Outdoor BYOB Dining in NYC

Summertime in New York City is my favorite time of year for one reason. The weather may be bordering on miserable, but despite the sticky humidity and the constant possibility of getting a sunburn just walking two blocks down the street, this amazing city will always offer one summer specialty that can always put me in a good mood.

Outdoor BYOB!

Drinking and dining outdoors in the summertime is one of the more enjoyable things to take advantage of when the weather is hot. Whether it’s at a restaurant, on a rooftop or even in a park, being able to bring your own wine or beer to the party is something that will never go out of style.

Here is my list of favorite outdoor BYOB spots in New York City. Not only do they let you bring your own bottles of whatever you would like, but the food is outstanding too. Cheers and bon appetit!

Photo courtesy of shutterstock images

Roberta’s-261 Moore Street, Brooklyn

Roberta’s has been getting a lot of hype lately for their fantastic pizza, called one of the best pizzas in New York by many food critics. While all the pizzas are delicious, I have a personal love for the guanciale and egg pizza. Eat that with a bottle of your favorite cold white wine and you’ll be in heaven. Enjoy both on their outdoor patio filled with picnic tables.

Corkage fee: none

Photo courtesy of Roberta's Pizza

Tartine-253 West 11th Street, Manhattan

Tartine is a quaint little French cafe nestled in the West Village. It is usually poppin’ with young west siders hoping to grab an outdoor table to enjoy their BYOB policy as well as their delicious French cuisine. On a recent brunch visit with friends, we brought a bottle of Champagne to enjoy with our complimentary orange juice and soaked up a perfectly sunny day.

Corkage fee: none

Photo courtesy of shutterstock images

Cafe Buon Gusto-76 Avenue B, Manhattan

This Italian getaway in Alphabet City is a serious find, mostly because you will be hard-pressed to find an Italian restaurant in this city that isn’t trying to charge an arm and a leg for even a decent bottle of wine. The food is excellent and a balmy summer night with a bottle of your favorite wine and a plate of the homemade ravioli with pesto in their sidewalk seating area is the definition of perfection.

Corkage fee: $10

Photo courtesy of shutterstock images

Central Park, Manhattan

Central Park is the perfect place to have an outdoor picnic in the summertime. A few sandwiches, perhaps a salad or two, and a bottle of sparkling wine sound like my ideal sunday afternoon. However, the BYOB policy is a bit tricky. The tricky part of it is that there is no policy, not really anyway. If you’re getting technical, you aren’t allowed to sit in the park with a bottle of wine in hand and chug until you can chug no more. However, you can pour that bottle of wine into plastic cups and no one will bother you. If you want to play it safe, bring your booze in a thermos and then pour it into plastic cups when there.

Corkage fee: don’t get caught

Photo courtesy of shutterstock images

Porchetta-110 East 7th Street, Manhattan

Porchetta may be one of the best places I’ve ever eaten...ever. The concept of it is so simple and classic and yet so delicious. With only a few choices on the menu, the star of the show is the roasted pork, slow cooked with herbs and spices. Roman fast food. If you like pork in any way, you will absolutely flip for this place. What’s more? You can enjoy your porktastic meal outside with your own bottle and drink it in the best possible way to enjoy what will most definitely be one of the best pork meals you’ve ever had; with free wine and an open air seating area.

Corkage fee: none

Photo courtesy of shutterstock images