Destination
Type of Restaurant
Type of Meal
Editors Pick
Courtesy Stan PtitsinRead More4 Charles Prime Rib
Tucked away in the West Village, 4 Charles conjures up images of the classic haunts of New York with walls of rich mahogany, leather booths, maritime drawings and crystal chandeliers that are reminiscent of historic supper clubs. Begin with seafood...
Read MoreABC Kitchen
Jean-Georges Vongerichten’s farm-to-table restaurant in ABC Carpet & Home offers a fun, laid-back ambience, seasonal menus focused on local ingredients and a design-conscious dining room—after all, you are in one of New York’s most fashionable home décor stores. The menus...
Read MoreAmaranth
Popular with ladies and art dealers who lunch, this is a chic Upper East bistro located just off Madison Avenue. The Mediterranean cuisine has Italian and French influences.
Read MoreArturo’s
Since its opening in 1982, Arturo’s has been one of the most authentic Italian restaurants in the city. The coal oven pizza has garnered a cult following, and Neapolitan pizza lovers should look elsewhere. Thick, crusty and bold, the pizza...
Read MoreBabbo
Serving inventive and elegant Italian, Babbo is the Batali/Bastianich restaurant. Northern Italian fare is traditional in technique but not necessarily in ingredients, which tend to come from Union Square Farmer’s Market as much as Italy. Simply, you cannot go wrong...
Read MoreBalthazar
Some mornings, there is no more restorative act than having breakfast at Balthazar. Just walking into the bustle and flow of that big Soho eating room is a mood-changer. The power of owner Keith McNally’s theatrical vision—great gilt-framed mirrors tilted...
Read MoreBar Boulud
Located directly across Broadway from Lincoln Center’s main entrance, Boulud’s casual eatery offers a full bistro menu featuring classics such as coq au vin, escargots and steak frites. But the real star of the menu is the wonderful selection of...
Read MoreBarbetta
Open since 1906 and a favorite location for Woody Allen movies, this old-world restaurant is decorated with 18th-century Piemontese furniture and antiques. The staff is well accustomed to the theater crowd and will get you out the door in time...
Read MoreBG Restaurant
On the 7th floor of New York’s most stylish department store, this restaurant draws ladies who lunch and midtown shoppers. The enfilade of rooms face Central Park and has been glammed up by LA designer Kelly Wearstler to create the...
Read MoreBlue Ribbon Brasserie
Blue Ribbon restaurants are always three things, warm, sophisticated and rich in chef spotting. Open until 4 AM, this New York institution is especially known for its late-night dining scene, home to after-service diners. Regulars include chefs such as Bobby...
Read MoreCafé Gitane
This Nolita mainstay is a great choice for breakfast or brunch (don't miss the baked eggs and avocado toast). On nice days you can sit outside on the street and observe the crowds strolling Mott Street. There’s a second branch...
Read MoreCafé Habana
Passersby can expect to see a line out the door of Café Habana on almost any day of the week. This old-school Dominican diner is extremely popular for both its delicious Cuban food and its history. Owner and founder Sean...
Read MoreCasa Lever
The Midtown power-lunch set adore this modernist dining room decorated with Warhol silkscreens. A seafood-heavy menu is overseen by longtime Sant Ambroeus chef Mario Danieli.
Read MoreDaniel
One of New York’s most celebrated culinary temples, headed by star chef Daniel Boulud, this restaurant was designed by Adam Tihany (of Per Se and Le Cirque fame). The dining room and bar area look fresh and inspired, while still...
Read MoreElio’s
Despite the family feel of this Upper East Side classic, (its sometimes haughty vibe can be off-putting if you’re not a part of the “club”), moneyed and high-powered regulars have been frequenting this old-school spot for years. But this air...
Read MoreEstiatorio Milos
This Midtown Mediterranean joint specializes in simple, fresh fish, as evidenced by the sprawling display of just-caught seafood, from which diners can select their meal. To maintain the purity of the fish, Estiatorio Milos goes light on sauces, serving most...
Read MoreFelice
Felice’s warm, relaxed ambience with subdued lighting, exposed brick walls and leather seats feels like that of a wine bar tucked away on one of Florence’s streets. The restaurant serves classic Tuscan flavors paired with excellent wines. There is another...
Read MoreGramercy Tavern
This was the first collaboration of “dream team” famed restaurateur Danny Meyer and chef Tom Colicchio (it opened to huge fanfare in 1994), and it remains top of foodies’ lists for very good reason.
Read MoreHarry Cipriani
Nautical wood paneling lends a yachty aura to this restaurant, the Cipriani family crown jewel. The tables and chairs are so small that they seem designed for life below deck, yet the crowd still packs in nightly. The chef does...
Read MoreI Sodi
Upon leaving the fashion industry, Italy native Rita Sodi dreamt of opening a restaurant where she could recreate her mother’s traditional Tuscan recipes. As a result, I Sodi was born and has since become a neighborhood favorite of West Villagers....
Courtesy Il BucoRead MoreIl Buco
Il Buco specializes in Italian and Mediterranean-inspired small plates, and does so exceptionally. The cluttered, charming restaurant oozes farmhouse chic with rustic wooden tables, low-lighting and copper pots dangling from the ceiling. The seasonal menu is constantly changing, which may...
Read MoreIl Mulino
Il Mulino has been one of the highest-rated restaurants in New York since the 1990s. The Italian spot prides itself on the authenticity of its expertly crafted dishes, which are inspired by the fertile region of Abruzzo. The restaurant puts...
Read MoreJ.G. Melon
This classic Upper East Side institution serves what is considered by many to be the best burger in NYC. Open since 1972, the no-frills spot channels a laid-back, preppy vibe, which can be refreshing in a neighborhood teeming with Michelin...
Read MoreJean-Georges
Chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten has created a wealth of renowned dining establishments around the world, but his namesake restaurant is the jewel of the empire. Jean-Georges presents exquisitely crafted dishes blending French, American and Asian influences, which have won the restaurant...
Read MoreLa Grenouille
This old-world French restaurant is a favorite among New Yorkers who love Paris and the old days. Order the soufflé, or other classics like Dover sole, settle in and appreciate the stunning flower arrangements.
La Marchande’s booth seating. Courtesy The Wall Street HotelRead MoreLa Marchande
On the site of the former Tontine Coffee House—where in 1792 a group of brokers signed the the Buttonwood Agreement, eventually leading to the creation of the New York Stock Exchange—La Marchande is a far cry from a colonial-era café....
Read MoreLe Bernardin
Éric Ripert, who has been heading the kitchen at Le Bernardin since the early nineties, may do the occasional stint on TV show Top Chef, but unlike some other super chefs, he doesn’t have numerous outposts or commercial deals, preferring...
Read MoreLe Bilboquet
This Upper East Side dining institution returned in late 2013 after a brief hiatus, during which devotees were forced to go months without the tony spot’s signature Cajun chicken. Located three blocks away from its original location, the new Bilboquet...
Read MoreLe Charlot
This quaint French brasserie is an all-time favorite on the Upper East Side. Do not expect the most seamless service, but it’s still a great neighborhood spot for classic French food in a familiar scene. Highlights on the menu include...
Le Gratin. Courtesy The BeekmanRead MoreLe Gratin
Inside the downtown Beekman Hotel, Le Gratin is Michelin-star chef Daniel Boulud's answer to the bouchons and bistros of his hometown of Lyon, France. Channeling a classic French brasserie with banquette seating, marble floors and coffered ceilings, the restaurant features...
Read MoreLittle Owl
This restaurant is located on one of the most picturesque streets in the West Village. The meatball sliders are the perfect way to start your meal and you can’t go wrong with the pork chop or fish dishes. There’s always...
Read MoreMarc Forgione
Food Network chef Marc Forgione opened his namesake restaurant in 2008, and the mostly-seafood restaurant is now a classic. The Tribeca space is rustic and friendly, and the chili lobster and chicken under a brick are top notch. The downtown...
Read MoreMezzaluna
An Upper East Side institution since opening in 1984, Mezzaluna offers a tasteful ambiance, though its scene can get lively (for the neighborhood). Although the restaurant can be incredibly crowded at times, rubbing shoulders with fellow foodies is a small...
Read MoreMichael’s
Michael’s is really three restaurants. Early in the mornings, business folk do grownup deals over enlightened breakfast fare (like muesli, McCann’s oatmeal, egg white omelettes or vegetable frittatas) as the sunlight streams in, illuminating David Hockney paintings. At lunch, Michael’s...
Read MoreMinetta Tavern
Hot spot is often code for good scene, bad food, worse service. At Minetta, the servers are friendly, the atmosphere always fun and the food actually worth the wait, particularly if you splurge a week’s calorie count on the artery-busting...
Read MoreMorandi
Another one of Keith McNally’s home runs, Morandi is a West Village tavern meets traditional Italian trattoria that buzzes with energy while maintaining the laid-back village vibe. The food, while pricey, always delivers and because of the restaurant's size, you...
Read MorePeriyali
Periyali, the Greek word for coastline, is the perfect name for this upscale yet unpretentious spot, which is known for being one of the first places to introduce quality Greek food and wine to the city. White walls accompanied by...
Read MoreRaoul’s
Despite opening in the 1970’s, Raoul’s is still pulsing with the city’s well-heeled seven days a week. The Soho mainstay serves classic French bistro cuisine and an excellent steak au poivre. Patrons can choose between sitting in the main dining...
Read MoreRuss & Daughters Café
Even more so than the original, Russ & Daughters Café is New York City in a nutshell. The restaurant-style deli features an effortlessly cool dining room, resulting in a clientele so diverse you’d be surprised not to find an 80-something...
Read MoreRuss and Daughters
Russ and Daughters is an example of an establishment that has remained popular for over a century (it opened in 1914). In the heart of the Lower East Side, this is the mecca for bagels and lox. Grab-and-go deli counter...
Read MoreSalumeria Rosi Parmacotto
Chef Cesare Casella is about as authentic and old school as Italian chefs get, and so are his restaurants. In fact, Casella is often seen in the kitchen with a rosemary boutineer. This is earthy unpretentious Italian food with very...
Read MoreSfoglia
Quaint, romantic and a bit nostalgic, Sfoglia is a nice break from the hustle and bustle of trendy restaurants often found in the restaurant pages or downtown. Due to its quality food and cult following, snagging a table during dinner...
Read MoreSushi Yasuda
Your first experience at Sushi Yasuda is like an initiation to a private club. An authentic sushi bar with a reputation for the freshest fish in the city, Yasuda has highly trained chefs who practice a tradition, rather than just...
Courtesy Bjorn WallanderRead MoreTemple Court
Tom Colicchio of Top Chef fame has opened Temple Court inside the downtown Beekman Hotel as an ode to old-world New York restaurants. Interiors are opulent and clubby, with stained glass, marbleized floors, table lamps and grand chandeliers. The menu features...
Courtesy Rockwell GroupRead MoreUnion Square Café
Restaurateur Danny Meyer's famed Union Square Café reopened at the end of 2016 to much fanfare and took over a new, larger space just blocks from the original location. The look is decidedly refreshed, but still retains elements of the...
