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Where You Can Eat and Drink Outdoors While Staying Warm

By Emily Frost | November 14, 2014 7:24am | Updated on November 14, 2014 4:26pm
 Sidewalk cafes are everywhere in the summer, but when it gets colder, it's harder to find spots to take in this crisp air while staying warm. DNAinfo found the best spots that offer a mix of both. 
The Best Year-Round Restaurants and Bars
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NEW YORK CITY — Many of the city's most popular outdoor dining and drinking spots close up shop when the weather turns cold: Pier I, the west-facing outdoor cafe along the Hudson, and Terroir at the Porch, the wine bar along the High Line, both closed for the season in mid-October. The massive Bohemian Hall and Beer Garden in Astoria is open "weather permitting," and many others will be shut until the spring. 

But if you're looking to linger outdoors as New York gets its first cold snap of the season this weekend or if you find your daytime date is quickly morphing into an evening affair and you want to soak up the city's ambiance without your teeth chattering, we've found your next stop. 

DNAinfo New York has rounded up a few choice places around the city where you eat and drink outdoors year-round.

La Birreria, 200 Fifth Avenue in Flatiron
As it gets colder, the fans at La Birreria, the rooftop craft brewery that sits atop Mario Batali's Eataly, are traded in for heaters, said General Manager Conor Martin. 

"With our translucent retractable roof and heaters, [our] gorgeous rooftop view feels extra cozy when you can also watch the snow falling," he said. 

The food menu changes to reflect the seasons, as does the beer menu, said Martin. 

"Our beer list will tend to highlight plenty of warming beers such as porters and stouts," he said.

The Standard Biergarten, 848 Washington Street in the Meatpacking District
This open air Meatpacking District beer garden stays open well past the end of Oktoberfest. Heaters scattered around the space help keep drinkers warm as does the perpetual crowd that swarms here for after work and weekend socializing.

The Biergarten also offers a limited German-themed menu of pretzels, bratwurst and sausages.

Clinton Hall, 90 Washington Street in the Financial District
Specializing in hard-to-find beers from all over the world, Clinton Hall also has its own special beer machine that controls carbonation and temperature of the brews it pours.

Half of the 4,000-square-foot space is outdoors, and stays open year-round, said General Manager Leland Estes. Six large heat lamps are used to spread around the warmth. 

"They are on and nice and cozy most nights starting in October," said Estes.

Riverpark, 450 E 29th St. in Kips Bay
Overlooking the East River, as the name suggests, this farm-to-table restaurant from Tom Collichio offers both upscale and more casual menu options. While the picnic benches on the terrace of this waterfront spot aren't heated, the patio is dotted with heat lamps. Diners can order there from the bar menu or from the main dining room on the patio.

Frankies Sputino 457 , 457 Court Street, Carroll Gardens
This beloved Italian restaurant in the heart of Carroll Gardens is known for its cozy atmosphere and homemade pasta. It's now opening up its backyard garden during the winter months, Thursday through Sunday, a representative from the restaurant said. The charming backyard garden has been used for weddings and summer dining in the past. Now, it will be open with a heated tent in the winter, according to restaurant reps. Note: the garden closes at 10 p.m. 

Penthouse 808, 8-08 Queens Plaza South, Long Island City, Queens 
While this Asian fusion restaurant is technically not outdoors, a retractable glass wall and ceiling give you the ambiance of a rooftop bar in summertime, but protect diners from the elements. The rooftop bar and restaurant are attached to the Ravel Hotel, which is feet from the Queensboro Bridge. The proximity to the bridge and the Manhattan skyline are what draw people here for what they describe as indisputably spectacular views. 

Aurora, 70 Grand Street, Williamsburg
This Italian restaurant has a heated back garden that stays open in the winter and feels like a cozy greenhouse, with ivy creeping up the outer brick walls of the restaurant and lights twinkling overhead. The glass enclosed garden is so charming it is frequently rented out for weddings and private events. Known for its homemade pastas, all of the ingredients used in the dishes are organic and the meat is hormone and antibiotic-free, the restaurant boasts.