5 great outdoor dining spots in the East Village

Hanoi House from Stephen Starr alums Ben Lowell and Sara Leveen is a perennial favorite with its nod to traditional Vietnamese dishes with some cheffy touches, from a 16-hour broth for the classic beef pho to the filet mignon in the shaking beef. Dining outdoors is not uncommon in Vietnam, and we’re happy to have this option here.

While the space is gorgeous, and the cocktails are complex (Party Lobster: blanco tequila, mezcal, Campari, watermelon, lime, fermented habanero and garlic) it is all entirely amusing and accessible—and available to go these days.

We love some fun kitsch you can find at Indian restaurants in the East Village but for the Instagrammable shots, we’ll leave it to the spots on First Avenue and Sixth Street. At Baar Baar, you’ll find plenty of outdoor seats to enjoy modern-yet-authentic takes on Indian food served in a fun atmosphere.

The new-ish restaurant from the team behind the East Village favorite Thursday Kitchen is just as intriguing (save room for a Pop Rock dessert) as its original outpost. Here, tapas are influenced by chef Kyungmin Kay Hyun’s travels to Spain and South America as well as her Korean heritage.

With the opening of Kindred, the team behind Ruffian now has a larger stage for its smartly curated selection of natural wines. There, the small plates of pastas, salads and bar snacks are complemented by an impressive roster of orange wines from Italy and Slovenia.