Photo: Diliff / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 3.0Where to Eat in New York City: 50 Restaurants Worth the Trip
New York eats everything: historic steakhouses, coal-oven pizza, and West Village tables that book out in seconds. This guide maps 50 essentials — from Midtown to Brooklyn — with what to order at each.
The must-go list
If you eat at nowhere else in New York City, eat here — ranked, best first.
Peter Luger Steak House
Worth crossing town forLegendary 1887 Williamsburg steakhouse — porterhouse for two. Cash or debit (no credit cards); the porterhouse for two is the order.
Tip: Cash or debit only — the porterhouse for two is the order.
Keens Steakhouse
Worth crossing town forHistoric 1885 chophouse famous for mutton chops and its pipe collection. The mutton chop is the signature; jackets recommended.
Tip: The mutton chop is the signature — jackets recommended.
Joe's Pizza Carmine Street
The original 1975 Joe's: perfect thin-crust slices in the West Village — the Carmine St shop is the original; expect a line.
Tip: The Carmine St shop is the original — expect a line.
Don Angie
Worth crossing town forItalian-American hotspot with the lasagna for two — reservations vanish instantly; the lasagna for two is the order.
Tip: Reservations vanish instantly — the lasagna for two is the order.
L'Artusi
Worth crossing town forBeloved West Village Italian — notoriously hard reservations. Book 30 days out at 10 AM; the olive oil cake is famous.
Tip: Book 30 days out at 10 AM — the olive oil cake is famous.
Lilia
Worth crossing town for
Photo: Allen & Ginter / Wikimedia Commons · CC0Missy Robbins' Williamsburg Italian with handmade pasta — reservations open 30 days ahead; the agnolotti is famous.
Tip: Reservations open 30 days ahead — the agnolotti is famous.
Delmonico's
Worth crossing town for
Photo: Albert Edward Sterner / Wikimedia Commons · Public domainAmerica's first fine-dining restaurant (1837) — birthplace of Eggs Benedict and Baked Alaska. Reservations essential; the Delmonico steak is historic.
Tip: Reservations essential — the Delmonico steak is historic.
Fraunces Tavern
Historic 1762 tavern where Washington bid farewell to his officers — now a restaurant and museum; the museum upstairs covers Revolutionary War history.
Tip: The museum upstairs covers Revolutionary War history.
Lexington Candy Shop
Old-fashioned luncheonette (1925) near the Met with burgers and egg creams — cash only; the egg cream is a must.
Tip: Cash only — the egg cream is a must.
The River Cafe
Worth crossing town forMichelin-starred fine dining under the Brooklyn Bridge with Manhattan views — jackets required; book well ahead for the view tables.
Tip: Jackets required — book well ahead for the view tables.
The Dead Rabbit
World-famous Irish cocktail bar with historic punches and a taproom — multiple 'World's Best Bar' titles; the Irish Coffee is legendary.
Tip: Multiple World's Best Bar titles — the Irish Coffee is legendary.
Levain Bakery
Famous giant gooey cookies at the original 74th Street bakery — the chocolate chip walnut is the classic; expect a line.
Tip: The chocolate chip walnut is the classic — expect a line.
Los Tacos No. 1 Times Square
Bustling taco counter with handmade tortillas — a Times Square standout. The adobada (pork) taco is the signature order.
Tip: The adobada (pork) taco is the signature order.
L&B Spumoni Gardens
Gravesend institution for square Sicilian slices and spumoni — far from central Brooklyn; the square slice with sauce on top is the order.
Tip: The square slice with sauce on top is the order.
Smorgasburg Prospect Park
Weekend food market with dozens of vendors in Prospect Park — runs weekends; check schedule for dates.
Tip: Runs weekends — check schedule for dates.
Browse every spot
Numbers match the map — tap a pin to jump to its card, or a number to find it on the map.
67 of 67 places
Peter Luger Steak House
Worth crossing town forLegendary 1887 Williamsburg steakhouse — porterhouse for two. Cash or debit (no credit cards); the porterhouse for two is the order.
Keens Steakhouse
Worth crossing town forHistoric 1885 chophouse famous for mutton chops and its pipe collection. The mutton chop is the signature; jackets recommended.
Joe's Pizza Carmine Street
The original 1975 Joe's: perfect thin-crust slices in the West Village — the Carmine St shop is the original; expect a line.
Don Angie
Worth crossing town forItalian-American hotspot with the lasagna for two — reservations vanish instantly; the lasagna for two is the order.
L'Artusi
Worth crossing town forBeloved West Village Italian — notoriously hard reservations. Book 30 days out at 10 AM; the olive oil cake is famous.
Lilia
Worth crossing town forMissy Robbins' Williamsburg Italian with handmade pasta — reservations open 30 days ahead; the agnolotti is famous.
Delmonico's
Worth crossing town forAmerica's first fine-dining restaurant (1837) — birthplace of Eggs Benedict and Baked Alaska. Reservations essential; the Delmonico steak is historic.
Fraunces Tavern
Historic 1762 tavern where Washington bid farewell to his officers — now a restaurant and museum; the museum upstairs covers Revolutionary War history.
Lexington Candy Shop
Old-fashioned luncheonette (1925) near the Met with burgers and egg creams — cash only; the egg cream is a must.
The River Cafe
Worth crossing town forMichelin-starred fine dining under the Brooklyn Bridge with Manhattan views — jackets required; book well ahead for the view tables.
The Dead Rabbit
World-famous Irish cocktail bar with historic punches and a taproom — multiple 'World's Best Bar' titles; the Irish Coffee is legendary.
Levain Bakery
Famous giant gooey cookies at the original 74th Street bakery — the chocolate chip walnut is the classic; expect a line.
Los Tacos No. 1 Times Square
Bustling taco counter with handmade tortillas — a Times Square standout. The adobada (pork) taco is the signature order.
L&B Spumoni Gardens
Gravesend institution for square Sicilian slices and spumoni — far from central Brooklyn; the square slice with sauce on top is the order.
Smorgasburg Prospect Park
Weekend food market with dozens of vendors in Prospect Park — runs weekends; check schedule for dates.
Becco
Lidia Bastianich's Theater District Italian with an all-you-can-eat pasta special — the $29 Sinfonia di Paste (three pastas) is a great deal.
Best Pizza
Beloved wood-fired pizza counter in Williamsburg serving classic New York slices plus whole pies and heroes.
Brooklyn Ice Cream Factory
Waterfront ice cream shop in DUMBO with bridge views — the peach and butter pecan are standouts.
Cafe Boulud
Boulud's Upper East Side French bistro with classic technique — the burger at the bar is a local legend.
Cafe Sabarsky
Viennese cafe in the Neue Galerie with sachertorte and Wiener schnitzel — no reservations; go off-peak to avoid lines.
Carmine's
The original Carmine's family-style Southern Italian restaurant on Broadway between 90th and 91st St, serving shareable platters of pasta, seafood and meat in a former ballroom with vaulted ceilings; lunch and dinner daily.
Carmine's Times Square
Family-style Italian with huge portions, a pre-theater favorite. Portions serve 2–3; reservations recommended.
Celestine
Seasonal Mediterranean restaurant on the DUMBO waterfront with floor-to-ceiling views of the Brooklyn and Manhattan bridges — mezze, seafood. Reservations via Resy.
Central Park Boathouse
Iconic lakeside restaurant on Central Park's Lake — American-Continental cuisine on an outdoor patio; rowboats rent from the dock. Reservations open 21 days ahead.
Clara
New American restaurant inside The New York Historical at 170 Central Park West, directly across from the American Museum of Natural History; from Food Network star Alex Guarnaschelli and Chef Michael Jenkins, with a seasonal menu of salads, homemade pastas and a classic cheeseburger.
Daniel
Worth crossing town forDaniel Boulud's two-Michelin-star French flagship on the Upper East Side — jackets required; the seven-course tasting is the move.
Dovetail
Michelin-starred New American tasting menus on 77th Street — verify current status; the classic Upper East Side tasting room.
Eataly Downtown
Italian food hall at the World Trade Center with restaurants, markets, and a rooftop — multiple counters, harbor views from the rooftop.
Fornino
Wood-fired pizzeria on Pier 6 of Brooklyn Bridge Park with a rooftop overlooking the Statue of Liberty and lower Manhattan — making artisanal pies since 2004.
Gazala's
Druze/Middle Eastern restaurant at 447 Amsterdam Ave (81st-82nd St) by chef Gazala Halabi, the city's first Druze restaurant; known for falafel, hummus, saj bread and mezze platters, two blocks from the museum's north side.
Gran Electrica
Mexican restaurant in DUMBO next to Grimaldi's — tacos, guacamole and margaritas, with a garden oasis overlooking the Brooklyn Bridge in warmer months.
Gray's Papaya
Iconic hot dog and papaya juice stand on Broadway — the Recession Special (2 dogs + drink) is a NYC institution.
Industry Kitchen
Waterfront bistro tucked under the FDR Drive at the South Street Seaport with Brooklyn Bridge views — New American menu with wood-fired pizza. Open daily 12–11.
Jacob's Pickles
Southern comfort-food destination on the Upper West Side known for buttermilk fried chicken, biscuits and house pickles.
Joe's Pizza Broadway
Classic New York slice joint — the Times Square location of the 1975 original. Slices are big enough to fold; cash and card.
Joe's Pizza Financial District
Classic New York slice in the Financial District — same quality as the original Carmine St shop.
Juliana's Pizza
Coal-oven pizza by Patsy Grimaldi in DUMBO, under the Brooklyn Bridge — cash-friendly; the margherita is the classic.
Juliette Restaurant
French bistro in Williamsburg with a sunlit winter-garden dining room and a rooftop terrace, known for brunch and classic bistro plates.
Laduree Madison Avenue
Parisian macarons and pastries on Madison Avenue — the pistachio and salted caramel macarons are signatures.
Luke's Lobster Brooklyn Bridge Park
Maine-style seafood shack in the historic Smokestack Building beneath the Brooklyn Bridge — lobster, crab and shrimp rolls. Open daily 11–8; walk-ins only.
Luke's Lobster FiDi
Maine lobster rolls and seafood in the Financial District — traceable seafood; the lobster roll is the signature.
Magnolia Bakery Bleecker Street
The original Magnolia Bakery (1996) with banana pudding and cupcakes — the Bleecker St shop is the original location.
Magnolia Bakery Rockefeller Center
Famous banana pudding and cupcakes at Rockefeller Center — the banana pudding is the must-order.
Maison Pickle
Lively American bistro famous for towering French Dip sandwiches, pull-apart garlic bread and 24-layer chocolate cake.
Mamoun's Falafel
Legendary falafel counter (1971) on Macdougal Street — cash-friendly; the falafel sandwich is under $5.
Manhatta
60th-floor New American restaurant with sweeping skyline views — book for sunset; the dining room faces the harbor.
Momoya
Beloved Japanese restaurant between 80th and 81st known for high-quality sushi, signature rolls and lunch specials.
Noodle Pudding
Sign-less, cash-only Neapolitan trattoria in Brooklyn Heights serving homemade pasta and seasonal specials since the 1990s.
Osteria Cotta
Rustic Italian wine bar on Columbus Ave with wood-fired pizzas, house-made pastas and weekend brunch.
Pappardella
Tuscan Italian restaurant established in 1983 at 316 Columbus Ave (corner W 75th St), with 20-foot ceilings, a Florence mural and an outdoor terrace; serves lunch, dinner and weekend brunch near the Beacon Theatre and the Museum of Natural History.
Peacefood Cafe
Vegan cafe with chickpea fries and seitan dishes — the chickpea fries are famous.
Pio Pio
Peruvian rotisserie chicken and lomo saltado on the Upper West Side — the quarter chicken with green sauce is the order.
RedFarm
Creative Chinese dim sum and duck on the Upper West Side — the pastrami egg roll and duck are signatures.
Salumeria Rosi
Upscale-casual Italian salumeria and wine bar at 73rd and Amsterdam; deli counter plus pastas, veal Milanese and weekend brunch, a short walk from the Dakota and AMNH.
Sarabeth's Central Park South
Classic American brunch and lunch by Central Park South — famous for jams and weekend brunch.
Sempre Oggi
Michelin-recommended contemporary Italian restaurant at 164 W 75th St, just east of Amsterdam Avenue and directly across from the Beacon Theatre; market-driven pastas and seasonal dishes in a cavernous Milanese-style dining room.
Sunday in Brooklyn
All-day New American restaurant on Wythe Ave in Williamsburg, a short stroll from the waterfront — famous for its malted pancakes. Open daily 9:30–10.
Superfine
DUMBO's longest-running restaurant (since 1998) — organic farm-to-table American in a converted warehouse with live music and rotating art.
The Fulton by Jean-Georges
Jean-Georges Vongerichten's seafood-focused restaurant on Pier 17 in the Seaport District — sweeping views of the Brooklyn Bridge; named after the historic Fulton Fish Market.
The Meatball Shop Chelsea
Build-your-own meatball bowls, heroes, and sliders — pick a ball, a sauce, and a base.
The Mermaid Inn
New England-style seafood restaurant at 335 Columbus Ave (between W 75th and 76th St), known for its lobster rolls, oysters and daily happy hour; the Upper West Side outpost moved here in 2024 after 15 years at 570 Amsterdam Ave.
The Paris Café
One of New York's oldest bars (est. 1873) in the South Street Seaport, serving American-French brasserie food daily from 11am to 4am.
The Ribbon
Upscale New American tavern from the Blue Ribbon team, right across from The Dakota — a UWS staple for brunch, lunch and dinner.
The Smith East Village
American brasserie with a huge menu, reliable for lunch near Midtown. Open late; good for groups.
Via Carota
Cozy Grove Street Italian with no reservations and legendary cacio e pepe — arrive early or expect a wait.
Via Quadronno
Milan-style Italian cafe on the Upper East Side steps from the Frick and the Met — house-made panini, pasta and tiramisu. Must-order: Spaghetti Saltati Alla Carbonara.
White Horse Tavern
Historic 1880 tavern and former hangout of Dylan Thomas and the Beat writers, now a landmark for drinks and classic pub food.