Rooftop bar with stunning views of the city, day or night. The drinks are pricey, but arguably worth it for the ambiance and location. It's recommend to book beforehand - getting a seat can sometimes prove tough.
Indoor beerhall and outdoor garden serving both craft and Czech brews. A great place for social drinks - be it with family or friends. Pair a tankard with either some deep-fried perogies, or a grilled Bratwurst.
Community, 24 hour parties, food trucks, and underground sound - Nowadays is an indoor-outdoor party venue and social hub. The backyard is a beer garden with picnic tables. Inside is a bar and dance floor. Book tickets for large events.
Lively Cuban restaurant opening directly onto the cobblestones of pedestrian-only Stone Street. Trays of frozen margaritas and pressed Cubano sandwiches land on packed outdoor tables over a steady soundtrack of Latin music.
Tiny Hell's Kitchen wine bar serving Italian small plates and daily pastas across communal subway-tile counters. Hundreds of bottles line the walls of the tight room, keeping the bar stools close and elbow room at a premium.
Upper East Side neighborhood staple filling its retro booths and glass-enclosed patio with families. The open kitchen flips crunchy French toast for a crowd that often spills onto the sidewalk during the weekend brunch rush.
Compact sushi counter near Central Park turning out quick, made-to-order hand rolls. The small shop runs on strict efficiency, handing over crisp-wrapped temaki for a fast meal at the sidewalk tables or takeout to the park.
Seafood-focused Italian spot on a West Village corner, with a menu of playful dishes like shrimp parm. The buttery yellow room has a buzzy energy and a pewter bar pouring martinis made with garlic-bread-infused vodka.
Intimate, 22-seat Vietnamese wine bar pouring natural vintages and Asian rice wines alongside savory house-made ice cream. Vietnamese new wave plays as glasses of makgeolli and scoops of fish sauce caramel hit the marble bar.
Busy Nolita takeout window slinging gluten-free Thai fried chicken and street snacks. Paper trays of crispy tenders, curry puff mozzarella sticks, and taro tapioca donuts go straight to the sidewalk or a few covered tables.
St. Marks slice shop with unusually generous seating for the neighborhood. Crispy vodka and burrata slices get finished with fresh olive oil and grated cheese before hitting the wooden tables.
Northern Mexican steakhouse grilling prime cuts and regional specialties over a live charcoal fire. The sprawling, hacienda-style room is built for celebrations – expect a Tomahawk steak carved tableside.
Compact West Village pizzeria serving chewy, slow-fermented sourdough pies. Slices topped with pepperoni, burrata, and hot honey move fast from the glass counter to a handful of sidewalk tables late into the night.
Dimly lit sports tavern where locals watch the game from booths in the back. The kitchen serves smashed burgers and a BEC donut; the bar pours creative cocktails like the Irish Buck.
Intimate, 50-seat American steakhouse serving tableside martinis and USDA Prime cuts over white tablecloths on a busy SoHo corner. The tight dining room runs loud and crowded on weekends with date nights and celebratory dinners.
Lively East Village bar and independent bookstore with a historic wooden counter and a working fireplace. Leather armchairs and bar stools fill up early for literary-themed cocktails, evening trivia, and reading over drinks.
Compact Tribeca market and cafe lined with seasonal produce from an upstate farm. The busy counter hands over breakfast sandwiches, fresh pastries, and exceptionally thick hot chocolate topped with a torched marshmallow.
Lower East Side burrito shop serving the Sonoran style: chewy flour tortillas filled with grilled meats and beans, but never rice. This is a tiny, takeout-focused spot where the smell of carne asada fills the street.
Lively Greenpoint bistro running mostly on walk-ins and a packed front bar. The room fills early for cold martinis, double cheeseburgers, and sticky toffee pudding.
Lively East Village dining room serving housemade pastas and oversized spritzes against pistachio plaster walls. The expansive corner patio runs steady through sunset before the zinc bar shifts into a high-energy cocktail scene.
Tiny bakery and kitchen stacking house-made chorizo and eggs onto fresh brioche. With no indoor seats, the crowd takes breakfast to the benches in Tompkins Square Park.
Narrow West Village seafood spot serving crisp fish and chips, grilled skewers, and sticky toffee pudding from an open kitchen. Counter seats face the action while tightly packed tables fill the intimate dining room.
West Village corner restaurant serving precise, seasonal American plates in an earthy, leather-lined dining room. Walk-ins grab bar seats to share warm Parker House rolls, house-made pastas, and bottles from a serious wine list.
Corner cocktail bar mixing fat-washed martinis and spritzes around a walnut horseshoe bar. Hangar doors roll up to the Lower East Side sidewalk for early evening drinks, Italian share plates, and heavy people-watching.
Sixth-floor Williamsburg hotel bar pairing cocktails and natural wine with wide-open Manhattan skyline views. Green velvet banquettes and an outdoor terrace fill up early for sunset drinks and seafood small plates.
Compact Filipino-American cafe in Long Island City pouring ube matcha lattes and serving warm scones alongside chicken adobo bowls. The 500-square-foot corner space doubles as an intimate supper club for multi-course Filipino dinners.
Three-story Lower East Side club layering heavy, late-night dancing over a ground-floor bistro. The glass-enclosed rooftop runs loud and packed, surrounding the dance floor with tropical plants and Williamsburg Bridge views.
Intimate Lower East Side cocktail bar serving freezer martinis alongside late-night burgers and steak frites. The red-lit room stays loud and energetic, with front patio tables spilling out onto the closed street.
Long-standing neighborhood Israeli spot dishing up shakshuka and hummus with warm pita. The lively, compact room is always packed – bar seating is often the quickest way in.
Compact, bustling Australian cafe running a steady trade of flat whites and all-day brunch. Sidewalk benches fill up fast on weekends while tight tables turn over for golden folded eggs and thick avocado toast.
High-volume West Village Mexican restaurant slinging sizzling fajitas and giant margaritas. Large groups and birthday crowds pack the colorful dining room and covered corner patio for a loud, high-energy party.
Tiny West Village patisserie turning out classic Parisian pastries from an unassuming storefront. A few small marble tables sit inside, but most flaky almond croissants and rich blackout cakes go straight out the door.
Dimly lit West Village corner taqueria turning out creative tacos and small plates. The outdoor tables and indoor bar run steady with spicy cucumber margaritas and shared rounds of chips and seven salsas.
Unchanged West Village diner slinging fast, generous breakfast plates from an open grill. Red vinyl stools stay packed for cash-only orders of fluffy pancakes, French toast, and hot coffee at the Formica counter.
Buzzy West Village dining room styled like a retro English members' club. Green leather banquettes and a terrazzo bar stay booked solid for classic cheeseburgers and cocktails.
Bustling Israeli bakery near Union Square running steady with an open kitchen baking fresh breads in small batches all day. The fast-moving counter stacks whole loaves of chocolate babka alongside warm bourekas and sandwiches.
Compact East Village shop pouring deconstructed lattes and precision pour-overs. Laptops are banned in the brick-lined room, prioritizing tasting and talking over coworking.
Casual East Village dining room serving highly customizable macaroni and cheese. Orders go through touchscreen kiosks before bubbling, individual cast-iron skillets land on rustic wooden tables.
Gramercy pub with sawdust on the floor, low beamed ceilings, and a working wood-burning fireplace. Pints of Guinness and plates of shepherd's pie slide across the mahogany bar while sports play on the screens.
SoHo gelato shop spinning fresh batches daily in an on-site lab. Flavors stay tucked under traditional metal pozzetti rather than open display cases, keeping scoops of dense pistachio and dark chocolate perfectly soft.
Expansive all-day Italian hall at the base of the MetLife building. Polished dining rooms and a seasonal garden serve house-made pastas and truffle pizzas steps from Grand Central.
Lively 40-seat NoHo dining room serving Korean-Southern small plates. Meals begin with a complimentary shot of sake before tables fill with oxbone cream pasta, gochujang baby back ribs, and natural wine.
Lively Spanish cantina operating out of a historic Chelsea brownstone. The dark, tavern-style space runs loud and energetic, serving up pitchers of sangria, plates of hot croquettes, and wide pans of seafood paella.
Lively Upper East Side dining room serving duck confit and oysters in the landmark Breuer building. Warm walnut banquettes and heavy concrete columns sit below a rotating backdrop of auction-ready Sotheby's art.
Tiny West Village counter serving massive, soft-baked cinnamon buns loaded with fillings. Weekly rotating flavors like Biscoff or corn bread come served warm until late.
Polished Southeast Asian dining room on the border of SoHo and Chinatown. Tropical cocktails and chili crab fried rice crowd the tables in the dark, plant-filled room.
Long-running downtown restaurant serving massive breakfast plates just south of the World Trade Center. The two-story corner spot runs on heavy morning orders of western omelettes, Belgian waffles, and bagels piled with lox.
Financial District pizzeria serving massive, crispy square pies on a pedestrian-only cobblestone street. Long picnic tables crowd the historic lane for casual, open-air dining from lunch through late evening.
Loud, brightly lit Chinatown dining hall with a busy roast meat carving station and live seafood tanks. Massive platters of Cantonese food and bowls of wonton soup hit spinning lazy susans alongside BYOB drinks.
Tiny Bushwick bakery serving sweet and savory kolaches, breakfast tacos, and Texas pantry staples. The tight grab-and-go setup stays busy all morning, spilling out to lawn chairs on the sidewalk.
