From lakeside dining to food carts, here's where to eat in Central Park.
Central Park offers a variety of dining options concentrated between 62nd and 81st Streets. You'll find everything from a full dinner at Tavern on the Green to a quick bite at the Ballfields Cafe near the Carousel. If you're heading to the north end of the park, Settepani at the Davis Center serves the area near Harlem Meer.
The options below are organized from sit-down restaurants to cafes and quick bites so you can go straight to what fits your visit.
Prefer something more relaxed? If you'd rather skip the reservations and find your own quiet spot in the park, a picnic is worth considering. Our picnic bags are ready to grab and go, while our picnic experiences are fully set up for you in the park, so you can enjoy a proper meal somewhere beautiful without the crowds.
Sit-Down Restaurants
TAVERN ON THE GREEN
Location: MAP I West Side between 66th and 67th Streets
Type: Restaurant, American
Tavern on the Green is a modern tavern and an iconic landmark restaurant. 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.
The menu is hearty, rustic, and centered around local, seasonal ingredients. During the summer, the outside dining patio turns into a beer garden with live entertainment (see our event calendar for details). They also offer Tavern to Go.
THE CENTRAL PARK BOATHOUSE
Location: MAP I East 72nd Street and Park Drive North
Type: Restaurant and Cafe, American Continental
The Central Park Boathouse is one of the park's most iconic dining destinations, set on the edge of The Lake with views of the water and the surrounding trees. The Boathouse reopened in 2024 under new management and now offers three ways to eat and drink on site.
The restaurant serves a blend of American and Continental cuisine, with lunch and dinner daily and weekend brunch. The all-day café opens at 8 AM and is a good option if you want something casual without a reservation. When the weather is warm, Dockside Dining opens on the water for first-come, first-served outdoor seating. The Boathouse also hosts private events and weddings throughout the year. Visit centralparkboathouse.com for current hours and menus.
Boat rentals are available daily from 10 AM to dusk, weather permitting, on a first-come, first-served basis.
LE PAIN QUOTIDIEN AT MINERAL SPRINGS
Location: MAP I West side mid-Park at 69th Street, overlooking Sheep Meadow
Type: Restaurant, 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 dining room and on the terrace. There is also a take-out window.
Cafes and Quick Bites
THE BALLFIELDS CAFE by THE MIGRANT KITCHEN
Location: MAP | Northern edge of the Heckscher Ballfields, West Side below 65th Street
Type: Restaurant, American, Latin & Middle Eastern fusion
Hours: Open daily from 9 AM to 6 PM.
Located in the heart of Central Park, The Ballfields Cafe by The Migrant Kitchen pays tribute to the timeless spirit of New York’s favorite pastime. Originally established as a modest snack stand for baseball players and parkgoers, the cafe has long been a gathering place for families, athletes, and city dwellers alike.
Today this legacy is still honored through both menus now offered at the cafe. The Ballfields Cafe menu features classic ballpark fare with a modern twist—think hot dogs, soft pretzels, popcorn, and cold drinks, while The Migrant Kitchen menu provides the addition of fusion cuisine inspired by immigrants—think fattoush salad and crispy chicken wraps & sandwiches. You can also find seasonal items like soup and hot chocolate. Now serving beer, wine, and frozen cocktails.
WOLLMAN CAFÉ
Location: MAP | East Side between 62nd and 63rd Streets, inside Wollman Rink
Type: Cafe, American
The Wollman Café is located inside The Clubhouse at Wollman Rink and serves warm food, grab-and-go items, baked goods, and a full coffee bar. Open during ice skating season, roughly late October through late March. Check wollmanrinknyc.com/cafe for current hours and the menu.
MELBA'S AT WOLLMAN RINK
Location: MAP | On the Overlook above Wollman Rink
Type: Concession Stand, American Southern Soul Food
Melba's brings the comfort food of the beloved Harlem restaurant to Wollman Rink, with signature dishes including fried chicken and waffles and mac and cheese served from an outdoor overlook above the rink.
Open seasonally. Check wollmanrinknyc.com/melbas for current hours.
LE PAIN QUOTIDIEN AT CONSERVATORY WATER
Location: MAP | East Side at 74th Street, at Conservatory Water
Type: Cafe, Contemporary European
Le Pain Quotidien at Conservatory Water offers two spots in one location. On the south side of the pond, the Snack Shack serves popcorn, ice cream, and grab-and-go items. On the east side, the café serves breakfast, sandwiches, warm beverages, and grilled items. Both are open daily. Check lepainquotidien.com for current hours.
DANCING CRANE CAFE
Location: MAP | East 64th Street at Fifth Avenue, inside the Central Park Zoo
Type: Concession Stand, American
Hours: 9:30 AM to 5:00 PM weekdays, 9:30 AM to 5:30 PM weekends, year-round
The Dancing Crane Cafe, located inside the Central Park Zoo, offers meals, snacks, beverages, and desserts for zoo visitors and parkgoers. Zoo admission is required to access the cafe.
PUBLIC FARE
Location: MAP | Enter at 81st Street and Central Park West, adjacent to the Delacorte Theater on the southwest corner of the Great Lawn
Type: Concession Stand, American
Public Fare is Danny Meyer's seasonal concession stand at the Delacorte Theater, open during Shakespeare in the Park. It offers quick bites, wine, and beer.
Open late May through late August.
SETTEPANI AT THE DAVIS CENTER
Location: MAP | Davis Center at the Harlem Meer, Mid-Park between 106th and 108th Streets
Type: Bakery and Cafe, Italian
Settepani, a family-owned Harlem bakery and café with roots going back to 1992, runs the café at the Davis Center. The menu includes fresh pastries, paninis, soups, pizzas, and hot and cold drinks. It's a good spot to linger before or after using the rink, pool, or green.
Hours: Monday to Friday 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Saturday to Sunday 8:00 AM to 7:00 PM (subject to change)
Concession Carts
Food carts are all over the park and are your best option for a quick, no-fuss bite while you wander or sit on a bench.
Classic NYC Carts
Location: Scattered throughout the park
Hot dogs, pretzels, ice cream, cookies, and cold drinks. You'll find them near most major attractions and along the main paths.
Wafels & Dinges
Location: These carts move around, so check their current locations before you go.
Wafels & Dinges serves Belgian-style wafels with a wide variety of toppings, plus ice cream and coffee.
perfectpicnic
Picnic Set Up
PICNICS IN THE PARK
Rather eat outside on your own terms? Central Park has some of the best picnic spots in the city, from the open lawn at Sheep Meadow to quieter spots near the water. You can book a ready-made picnic package with setup included, or browse our guide to the top picnic spots in the park to plan your own.
If you're bringing your own food, check the rules for picnicking in Central Park before you go.