It doesn’t feel like it yet, but the first day of spring is just a few days away. Soon, instead of bundling up and finding ways to avoid the elements, you will be looking for new excuses to be outdoors. To get you started, here are four: Pig and Khao, 
Whiskey Park, Havana Central, and Fatty Crab. These New York City restaurants and bars boast outdoor seating that can only be matched by their unique food and drink menus.
Imagine sipping a seasonal beer from a self-serve bottomless tap as you unwind after work with friends at an outdoor table surrounded by strung up lights. What you are seeing is just what Pig and Khao has to offer with its garden patio. The Southeast Asian restaurant also has a shared plates menu infused with Thai and Filipino flavors. In addition to wine, cocktails, or the self-serve tap outside, Pig and Khao serves beer “Hong Kong Style” from small bowls. Visit: www.PigAndKhao.com.
Maybe you envision yourself grabbing a drink after a stroll in the park. If this is your ideal spring evening, try Gerber Group’s Whiskey Park. The the bar and lounge has outdoor seating with views of Manhattan’s Central Park. Fancy more than a drink? Whiskey Park has also partnered with New York eatery Rue 57 to serve a variety of small plates, sandwiches and sushi. Visit: www.GerberBars.com.
Further uptown, the al fresco dining at Havana Central’s Upper West Side location is a tropical retreat. Enjoy the patio breeze and sample Cuban delicacies from Executive Chef Stanley Licairac while you sip a mojito or agave nectar margarita. If you are looking for something with a truly personal touch, order the “table-side-sangria” and watch as it is prepared right in front of you. Visit: www.HavanaCentral.com.
Finally, in the West Village, Fatty Crab’s Hudson Street patio is ideal for people watching. While you are there, try Chef Zakary Pelaccio’s Malaysian inspired cuisine. Pair the food with the restaurant’s “rum & coconut water” cocktail to move out of spring and directly into the summer. Visit: www.fattycrab.com.