For New Yorkers craving social distance from the city itself, get away safely to one of these area restaurants.
The eateries boasting ample outdoor dining, a distinctive change of scenery and crave-worthy autumnal bites.
The Catskills | High Voltage Café & Creek Bar
Follow a path past the garden into the wooded glen behind High Voltage Café in the sleepy Catskills town of Mountain Dale for barbecue and craft brews at the newly installed Creek Bar. With a constellation of string lights in the trees overhead, sheepskin rugs strewn over logs, picnic tables and a vintage trailer converted into a cocktail bar, the vibe is all bohemian magic — especially with the babbling creek and kielbasas sizzling on the smoker.
47 Main St., Mountain Dale, NY; 845-693-4115
The Hamptons | Sel Rrose
Fashionable Lower East Side cocktail and oyster bar Sel Rrose has outfitted its Montauk outpost with a beachy backyard gravel garden crawling with pale pink rose bushes, chic vintage rattan armchairs and a prim white lattice wall with a riot of blushing flowers and greenery. It’s a dreamy seaside setting to dish on your favorite evergreen staples, from frosé to lobster rolls with truffle fries. As the weather cools, indoor dining is also an option.
4 S. Elmwood Ave, Montauk, NY; 631-668-8218
The Hudson Valley | Las Mañanitas
With a sprawling grassy lawn and tiered flagstone patio perched high above the East Branch Reservoir, Las Mañanitas is a festive destination restaurant for upscale Mexican cuisine in the Hudson River Valley. Tuck into a table on the lawn for the red snapper Veracruz paired with a margarita and soak up the fresh air and panoramic views of rolling green hills.
1250 Route 22, Brewster, NY; 845-279-4646
The Jersey Shore | The Seafarer
Situated on Baker’s Marina in the Highlands with views stretching across Sandy Hook Bay to the New York City skyline, The Seafarer is a funky, family-owned waterfront tiki bar with dockside picnic tables, Adirondack chairs, fire pits and a solid lineup of live musicians. The on-site Local Smoke BBQ food truck turns out everything from St. Louis ribs to grilled local clams. With your toes in the sand and a Dark & Stormy cocktail in hand, you might just feel like you’re in the Florida Keys, even for a moment.
1 Atlantic St., Highlands, NJ; seafarermgmt@gmail.com
This story appeared in the New York Post print editions on July 31.