Al Fresco is Back: Return of Outdoor Dining Season at Dining Out NYC Kick Off

Example of a roadway outdoor dining setup compliant with Dining Out NYC. Credit: NYC DOT

Food Establishments May Now Operate Roadway Dining Set-ups Until November 29, Sidewalk Setups Are Allowed Year-Round 

Thousands of Roadway and Sidewalk Dining Setups Currently Permitted to Operate Under Dining Out NYC Rules 

The return of roadway dining across the five boroughs was celebrated today. Food establishments participating in ‘Dining Out NYC’ may now operate roadway dining set ups from April 1 through November 29. As outdoor dining seasons kicks off, nearly 2,450 roadway and sidewalk set ups across the city will give New Yorkers the opportunity to dine al fresco, with more expected to be added in the coming weeks and months. Applications are open year-round and interested businesses can apply and learn more on Dining Out NYC’s website. Currently, 80 percent of all sidewalk setups are allowed to operate as their applications are processed. 

As established by the laws passed by the New York City Council, participating businesses can operate sidewalk setups year-round, while roadway dining operates seasonally, from April 1 through November 29. The vast majority of sidewalk applicants are already allowed to operate while their applications are pending. DOT estimates roughly 600 roadway dining applicants and nearly 1,850 sidewalk applicants are able to operate this year.

To make participation as accessible as possible, the city created a Dining Out NYC Marketplace that serves as a directory for businesses that sell or rent outdoor dining set-ups and services. Rentals are available for prices as low as just over $1,000 a month, or $33 a day, to provide affordable set-up options that do not require food establishments to find storage when the roadway outdoor dining season ends. 

Dining Out NYC is already more than two-and-a-half times the size of the pre-COVID sidewalk cafe program and applications remain open year-round.