Openings

Alta Linea, at the High Line Hotel, Is Literally Built for Outdoor Dining

Branzino in cartoccio with olives, fregola, fennel, and garlic.
Branzino in cartoccio with olives, fregola, fennel, and garlic. Photo: Melissa Hom

The Epicurean Group — the team behind Italian neighborhood favorites dell’anima, L’Artusi, L’Apicio, and Anfora — has opened a seasonal outdoor restaurant inside the High Line Hotel’s courtyard. The idea behind Alta Linea is that it’s a modern take on a rustic Italian restaurant, and the menu includes comforting dishes like crispy artichokes with salsa verde, a bacon cheeseburger, pork-meatball polenta, and ice-cream sandwiches served out of a vintage gelato cart.

Beverage director Joe Campanale is focusing on summer aperitivi cocktails, which means lots of sparkling-wine-based drinks, punch, and even a frozen Negroni (a collaboration with Kelvin Natural Slush Co.). But what makes this restaurant stand out among all the other fine outdoor-dining options is that each menu item, and design detail, has been optimized for the summer weather. The tree-lined space includes a fountain, umbrellas, banquette seating, a marble bar — and it seats 90, so there will (hopefully) be no clamoring for seats. Take a look:

Summer vegetable terrine with goat cheese, peppers, roasted tomatoes, quinoa, and arugula pesto.
Summer vegetable terrine with goat cheese, peppers, roasted tomatoes, quinoa, and arugula pesto. Photo: Melissa Hom
Grilled summer beans with preserved lemon vinaigrette, chiles, feta, and pine nuts.
Grilled summer beans with preserved lemon vinaigrette, chiles, feta, and pine nuts. Photo: Melissa Hom
Grilled flatbread with dips.
Grilled flatbread with dips. Photo: Melissa Hom
Ice-cream sandwiches: strawberry shortcake and chocolate sea salt.
Ice-cream sandwiches: strawberry shortcake and chocolate sea salt. Photo: Melissa Hom
Frozen Negroni.
Frozen Negroni. Photo: Melissa Hom
It's quite charming.
It’s quite charming. Photo: Melissa Hom
Perfect for Happy Hour.
Perfect for Happy Hour. Photo: Melissa Hom

Menu [PDF]

Alta Linea, 180 10th Ave. (between 20th and 21st Streets), 212-933-9735

Alta Linea, at the High Line Hotel, Is Literally Built for Outdoor Dining