Central Park offers a variety of dining options, from quick snacks on-the-go to formal sit-down meals at cafes and restaurants.
The following dining sites are closed until further notice: Ballfields Cafe, Lasker Pool, Lasker Rink, Maoz at the Harlem Meer Snack Bar.
ALTERNATIVE OPTION: Check out our ready-made Grab & Go picnics!
LE PAIN QUOTIDIEN AT MINERAL SPRINGS
Location: Map I West side mid-Park at 69th Street, overlooking Sheep Meadow
Type: Restaurants, Contemporary European
Le Pain Quotidien offers breakfast, brunch and lunch. Their seasonal menus feature soups, salads, tartines, quiches, and desserts. This location offers table service in its 30-seat dining room and 100-seat terrace. There is also a take-out window.
TAVERN ON THE GREEN
Salsa Dance @ Tavern on the Green
Location: Map I West Side between 66th and 67th Streets
Type: Restaurants, American
Tavern on the Green is a modern tavern and an iconic landmark restaurant with a hearty, rustic menu centered around local, seasonal ingredients. Originally designed by Calvert Vaux and built in 1870 to house the sheep that grazed in Central Park's Sheep Meadow, it has proudly served visitors, locals, presidents, royalty, artists, and actors since 1934. During the summer, the outside dining patio turns into a beer garden with live entertainment. They also offer Tavern To Go.
THE LOEB BOATHOUSE
Location: Map I East 72nd Street and Park Drive North
Type: Restaurants, American
The Loeb Boathouse is located on the area known as The Lake, where rowboats can be rented during spring, summer and fall. Open daily for lunch and dinner, they also serve brunch on the weekends. There is a formal dining room with a beautiful view, plus a popular and less formal cafeteria with a welcoming fireplace for winter. For a quick pick-me-up there is a section with to-go windows and an outside patio. The restaurant hosts many weddings, Sweet 16’s, Bar/Bat Mitzvahs and other celebratory events throughout the year. Temporarily closed.
DANCING CRANE CAFE
Location: Map I East 64th Street at Fifth Avenue, inside the Central Park Zoo
Type: Concession Stands, American
The Dancing Crane Cafe, located inside of the Central Park Zoo, is the perfect spot to rest and re-fuel with a wide variety of fresh and healthy choices for meals, snacks, beverages, and desserts.
LE PAIN QUOTIDIEN AT CONSERVATORY WATER
Location: Map I East Side at 74th Street near Conservatory Water (model boat pond)
Type: Concession Stands, Contemporary European
Le Pain Quotidien, located at Conservatory Water, features a Snack Shack with gourmet snacks like popcorn and ice cream, as well as breakfast, assorted sandwiches, beverages, and more!
PUBLIC FARE
Location: Map I Enter at 81st Street and Central Park West. Adjacent to the Delacorte Theater on the southwest corner of the Great Lawn.
Type: Concession Stands, American New
Public Fare is Danny Meyer's concession stand at the Delacorte Theater. This seasonal cafe offers quick bites, wine & beer. Open Memorial Day to mid-August.
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Melba's at Wollman Rink
MELBA'S AT WOLLMAN RINK
Location: Map | On the Overlook in Wollman Rink
Type: Concession Stand, American Southern Soul Food
The original Melba's Restaurant, located 52 blocks north of Wollman Rink is a southern restaurant and Harlem institution, serving up comfort food classics like fried chicken, catfish, and waffles. Melba brinks some of her key dishes to Central Park with a casual flair along with some special new treats like DiscOasis Fries.
Hours: Wednesday to Sunday 12:00 PM to 8:00 PM (subject to change)
BALLFIELDS CAFE
Location: Map I Mid-Park north of the Heckscher Ballfields at 65th Street - closed
Type: Concession Stands, American
Ballfields Cafe is a brick cafe with ballpark snacks including salads, sandwiches, and burgers.
MAOZ VEGETARIAN
Location: Map I 106th Street & 5th Avenue, east of Harlem Meer - closed until further notice
Type: Concession Stands, Vegetarian
Maoz Vegetarian features vegetarian and falafel-centric fare along with an assortment of fresh juices.
OTHER CONCESSION STANDS
WOLLMAN RINK
Location: Map I East Side between 62nd and 63rd Streets
NORTH MEADOW RECREATION CENTER
Location: Map I Mid-Park at 97th Street
LASKER POOL & RINK
Location: Map I Mid-Park between 106th and 108th Streets - closed
CONCESSION CARTS
All around Central Park you can find concession carts, which are convenient for grabbing a quick bite to eat while you sit on a park bench or walk around.
Classic NYC Carts
Location: You can find these carts scattered throughout the park.
Most carts sell classic New York City-style refreshments such as hot dogs, pretzels, ice cream, cookies, sodas, and other beverages.
Wafels & Dinges Kiosk
Location: These carts tend to move around, so check here to find their current locations.
Wafels & Dinges carts serve Belgian-style wafels with a variety of toppings called "dinges," as well as ice cream, coffee and more!
PICNICS IN THE PARK
Location: See our list of the Top 7 Picnic Spots in Central Park.
Book a Picnic Package: Choose from picnics-to-go, picnic deliveries, and romantic picnics. See our picnic packages for more info!
Get important tips, information, and learn about the rules of having a picnic in Central Park here.