With beautiful weather upon us, many diners are looking for outdoor dining destinations. Here we bring you some standout restaurants to make your next meal exciting and memorable.

Mollusca, the lively seafood restaurant with Italian influence located in the Meatpacking District, is now offering outdoor seating for visitors to enjoy the warmth during the spring and summer months. Guests are encouraged to sit outside on the beautifully designed patio, which features marble tabletops and accents of gold, creating a warm and inviting ambiance. The sleek awning provides practical shade to shield guests from the sun’s rays while adding a modern and stylish touch to the patio’s decor. Once seated, guests can indulge in oceanic-themed cocktails by Beverage Director Kate Uglova.

While sipping on refreshing cocktails, diners can enjoy a seafood-focused menu designed by Executive Chef Christian Bonilla. The menu includes and extensive raw bar selections, with sashimi, crudo selections like salmon with pear and passionfruit chutney, mango, citrus aji Amarillo gel, squid ink Tuile Chips, Kimchi Tofu Cream, Coriander Oil Drizzle, and ceviche selections, as well as seafood towers.

Additionally, diners can indulge in the restaurant’s signature mussels by ordering a selection of the 35 and counting unique mussel sauces, which are sure to satisfy any seafood lover’s palate. Also, there options for vegetarians, vegans, and meat lovers. Mollusca also offers Happy Hour Monday through Friday from 3 pm to 6 pm.
The outdoor dining area at Mollusca seats 18 and is now officially open to diners.

You can view the full menu here.

~~~Duomo 51, Italian for “Cathedral,” is a recently opened Tuscan restaurant from owner Sammy V. Gashi and the Ramerino Italian Prime team in the heart of Midtown Manhattan. The restaurant is tucked away on the seventh floor of the DoubleTree Hotel directly across the street from Rockefeller Center. For dining al fresco, Duomo 51 features an outdoor terrace with a retractable roof, which during spring and summer months ahead, will transform into a green oasis reminiscent of Tuscany. The unique combination of modern terrace architecture, Mediterranean cuisine, dense greenery and the scent of fresh herbs expresses a true Italian attitude to life.

With a view of the most beautiful landmarks of Manhattan including St. Patrick’s Cathedral and Rockefeller Center below, guests can bask in a feeling of peace away from the busyness of Manhattan, all while enjoying small bites and cocktails, or lunch and dinner.

The Tuscan-Italian menu by Executive Chef Vilfrid Hodoj showcases a modern interpretation of Tuscan dishes and highlights signature handmade pastas, emphasizing seasonal ingredients, and showcases traditional dishes inspired by land and sea.

You can view the full menu here.

~~Michelin-recognized Hortus NYC is a stylish, modern Asian restaurant that emphasizes a design-forward atmosphere. At the rear of its bi-level dining room is a glass-enclosed hidden garden oasis complete with a live wall, beautiful floral arrangements, and lights hanging above for a warm and intimate glow in the evening, where diners can take in the spring season.

In the hidden garden, diners can enjoy a just launched spring menu from newly-appointed Executive Geo Park, who most recently worked at Michelin-starred Jua. Chef Park seamlessly blends the flavors of China, Japan, Korea, and Southeast Asia with subtle European twists to take diners on an eclectic culinary adventure while highlighting diverse seasonal ingredients.

The spring menu can be found here.