6 a.m.
Ferrara Italian Café
59th St. at Central Park W.
Start your day at this uptown extension of the Little Italy bakery, stationed by Central Park’s southwest entrance. Jockey for one of the few green chairs, or take your croissant and Italian-ice coffee ($1.50) into the park.
8 a.m.
Little Veselka
75 E. 1st St., at Houston St.; 212-228-9682
Eight in the morning may be too early for a pierogi, but it’s a good time for the Ukrainian stand’s fresh-squeezed orange juice ($3), paired with eggs and a kielbasa on the side.
10 a.m.
The Sky Terrace
356 W. 58th St., nr. Ninth Ave.; 212-554-6303
At this hour, the hammock on the Hudson Hotel rooftop, newly open to the public, should be free. Order a White Mint lemonade ($16)—vodka, muddled lemons, mint, ginger ale—and stay awhile.
Noon
Open Book Café
10 Grand Army Plz., at Flatbush Ave., Prospect Heights; 877-626-2685
The new café on the steps of the Brooklyn Public Library just got its wine- and-beer license, but the mango iced tea ($1.75) is delicious and you can take it into Prospect Park.
2 p.m.
t.b.d.
224 Franklin St., at Green St., Greenpoint; 718-349-6727
On Tuesday through Friday afternoons, beers and well drinks, including the bartender-endorsed Bulleit bourbon, are $3. Throw it back at a picnic table on the 5,000-square-foot patio.
4 p.m.
Palace Gate
455 Madison Ave., at 50th St.; 212-891-8100
Descend on the Palace Hotel’s 75-seat, flora-filled courtyard while the hotel’s guests are still out shopping. The cocktail list is inventive: Splurge on the Mariposa ($20) to see what mescal and candied violets taste like together.
6 p.m.
Shang
187 Orchard St., nr. Stanton St.; 212-260-7900
Make a dinner reservation to enjoy Shang’s outdoor deck, wading pool (only four feet deep, but with Andy Warhol tiles), and drinks like El Diablo ($14) an Asian-accented cocktail with jalapeño-infused tequila.
8 p.m.
The Rooftop at Ravel
8-08 Queens Plz. S., nr. 43rd Ave., Long Island City; 718-289-6101
Queens’ first-ever boutique hotel also claims the borough’s first fancy-hotel rooftop deck. Order a potent, not-too-sweet raspberry margarita ($12) and watch the sun set from the terrace.
10 p.m.
Cooper Square Hotel
25 Cooper Sq., at Bowery; 212-475-5700
The hotel’s two-month-old bar has become a haven for Beatrice Inn castaways (the hotel actually hosted a “Save Beatrice” party) who like their martinis ($12) garnished with fancy olives.
Midnight
DBA Brooklyn
113 N. 7th St., nr. Berry St., Williamsburg; 718-218-6006
The new beer bar comes with all the outer-borough perks: a laid-back exposed-brick patio, picnic tables, and cheap weekend barbecues. If it’s really hot out, opt for a light and refreshing Belgian Kira White ($7).
2 a.m.
Studio Square
35-33 36th St., nr. 35th Ave., Long Island City; 718-383-1001
The new Queens beer garden Studio Square has long, communal wooden tables, excellent draft beers (a pitcher of Radeberger is $18), and an outdoor space that looks better the later it gets.
4 a.m.
Big Nick’s
2175 Broadway, at 77th St.; 212-362-9238
Deserted at this early hour, the all-night diner’s bare-bones patio is just the spot to wolf down a hangover-blocking breakfast: a plate of eggs, hashed-browns, toast, OJ, and a mug of black coffee ($1).