Outdoor Dining Near Columbia University at Ellington in the Park

116th Street ends at Riverside Drive, right at Columbia's western gate. The park path continues south from there toward 105th Street. Ellington in the Park sits at the bottom of that walk, an outdoor bar and restaurant built inside Riverside Park on the Hudson River. Every table is outside across two levels. Seating is first come first served, and no reservation is needed to sit down. For students and faculty coming from campus, it means a stretch of river with a full food and drink menu, open daily through the season. It's a walk rather than a subway ride from Morningside Heights.

The kitchen is led by chef John Loughran, who also runs the group's sister restaurant on Broadway. Time Out included Ellington in the Park in its July 2026 roundup of the city's waterfront restaurants. The list called out how well the space suits a group as well as a couple after a Sunset Spritzer with the Hudson in view.

Coming down from campus means trading a dining hall or a counter on Broadway for a table outside with the river in front of you. Still no booking needed. That trade is the whole appeal for a lot of the students and faculty who make the walk.

How Far Is Riverside Park From Columbia University

From the university gate at Broadway and 116th Street to the entrance stairs at 103rd Street and Riverside Drive is about eleven blocks. That's close to half a mile down the park path, an easy walk of around fifteen minutes. Once you reach Riverside Drive the whole route sits inside the park, past the ballfields and the esplanade, with the Hudson on the right the entire way down. Anyone coming from the 1 train can get off at either 110th Street or 103rd Street and cut west through the park to the same stairs.

What to Order Between Classes

The menu covers wood fired pizza, tacos, salads, and handhelds, all served outside looking straight at the water. The Park Mac is built for a fast lunch between classes: shredded lettuce, American cheese, dill pickles and Ellington's special sauce. Want something lighter before an afternoon seminar? The Riverside Quinoa salad has artichoke hearts, avocado, chickpeas and feta. For a table splitting plates, order The Hudson, a pizza with caramelized onions, fig, arugula and prosciutto. Kimbo Neapolitan espresso is on the coffee menu for anyone who needs the caffeine more than the view, and the mocktail list gives non drinkers a real option that isn't just a soda. Weekly specials rotate through the season too, a Philly cheesesteak on Tuesdays and fish and chips twice midweek.

A Spot for Study Groups and Faculty Meetings

Two levels of outdoor seating and no reservation requirement make this an easy default for a study group that doesn't want to commit to a booking in advance. It works just as well for a TA meetup after office hours, or a faculty lunch away from campus. Groups can walk in and find their own space on either level. The Park Charcuterie Box, a chef selection of meat and cheese with grapes, nuts and crackers, is built for a table that wants to share rather than order individually. Planning something bigger ahead of time? The party reservations page on the site takes the details and puts together a food and drink plan for the day.

When Parents Are in Town

Parents weekend brings a different kind of visitor to Morningside Heights. One who wants somewhere easy to reach on foot and easy to sit down at without a reservation made weeks in advance. Ellington in the Park works for that dinner precisely because it doesn't take bookings. A family arriving without a plan can still get a table on the water. The menu covers everything from a lobster roll to a kids plate, and there's no clock on how long the visit lasts. It's a fifteen minute walk from campus, which matters when a parent has flown in for the weekend and doesn't want to spend it on the subway.

Hours and How to Get In

Ellington in the Park is open daily from 11am to 10pm through the season, April to November. The address is Riverside Drive at West 105th Street, New York, NY 10025. The closest park entrance to the bar is the stairs at 103rd Street and Riverside Drive. There is no reservation system for individual tables. Dogs are welcome on a leash, and the 105th Street Dog Run sits directly across the path. On days of heavy rain, check the Ellington in the Park Instagram for updates on hours.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Ellington in the Park close to Columbia University?

Yes. It sits about eleven blocks south of Columbia's main gate at Broadway and 116th Street, reached entirely on foot through Riverside Park.

Do you take reservations for a group from campus?

Walk in tables are first come first served with no reservation needed. Larger groups planning ahead can use the party reservations page on the site to arrange a food and drink plan.

Is there anything for someone who isn't drinking?

Yes. The mocktail list includes several non alcoholic options, alongside Kimbo coffee and tea.

What time does Ellington in the Park open?

11am, daily, through the season from April to November.

Is Ellington in the Park a good choice for a parents weekend dinner?

It suits a parents weekend visit well because no reservation is required, the menu covers a wide range of tastes, and the walk from campus is short enough to do on foot.

After the Season Closes

Ellington in the Park closes for the season in November. For a Columbia visit outside those months, the sister restaurant, The Ellington on Broadway closes for the season in November. For a Columbia visit outside those months, the sister restaurant, The Ellington on Broadway, sits one block east of the park at Broadway and 105th Street. It stays open year round, with the same kitchen team and a room built for the colder months.