Outdoor Dining Upper West Side NYC | The Ellington Patio on Broadway
Most New York restaurants treat outdoor seating as a seasonal afterthought a few folding chairs pushed to the curb when the weather holds. The Ellington on Broadway took a different approach, and from spring through early fall, the difference shows.
The enclosed patio at 2745 Broadway seats up to 100 guests and opens onto one of the most animated stretches of the Upper West Side, directly between 105th and 106th Street. If you’re looking for outdoor restaurants in NYC with a bit of real character to them, this is one of the better options on the west side of Manhattan. It faces the full Broadway foot traffic, with Riverside Park a few minutes’ walk in one direction and Columbia University in the other. The Ellington in the Park the group’s fully open-air venue on the Hudson River, at the same 105th Street intersection is nearby for days when you want nothing between you and the water.
A Glass-Enclosed Patio That Works Across the Season
The enclosure gives the patio a longer usable season than a standard sidewalk setup. When the weather is right, it opens fully. When there’s a chill in the air, the glass keeps the space comfortable without cutting you off from the street outside.
The space seats up to 100 and runs from spring through early fall. Walk-ins are welcome, and reservations are available through Resy for those who want to guarantee a spot, especially on weekends when the patio fills quickly.
Groups looking to book the patio for a private event can enquire through the events team. The venue also has a separate glass-enclosed dining room that seats 55 for a sit-down dinner or up to 70 for a cocktail reception — suitable for everything from birthday dinners to corporate events.
Outdoor Brunch on Broadway
Weekend brunch is when the patio earns its keep. On Saturdays, a live DJ runs from noon until 3pm. Sundays bring a proper jazz brunch, live music, a menu built around weekend eating, and no cover charge for diners.
The brunch menu covers the kind of ground you want on a weekend: classic American plates with enough care in the kitchen to stand apart from the standard UWS brunch rotation. Bottomless options are available, and the drinks list — cocktails, fine wines, a solid selection of beers, is matched to the occasion.
If outdoor brunch in NYC is on the agenda, booking a table in advance is worth doing. Saturday and Sunday slots on the patio go early in peak season.
Happy Hour on the Patio
Monday through Friday from 4pm to 7pm, happy hour runs at the bar. On Thursdays it runs all night. The patio is part of the flow, so when the weather cooperates there’s no reason to sit inside.
Craft cocktails, a curated wine list, and a food menu that holds up to a proper evening out the patio at happy hour is one of the more relaxed ways to end a working day on the Upper West Side.
The Ellington is at 2745 Broadway, at the corner of 105th Street. It’s a short walk from Riverside Park and close to Columbia University, which puts it in range of the neighbourhood as well as visitors coming up from Midtown.
The 1 train stops at both 103rd Street and 110th Street, each within easy walking distance. Street parking is available on the surrounding blocks.
Ellington in the Park: Fully Open-Air on the Hudson
A few hundred metres from The Ellington’s front door, at the same 105th Street intersection, Ellington in the Park sits directly in Riverside Park with views across the Hudson River. There’s no enclosure here, it’s an entirely open-air bar and restaurant, operating seasonally, and one of the more straightforward spots on the west side of Manhattan to watch the sun go down.
Tables are walk-in only for standard visits. For larger groups, the venue accommodates parties of 20 to 500 with pre-booked catering packages. It’s worth checking their Instagram for any weather-related updates before heading over.
The Rest of the Group
The same team behind The Ellington and Ellington in the Park also operates Tara Rose in Murray Hill and Tara Mór on West 30th Street — both worth a visit when you’re further downtown. The Red Lion on Bleecker Street in Greenwich Village rounds out the portfolio.
The Ellington is open seven days a week for lunch, dinner, and weekend brunch. The patio is open spring through early fall and fills quickly on weekends.
Book your table on Resy | 2745 Broadway, New York, NY 10025