In New York , when the days get longer and the shorts amount out of hibernation , you’re able to almost experience a collective undercurrent get to hum . Those of us who have last the prospicient , freezing hell that is wintertime on a crowded island unify around one common , life - sustain goal : to drink liquor in the sun .

Sure , patios and pavement table are cute , but we demand more . We call for talkative immature lawn , people - watching , and dateless activities . So we drink where we want to , slowly restoring our feeling in the fact that this the smashing city in the globe . Fun ? perfectly . Legal ? Eh …

In 2016 , the NYPDquietly announcedthat it would not arrest anyone for drinking in publicin Manhattan . Sure , that was a pocket-sized win , but tag and summons still do n’t sound very fun , so how do youdrink in NYC without date cuff or court ? It ’s bare – if a copper ca n’t see the sword name of your booze , they ca n’t compose you a ticket . Put those two law together and it ’s clear that with a modicum of planning , it ’s actuallydifficultto get in trouble for drinking alfresco in New York … which is why you should make the most of your summer by imbibe at these places .

Brooklyn Bridge Park

Brooklyn Bridge Park, Central Park|Alan Tan Photography / Shutterstock.com

Sheep Meadow

Central ParkThis has traditionally been the spot to drink outside in NYC ; everyone else is doing it , everyone knows you ’re doing it , and there ’s no famine of entrepreneurial gentleman’s gentleman make the round with shockingly affordable beer in case you forget to BYO . Yes , it can get crowd together AF on a decent day , but there ’s something so meet about staking out the perfect position in a field of study in the plaza of a bustling city and wasting a day people - determine and picnicking . The key here – no Solo cups . They ’re an easy target , and you ’re not playing beer niff . Just pour out your drunkenness into a nameless vas and Frisbee on .

booze : chintzy beer is the move here , particularly because you’re able to always refill when your newfangled best friend come back around with his tank .

Brooklyn Bridge Park

Dumbo / Brooklyn HeightsHoly hell , have you been to Brooklyn Bridge Park recently ? It was rebuilt in 2010 , and then reconstruct again after Hurricane Sandy , and it ’s pretty incredible , especially the Pier 5 Picnic Peninsula . concluded with talkative views of Manhattan , grill for BBQ - ing ( if you ’re so prepared ) , and immaculate landscape gardening , Brooklyn Bridge Park has something for everyone , all under the shadow of the Brooklyn Bridge . If your ornery friends just ca n’t wait to get their drink on , start on the Manhattan side and pregame as you walk across the bridge .

Drink : Canned wine – yes , it can be dear , and it looks just like a can of soda . go over outUnderwoodorAlloy .

Tompkins Square Park

East VillageAh , TSP … the nexus of all that is dependable and weird in this metropolis . The common serves as a local hub for sport , tanning , anddog parades , but it has n’t strayed so far from its history of illicit behaviour that imbibe here is out of the interrogative sentence . One of the good reason to drink outside in this East Village oasis is that there are spate of other bizarre behavior to perturb any law enforcement or local vigilante from your barely disguised alcohol-dependent beverage .

salute : Literally anything . You could probably wheel in a frozen margarita car and sour a nice profit … and zero head .

Street fairs

Multiple locationsFrom May - September , traversing the streets of NYC on any given weekend becomes a gamble . It ’s not uncommon to trip up upon an avenue closed to traffic , but clear to a big ol’ street mediocre . There are dozens of them , and seldom do you sleep together why they ’re taking post , but hell if they are n’t a New York summertime staple . Make the roundabout way a name and address and enjoy a leisurely walk , some spicy street meat , and a nice , stale cocktail . fling on an insulatedKlean Kanteenand keep your crack - sized beverage chilly as you make your agency up Second Ave .

booze : A simple summer cocktail , like a cotton gin & tonic or a scratch margarita , is good , and not just because it ’s easy to make over when you demand a refill on the go .

Summer movies

Multiple locationsBesides street fairs , few things mean New York in the summer like the return key of outdoor moving picture . Yes , they can be overly crowded , but if you get there early and come disposed , they can be pretty darn fantastic . Most locations wo n’t allow you bring in full cooler , but they also wo n’t obsessively gibe your bag and blanket . Go previous school with some liquor in a soda bottleful ( or three … movies are long ) and buy mixer there . High school was fun , was n’t it ?

Drink : Whatever liquor your centre desire .

Beaches

Rockaway , Fort Tilden , Sandy Hook ( NJ)What ’s estimable than drink in on a beach ? New York beach ( much like Sheep Meadow ) are an easy place to drink unnoticed , only because everyone is doing it . The only buzzkill is when you see how red-hot your hooch has bugger off while you were crispin ’ up . Enter thewine thermos , which is especially designed to keep your wine nice and cool for up to 24 hours . What a time to be alive !

Drink : Wine . It may seem insane to bring wine to a hot beach , but with the corking little cold - keeping contraption , you could finally relish some crisp rosé with your waves .

The boardwalk

Coney IslandIf you require to spend a summertime day smashed up against another human body , then guide to the beach at Coney Island . But if you want to spend a summertime day play bizarre games , talk outside karaoke , and enjoying rides that are older than your parents , then hang out on the boardwalk . for sure , you ca n’t “ shoot down the Freak ” anymore , but there ’s still plenty of people - watching , silly chronicle , and damn weird fun to be had at Coney Island – and you well be buzzed while you have it .

Drink : seize a big gulp with your Nathan ’s hot dog and tot up the booze you play in yourcollapsible bladder flask .

Riverside Park

Upper West SideIf you have n’t been to Riverside Park , drop everything and go right now . It ’s beautiful , and quieter than most parks in the city , with tons of pristine lawns just perfect for setting up some games and drink . Drink easy on the Upper West Side since this parking area is n’t to a fault crowded , and the bunch it does draw is usually passably uninterested in what ’s materialise past their own strollers . Grab some fancier - than - common picnic transportation atZabar’sand feel courteous and classy while you ’re drinking alfresco .

Drink : you may be bold here . Break out some prosecco , or desegregate up some mimosas . Just check that the glass stays in a cooler or a suitcase .

Pier 25

West Side HighwayDid you know there ’s a mini golf game course on the West Side Highway ? It ’s onPier 25 , and at $ 5 a biz , it may be one of the cheapest things to “ do ” in NYC . Let your supporter hold off in line at Grand Banks while you beat that mini golf game course with a beer or two in a large java cup . Any burnt umber shop will give you a few disposable vessels ( yes , they fuck why you ’re necessitate ) , but if you ’re wise , you ’ll invest in a “ roadie stash ” at home . After your round of golf , you may head down the wharfage and take in a beach volleyball game game , or check the boats on the Hudson , or just … play another round .

tope : Anything . In a coffee loving cup . Duh .

McCarren Park

WilliamsburgOdds are if you drink alcohol , you ’ve had a drink in McCarren Park . Once upon a clip , there was a magical bar call the Turkey ’s Nest where you could procure a beer or a frozen marg ( yep ) from a gargantuan Styrofoam cup and boldly sip in the park . They ’ve since crack down on the open container go forth the streak , but that has n’t quelled the hoards of Williamsburg - ers hungry for booze and sens ( the kind you sit on ) . disregarding of what you think of what ’s become of Williamsburg , McCarren is a great park to watch over a playground ball game and delight a cold one . Just ward off bringing Styrofoam to the park and go for the old bottle - in - bag look . So hot decently now .

Drink : Craft beer and cider seems appropriate here . When you ’re done with park - session , it will be easy to go on on that craft train atSpritzenhausorMugs Ale House .

Seastreak Ferries

Multiple locationsSo this may be cheating a little , since there really is a Johnny Cash bar on plank theSeastreak Ferries , so drinking is super - well-fixed and crack - sound , but no outdoor NYC drunkenness list would be complete without a small gravy holder drive . The ferries take off from multiple places all over the city , and sip wine while windblown with a scene of the skyline is the best means to feel like you ’re drink in the good city in the world . They ’ve recently added novel destinations , so whether you ’re go to The Rockaways , Martha ’s Vineyard , or just exchange home , sip back and enjoy the view .

Drink : As much as your hard currency can grease one’s palms .

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Sheeps Meadow

Gregory James Van Raalte/Shutterstock

Brooklyn Bridge Park

pisaphotography/shutterstock

new york street fair

Flickr/Mark Carter

outdoor movies

Flickr/Dan Nguyen

Coney Island Boardwalk

Flickr/Paul

Pier 25 New York

Flickr/Urban Land Institute

Seastreak

Seastreak Sandy Hook Beach