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Cool Places to Drink When the Weather is Hot Print E-mail
By Shauna O’Garro
July 2009
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Source: Wikipedia

Bohemian Hall is considered the granddaddy of all beer gardens in the city. For a long period of time, it was the last remaining beer garden in New York City—there used to be hundreds. Although there has been a recent resurgence in the beer garden style bar, this place is an old favorite for New Yorkers. The Hall, also known as the Czech Beer Garden, attracts so many people because of its large outdoor seating area, its selection of Eastern European beers, and its delicious kielbasa and wurst from the grill. They also have a table service menu offering hearty Czech fare. The crowds drawn to the beer garden are representative of every type of New Yorker, and the bar is family-friendly so children are an integral aspect of the bar’s atmosphere. You will often find them playing on the stage in the center of the garden (if there isn’t a band or televised sporting event being shown). Before they renovated, dedicated beer drinkers would brave bathroom lines that could make a grown man cry, but they’ve added an extension that is exclusively bathrooms, which all patrons of the beer garden appreciate. Bohemian Beer Hall is a must for anyone looking for a great outdoor bar experience.



Although it’s the newest beer garden in the game, Studio Square is well on its way to becoming New York City’s favorite outdoor drinking spot. While Bohemian Hall has a rustic, old-world appeal, Studio City is modern and industrial. It is the largest beer garden in the city by far, measuring 18,000 square feet, and it has a large indoor seating space as well. Their beer selection isn’t as appealing to the beer aficionado as it could be, but they do have a large selection of beers. Sangria is also on tap, for those who want alcoholic refreshment on a hot summer day but aren’t in the mood for beer. They also have a grill serving up sausages, wurst, and burgers, which are all delicious. When the line for the grill gets too long, or if you don’t eat meat, sushi is also available. There’s a fire pit for when the nights start to get chilly, too. Despite it being the new kid on the block, Studio Square has the kind of inviting atmosphere that will draw you back more than once over the summer.



While the Boat Basin Cafe isn’t technically a beer garden, there’s no way it should be left off of this list. Right along the Hudson River (you can dock your boat there and then have a bite to eat at the restaurant), the cafe offers beautiful views of the river and of the Palisades over in New Jersey. The beer is relatively cheap, as is the basic grill grub. There are more upscale offerings on the menu for those who are sick of burgers and brats. The place can get really crowded—who can resist a view of the river, the limestone arches of the rotunda, and the open-air patio? Even when it’s crowded it’s a great place to relax and have a drink while checking out a summer sunset.



From the proprietors of the Bohemian Hall, we get the hip Radegast Hall, in Williamsburg. It is not outdoors, but the garden area has a retractable roof. The hall is filled with long tables, although the main bar area has large, comfy booths, that contribute to a jovial but laidback atmosphere. Like every bar on this list, Radegast is the type of place where the concept of time is lost as you enjoy their great beer selection and advanced grill options. They serve sausages and burgers like every other beer garden, but take it up a notch with their Angus burgers and venison sausage. Their main menu offers up entrees such as braised rabbit and French rib steak. Although it offers more sophisticated beer and food options, Radegast is still a place where you can go when you want to have a simple, relaxing time with friends.
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