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A dark pink awning and an outdoor dining enclosure in front in the same shade.
Ruta Oaxaca’s pink-clad outdoor dining setup
Robert Sietsema/Eater NY

16 Restaurants With Heated Outdoor Dining in Queens

Streetside outdoor seating, backyards with space heaters, and more

by Erika Adams, Tanay Warerkar, and Bao Ong Updated
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Ruta Oaxaca’s pink-clad outdoor dining setup
| Robert Sietsema/Eater NY
by Erika Adams, Tanay Warerkar, and Bao Ong Updated

With outdoor dining now a year-round affair, restaurants in NYC, including in Queens, have made a concerted effort to make creative, cozy outdoor dining spaces that can weather the elements, including wind, rain, and snow. While the spring has provided more ideal conditions for eating out, it’s still not warm enough for restaurants to transition out of their covered outdoor spaces.

Here, Eater has rounded up 16 establishments with a variety of heated outdoor dining setups including partially enclosed outdoor areas located streetside and backyards with space heaters, with the type of seating noted in each write up where possible. Eater will continue to update this list semi-regularly over the coming months.

NYC restaurants are currently limited to indoor dining at 35 percent capacity (with 50 percent capacity starting March 19) and outdoor dining, along with takeout and delivery. The type of service offered is indicated on each map point. However, this should not be taken as endorsement for dining out, as there are still safety concerns: for updated information on coronavirus cases in your area, please visit the NYC Health Department’s website. Studies indicate that there is a lower exposure risk when outdoors, but the level of risk involved with patio dining is contingent on restaurants following strict social distancing and other safety guidelines

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Eater maps are curated by editors and aim to reflect a diversity of neighborhoods, cuisines, and prices. Learn more about our editorial process. If you buy something or book a reservation from an Eater link, Vox Media may earn a commission. See our ethics policy.

Maiella

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Swanky Italian restaurant Maiella, located right next to the iconic Pepsi-Cola sign, has set up individual glass cabanas along the street and the sidewalk. Dishes here include lamb chops with gremolata, a butternut squash and burrata creation, and trofie pasta with black truffle and pork sausage.

4610 Center Blvd, Long Island City, NY 11101
(718) 606-1770
(718) 606-1770

Takumen

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At Takumen’s outdoor tent, the restaurant does a good job of keeping its patrons warm with space heaters for tables that are spaced out. The menu still features the same whimsical dishes like a kombu cauliflower-and-broccoli pop or the burrata cheese glazed with honey ume-jam.

5-50 50th Ave, Long Island City, NY 11101
(718) 361-7973
(718) 361-7973

Also featured in:

Casa Enrique

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This Long Island City mainstay — one of the best Mexican restaurants in the city — has a plant-filled, partially enclosed outdoor dining setup along the sidewalk with some space heaters for added warmth. The restaurant is known for dishes like its mole de piaxtla, carne asada, and tres leches cake.

5-48 49th Ave, Long Island City, NY 11101
(347) 448-6040
(347) 448-6040

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R40

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Argentinian restaurant R40’s spacious backyard is fitted with space heaters throughout to stay warm in the open air setting. Since its opening just a few months before the pandemic hit, the restaurant has quickly established a reputation for dishes like the shrimp and crab empanada, black with whole prawn, saffron aioli, and fried calamari, and its housemade pastas.

47-16 Vernon Blvd, Long Island City, NY 11101
(718) 440-9484
(718) 440-9484

Adda Indian Canteen

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Even before the pandemic shuttered indoor dining the first time around in mid March, it was difficult to snag a table at the shoebox-sized Adda, but it’s now even more difficult with just 20 outdoor seats. This Long Island City favorite, which sits between a 7-Eleven and an army recruitment center, is worth the wait once a stellar parade of dishes showcasing pan-regional Indian food arrives.

31-31 Thomson Ave, Queens, NY 11101
(718) 433-3888
(718) 433-3888

Also featured in:

Alewife Brewing

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In December, the Alewife team built a heated outdoor setup with individual stalls to accompany its sprawling taproom at 39th Street and Skillman Avenue. Beer lovers can sip on popular brews like the IPA “Death to Ego,” pilsners, sours, and other craft brews in the stalls or another outdoor section where wooden barrels serve as tables. The brewery partners with various food trucks and has served everything from Sigmund’s Pretzels to Cousins Maine Lobster to Chinelos Tacos.

41-11 39th St, Sunnyside, NY 11104
(347) 808-0484
(347) 808-0484

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Amylos Taverna

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Astoria Greek staple Amylos Taverna has created a massive, partially enclosed outdoor space running along 34th Street that is fitted with electric and gas heaters for cozy outdoor dining under a plant-filled canopy. Traditional Greek dishes like Moussaka and saganaki are not to be missed nor the rotisserie meats and whole seafood served at the restaurant.

33-19 Broadway, Queens, NY 11106
(718) 215-0228
(718) 215-0228

Ruta Oaxaca Mexican Cuisine

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Whether it’s birria or flour tortillas, regional Mexican cooking has become increasingly visible on menus across the city. One of the latest additions is from Ruta Oaxaca in Astoria. Moles from the southern Pacific state are the specialty here with several different moles made with ancho chiles, tomatoes, and even raisins that comprise these rich, complex recipes that can take hours to cook. All of this can be enjoyed outdoors in a pink wooden structure with windows, a few tropical plants, and of course, heaters.

35-03 Broadway, Queens, NY 11106
(929) 349-1228
(929) 349-1228
A dark pink awning and an outdoor dining enclosure in front in the same shade.
Ruta Oaxaca Mexican Cuisine’s outdoor dining setup
Robert Sietsema/Eater NY

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Sweet Afton

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Astoria hangout Sweet Afton is serving customers outdoors via heated streetside seating out front and a heated backyard garden with a retractable roof behind the restaurant. Find hearty, casual fare like burgers, patty melts, and fried chicken sandwiches available alongside a well-curated list of cocktails, beer, and wine.

30-09 34th St, Astoria, NY 11103
(718) 777-2570
(718) 777-2570

Nino’s AQ

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Italian hot spot Nino’s AQ, known for its wood-fired pizzas, has heated outdoor patio seating available out in front of the restaurant, located at the corner of 35th Street and Ditmars Boulevard. There’s additional heated seating available along the roadside as well.

35-01 Ditmars Blvd, Queens, NY 11105
(718) 777-0010
(718) 777-0010

Sripraphai

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Open since 1997, Sripraphai is a New York City classic. The restaurant has set up individual plastic dining bubbles for outdoor eating in cold weather, and it’s still serving up top-notch fare from expansive menu including soft shell crab, crispy pork belly, and whole striped bass.

64-13 39th Ave, Woodside, NY 11377
(718) 899-9599
(718) 899-9599

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Angel Indian Restaurant

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In a neighborhood with plenty of Indian restaurants to choose from, Angel set itself apart early on with a strictly vegetarian menu, which included Punjabi and other northern Indian specialties (it also didn’t hurt that the chef cooked at Adda). There’s meat on the menu these days, but the generous portions and reasonable prices have stayed the same. In front of this Jackson Heights gem is an outdoor structure that looks like a miniature house filled with mini heaters and a handful of tables.

7414 37th Rd, Queens, NY 11372
(347) 848-0097
(347) 848-0097

Also featured in:

Ayada

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Ayada has an outpost at Chelsea Market these days, but the original Elmhurst location is where the stellar Thai menu garnered the initial accolades. Critic Robert Sietsema discovered dishes here that were once a rarity in New York: raw shrimp salads, sour curries, and a crispy fried catfish served atop a green mango salad are just a few of the dishes diners can enjoy outdoors.

7708 Woodside Ave, Elmhurst, NY 11373
(718) 424-0844
(718) 424-0844
Ayada Thai Photo via Facebook

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5 Burro Cafe

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Forest Hills Mexican restaurant 5 Burros Cafe has installed a partially enclosed outdoor dining structure replete with space heaters. The restaurant is known for its quesadillas, margaritas, and flautas.

72-05 Austin St, Forest Hills, NY 11375
(718) 544-2984
(718) 544-2984

Haidilao Hotpot

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Haidilao’s Flushing outpost has resumed indoor dining, but there’s also a large tented outdoor area where diners can feast on meats and vegetables simmering away in a pot of broth. There’s a waiting list for the outdoor setup, and once guests are seated, the servers will hand out packets of warm water to help weather colder nights.

138-23 39th Ave, Queens, NY 11354
(917) 231-8888
(917) 231-8888

Also featured in:

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Hahm Ji Bach

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The comforting dishes at this popular Korean restaurant in Queens are a perfect antidote to the cold nights. While a bowl of the restaurant’s kimchi jjigae will go a long way to keep you warm outdoors, the al fresco dining setup does include heaters — and that’s not counting the grills for DIY barbecue available tableside.

40-11 149th Pl, Queens, NY 11354
(718) 460-9289
(718) 460-9289

Also featured in:

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Maiella

4610 Center Blvd, Long Island City, NY 11101

Swanky Italian restaurant Maiella, located right next to the iconic Pepsi-Cola sign, has set up individual glass cabanas along the street and the sidewalk. Dishes here include lamb chops with gremolata, a butternut squash and burrata creation, and trofie pasta with black truffle and pork sausage.

4610 Center Blvd, Long Island City, NY 11101
(718) 606-1770
(718) 606-1770

Takumen

5-50 50th Ave, Long Island City, NY 11101

At Takumen’s outdoor tent, the restaurant does a good job of keeping its patrons warm with space heaters for tables that are spaced out. The menu still features the same whimsical dishes like a kombu cauliflower-and-broccoli pop or the burrata cheese glazed with honey ume-jam.

5-50 50th Ave, Long Island City, NY 11101
(718) 361-7973
(718) 361-7973

Casa Enrique

5-48 49th Ave, Long Island City, NY 11101

This Long Island City mainstay — one of the best Mexican restaurants in the city — has a plant-filled, partially enclosed outdoor dining setup along the sidewalk with some space heaters for added warmth. The restaurant is known for dishes like its mole de piaxtla, carne asada, and tres leches cake.

5-48 49th Ave, Long Island City, NY 11101
(347) 448-6040
(347) 448-6040

R40

47-16 Vernon Blvd, Long Island City, NY 11101

Argentinian restaurant R40’s spacious backyard is fitted with space heaters throughout to stay warm in the open air setting. Since its opening just a few months before the pandemic hit, the restaurant has quickly established a reputation for dishes like the shrimp and crab empanada, black with whole prawn, saffron aioli, and fried calamari, and its housemade pastas.

47-16 Vernon Blvd, Long Island City, NY 11101
(718) 440-9484
(718) 440-9484

Adda Indian Canteen

31-31 Thomson Ave, Queens, NY 11101

Even before the pandemic shuttered indoor dining the first time around in mid March, it was difficult to snag a table at the shoebox-sized Adda, but it’s now even more difficult with just 20 outdoor seats. This Long Island City favorite, which sits between a 7-Eleven and an army recruitment center, is worth the wait once a stellar parade of dishes showcasing pan-regional Indian food arrives.

31-31 Thomson Ave, Queens, NY 11101
(718) 433-3888
(718) 433-3888

Alewife Brewing

41-11 39th St, Sunnyside, NY 11104

In December, the Alewife team built a heated outdoor setup with individual stalls to accompany its sprawling taproom at 39th Street and Skillman Avenue. Beer lovers can sip on popular brews like the IPA “Death to Ego,” pilsners, sours, and other craft brews in the stalls or another outdoor section where wooden barrels serve as tables. The brewery partners with various food trucks and has served everything from Sigmund’s Pretzels to Cousins Maine Lobster to Chinelos Tacos.

41-11 39th St, Sunnyside, NY 11104
(347) 808-0484
(347) 808-0484

Amylos Taverna

33-19 Broadway, Queens, NY 11106

Astoria Greek staple Amylos Taverna has created a massive, partially enclosed outdoor space running along 34th Street that is fitted with electric and gas heaters for cozy outdoor dining under a plant-filled canopy. Traditional Greek dishes like Moussaka and saganaki are not to be missed nor the rotisserie meats and whole seafood served at the restaurant.

33-19 Broadway, Queens, NY 11106
(718) 215-0228
(718) 215-0228

Ruta Oaxaca Mexican Cuisine

35-03 Broadway, Queens, NY 11106

Whether it’s birria or flour tortillas, regional Mexican cooking has become increasingly visible on menus across the city. One of the latest additions is from Ruta Oaxaca in Astoria. Moles from the southern Pacific state are the specialty here with several different moles made with ancho chiles, tomatoes, and even raisins that comprise these rich, complex recipes that can take hours to cook. All of this can be enjoyed outdoors in a pink wooden structure with windows, a few tropical plants, and of course, heaters.

35-03 Broadway, Queens, NY 11106
(929) 349-1228
(929) 349-1228
A dark pink awning and an outdoor dining enclosure in front in the same shade.
Ruta Oaxaca Mexican Cuisine’s outdoor dining setup
Robert Sietsema/Eater NY

Sweet Afton

30-09 34th St, Astoria, NY 11103

Astoria hangout Sweet Afton is serving customers outdoors via heated streetside seating out front and a heated backyard garden with a retractable roof behind the restaurant. Find hearty, casual fare like burgers, patty melts, and fried chicken sandwiches available alongside a well-curated list of cocktails, beer, and wine.

30-09 34th St, Astoria, NY 11103
(718) 777-2570
(718) 777-2570

Nino’s AQ

35-01 Ditmars Blvd, Queens, NY 11105

Italian hot spot Nino’s AQ, known for its wood-fired pizzas, has heated outdoor patio seating available out in front of the restaurant, located at the corner of 35th Street and Ditmars Boulevard. There’s additional heated seating available along the roadside as well.

35-01 Ditmars Blvd, Queens, NY 11105
(718) 777-0010
(718) 777-0010

Sripraphai

64-13 39th Ave, Woodside, NY 11377

Open since 1997, Sripraphai is a New York City classic. The restaurant has set up individual plastic dining bubbles for outdoor eating in cold weather, and it’s still serving up top-notch fare from expansive menu including soft shell crab, crispy pork belly, and whole striped bass.

64-13 39th Ave, Woodside, NY 11377
(718) 899-9599
(718) 899-9599

Angel Indian Restaurant

7414 37th Rd, Queens, NY 11372

In a neighborhood with plenty of Indian restaurants to choose from, Angel set itself apart early on with a strictly vegetarian menu, which included Punjabi and other northern Indian specialties (it also didn’t hurt that the chef cooked at Adda). There’s meat on the menu these days, but the generous portions and reasonable prices have stayed the same. In front of this Jackson Heights gem is an outdoor structure that looks like a miniature house filled with mini heaters and a handful of tables.

7414 37th Rd, Queens, NY 11372
(347) 848-0097
(347) 848-0097

Ayada

7708 Woodside Ave, Elmhurst, NY 11373

Ayada has an outpost at Chelsea Market these days, but the original Elmhurst location is where the stellar Thai menu garnered the initial accolades. Critic Robert Sietsema discovered dishes here that were once a rarity in New York: raw shrimp salads, sour curries, and a crispy fried catfish served atop a green mango salad are just a few of the dishes diners can enjoy outdoors.

7708 Woodside Ave, Elmhurst, NY 11373
(718) 424-0844
(718) 424-0844
Ayada Thai Photo via Facebook

5 Burro Cafe

72-05 Austin St, Forest Hills, NY 11375

Forest Hills Mexican restaurant 5 Burros Cafe has installed a partially enclosed outdoor dining structure replete with space heaters. The restaurant is known for its quesadillas, margaritas, and flautas.

72-05 Austin St, Forest Hills, NY 11375
(718) 544-2984
(718) 544-2984

Haidilao Hotpot

138-23 39th Ave, Queens, NY 11354

Haidilao’s Flushing outpost has resumed indoor dining, but there’s also a large tented outdoor area where diners can feast on meats and vegetables simmering away in a pot of broth. There’s a waiting list for the outdoor setup, and once guests are seated, the servers will hand out packets of warm water to help weather colder nights.

138-23 39th Ave, Queens, NY 11354
(917) 231-8888
(917) 231-8888

Related Maps

Hahm Ji Bach

40-11 149th Pl, Queens, NY 11354

The comforting dishes at this popular Korean restaurant in Queens are a perfect antidote to the cold nights. While a bowl of the restaurant’s kimchi jjigae will go a long way to keep you warm outdoors, the al fresco dining setup does include heaters — and that’s not counting the grills for DIY barbecue available tableside.

40-11 149th Pl, Queens, NY 11354
(718) 460-9289
(718) 460-9289

Related Maps