There’s no better time in New York City than the days when the weather unexpectedly creeps into the ‘70s and ‘80s in early Spring. We’ve been holed up in our tiny, shoebox apartments for too long and just want to show our pale legs to the world. Everyone comes out of the wood work and streets are filled with the Summer’s latest trends (mostly brightly colored pants, everything from neons to pastels and floral prints). Since it’s not yet bikini season, the next best thing to do al fresco aside from tanning in Hudson River Park, Sheep’s Meadow or Carl Schurz Park is to eat and drink! If you’d rather have some privacy from the street, however and not have to breathe in the M8 bus exhaust while you bite into your $24 burger, try one of these three secret gardens.
David Burke Kitchen, inside the still new, still stylish James Hotel in SoHo, was a newcomer last summer with an outdoor space unmatched by any other restaurant of this quality (plenty of roofdeck bars have great space, great atmosphere and design elements, heck better views even, but the food isn’t the main ingredient there). A floor up from the main hotel entrance, you’re deposited into a small bar area – where you will undoubtedly have to wait at least one cocktail for your table – but you can feel the warmth of the outdoors from inside the stairwell. Once I stepped out onto the deck – yes it’s actually a wooden deck, I would suggest wedges instead of heels, I felt like I was shrouded by this preppy, easy going, resort-like vibe; a mix between Maine and Mykonos.
The food was expertly designed and cooked, as David Burke is known for, but don’t go just for the fresh fish, veggies & meats, go to have romantic dinner under the stars, have birthday drinks in one of the many cabanas, or just go to see some greenery in this truly beautiful urban oasis.
If you’d prefer drinks over dinner, try one of the newer (as of last summer) bespoke cocktail dens in the city, Mulberry Project. Now the term “cocktail den” doesn’t exactly inspire an airy atmosphere, however this hidden gem (both the entrance to the bar and the garden are hidden from plain sight) probably has more outdoor space than it has in. Find the unmarked entryway (not even sure I saw a door) down a set of steps on Mulberry near the southwest corner of Grand and you’ll enter what pretty much feels like a cave – although yes, there’s a great bar in this cave.
Keep going all the way back and it opens up to a completely new spot with a very respectable (for NYC) garden area. Seating is best for 2s/3s or larger groups in the outdoor area.
Beware that saying you like anything but sweet drinks to your bespoke bartender might produce a drink with more red pepper flakes than you could actually ever imagine and that while bespoke cocktails are fun (and expensive), sometimes a good vodka soda can do just the trick.
On the much less trendy side of things, this brings us to A.O.C. Yes, it is in the West Village, and yes it’s located on a very stylish corner, but I’ve never seen too many trend-setters scarfing down a full plate of pasta (the portions are actually quite large) at this French-yet-also-somewhat-Italian restaurant. However, the menu is eclectic enough to suit everyone’s desires (salads, mussels, sandwiches, pastas, omelets), it’s a place in the neighborhood where you can walk right in and get a table, it’s not a tourist trap, plus, if you haven’t already guessed, it has a great, secluded garden in the back!
A very quaint crisscross fence lines Grove Street with greenery and vines all around. The wine’s not too expensive so grab a bite, a bottle and you’ve got yourself a night (well, at least the first part of a night).
David Burke Kitchen; 23 Grand St @ 6th Ave
Mulberry Project; 149 Mulberry St @ Grand
A.O.C.; 314 Bleecker St @ Grove
