The Only Bar Actually Inside Riverside Park- The Ellington In The Park
Most outdoor dining in New York City means a row of tables on a sidewalk and the sound of traffic. Ellington in the Park is something different entirely. It sits inside Riverside Park at 105th Street, on the bank of the Hudson River, with views that face west into the open water and the sky above New Jersey. There is no street noise. There is no construction. There is just the river, the park, and a genuinely good bar.
The bar opens for the 2026 season on Tuesday, April 29. It runs through October, open daily from 11am to 11pm, and it does not take reservations. Tables are plentiful across two levels and available on a first come, first served basis. You do not need to plan ahead. You just need to show up.
A Riverside Park Bar Unlike Anything Else on the Upper West Side
Ellington in the Park replaced the former Hudson Beach Café. The top level bar is built from a repurposed shipping container, which gives the space an industrial edge that sits comfortably against the natural surroundings of the park. The lower level opens out to a lounge area beside outdoor courts for beach volleyball, soccer, and softball.
Food, Drinks, and the Hudson River at Sunset
The food menu is built for eating outside in the sun. Smash burgers, hot dogs, wood-fired pizza, nachos, and a rotation of seasonal specials from Chef John Loughran give you enough range for a full meal or a long afternoon of grazing. The drinks list runs from specialty cocktails and fresh frozen drinks to a broad wine selection and draft beer. Orders go to the counter and you are notified by a buzzer when your food and drinks are ready, keeping the service easy and the pace entirely your own.
The Hudson River faces west. That matters. From both levels of Ellington in the Park, the sun sets directly in front of you over the water. NYC.com named it one of the best bars in the city for Hudson River sunsets, and it is easy to see why.
Brunch at Riverside Park is a different proposition to brunch anywhere else in Manhattan. The kitchen opens at 11am, tables fill up without any reservation pressure, and the Hudson is in front of you rather than a busy street. For anyone looking for brunch near Riverside Park that does not involve a waitlist or a tight indoor space, Ellington in the Park is the straightforward answer.
Dog Friendly by Design
The Upper West Side is one of the most dog-dense neighbourhoods in New York City. Ellington in the Park is one of the few outdoor dining destinations in the area that actively welcomes dogs as part of the experience rather than tolerating them as an afterthought. Dogs are welcome throughout the outdoor space as long as they are on a leash.
The park entrance closest to the bar is at 103rd Street and Riverside Drive. Walking north along the promenade from there, you arrive at the bar naturally, which means the trip to your table is itself a walk in the park. For anyone who has tried to find a dog-friendly restaurant with outdoor seating in this part of Manhattan, Ellington in the Park removes the usual difficulty entirely.
Group Dining and Private Events in the Park
For large groups, Ellington in the Park is one of the few outdoor dining venues in New York City that can genuinely accommodate scale. The venue handles parties from 20 to 500 people, with reserved areas available for groups who pre-order from the catering menu. It is used regularly for birthday parties, corporate gatherings, and summer celebrations where outdoor space matters.
Group booking enquiries can be submitted through the party reservations page on the website. The combination of two levels, open outdoor space, and proximity to the river makes it a genuinely unusual option for group outdoor dining in the city, with none of the constraints of a rooftop or a small enclosed courtyard.
Year-Round on Broadway: The Ellington
Ellington in the Park is a seasonal venue, open April through October. For the rest of the year, and for any evening when you want a table reservation or indoor dining, the sister restaurant is two blocks away.
The Ellington on Broadway at 105th Street is the neighbourhood American restaurant and bar that operates year-round. It carries the same DNA as the park venue: good food, craft cocktails, a welcome that does not require you to dress up or plan excessively. Happy hour runs Monday through Friday from 4pm to 7pm, with Thursday happy hour extending all night at the bar. Private events and party bookings are available through the website.
Getting There
Ellington in the Park is located at Riverside Drive and West 105th Street, New York, NY 10025. The recommended park entrance is at 103rd Street and Riverside Drive. The nearest subway stations are 103rd Street on the 1 train and 96th Street on the 1, 2, and 3 trains. Street parking is available on Riverside Drive.
In the event of heavy rain or thunderstorms, opening hours may be affected. The most current updates are posted on the Instagram account. The phone number is (929) 325 1004.
The 2026 season starts on April 29. No tickets, no reservations, no dress code. Come to Riverside Park at 105th Street, walk north along the promenade, and arrive at the only bar in the city where the view is this good and the door is always open.
For group bookings, visit ellingtoninthepark.com/party-reservations. For visit theellingtonny.com.