Where to Dine & Stay Warm in NYC
It’s been over a month since I’ve been on a plane. Usually around now I would start having withdrawals but surprisingly I’m not. These past few weeks home have been quite enjoyable. I decided to incorporate some lifestyle content on my blog and I couldn’t think of a better way than my favorite thing to do when I’m home. Go out to eat.
Currently in New York City there is no indoor dining. Since we have some pretty frigid winters, restaurants have been finding creative ways to stay afloat during these tough times by having heated outdoor setups. Outdoor dining in the winter is obviously not ideal. But my heart really hurts for restaurant owners and employees who have been financially crippled lately. So I’ve taken it upon myself to find some of the best heated outdoor dining experiences in NYC and share them with you all.
Ampia Rooftop: As an Italian food lover, this one is in the lead for me. I loved the views of the downtown area and the private greenhouses. There are also large greenhouses for groups.
Location: Financial District
Reservations: Must be made over the phone at least 7 days in advance.
Seating: Private heated Greenhouses
What I Ordered: Gnocchi pasta and a margarita pizza to start. The main courses were the salmon and the steak. Lastly for dessert I had the tiramisu (fun fact: tiramisu is my all time favorite dessert).
Total Cost: $104 .
Lola Taverna: Now I’ll be honest and say I was never a fan of Greek food. I didn’t hate it, but it was never one of my top choices. I came across the flower setup on Tiktok and decided to make a visit and boy was I pleasantly surprised.
Location: Soho
Reservations: Must be made on the Resy app.
Seating: Open heated seating (not private). The seating here wasn’t private like the other two restaurants listed, but I understand every establishment is different and they are trying their best. Seating time is 90 minutes.
What I Ordered: The fondue was an extreme hit! Considering that fondue was something I always despised, I LOVED this one so much that I ordered one to take home. We also ordered the chicken gyro bao buns as appetizers. Followed by the impossible meat kebabs which were delicious and the famous lamb chops (I don’t eat lamb but was told these were very good). For dessert theres only one option which is the rice pudding with coconut and caramel.
Total Cost: Dinner for 2: $105
Thep Thai: The most affordable dinner for 2 thus far. It’s been a long time since I’ve had Thai food so I was excited to enter further uptown.
Location: Upper East Side
Seating: Private heated greenhouses for one hour and 15 minutes.
What I ordered: Two premium drinks and if you’re fancy like me, try the Pom Bom. For appetizers we ordered the fried dumplings and the Kra Pow Puffs. Entrees were Pineapple fried rice with vegetarian duck and the volcanic chicken.
Total Cost: Dinner for 2 $88
230 Fifth Avenue: I’ll be honest and say this place was my least favorite if I’m considering quality and dining experience. The views are magnificent but for the $100 per person minimum charge for a reservation to be served on disposable plates and cups, it wasn’t worth it to me.
Location: Flatiron
Seating: Private heated igloos with a 90 minute seating limit.
What I Ordered: Fried jalapeños, burger with fries, chicken club sandwich, spiked hot chocolate, hot toddy and a beer.
Total Cost: Prepaid reservation two was $200. The whole amount was not spent and it cannot be used at a later date.
