NYC DOT Promotes Easy and Affordable Outdoor Dining Solutions With 60 Days Until Roadway Dining Season Begins

IMMEDIATE RELEASE

January 30, 2025

Contact: (212) 839-4850, press@dot.nyc.gov

NYC DOT Promotes Easy and Affordable Outdoor Dining Solutions With 60 Days Until Roadway Dining Season Begins

New York City Prepares for the Launch of 2025 Dining Out NYC Season on April 1 with Resources for Roadway Dining Spaces

Example of a roadway outdoor dining setup compliant with Dining Out NYC. Credit: NYC DOT

NEW YORK – New York City Department of Transportation (NYC DOT) Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez today urged food establishments to prepare for the return of roadway outdoor dining on April 1 - just 60 days away. Food establishments are encouraged to take advantage of free resources available as part of the Dining Out NYC outdoor dining program. The Dining Out NYC Marketplace offers a central location to find companies that sell outdoor dining setups, rentals, and services. While outdoor dining setups could cost tens of thousands of dollars, affordable rental options starting at just over $1,000 per month are available on the Marketplace, with rentals plans covering set-up, removal, maintenance, and storage after the roadway outdoor dining season ends. NYC DOT also offers the Dining Out NYC Setup Menu that shows design options for food service establishments to create compliant roadway cafes, including barriers, flooring, overhead coverings, and more. Under a law passed by the city council, sidewalk cafes are permitted year-round, while roadway cafes may operate only from April 1 to November 29 each year.

"New Yorkers came to love outdoor dining during the pandemic and now it's a permanent part of our city's streetscape thanks to the Dining Out NYC program. The roadway outdoor dining season is just two months away, and we want to make it as easy as possible for restaurants to participate," said NYC DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez. "Restaurants can take advantage of the city's resources to ensure compliance and create inviting outdoor dining spaces that enhance our streetscape."

As of Thursday, January 30, NYC DOT received more than 3,700 license applications from more than 3,000 restaurants. The program is already more than two and half times the size of the pre-COVID sidewalk cafe program.

Applications for Dining Out NYC are open year-round and remain open for food service establishments that want to apply. Food service establishments can find more information and apply online at nyc.gov/DiningOut.

The Dining Out NYC Marketplace serves as a one-stop-shop for food service establishments seeking to install a sidewalk or roadway cafe. It serves as an online hub where businesses can find vendors who specialize in construction, assembly/disassembly, design, moving and storage solutions, and furniture tailored to the new permanent program. The Marketplace is a helpful directory, but participation is optional — food service establishments may choose any company or product at their discretion.

The Dining Out NYC Setup Menu, developed with WXY and SITU, showcases sample blueprints and best practices for four compliant roadway prototypes as models for outdoor dining setups and offers guidance on outdoor dining regulations. These prototypes ensure that outdoor dining structures align with safety, accessibility, and design requirements while enhancing the city's streetscape. The Setup Menu offers design options for food service establishments to create compliant outdoor dining cafes, including features such as barriers, flooring, overhead coverings, and more.

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