easy meat-free configurations. The room runs lively from brunch through late dinner, with a leafy garden area and a menu that balances omnivore staples with genuinely strong plant-forward plates. High review volume over more than a decade means the vegetarian side of the menu is well tested and dependable.
Must-Try Dishes:
Halloumi Eggs Breakfast, Moroccan Eggs with Feta, Falafel Sandwich with Mezze
What Makes it Special: A Moroccan institution where vegetarian-friendly brunch plates and mezze have been dialed in over years of service.
Hole In The Wall brings Australian-style brunch to a big Bedford and Grand corner with strong coffee, cocktails, and substantial breakfast plates. It’s where locals meet visitors over mushroom toast, breakfast burritos, and benedicts in a room that can handle everything from laptops to birthday brunches.
Must-Try Dishes:
HITW breakfast burrito, Mushroom toast with poached egg, Pork benedict
What Makes it Special: A busy Aussie café where big-format brunch plates, coffee, and cocktails run all day.
8.4
Lighthouse BK is a farm-to-table Mediterranean restaurant and bar that leans into seasonal vegetables, sustainable seafood, and a serious natural wine list. The space feels casual but grown-up, with a lively bar, communal energy, and plates built for sharing rather than rigid coursing. It’s the kind of place locals use interchangeably for dates, small celebrations, and a glass of wine plus a couple of bright, produce-forward dishes.
Must-Try Dishes:
Whole grilled fish with lemon and herbs, Roasted seasonal vegetables with labneh, Lamb ribs with spiced yogurt
What Makes it Special: Sustainably minded Mediterranean cooking with strong cocktails and natural wines.
#8
Psaraki
8.3
Waterfront Greek restaurant at 420 Kent where whole grilled fish, seafood towers, and family-style mezze bring a modern taverna feel to the South Williamsburg shoreline. Floor-to-ceiling windows and a spacious terrace frame bridge and skyline views that match the menu’s Mediterranean lean.
Must-Try Dishes:
Whole grilled branzino with ladolemono, Lobster pasta, Kritharoto seafood orzo
What Makes it Special: Greek seaside-taverna cooking translated to a Brooklyn waterfront dining room with serious views.
8.3
Blend Williamsburg is a Latin fusion restaurant on the Kent Avenue waterfront known for an all-day happy hour that pairs discounted cocktails with shareable plates and big-portion entrees. It’s where groups book booths for margaritas, tacos, and skirt steak while watching the light change over the East River.
Must-Try Dishes:
Blend Saltado, Crispy Arepas, Pollo a la Plancha
What Makes it Special: Waterfront Latin fusion spot where extended happy hour and big plates make it a default group meetup.
#10
Kent Ale House
8.3
A waterfront sports bar with 24 taps and a full pub menu, Kent Ale House is where soccer and rugby fans settle in for games backed by baskets of wings and long happy hours. Daily drink deals and game-time specials make it one of the most reliable spots in the ZIP when you want pitchers, big screens, and classic Buffalo wings in one place.
Must-Try Dishes:
Buffalo Wings, BBQ Wings, Buffalo Mac N Cheese
What Makes it Special: Game-day headquarters for Premier League and rugby where long happy hours meet big-portion wings and pitchers.
8.2
Two Hands brings an Australian, health-forward café model to the Kent Avenue waterfront, serving all-day brunch built on locally sourced, produce-heavy plates. It’s where Domino Park regulars and remote workers converge for coffee, smoothie bowls, and bowls that read as farm-to-table casual rather than indulgent brunch.
Must-Try Dishes:
Salmon Quinoa Bowl, Smashed Avo Toast, Lemon Poppyseed Waffle
What Makes it Special: Australian café serving health-leaning, locally sourced brunch right off Domino.
#12
Tacocina
8.2
Seasonal waterfront taco stand in Domino Park where tacos, nachos, and frozen margaritas are served under umbrellas facing the East River. It functions as both a daytime snack stop and an early-evening hang when the priority is views and drinks as much as the food.
Must-Try Dishes:
Pork pibil taco, Pollo adobo taco, Chips with guacamole
What Makes it Special: A Domino Park taco stand where waterfront seating, frozen margaritas, and made-to-order tacos share equal billing.
The Domino Park outpost of OddFellows pairs their savory-leaning, chef-y flavors with waterfront views and park-side energy. People use it as a stroll-and-scoop stop after the playground, dog run, or a lap along the East River.
Must-Try Dishes:
Miso Cherry Ice Cream, Brooklyn Blackout Ice Cream, Vanilla Blackberry Blondie Ice Cream
What Makes it Special: Chef-driven ice cream served steps from the East River promenade.
#14
BABA
8.2
BABA on Withers is a natural wine bar with a tight menu of share plates and a dedicated happy hour menu built around discounted wines and snacks. The backyard and candlelit interior make it as strong for first glasses and fries as it is for lingering over bottles later in the night.
Must-Try Dishes:
BABA Fries with Manchego and Cayenne Mayo, Mushroom Toast, Panisse with Remoulade
What Makes it Special: Natural wine–driven happy hour with serious snack game and a backyard.
#15
Gran Torino
8.1
Gran Torino is a sprawling Italian-leaning café, bar, and restaurant with a big patio and multiple indoor zones that feel built for groups and daytime hangs. A dedicated dog menu and plenty of outdoor seating make it a staple for Williamsburg dog owners looking to linger over spritzes and casual food.
Must-Try Dishes:
Gran Torino Bowl with Smoked Salmon, Breakfast Burrito, Crab Cake Burger
What Makes it Special: Multi-zone café-bar with a dog menu and a huge patio.
#16
Good Days
8.1
Good Days is a modern American bistro tucked under the Williamsburg Bridge, pairing a low-lit interior with a back patio framed by the bridge structure. The menu leans seafood, steak frites, and small plates that feel considered without turning into a scene-y, reservation-only ordeal.
Must-Try Dishes:
Steak frites with au poivre sauce, Hamachi crudo with brown butter–yuzu vinaigrette, Jumbo shrimp cocktail with burnt onion dijonnaise
What Makes it Special: A new-school bistro where serious cooking meets a under-the-bridge patio built for lingering.
8.1
A long-running Williamsburg bar and grill, Teddy’s pairs classic Buffalo, BBQ, and honey-sriracha wings with a historic tin-ceilinged room and a straightforward happy hour on beer, wine, and well drinks. It’s where locals pregame before concerts or linger over burgers and wings on the heated sidewalk tables.
Must-Try Dishes:
Chicken Wings (Buffalo, BBQ, Honey-Sriracha), Teddy's Burger, Loaded Nachos
What Makes it Special: Historic neighborhood bar where classic hot wings and a serious burger meet a simple but effective weekday happy hour.
8.1
Roman pinsa, the multigrain ancestor of pizza, arrives with a puffy interior and crisp edges from imported flour blends. The greenhouse dining room with retractable roof offers year-round outdoor vibes, while traditional cacio e pepe and seasonal specials round out the menu.
Must-Try Dishes:
Maranella Pinsa, Margherita Pinsa, Cacio e Pepe
What Makes it Special: NYC's only Roman pinseria with an enclosed garden and retractable glass roof
#19
Midnights
8
Midnights is a Williamsburg cocktail bar with a serious kitchen, where happy hour means discounted drinks and shareable bar snacks on a lively North 6th Street patio. Locals use it as an early-evening meet-up spot that easily stretches into a full night of cocktails, sliders, and small plates.
Must-Try Dishes:
Berry Man cocktail, Gyoza dumplings, Pork belly bao
What Makes it Special: Cocktail-focused happy hour where serious drinks meet a real food menu.
#20
Suzume
8
Suzume is a small, candlelit Japanese-Hawaiian spot where poke, ramen, and rolls share space with cocktails in a relaxed bar setting. It’s especially handy for casual dates and weeknight dinners when you want something fun but not fussy.
Must-Try Dishes:
Spicy tuna crispy rice, Poke bowl with salmon or tuna, House ramen bowl
What Makes it Special: A cozy bar-style room mixing ramen, poke, and sushi with cocktails.
8
Long-running New American bistro just off Bedford Avenue that leans into French-accented comfort food and a leafy back garden. It’s a neighborhood standby for casual dates, brunch, and late-night plates when you want something more substantial than bar snacks without leaving the block.
Must-Try Dishes:
Steak frites, Lobster salad, Roasted beet salad
What Makes it Special: A Bedford-adjacent bistro pairing French-leaning American comfort food with a quietly great back garden.
#22
Motorino Pizza
8
Chef Mathieu Palombino's acclaimed Neapolitan pizzeria features wood-fired pies in an airy space near the Williamsburg Bridge. The brussels sprouts pizza originated here, and the careful attention to quality ingredients distinguishes each charred, blistered pie.
Must-Try Dishes:
Brussels Sprouts Pizza, Margherita DOC, Soppressata Piccante
What Makes it Special: The original brussels sprouts pizza and authentic Neapolitan technique since 2006
Worthy Picks
7.9
Long-running French bistro established in 2007, known for a leafy atrium dining room and a seasonal rooftop terrace. It’s a flexible pick for brunch, casual dates, and group meals built around steak frites, eggs, and classic bistro plates.
Must-Try Dishes:
Steak frites, Eggs forestiere, Lamb burger
What Makes it Special: Rooftop-friendly French bistro with a lush indoor garden and all-day menus.
7.8
Aurora’s long-running Italian restaurant backs a small gelato program that spills out onto the street and garden in warmer months. The gelato skews classic and is often used as a lingering finish to dinner, but you can treat the stand as its own dessert destination.
Must-Try Dishes:
Coconut Gelato, Rotating Seasonal Fruit Sorbet, Two-Scoop Gelato Cup
What Makes it Special: House-made gelato served from a beloved Italian restaurant with a leafy garden.
7.8
Vibes:
Brewery & Beer Garden Republic
Outdoor Dining Oasis
Group Dining Gatherings
Pet Friendly Paradise
Other Half Brewing’s Domino Park taproom is a waterfront brewery with a large patio, indoor bar, and rotating lineup of IPAs, stouts, and collab beers. The food program leans toward pizza and bar snacks, so it functions as a beer-first hangout where outdoor tables are the main draw.
Must-Try Dishes:
Roberta’s-style pizza by the pie, Beer flights showcasing rotating IPAs, Bar snacks or pretzels with mustard
What Makes it Special: A Domino Park brewery where serious beer and riverfront patio tables turn into long outdoor sessions.
7.7
French-Algerian cafe opened in 2006 by Chef Samia Behaya, serving tagines, crepes, and brunch plates in a cozy corner space on Bedford. Regulars treat it as a neighborhood living room for leisurely breakfasts and unfussy French-inflected comfort food.
Must-Try Dishes:
Chicken tagine, Omelette with market vegetables, Couscous royale
What Makes it Special: French-Algerian cafe from 2006 that locals treat like a second home.
7.6
Vibes:
Date Night Magic
Birthday & Celebration Central
Outdoor Dining Oasis
Instagram Worthy Wonders
Open since the mid-1980s, Giando on the Water is an old-school Italian restaurant and event venue perched over the East River with panoramic views of the Manhattan skyline and bridges. While much of its business is weddings and banquets, locals still use the dining room for throwback steak-and-pasta date nights where the view does as much work as the New York shell steak.
Must-Try Dishes:
New York Shell Steak, Penne alla Vodka, Grilled Salmon Dijon
What Makes it Special: A decades-old waterfront Italian dining room where classic steaks and red-sauce plates come with floor-to-ceiling skyline views.