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Family-Friendly Beer Gardens in Manhattan

1. The Standard Biergarten – Chelsea

Need a break from exploring The High Line or the Whitney Museum? Wind down at the Standard Hotel's Biergarten, located under the elevated park. The space boasts a beautiful brick interior and a spacious outdoor space to chow down on German food. Plus, there are party games, like pingpong and giant Jenga. The space gets more crowded and adult-oriented as the day wears on, so if you plan to bring younger kids, we recommend visiting early in the day.

2. Harlem Tavern – Harlem

This hopping neighborhood beer garden is a favorite among families, with fantastic vibes and even better food. The bar and grill welcomes kids (but not once it gets late!), describing itself as a "New York City's neighborhood bar restaurant, and beer garden." The menu is incredibly diverse, serving everything from truffle burgers and Parmesan salmoln, to more down-home classics like mac and cheese and chicken tenders—and, of course, a great selection of beer. Don't miss its Sunday jazz brunch!

3. Santiago's Beer Garden – East Harlem

Come here for the Dominican comfort food, stay for the vibrant art and murals. Kids and adults alike will be enthralled by the bright colors and the cozy ambiance of the outdoor patio, which feels like a cabin in the woods meets an enchanted garden. Santiago's excels at finger food, serving up thick fries, crispy empanadas, and various shrimp sides—but it also has some very reasonably priced lunch specials if you want to make it a full meal. Adults can enjoy a robust drink menu with unique cocktails like soju sangria.

Family-Friendly Beer Gardens in Brooklyn

4. Black Forest Brooklyn – Fort Greene and Boerum Hill

Stop by Black Forest for a taste of homemade German food, brought to you "from Schwarzwald with love," like schnitzels, brats, and giant jugs of German beer for the adults. Both locations have outdoor beer gardens open to families and dogs. The Ft. Greene location has outdoor seating in front of the restaurant with both heating and fans available for year-round enjoyment. Boerum Hill's location is a more traditional beer garden, with a large backyard that includes the "Backyard Chalet," which has enclosed and divided seating for a more private experience.

5. DSK – Fort Greene

Die Stammkneipe (dubbed DSK for short) is German for "the locals' pub," and visitors of all ages are indeed welcome with open arms. While most of this Brooklyn beer garden is enclosed, it's bright and airy, and there is a smattering of outdoor seating. With 18 beers on tap and traditional German food that even tots love (hot apple strudel served with a dollop of vanilla ice cream, anyone?), DSK has something for everyone in the family.

6. Franklin Park – Crown Heights

What was once an old mechanic shop now houses two bustling bars and a beer garden. Locals flock to the beer garden for the seasonal selection of beers and the great vibes. Parents love its location—within a five-minute walk of both the Brooklyn Museum and the Brooklyn Botanic Garden—and kids love the menu, which consists of pub fare like burgers, fries, hot dogs, and milkshakes. Kids are welcome until evening, so your best bet is to make this a daytime visit.

7. Lock Yard – Bay Ridge

The perfect watering hole for this family-centric Brooklyn neighborhood, this former locksmith's shop has seamlessly transformed into a cozy pub and year-round outdoor beer garden. Bring your kids earlier in the day for some updated comfort food and a frosty, draft beer (10 choices on tap). The hot dogs are exceptional, and there are plenty more comfort food options for the whole family. They aren’t pulling any punches when it comes to the menu—this is not health food, but it’s worth every calorie. If you are craving something green, we recommend the (fried) Brussels sprouts.

8. Radegast Hall & Biergarten – Williamsburg

This watering hole is well known for its concerts, and for good reason—regular live music brings a celebratory feel to this authentic NYC biergarten. The open-air space has retractable roof paneling for year-round service. Kids are welcome before 2 on Saturdays and before 9 every other day (at which point it can get loud and crowded, anyway) and strollers are also allowed (though you may be asked to fold it if the space gets too crowded). Stop by for Sunday brunch, when you can chow down on dishes like shakshuka or chocolate chip pancakes in the large outdoor garden or the indoor hall.

9. Greenwood Park – South Slope

This 13,000-square-foot indoor/outdoor restaurant, bar, and beer garden was formerly a gas station and body shop. Families can enjoy the eclectic and robust pub menu (burgers, panko-encrusted chicken fingers, and tater tots) at tables in the spacious backyard. Kids are welcome until 7, then the space becomes 21 and over. Even when it's chilly, the outdoor heating lamps keep the temps comfortable. With 21 beers on tap, plus lots more cans, bottles, and cocktails, casual drinkers and connoisseurs alike should be satisfied.

10. Brooklyn Crab – Red Hook

Though not technically a beer garden, Brooklyn Crab offers delicious dishes featuring its namesake crustacean along with salads and sandwiches, plus beers and cocktails. The upper-level outdoor patio seating area boasts awesome views of New York Harbor and the Statue of Liberty. The backyard is even more appealing to families, featuring an eight-hole miniature golf course, bean bag toss, a sandbox, and more outdoor entertainment.

11. Threes Brewing – Gowanus

This brewery also serves as a beer garden, with indoor seating and a massive outdoor area. Although the company has four other locations, the flagship in Gowanus is our favorite. The beer garden boasts 20 taps serving beverages made in-house, as well as wine and cocktails. You can also get a cup of Joe from its espresso bar or grab a few cans to-go at the shop upstairs. In the summer, Threes Brewery has an absolutely packed music and entertainment schedule. For food, it's teamed up with Super Burrito for Latin American staples like burritos (of course), tacos, and quesadillas, along with some kid-sized portions.

Family-Friendly Beer Gardens in Queens

12. Bohemian Hall & Beer Garden – Astoria

This cultural hot spot in Astoria is housed in a building that's been around since 1910. It survived prohibition to become the perfect place for families to kick back and enjoy a cold beer and a selection of Czech favorites from its traditional-leaning menu. Bohemian Hall is home to one of the largest beer gardens in New York City, with a vast backyard seating space that feels almost like a park. Kids are welcome before evening, and there are frequent special events and live music to check out.

13. Jägerhaus – Whitestone

This beer garden aims to transport you to the Alps through its modern take on Austrian and German cuisine. The picnic-style outdoor seating gives the garden a communal feasting experience, and the atmosphere tends to be fittingly festive. The retractable awning makes it possible to enjoy the space no matter the weather. A kids' menu is available with all the usual suspects—chicken tenders and burgers—but also a German twist on the classics, like the Knackwurst, which is a hot dog-style sausage served with sauerkraut and french fries.

Family-Friendly Beer Gardens in the Bronx

14. Clinton Hall Bronx – Belmont

You can't miss the striking art on the side of this local Bronx beer garden, which draws in the neighborhood Fordham college crowd and families. And Clinton Hall certainly appeals to both demographics with its party-sized Connect Four, Jenga, Fooseball, pingpong, card games, and even some wall-mounted chess. The venue has four other locations around the city, one of which is a massive, seasonal, outdoor space in Staten Island. And, no matter where you go, the food is great—don't sleep on the award-winning double smash burger or the amazing doughnut grilled cheese.

15. The Bronx Brewery – South Bronx

What could be a better pairing than beer and empanadas? Bring the whole family (dogs, too!) to this kid-friendly brewery and beer garden in the South Bronx. Adults can sample Bronx-brewed beer while the whole family chows down on empanadas, artisanal pizzas, sandwiches, and fries, all cooked up at the on-site Empanology. And if you can't get enough, the brewery has two other food-centric locations in Hudson Yards and the East Village

Brewski's Bar & Grill – Throgs Neck

This beloved neighborhood staple is family-owned and big on community—during the pandemic, it teamed up with local businesses to bring people together safely. Now it stands as a great beer garden with a spacious patio and a festive, always-bustling vibe. The restaurant serves plenty of finger food options, plus burgers, brunch goodies, and fantastic boozy "freezies" for the parents.

Family-Friendly Beer Gardens in Staten Island

16. Craft House – Brighton Heights

The Craft House specializes in southern-style comfort food, served in a backyard adorned with bright wall art, string lights, and picnic tables. The kids' menu lets kids pick from popcorn chicken, mac and cheese, or french fries, along with a sauce, though there's also a small smash burger if they want something on the heftier side. Adults can take their pick from more than 15 canned beer options. The beer garden is located about a block from the ferry landing, making this a great place to grab a bite to eat before you head out.

17. Killmeyers – Charleston

Killmeyers is one of the oldest restaurants in the city—this historic spot has been around since 1890! Today, it serves the community as a dog- and kid-friendly spot to kick your feet up and relax. The garden boasts a cute gazebo and plenty of shaded seating options, and you'll often find live music playing while families lounge. The beer and German foods are on-point, and a children's dinner menu is available for little ones. The restaurant is located right next to Clay Pit Ponds State Park—a perfect way to end (or begin) an adventure.

Originally published in 2015. Louise Finnell contributed additional reporting.