Dining Out NYC is the largest permanent outdoor dining program in the United States. This program invigorates our city's streets, gives New Yorkers space to socialize, and contributes to our city's economic vitality.
The Dining Out NYC program:
- Priorities safety and cleanliness through clear design standards and requirements
- Offers three license types: year-round sidewalk, year-round roadway, and seasonal roadway
- Is managed by the New York City Department of Transportation (NYC DOT)
The outdoor dining program was shaped by lessons learned through the temporary Open Restaurants program which launched in 2020. At the height of the pandemic, Open Restaurants expanded opportunities for outdoor dining across New York City. Following its success, the New York City Council made the program permanent through subsequent legislation, establishing outdoor dining as an increasingly important part of NYC DOT's efforts to reimagine our public space.