The best restaurants in New York for first-timers
New York City is one of the most vital cities on the planet. Full of boundless energy, interesting people and fabulous restaurants (over 24,000 of them!), one will never find themselves twiddling their thumbs whilst visiting the Big Apple – nor will they go hungry. Together, as a food writer (Phillippa), born-and-bred New Yorker (Antonia) and New York transplant (Tal), we've combed through our personal list of our favourite New York restaurants, carefully choosing 21 of the most unmissable spots to visit during your New York holiday, from long-established classics to the city's hottest, newest spots (and one bagel joint – it is New York City, after all).
What famous food is New York City known for? Where do you go?
Home to over eight million people hailing from nearly every corner of the world, New York City has always been a melting pot. Indeed, immigrants make up the fabric of New York City – and its culinary culture. It is no wonder, then, that the overall ‘cuisine’ of New York City cannot be exacted or pinned down and is instead a sum of its many multi-cultural parts. To truly experience New York and its dynamism, visiting its different neighbourhoods (and eating at their local establishments) is vital. Get noodles and dumplings in Chinatown or Flushing, Greek salads and spanakopita in Astoria, pierogis in Williamsburg, Greepoint or the East Village, cornbread and collard greens in Harlem and tostones and papas a la Huancaina in Bushwick.
Despite the differences in culture and cuisine across New York's five boroughs, there are a few select foods that are truly ‘New York’, ones that natives – no matter their origin story – love, fight for, and, of course, eat with gusto, from hot dogs and salted pretzels sold from street carts to bagels schmeared with cream cheese in delis and bodegas (indeed, a New York bagel is a beautiful, special thing, as the city's ideal soft water that trickles down from the Catskills in upstate New York has profound effect on New York bagels' softness and chew).
We've gathered a helpful list of New York City's most famous foods (and have included some of our favourite go-to spots to find them):
- Pizza
Where to go: Joe's, Roberta's, Pauli Gee's and Scarr's - Bagels
Where to go: Russ & Daughters, H&H Bagels and Leon's - Matzoh ball soup
Where to go: S&P Lunch Counter, Zabar's and Barney Greengrass - Hot dogs
Where to go: any street cart vendor – especially the guys stationed at the entrances on West 81st Street and Central Park West, Shake Shack, CitiField Stadium and Nathan's - Pastrami sandwiches
Where to go: Katz's Delicatessen, Second Avenue Deli and Frankel's Delicatessen & Appetizing - Cronuts
Where to go: straight to the source (and inventor) himself, Dominique Ansel and his eponymous bakery - Black and white cookies
Where to go: William Greenberg Desserts, Russ & Daughters and Kossar's Bialys - New York-style cheesecake
Where to go: Eileen's, Peter Luger and Veniero's Pasticceria & Café - BECs (a bacon-egg-and-cheese sandwich on a roll)
Where to go: your local, friendly bodega
The best restaurants in New York
1/21Lilia, Williamsburg
Chef Missy Robbins opened this Italian-American restaurant in a converted warehouse in Brooklyn's Williamsburg in the winter of 2016 and it's had a never-ending line of people clambering for a table ever since. The pasta is the real star of the show on the menu (the pink peppercorn mafaldine is one of my favourite dishes of all time) but the seasonal focaccia (think roasted leek focaccia) with green butter is to die for, as is the wood-fired seafood. Dessert is also a must, naturally. And the off-the-menu dessert called The Italian Job is an explosion of mouth-watering flavours. It's a soft-serve vanilla ice cream topped with fennel pollen, honey and olive oil.
Securing a resy here can be tricky and if your hotel concierge can't get you in then the best way to grab a table is to call the reservation line by phone exactly 30 days in advance at 11am. Failing that, there's also a cafe next door which serves various pastries and sandwiches as well as the Italian Job ice cream. - Tal Dekel-Daks
lilianewyork.com/menu
567 Union Avenue Corner Of North 10th + Union, Brooklyn, New York, NY 11222
2/21Gramercy Tavern, Flatiron
New York's most beloved restaurant for over two decades, Gramercy Tavern is a must-visit for any first-timer – or veteran, for that matter. With a more casual-cool ‘tavern’ in the front, which serves seasonal produce cooked to perfection as well as excellent cocktails and killer wines by the glass, you're bound to have a grand New York time. For something a bit more upscale (it is a Michelin-starred restaurant, after all), reserve a table in the restaurant's warmly-lit, beautifully designed back dining rooms (done by Bentel & Bentel, the same New York-based architecture team behind other classic New York foodie destinations including Craft, The Modern and Le Bernardin). There, either opt for the reliably good tasting menu or for their daily à la carte options, all lovingly prepared by Chef Michael Anthony and his fabulous team. (Need an insider tip? The ‘Tavern burger’ can be ordered off-menu in either dining room and is one of the best cheeseburgers in New York, maybe even the world). Antonia Bentel
Address 42 E 20th Street, New York, NY 10003
gramercytavern.com
Stacy Walsh Rosenstock / Alamy Stock Photo3/21Fanelli Café, SoHo
Over the past few decades, Manhattan's SoHo neighbourhood has seen immense changes; what were once derelict streets lined with iron forgeries and artist's lofts are now clean cobblestone lanes crammed with designer shops and five-star hotels. However, one true SoHo mainstay has remained untransformed: Fanelli's and its neon sign. A dark dive bar serving cheap beer, chicken tenders and cheesecake since 1847, Fanelli Café has been the go-to watering hole for SoHo locals for over a century – and will continue to be for decades on, even after the Saint Laurents, Pradas and influencer crowds disappear. AB
Address 94 Prince Street, New York, NY 10012
fanellicafe.nyc
4/21Laser Wolf, Williamsburg
Hummus with a side of Manhattan skyline, anyone? Perched atop the newly-opened Hoxton Hotel in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, Laser Wolf is fast becoming one of New York's most popular restaurants. Serving Israeli-style sharing plates and excellent cocktails, the restaurant is an excellent option for those hoping to mingle with hip Brooklynites – and take in stunning views overlooking lower Manhattan. AB
Address 97 Wythe Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11249
laserwolfbrooklyn.com
5/21Craft, Flatiron
On a quiet street in Manhattan's Flatiron neighbourhood sits one of New York's finest restaurants, Craft. Founded and run by chef Tom Colicchio of Top Chef fame, the restaurant has been serving fresh, farm-to-table dishes family style long before it became trendy. Its space – also designed by Bentel & Bentel, the same New York-based architects behind Le Bernardin, The Modern and Gramercy Tavern – is elegantly understated, perfectly lit by low-hanging Tesla lightbulbs, a Craft signature. AB
Address 43 E 19th St, New York, NY 10003
craftrestaurant.com
6/21S&P Lunch, Flatiron
Once an iconic Jewish deli serving tuna melts and Reubens to the Midtown lunch crowd since the 1920s, S&P Lunch was recently revived by the crew behind Brooklyn's famed Court Street Grocers (and, coincidentally, Nicholas Braun aka Cousin Greg from Succession). The lunch spot is the perfect combination of old school New York with more modern, foodie sensibilities – and a must for all out-of-towners and New Yorkers alike. Opt to sit at the original counter with barstool seating (although, for larger crowds, there are a few fourtop tables at the back) and order one of their excellent sandwiches (they're known for their pastrami, though I am personally partial to their buttery BLT, an American classic) and do not miss the rugelach, baked fresh every morning. AB
Address 174 5th Ave, New York, NY 10010
sandwich.place
Laperruque / Alamy Stock Photo7/21Russ & Daughters, Lower East Side
If you know New York, even just a little, you know that its residents take their bagel seriously, each having their own specific order and go-to shop. And while bagels are indeed everywhere, for first-timers and the bagel-curious, let your New York bagel experience start at Russ & Daughters. Founded in 1904 by a Jewish immigrant on the Lower East Side neighbourhood of New York as a classic ‘appetizing’ deli, Russ & Daughters has endured over a century of tough, bagel-obsessed New Yorkers, making their own lox in house and boiling hundreds of bagels each day. Head over for a schmear and take with you a few sweet rugelach for the road – bagel heaven. AB
Address 179 East Houston Street, New York, NY 10002
russanddaughters.com
8/21Cosme, Flatiron
This stylish contemporary Mexican restaurant is up there with the world’s best eateries. Despite being an uber-cool, dimly lit space filled with dazzlingly beautiful people, the sophisticated food is approachable with no hint of pretension.Your waiter will explain the intriguing sounding menu (unless you are already familiar with items like butternut tumai, ha’sikil p’ak, castelrosso) and guide you through the sharing plates. The warm homemade tacos, which may be served with duck carnitas, onions, radishes and cilantro or Berkshire pork chop, maple and chicatanas are irresistible, and the excellent tequila cocktails are a must. PD
Address 35 E 21st St, New York, NY 10010
cosmenyc.com
9/21Frankie's 457 Spuntino, Carroll Gardens
Those on the hunt for really, really good Italian food may be overwhelmed with options in New York. However, if you only have one chance to eat Italian, make sure you take it at Frankie's 457 Spuntino. On a brownstone-lined street in Brooklyn's hipster-chic Carroll Gardens neighbourhood, you will feel instantly drawn to the warmly-lit, brick-walled restaurant, smells of fresh sage and frying sausages wafting around you. Great house-made pastas are to be found here (they're famous for their cavatelli with hot sausage and browned sage butter); if you're only peckish, order a sharing board of antipasti or a few crostini for the table. If you've become a Frankie's convert by the end of your meal (and I expect you will), ask for a tin bottle of their in-house Calabrian chili oil, to bring a piece of Frankie's home with you. AB
Address 457 Court Street, Brooklyn, NY 11231
frankiesspuntino.com
10/21Grand Central Oyster Bar & Restaurant, Midtown East
Deep in the vaulted belly of Grand Central Terminal, Midtown’s spectacular railway station, lies a 440-seat bar and restaurant which has been serving platters of shucked oysters and fresh fish for over 100 years. There’s an oyster bar, oyster counters, restaurant and a lounge bar to choose from; I suggest you pick the one that looks busiest. Don’t be overwhelmed by the massive menu packed full of America's best seafood offerings–it’s all so good you can’t go wrong. There’s a strong wine list, but many patrons take advantage of the legendary Martinis and Dark n’ Stormy cocktails to accompany their oysters. Whilst here, don't miss a trip upstairs to The Campbell Bar, an ornate cocktail lounge in the converted office of a wealthy 1920s financier. PD
Address 89 E 42nd St, New York, NY 10017
oysterbarny.com
11/21Bar Pisellino, West Village
At the sharp corner where 7th Avenue and Grove Street converge in Manhattan's West Village neighbourhood is the tiny Italian jem of a bar, Pisellino. Standing at the stained wood bar or crammed next to strangers sipping tart negroni sbagliatos and teeny tiny porcelain cups of espresso, you might think that you somehow took the subway not to Christopher Street, but to Piazza del Duomo. Serving coffee and Italian pastry by day and excellent spritzes, wines and finger sandwiches by night, this is a must-visit for those hanging around the West Village (especially for those waiting for a table at Bar Pisellino's other two walk-in only establishments on Grove Street, Via Carota and Buvette). AB
Address 52 Grove Street, New York, NY 10014
barpisellino.com
Faraway Photos / Alamy Stock Photo12/21Balthazar, SoHo
In a city that changes in a New York minute (sorry, I had to), there are few spots which earn the title as a ‘classic joint’ – especially one as ‘scene-y’ as Balthazar. The crown jewel of the New York brunch world, the all-day restaurant slings out a combination of French and American-esque dishes, from eggs Benedict to duck confit (and one Franco-American fusion: a New York strip steak ‘au poivre’). Helmed by the infamous restauranteur Keith McKnally, whose Notting Hill house was featured in H&G back in 2019, the restaurant certainly has spirit – and a star-studded list of faithful regulars, from Anna Wintour to Sienna Miller (just don't ask about James Corden). AB
Address 80 Spring Street, New York, NY 10012
balthazarny.com
13/21Manhatta, FiDi
Hunting for the most impressive view of New York’s iconic skyline is an essential part of any visit to the city. Look no further than Manhatta. From the 60th floor of no. 28 Liberty in the Financial District you can enjoy epic views and some of the finest food in town. When you’re not gazing out of the window you might catch sight of the chefs preparing your three course prix-fixe menu, a steal at $94. Dishes could include butter poached lobster with wheat berries, eggplant and summer squash or Four Story Hill Farm chicken with gem lettuce, cherry hot sauce & corn pudding. As with many upscale New York restaurants the space manages to combine elegant luxury with a friendly, relaxed atmosphere. And it’s one of the few no tipping restaurants in town. PD
Address 28 Liberty St 60th floor, New York, NY 10005
manhattarestaurant.com
14/21Rubirosa, Nolita
This is the very definition of a lively neighbourhood New York Italian restaurant and is the perfect spot to end your day after taking in the sights. Suitable for families, couples and solo dining, the warren-like restaurant is always packed so make sure you book ahead. The menu offers a hearty choice of Italian-American classics and an impressive range of home-made pastas. Make sure you order at least one of their infamous paper-thin crust pizzas - so large they have to be hovered above the tables. You will be surprised how easy it is to devour the entire plate, and yes, the vodka pizza with tomato and fresh mozzarella is as delicious as it sounds. PD
Address 235 Mulberry St, New York, NY 10012
rubirosanyc.com
15/21Cote, Flatiron
Visiting an American steakhouse in NYC is of course a must, but for a truly spectacular experience I recommend you book a table at Cote, a buzzy Michelin starred Korean barbecue restaurant. Serving their own dry-aged, highest quality USDA prime beef, this restaurant takes meat to a whole new level. With your own smokeless grill set into the table, you can watch the waiters gliding through the dark, neon-lit room, expertly seasoning and grilling every morsel of meat to perfection. The set menu ‘Butchers Feast’ is an excellent way to try a selection of the best cuts and includes a table full of sides including a savoury egg soufflé, a kimchi stew and some lively Korean-inspired salads.Whilst there make sure you allow time to visit Undercote downstairs, one of New York’s coolest and friendliest cocktail bars. PD
Address 16 W 22nd St, New York, NY 10010, USA
cotenyc.com
16/21Frenchette, Tribeca
Plan ahead to secure a table at what is still one of Manhattan’s hottest restaurants. This upscale French bistro, which also serves an excellent selection of natural wines, will appeal to those who really love to eat. Think luscious plates of foie gras pâté, grilled quail with figs & radish and roast chicken with buttery mash to share. They do take a number of walk-ins each night but to avoid missing out on all the fun, booking is highly recommended. Most restaurants in NYC use reservation apps which are worth downloading, and note they may expect credit card details to secure your booking. PD
Address 241 W Broadway, New York, NY 10013
frenchettenyc.com
Robert K. Chin - Storefronts / Alamy Stock Photo17/21Joe's Shanghai, Chinatown
No one – and I mean no one – should leave New York without heading down to Chinatown for a long wander – and excellent meal. Of course, there are plenty of excellent restaurants from which to choose, from dim sum to Peking duck to bao, but there are none as great – and authentically ‘New York’ – as Joe's Shanghai. Though its interiors are not as highfalutin as the other restaurants on this list, do not let this deter you: Joe's proves that beauty is not skin deep, but can be found in a steaming basket of pork and shrimp soup dumplings, scallion pancakes and a massive serving platter of perfectly crisp chicken and broccoli in sticky General Tso's sauce. AB
Address 46 Bowery, New York, NY 10013
joesshanghairestaurants.com
18/21Union Square Café, Union Square
For over 30 years Union Square Café has been a Manhattan institution loved equally by locals and tourists, even when it moved and reopened to 19th Street. Oozing effortless charm and panache, the two-tiered bar and restaurant attracts a well-heeled but laid-back crowd. Inspiration is drawn from Italy, France and California, so expect to find dishes like fluke crudo with watermelon, radish and mint, homemade pappardelle pasta with duck ragu and chanterelles and the ultimate soft shell crab Po’ Boy sandwich. PD
Address 101 E 19th St, New York, NY 10003
unionsquarecafe.com
19/21J.G. Melon, Upper East Side
As a native New Yorker, I'd be remiss if I did not include my childhood favourite and Upper East Side icon, J.G. Melon. The cash-only pub has been slinging out burgers and coin-shaped ‘cottage fries’ since the 1950s, serving generations of ad-men, uniformed schoolchildren and Park Avenue princesses alike. Open 'til 3am, too, it is safe to say this place has seen it all. A true neighbourhood joint, J.G. Melon has real soul – and the best cheeseburger in town (especially when paired with an old-fashioned cherry Coke). AB
Address 1291 3rd Avenue, New York, NY 10021
jgmelon-nyc.com
20/21King, West Village
If you need a change of pace from the bustle of the city streets and feel you simply can’t face another loud, trendy and dimly-lit dining room, then this intimate southern Franco-Italian restaurant is a tonic. The small menu changes daily and offers elegant seasonal dishes served on simple, round white plates. These may include hand cut fresh ricotta ravioli with pesto alla Genovese, yellow peaches with purslane and coco blanc or pork chop grilled over thyme branches. The quietly tasteful lighting, music and décor, makes this the perfect place to reflect and relax. PD
Address 18 King St, New York, NY 10014
kingrestaurant.nyc
21/21Momofuku Noodle Bar, East Village
Much like the streets of New York, this beloved noodle bar can feel fast and frantic, but also rather fun. Almost every dish is a crowd-pleaser, but if you need help choosing, they serve some of the best steamed buns on earth, filled with pork belly and hoisin. Save room for their comforting bowls of steaming hot ramen with barley noodles–they arrive with a mix of ingredients that changes daily, like spiced beef, pickled shiitake or Sichuan sausage. Bookings are not accepted but there are plenty of bars in the area to pass the time while you wait. PD
Address 171 1st Avenue, New York, NY 10003
momofukunoodlebar.com
