Where to eat and drink in Manhattan

Introducing: the big bad list of where the locals actually think you should eat in Manhattan. I couldn’t build this list alone; like every New Yorker, our NYC-based staff have plenty of strong opinions on where to find the best bites and sips in what we believe to be the greatest city in the world. This is a Manhattan-only list, but we have another list for Brooklyn if you’re basing yourself on the other side of the East River. So, let’s skip the chit-chat and get into the first course.

Note: This is a reservation-forward city, so check how far in advance popular restaurants open reservations, and be flexible with your timing. If you don’t snag one at first, sites like Resy and OpenTable will give you the option to opt into getting notifications when last-minute tables open up, which happens more often than you’d think.

Breakfast

AKA, bagels. Not always, but why visit NYC and not eat one bagel when you have an overwhelming list of options?  (We have other types of recs, too, don't worry.)

Barney Greengrass , Upper West Side: A New York City staple, it’s a classic Jewish deli where lox and sturgeon are the specialties. 

Tompkins Square Bagels , East Village: Beloved for its sheer variety of bagels and shmears (such as apple cinnamon, scallion with bacon, and espresso). Seating is limited, so take it across the street to enjoy in the park. 

PopUp Bagels , various locations: If you like your bagel on the chewier side, go here. It’s only bagels, specialty cream cheeses and butters, and the best way to enjoy them is to tear and dip. Get the salt bagel.

Apollo Bagels , various locations: Another chewy-forward bagel, but here I’d go for the smoked salmon bagel or one with cream cheese and tomato.

Kerber’s Farm , West Village: If you’re all bagel-ed out, their egg sandwich on a cheddar buttermilk biscuit will keep you fueled all morning.

Win Son , East Village: The scallion pancake breakfast sandwich is a recurring character in my dreams.

Best Damn Breakfast Burrito , East Village: Newer spot hailing from LA with seriously packed, humongous burritos. You can’t go wrong with La Neta – it has tater tots.

Coffee and bakery

America might run on Dunkin, but NYC runs on your favorite local coffee shop. And those coffee shops most likely double as bakeries. 

Smør Bakery , East Village: East Village. Stop by for Scandinavian-style pastries and coffee. They also have a restaurant where you can enjoy a long brunch, but the bakery side is perfect for a grab-and-go situation. Two words: cardamom bun. Two more words: breakfast sandwich. 

Librae Bakery , East Village: Middle Eastern bakery with really exciting seasonal flavors, like spinach artichoke cheese dip danishes, chamomile rhubarb scones and poppyseed lemon croissant monkey bread.

Breads Bakery , various locations: Essential New York bakery that you’ll find in Uptown, Midtown and Downtown. I've run into many of our staff stopping here before work. Their lattes are my favorite, and I like to pick up one of their spinach burekas or a loaf of sourdough on my way home. 

Hungarian Pastry Shop , Morningside Heights: Big favorite among Columbia students. This neighborhood staple, with its red-and-white striped awning, has been around since the 1960s. Order the spinach wheel to-go with your strong cup of Hungarian coffee.

Abraço , East Village: Imagine how coffee shops used to be before everyone was scrambling for an outlet to plug in all their devices. That’s Abraço. Hang around for the conversations, plus their pour-over and pastries are pretty damn good, too.

Artara Coffee , Upper East Side: Delicious Cambodian coffee, but also don’t sleep on the matcha.

Solid State Coffee , Upper West Side: Widely deemed by Upper West Siders as the best coffee in the neighborhood.

Lunch

Lunch in Manhattan is so much more than a fast-casual salad chain. 

S&P Lunch , Flatiron: Ditch the mediocre $17 salad bowl for a tuna melt, chicken cutlet sandwich or burger from this Jewish-style deli. Show up at 11:30am for an early lunch, and you probably won’t have a long wait, if any. Or stay flexible and sit on the counter bar stools.

Shanghai 21 , Chinatown: Go-to spot for soup dumplings. 

Great NY Noodletown , Chinatown: It’s hard to beat for, yes, noodle dishes, but also Cantonese barbecue.

Schaller & Weber , Upper East Side: German-style deli serving up fantastic sandwiches.

Regina’s Grocery , various locations: Each Italian-style sandwich is perfectly sized to share with a friend (wink wink). I’m partial to the Uncle Jimmy.

Tom’s Restaurant , Morningside Heights: 1950s diner known for its frequent cameos in Seinfeld. Anything you’d think of as diner food (and a few things you might not), they’ve got.

Sweet treats

Frozen, baked and everything in between.

Butterfield Market , Upper East Side: For an afternoon pick-me-up, the froyo from the window on Madison Avenue is best enjoyed on a walk in nearby Central Park. Go for the mango flavor in the summer. 

Caffè Panna , Gramercy: Sitting on the most charming street, Irving Place, right off Gramercy Park. You can usually spot the line for this place from the park, but it’s worth the wait. They change their flavors daily, offering specialty sundaes, affogatos and soft serve. Whatever you order, make sure there’s freshly whipped panna on top.

Culture , West Village: A lot of people like it because it’s a more health-conscious approach to froyo. It’s also just too perfect: tart, not too sweet and with toppings galore.

Veniero’s , East Village: Old-school Italian bakery that you really must sit down at. The interior is gorgeous, with wood panels and stained glass ceilings, and you’ll want to try everything. I almost always opt for the tiramisu cake.

Aperitivo

I must warn you: a drink and a small bite at one of these places will probably turn into dinner – why would you want to go to the next location if the atmosphere is already great?

Bar Kabawa , East Village: Head to the bar side of this buzzy spot helmed by Bajan chef Paul Carmichael for a vibrant menu of Caribbean drinks and snacks. 

Demo , West Village: Coffee shop by day and wine bar by night. They take their food as seriously as their wine here, with a knockout menu of dishes like crab casino (a buttery crab dip topped with guanciale and Ritz crackers), fish collars and banana pudding.

Lei , Chinatown: An adorable little wine bar with Chinese American bites. "Emphasis on small", says Senior Director of Content Brekke Fletcher, "so be ready to pivot elsewhere if the line’s out the door".

Opera House , Chinatown: Next to Lei, making them a perfect combo. Opera House is the original location of NYC’s first Chinese theater, and today it’s known for its signature cocktails inspired by Chinese operas.

Ha’s Snack Bar , Lower East Side: A cozy, romantic space serving up French and Vietnamese fusion cuisine. "The snails soaked in garlic and tamarind butter were to die for", says Photo Editor Rhia Hylton.

Bar Oliver , Two Bridges: A favorite Spanish wine bar. Come if you’re craving cava, vermouth and plenty of pintxos.

Bibi Wine Bar , East Village: Tucked away on the most lovely block, so try to snag one of their sidewalk tables to split a bottle of wine, some deviled eggs, or even the meatballs, during happy hour – which doesn’t end until 8pm. Unheard of.

Le Vin Coeur , Upper West Side: Little neighborhood wine bar with French bites. Sit outside for views of the Museum of Natural History.

Pizza

Yes, pizza gets its own category when we’re talking about New York City. There are three unofficial categories of ‘za, depending on what vibe you’re going for. 

Tier 1: the dollar (or in this economy, $5) slice 

You’ll grab one of these late-night or as a last-minute takeout dinner when all you’re craving is a crispy, greasy New York slice. There’s usually no seating at these places. Our picks: L’Industrie (they've opened a new location in the West Village) and Scarr’s on the Lower East Side.

Tier 2: casual, sit-down pizza

You might run into a kids’ sports team banquet at one of these places. They probably have games. It’s very sports bar-esque. Try San Matteo on the Upper East Side (get both a red and a white pie) or Joe & Pat’s East Village location (try the Tri-Pie!).

Tier 3: fresh-ingredient, gourmet Italian slice

We’re definitely drinking wine. There might be a tablecloth and cutlery. There will be ingredients on the menu you can’t pronounce. And there will be ambiance, like at Little Charli in the West Village. The $125 meter-long pie is worth the hype (and honestly, a good deal when you have a large group). They also offer super fun pizza-making classes.

Dinner

There’s a lot of pressure that goes into dinner in NYC, but stick with one of these places, and you’re guaranteed a fantastic meal.

Eel Bar , Lower East Side: A Basque-inspired restaurant (hello, pinxtos) with a vibey interior, though the outdoor seating on Broome Street is what summer is all about.

Ambassadors Clubhouse , Koreatown: A buzzy new Northern Indian spot that, disclaimer, is difficult to get a table at these days. The interiors are moody, dark and ornate. Apparently, there’s a downstairs section that’s the place to see and be seen, according to our Principal Designer, Matthew Johnston. Order the masala margarita and enormous wild prawns.

Cervo’s , Lower East Side: A beloved, go-to neighborhood spot on the Lower East Side. The atmosphere is sublime, and the Iberian seafood even better.

Her Name is Han , Koreatown: Cozy with fine Korean dining. Perfect if you need dinner before an event at Madison Square Garden.

JG Melon, Upper East Side: A go-to burger place that’s been around since the '70s, best enjoyed with a brew and a side of cottage fries. The decor is appropriately melon-inspired, and the wood-paneled walls and green-and-white tablecloths have never changed.

Anton's , West Village: Go for a martini and pasta and classic (a classic West Village vibe). It’s not as hard to get into as other popular nearby Italian restaurants like Via Carota and Don Angie.

Uva , Upper East Side: Cozy Italian dinner – the ricotta truffle gnocchi is just dreamy. Uva mostly accepts walk-ins, but its sister restaurant, Uva Next Door, has the same menu and takes reservations.

Pig & Khao , Upper West Side: Great for inventive (and also shareable) Southeast Asian fare, like brisket dumplings, crispy brussels sprouts and pork belly.

I Sodi , West Village: Coveted Italian spot for fresh pasta dishes like cacio e pepe, lasagna (perfect for two) and the light and buttery ravioli burro e salvia. If you don’t have a reservation, walk in early and get on the waitlist to sit at the bar. 

Shukette , Chelsea: The most innovative Middle Eastern food in town. Make sure you order the frena – a herby flatbread roasted with whole garlic cloves – and the fish in a cage.

Kidilum , Flatiron: Chef Vinu is a gem with a vision for storytelling with regional Indian cuisine. Senior Vice President of Digital Content, Nitya Chambers, says, “It was like eating a memory from my grandmother’s kitchen. The Idli-Chutney was probably one of the best things I ate all night. Our family also loved the Nanducurry (stir-fried crab with coconut) and Kalanji (Allepy fish curry). For dessert, don't miss the Ilaneer Payasam – you've never had coconut like this before."

Bar

“Drinks.” It could mean so many things in New York City. One casual cocktail could evolve into a whirlwind night of bar-hopping and (hopefully) dancing. 

Bemelmans Bar , Upper East Side: A martini at Bemelmans Bar in the Carlyle Hotel should be at the top of your list. The atmosphere is just so perfect: dark leather seats, live jazz, servers in white coats, and a gold leaf ceiling. Very old New York. 

Café Maud , Upper East Side and East Village: An all-day cafe that is truly buzzing at night (though I’ve also heard fabulous things about their brunch). If you’re spending a night out Downtown, have your first drink or two here.

The Owl’s Tail , Upper West Side: A classic, moody cocktail spot with velvety seats and tasty small plates, next door to the Beacon Theatre in case you have tickets to a show.

Hi-Note Radio , East Village: A “radio bar” with retro decor and live radio sets that you can listen to while sipping one of their amazing espresso martinis. 

Joyface , East Village: Keep the party going and head to this dancy bar (disco balls everywhere!) with its vibey, retro decor – (appropriately) playing mostly disco. They also have a sister bar next door called HiLot, which is better for just drinks. Make a reservation here. 

Home Sweet Home , Lower East Side: Divey, no-frills dance spot playing a mix of rock-and-roll throwbacks until 4am.