🌭 NEW YORK

My top-top NYC dining recommendations, by cuisine.

Photo: Courtesy of Uma Chalik

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Table of Contents:

1. My Favorite Restaurants

2. Dinner, By Cuisine

3. Breakfast & Lunch

4. Bars

5. Coffee

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It’s New York — home to the best restaurants in the world — so, answering the question of, “what’s your favorite restaurant in the city?” is never simple. BUT, if I had to choose my top-top recommendations for each cuisine…

• Here’s my NYC Hit List

This guide is for those visiting New York. It’s the places that have been around, and never disappoint.

If you want to make sure you get the best of the city’s food & drink, I’ve got you covered.

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WHERE TO EAT

🤌 My Favorite Restaurants (more details on all of these places below)

1. The Four Horsemen - A Brooklyn wine bar with a rotating menu.

2. Estela - Candle-lit wine bar on Houston. Have a solo-dinner at the bar and chat with the bartenders.

3. Diner - Williamsburg hidden gem! laid back atmosphere, changing seasonal menu

4. Torrisi - You know this place because it’s so hard to get into, but it really never disappoints. Talk about getting a sense of the New York energy. This is it.

5. 4 Charles Prime Rib - very hard to get a reservation here, so take what you can get

6. Raoul’s - buzzy, steak frites, the most classic NYC scene

L to R: Four Horsemen, 4 Charles

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DINNER

‘New American’, Candle-lit wine bars and small spots with all-around good vibes.

1. ⭐ The Four Horsemen - one of my favorite restaurants in NY! A wine bar with a changing menu from LCD Soundsystem’s James Murphy.

   1. To Order: Bread & butter, Tuna Crudo

2. ⭐ Estela - one of my favorite dinner spots in NY! Sit at the bar/ chat with the team

   1. To Order: Endive salad & beef tartare

3. ⭐ Diner - Williamsburg hidden gem! laid back atmosphere, changing seasonal menu

   1. To Order: Caesar salad & Burger - go big on apps!

ITALIAN

1. Bar Pitti - walk-in only, quick meal of piping hot pasta & waiters yelling in Italian

2. Lilia or Misi - must-go to one of Chef Missy Robbins restaurants!

3. Via Carota - old school Italian in the west village that’s perfect for lunch or dinner

L to R: Bar Pitti, Misi

KOREAN

1. Jeju Noodle Bar - I didn’t know I loved Korean food so much until I came to Jeju! Definitely my favorite high-end Korean in NY in a contemporary, dim-lit space.

2. Cote Korean Steakhouse - Korean BBQ that feels casual but is high-end, hard res

3. Moono - exceptional space and amazing Korean; intimate + special

JAPANESE

1. Sushi Katsuei - ($$$) go for the omakase. Casual (but expensive), hole in the wall spot with really fresh fish

2. Omakase Room by Mitsu - ($$$) a special occasion place, 8-seat omakase bar

3. Nakaji NYC - ($$$$) Traditional, high-end omakase down an alleyway in Chinatown. Worth coming early for a whiskey highball at the bar. A good pick for a no-frills special occasion dinner.

L to R: Omakase Room by Mitsu, Cervo's

FRENCH

1. ⭐ Raf’s - ($$) A forever favorite, especially for a cozy winter night. Great date spot and an amazing atmosphere with an open kitchen. Don’t

2. ⭐ Raoul’s - ($$) buzzy energy, steak frites, and a NYC classic

3. Le French Diner - ($$) A very tiny casual spot on the LES (5 tables max) with amazing french food!

   1. Walk-in only (I’d recommend putting your name down early and walking around/grabbing wine in the neighborhood)

‘FEELS LIKE NEW YORK’

1. ⭐ The Grill - ($$$) Put on a fur coat and chase your dinner with a few dirty martinis!

2. ⭐ JG Melon - ($) An uptown NY institution, cash only burger spot, walk-in only.

3. ⭐ The Polo Bar: Ralph Lauren Restaurant - ($$$) fancy, cozy, legendary place.

4. Corner Bistro - ($) walk-in burger joint downtown

   1. Great to come late night or for a solo dinner and a beer at the bar

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BREAKFAST | LUNCH

‘FEELS LIKE NEW YORK’

1. Bubby’s Tribeca - pancakes, BLT, cozy cozy & perfect with a group or kids

2. Sant Ambroeus - sceney; WV location is more romantic, Soho is more ‘see and be seen’

3. S&P - classic jewish deli/sandwich shop to sit in

   1. Court Street Grocers if you prefer grab & go - amazing sandwiches!

4. Katz Delicatessen - Google says, and I agree: “No-frills deli with theatrically cranky service serving mile-high sandwiches since 1888.”

   1. They forgot to mention PASTRAMI. Come here late-night.

BARS

1. ⭐ Bemelmans Bar - uptown, you’ve heard of it, it’s fabulous

2. Mulberry Bar - pre-dinner downtown

3. Temple Bar - pre-dinner downtown

4. Attaboy - dim-lit, ‘cool’ speakeasy, pre-dinner downtown

COFFEE

Café Leon Dore

Follow my Google Map: NYC Best Coffee Shops

1. ⭐ Café Leon Dore - Greek coffee and desserts. The Freddo cappucino is my favorite iced cappuccino in NYC!

2. La Cabra - Originally from Denmark, as evident from the design and the cardamom buns, La Cabra coffee and pastries are excellent! The East Village location is very small and hard to get a seat at, but Soho has more space.

3. Jack’s Stir Brew - Grab & go coffee in the west village and at the J Crew on Bond St.

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