“February’s unpredictable weather has nothing on the resiliency of New Yorkers, because no climate stands a chance when it comes to us doing fun and cool stuff. So, throw on that puffy coat, grab your hand warmers (and hand sanitizers), and get ready to explore the city this weekend.

Whether you’re in the mood for checking out a new (or reopened!) restaurant, channeling summer with outdoor beers, or partaking in immersive art experiences, we found something for everyone. Here are the 10 best things to eat, drink, and do this weekend in NYC (and be sure to check out our Weekend Guide podcast streaming below!). As always, don’t forget your mask, practice social distancing, and stay home if you’re feeling sick.”

Feast on American classics at a redesigned downtown favorite

Weekend-long
Tribeca
Tribeca’s Kitchen, a longtime staple in the neighborhood, suffered a serious blow last March when its owner Andreas Koutsoudakis passed away from COVID. Now, nearly a year after his death, the restaurant is back with a redesigned tri-level space and new menus from executive chef Jack Logue (formerly of Clocktower and Betony). Standout dishes include a mac and cheese topped with braised ox cheek, and the date night-perfect “Chicken Meant for Two” which serves the poultry in five different ways, including liver mousse and fancy nuggets. Look out for a brunch menu to launch at the end of the month.
Cost: Entrees from $24

Be one of the first to try this new temaki restaurant

Weekend-long
Upper West Side
Named for the traditional headband that sushi chefs wear, Hachi Maki is a new Japanese spot that aims to capture the energy of a Tokyo street market. Helmed by sushi chef Max Zumwalt (formerly of Satsuki and Usumoya), the menu boasts an enormous array of maki, which can be ordered individually or in curated sets of five. And, perfect for the winter, there are also four different types of ramen available, including a broth-less mazemen served with pork chashu (belly). Leave room to sample the intriguing uni ice cream, which is served with caramel-soy brittle.
Cost: Maki sets from $23

Celebrate the return of a beloved yakitori spot

Weekend-long
Prospect Heights
When Maison Yaki opened in May of 2019, it was an instant hit: chef-owner Greg Baxtrom’s innovative menu mixed French and Japanese influences to stunning effect. But, like so many others, it shuttered less than a year later due to the pandemic. After closing, Baxtrom utilized the space for a series of pop-ups from local Black chefs and bakers called the Black Entrepreneur Series. But now, the spot is finally reopening with a menu of yakitori favorites like the duck meatballs a l’orange, as well as new dishes including a crunchy fried chicken sandwich with Japanese BBQ sauce, and a Wagyu burger with squid ink and ginger hollandaise.
Cost: Entrees from $12

Warm up with German food and suds at this reopened beer garden

Weekend-long
Meatpacking District
The Standard Biergarten is back for the first time since last summer and truly better than ever: in addition to limited indoor dining, there are now heated outdoor tables as well. And while you may be there for the German beer selection (which is excellent), don’t miss the revamped food menu. New, rib-sticking additions include a massive platter of sausages, pretzel bites, and cheese fondue, as well as stout-lemon-pepper wings served with white Alabama sauce.
Cost: Entrees from $12; beers from $10

Stop and actually smell the flowers at this new exhibition

Weekend-long
Bronx Park
The New York Botanical Garden may have had to cancel their annual orchid show this year due to COVID, but that doesn’t mean you can’t still view some of their amazing collection. Starting this Saturday and running through early April, NYBG will have unusual orchids on display, as well as innovative floral creations by the Garden’s horticulturists, inside the Haupt Conservatory. Afterward, swing by the NYBG shop where you can pick up your own plant to tend for at home. Don’t worry: they stock easy-to-grow varieties for those of us without green thumbs.
Cost: $28 per ticket

Train your taste buds at an immersive coffee class

Saturday, February 20, 3 pm – 5 pm
Long Island City
We’ve all had a lot of time to work on our caffeine game this year, but how much do you really know about different varieties of coffee? In this workshop at Coffee Project, you’ll learn the basics of cupping: how those in the coffee industry evaluate the flavors and smells of different types of beans. The two-hour class will go over how to set up a cupping table, and then students will get to taste coffees from different regions and learn how to identify flavor notes.
Cost: $150 per person

Order in a three-course Caribbean-inspired dinner

Saturday, February 20 and Sunday, February 21
Citywide
It would be lovely to be on the beach in Jamaica right now, but until we can get there in real life, we can enjoy chef Anya Peters’s ode to the Caribbean nation. For her meal this weekend in collaboration with Adá Supper Club, Peters is cooking a multicourse feast that was inspired by her grandmother’s hometown of Ewarton. Dishes include fricassee chicken with confit plantains; a “Sunday soup” made with gungo peas, chayote, and pumpkin; and for dessert, a chilled corn custard with cocoa tea-passion brittle.
Cost: $65 per person

Learn about the power of Black resilience during this interactive audio tour

Weekend-long
Hudson Yards
Artist and historian Kamau Ware is the founder of Black Gotham Experience, a visual storytelling project that celebrates the African diaspora in NYC. For his latest commission for The Shed, Ware created digital audio and video tours entitled Fighting Dark, with a focus Manhattan and Brooklyn’s 19th-century history of racism. The audio tour allows listeners to take a self-guided and engaging walk through important city landmarks, as well as letting them reflect on how Black people have overcome racial violence over hundreds of years. The companion video tour allows viewers from anywhere in the world to experience the same walk.
Cost: Free

Apres-ski without the ski at this outdoor pop-up

Weekend-long
Times Square
Why yes, you can have a boozy brunch on a rooftop in February. Head to Moxy Times Square this weekend, where their open-air bar and restaurant Magic Hour has been transformed into The Pink Winter Lodge for the season. Outdoor heaters ensure everyone stays toasty, but you can stay extra warm by ordering their signature pink hot chocolate, which comes spiked with vodka and Bailey’s Red Velvet. We also recommend ordering a plate of the massive “Pink AF Pancake Stack,” which is extra in the best way possible. It comes topped with hot pink cotton candy, bananas foster, blueberries, and apple compote.
Cost: Small plates from $12

Head downtown after dark to check out new, immersive art pieces

Weekend-long
Seaport 
Wait until the sun sets this weekend and then travel to the Seaport District, where three new outdoor installations come alive after dark. Electric Dandelions, a group of 10 steel and acrylic spheres, may resemble flowers during daylight, but after nightfall, glow in tribute to the bright glow of fireworks. Nearby at 193 Front Street is Kareem Fletcher’s The Hands of Inspiration, a brightly colored mural painted on storefront windows. And lastly, Daisies is a group show of multidisciplinary work focused on the theme of the resilience of youth, all arranged in an outdoor, walkable gallery exhibition. Warm up after with a meal at nearby Malibu Farm or The Fulton, both of which offer stellar water views.
Cost: Free