New York’s best places to eat and drink
Updated December 23, 2025 — 12:22pm,first published April 10, 2023 — 4:34pmSaveYou have reached your maximum number of saved items.Remove items from your saved list to add more.Save this article for laterAdd articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime.Got itThis article is part of Traveller’s Destination Guide to New York. See all stories.It’s an impossible task to shortlist New York City’s best of the best restaurants. In one of the most diverse and exciting culinary destinations of the world, there are more than 25,000 places to eat, with more opening every day. Most are good (or they don’t last long); many are spectacular. What we can do is take a highly opinionated stance and steer you in the direction of spots we love. They’re reliably delicious, memorable and so much fun. Go on, take a bite.AtomixThe bar at Korean diner Atomix.Elevated, innovative Korean dining in ManhattanThe only restaurant in New York to make The World’s 50 Best Restaurants list in 2025 (it came in at number 12), Atomix delivers innovative Korean fine dining at its most impressive. The 12-course tasting menu experience combines meticulous technique and surprising ingredients (kohlrabi and caviar; mussel and bluefin tuna with cheonggukjang) with exemplary service. Korean-born husband-and-wife team, Ellia and Junghyun ‘JP’ Park, welcome diners to an elegant, minimal space in the NoMad neighbourhood of Manhattan.104 East 30th Street, New York. Phone: +1 646 476 7217. See atomixnyc.comMama’s TooQueues outside Mamas Too! on Bleecker Street.Alamy Stock PhotoArguably the best pizza in the cityWhy name just one best pizza in New York when the city is full of outstanding slices and pies to devour? The square slices at Mama’s Too are right up there, with toppings ranging from classic (pepperoni cups) to inventive (Cacio e Pepe) and inspired (poached pear, mozzarella, sweet gorgonzola and hot honey). The original location is on the Upper West Side, but the West Village restaurant has an advantage: It’s a couple of hundred metres from L’Industrie Pizzeria, another strong contender for the city’s best pizza. Try them both and decide for yourself.323 Bleecker Street, New York. Phone: +1 212 510 7256. See mamastoo.com Tatiana by Kwame OnwuachiInteriors at Tatiana by Kwame Onwuachi.Adrian Gaut, courtesy of Modellus Novus and Lincoln CenterAfro-Caribbean-NYC dishes by an acclaimed chefAward-winning chef and cookbook author Kwame Onwuachi brings the spice and flavour of his “Afro-Caribbean-raised-in-the-Bronx” heritage to the Upper West Side at Tatiana, a glamorous addition to the Lincoln Center precinct. It’s still one of the toughest reservations in the city, its popularity fuelled by countless awards and satisfying plates of curried goat patties, jerk lamb rib and buttery head-on shrimp. The New York Times named it the best restaurant in the city in 2023, less than a year after it opened; in 2025, it remains in the top 10.10 Lincoln Center Plaza, New York. Phone: +1 212 875 5222. See tatiananyc.com DanteAustralian-owned Dante in New York.Italian-inspired all-day cafe with excellent cocktailsEstablished in 1915 as Caffé Dante, this Greenwich Village gem has been under Aussie management since 2015 when hospo power couple Linden Pride and Nathalie Hudson took the reins. Go there for the best Negronis in the city (on tap, no less), afternoon spritz specials and seasonal cocktails. The Italian-ish brunch and all-day-until-late menu shows some green-and-gold influence, with housemade banana bread and avocado toast alongside more Continental antipasti, flatbreads and pasta. The signature burger on a brioche bun is a delight. A second location, Dante West Village, serves food until midnight, seven days.79-81 MacDougal Street, New York. Phone: +1 212 982 5275. See dante-nyc.com Rolo’sNeighbourhood bar and grill for families, solos, datesThe restaurant at Rolo’s is consistently booked out, but don’t let that stop you crossing town to trendy Ridgewood on the border of Queens and Brooklyn. The terrific food and service is worth the wait (and Michelin Bib Gourmand recognition) and the sceney bar takes walk-ins. Launched by former Gramercy Tavern alums, Rolo’s sets the bar high with a menu of wood-fired specialties that starts with fluffy polenta bread and leads to deliciously charred lasagna and butter-smeared dry-aged steaks. The cocktail game is strong.853 Onderdonk Ave, Ridgewood, Queens. Phone: +1 718 417 6567. See rolosnyc.com Hometown Bar-B-QueBrooklyn’s Hometown Bar-B-Que.Classic Southern pit-smoked barbecue in BrooklynThis ain’t Texas, but it sure tastes like it. In an industrial warehouse space in Red Hook, Brooklyn, pitmasters smoke delectable brisket, pulled pork, ribs and sausage. Be prepared to wait in line for the juicy, tender meat; don’t arrive too late in the day or you might miss out. The sides are a meal in themselves, from pork-laced collard greens and tangy slaw to creamy mac-and-cheese. For dessert, the banana pudding gets rave reviews.454 Van Brunt Street, Brooklyn. Phone: +1 347 294 4644. See hometownbbq.comLe BernardinSteamed black bass at Le Bernardin restaurant, New York.Daniel KriegerThree-Michelin star French seafood restaurantBook a table at Le Bernardin to celebrate a birthday or City Hall wedding in style. If you don’t need an excuse to splurge, simply go there because it’s great. Chef Eric Ripert’s Midtown restaurant is upscale and luxe, befitting the fine-dining French cuisine and impeccable service that has set a high standard for more than 30 years. Mainly seafood-focussed, there’s also a vegetarian menu or filet mignon and lamb for the committed carnivore. The chef’s tasting menu will set you back US$350 per person; US$530 with wine pairing.155 West 51st Street, New York. Phone: +1 212 554 1515. See le-bernardin.comBalthazarBalthazar has sustained its popularity and hype for 25 years.Ever-popular French brasserieFirst opened in 1997, it’s still near-impossible to get a prime-time dinner reservation at Keith McNally’s buzzy French-style brasserie, unless you book a month in advance. Why? The food is consistently terrific, from the signature Balthazar burger to veal Milanese, steak frites and roast chicken. A raw bar sends out magnificent seafood towers and a shrimp cocktail that never goes out of style, while the classic cocktails always satisfy. It’s worth trying for a walk-in seat at the bar, where you could be rubbing shoulders with A-list celebrities, models and photographers from nearby Soho studios. Brunch is an occasion you should definitely dress up for.80 Spring Street, New York. Phone: +1 212 965 1414. See balthazarny.com.Thai DinerThai Diner combines colourful kitsch with classic and modern Thai dishes.Creative Thai comfort food in a fun and lively spaceIt was always going to be a hit. New Yorkers mourning the closure of acclaimed restaurant Uncle Boons turned out in droves from day one to support chefs Ann Redding and Matt Danzer in their new venture. The all-day space in Chinatown plays it fun, loose and carefree with a menu of creative Thai-American dishes that please the soul as well as the tastebuds. Try the Disco Fries, smothered in Massaman curry with peanuts and coconut cream, stay for the roast chicken and banana blossom salad, feast on Uncle Boon’s traditional crab fried rice. The playful dessert menu – which includes a kitschy strawberry chiffon ‘monster’ cake and a coconut sundae festooned with palm sugar whipped cream – wouldn’t be out of place at a kids’ birthday party.186 Mott Street, New York. See thaidiner.comBirria-LandiaBirria-Landia serves up some of the best street tacos in NYC.The best street tacos in the cityJosé Moreno, a former chef at Eataly, has been credited with starting the Mexican birria craze in NYC. His family-run taco truck, located under the elevated subway tracks in Jackson Heights, was one of the first to sell juicy Tijuana-style beef birria tacos and tostadas. Now, they’re everywhere, including Birria-Landon’s five new locations in Manhattan, Queens, Brooklyn and the Bronx. Tortillas are dipped in beef fat, grilled until crunchy, then stuffed with juicy marinated meat and adobo spices. A side serve of tangy, chunky, beef consomme is for dunking. For under $20, you can try one of everything on the menu. The New York Times gave Birria-Landia a two-star critic’s pick and named it alongside Michelin-starred restaurants as one of the best places to eat in the city.Corner of 78th Street and Roosevelt Avenue, Queens. Phone: +1 347 283 2162. See birrialandia.com Red Rooster HarlemRed Rooster is known for its soul food and live music.Soul food and great music in the heart of HarlemIf you’re heading up to Harlem, you really should stop in at Red Rooster. No, not that Red Rooster (though there is fried chicken on the menu). Chef Marcus Samuelsson’s vision of a neighbourhood bar and restaurant has succeeded in enticing many Manhattanites north of Central Park, many for the first time. They rave about the consistently delicious soul food, the always-busy bar area and music sets from local performers that can turn a boring Tuesday night into an ecstatic party. Signature dishes to try include fried yardbird, mac and greens, and sweet potato coconut soup.310 Lenox Avenue, Harlem. Phone: +1 212 792 9001. See redroosterharlem.comEleven Madison ParkEleven Madison Park draws foodies from across the world.Fine dining restaurant with a strong plant-based offeringOne of the most celebrated restaurants in New York City, chef Daniel Humm’s Eleven Madison Park became fully plant-based in 2021, only to reintroduce the option of select animal proteins for some dishes in mid-October 2025. You can still opt for the plant-based menu, of course – whatever you order, expect flawless attention to detail, inventive dishes and hyper-local, seasonal ingredients. Diners can enjoy a full tasting menu of eight-to-nine courses, or a five-course bar tasting menu in The Studio (none of which are shared online, due to the rapidly changing nature of seasonal availability). Without a reservation, your best option is to try for walk-in bar seating. Get there early.11 Madison Ave, New York. Phone: +1 212 889 0905. See elevenmadisonpark.comSmorgasburgEat your way around the world at Smorgasburg.Outdoor food market featuring popular takeaway foodCome hungry. Said to be the largest weekly open-air food market in the US, Smorgasburg started in Williamsburg and has now expanded to include locations in Prospect Park, World Trade Center, Miami and Los Angeles. Cheesesteaks, bao buns, lobster rolls, dumplings, doughnuts and much more are available, with many of the city’s most successful food trucks getting their start here. On a sunny day, it’s a joy to sit outside and eat your way through dozens of world cuisines. Opening hours vary by location; some vendors accept cash only.90 Kent Avenue, Brooklyn. Phone: +1 718 928 6603. See smorgasburg.comSemmaSemma serves dishes that are hard to find outside of southern India.Authentic southern Indian cuisineForget everything you think you know about Indian food. The cuisine served at Semma in the West Village is rarely prepared outside of homes in south Indian villages. Step inside the bamboo-covered interior and you might feel you’ve been transported to Asia. Lobster tail swimming in turmeric-scented coconut milk, Goanese oxtail with just the right amount of spice, and snails in a ginger-tamarind sauce are three of the highlights. Whole Dungeness crab should be ordered the day before. The Semma team are also behind Indian hotspot Dhamaka in Essex Market on the Lower East Side.60 Greenwich Avenue, New York. Phone: +1 212 373 8900. See semma.nycBar PrimiRelaxed and welcoming spot for pasta, pizza and good wineGo for the excellent pasta, stay for the luscious Sicilian pizza squares, of which the ‘Hot Girl Salami’ is the clear winner. There are now two locations of Bar Primi, one downtown on the Bowery and one in the Penn District near Madison Square Garden. Both serve approachable, delicious Italian food, cocktails and wine in a setting that is buzzy, elegant and fun. Walk-ins are welcome, and the wait for a table is normally not too long. Bar seating is a good option for solo diners.325 Bowery, New York. Phone: +1 212 220 9100. See barprimi.comGramercy TavernDanny Myers’ Gramercy Tavern.Getty ImagesClassic American cuisine in an upscale tavern settingKnow before you go: There are two distinct dining spaces at Gramercy Tavern. The more formal restaurant features a prix fixe tasting menu of local, seasonal dishes and a top-notch wine list. You might have more fun at the relaxed tavern, where walk-ins can try to nab a seat at the bar and the burgers are worthy of their hype. Many of the ingredients are sourced at the nearby Union Square Green Market. Service is warm and assured, befitting this classic – and classy – spot.42 East 20th Street, New York. Phone: +1 212 477 0777. See gramercytavern.comRestaurants at Rockefeller CenterAlfresco dining at Le Rock.A large collection of cafes, bars and restaurants in midtown ManhattanThe area of midtown Manhattan around Rockefeller Center was once a dining dead zone, but over the past few years an exciting renaissance has occurred with many of the city’s best-loved F&B brands popping up within the Rock Center precinct. Now, visitors can grab a coffee and pastry to go from Bourke Street Bakery or Magnolia Bakery, linger over a bottle at City Winery, order oysters and steak frites at always-chic Le Rock or dive into pasta and polenta fries at Jupiter. In all, there are dozens of options to suit all tastes and budgets.45 Rockefeller Plaza, New York. Phone: +1 212 588 8601. See rockefellercenter.comSign up for the Traveller Deals newsletterGet exclusive travel deals delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up now.SaveYou have reached your maximum number of saved items.Remove items from your saved list to add more.Kristie Kellahan swapped life as a lawyer for the freedom and adventure of travel writing 20 years ago and has never looked back. Sydney-born, her commute home is a little longer now that she is based in New York City.Connect via Twitter.Traveller GuidesFrom our partners
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