With just 60 days until the April 1 launch of the 2025 Dining Out NYC season, the New York City Department of Transportation (NYC DOT) is urging restaurants to take advantage of free resources to establish compliant and inviting roadway dining spaces.
The Dining Out NYC Marketplace provides a centralized hub for restaurants to find vendors offering outdoor dining setups, rentals, and services. While permanent structures can cost tens of thousands of dollars, affordable rental options start at just over $1,000 per month, including setup, removal, maintenance, and storage after the season ends. The Dining Out NYC Setup Menu offers guidance and sample designs for compliant outdoor dining cafes, covering elements such as barriers, flooring, and overhead coverings.
“New Yorkers came to love outdoor dining during the pandemic, and now it’s a permanent part of our city’s streetscape,” said NYC DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez. “We want to make it as easy as possible for restaurants to participate by offering resources that ensure compliance and enhance our streets.”
As of January 30, over 3,700 license applications have been submitted from more than 3,000 restaurants, making Dining Out NYC 2.5 times larger than the pre-pandemic sidewalk café program. Under the new law, sidewalk cafes are permitted year-round, while roadway dining will operate from April 1 to November 29 annually.
