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It's easy enough to love Bar Blondeau—one glance at the panoramic views of Manhattan is enough to have us sat. But while some hotel bars may rest on this laurel alone, Bar Blondeau quietly proves that it is not like the rest. Executive chef and partner Aidan O’Neal—who runs Le Crocodile down below and Greenpoint's Chez Ma Tante—sends his orders up to the kitchen, churning out small plates of smoked trout blanketed with shiny pearls of roe and buttery scallops that swim in a lemony, zippy broth, that we would consider swimming in it if we could. But if you came here just to drink, well, we suppose, that's just as well. The whiskey-based Lucky 7 is a relatively crushable summer drink, with smoked pineapple, lemon and valencia orange, as is the frozen Piña Verde with a blend of rum and a vegetal undertone, thanks to a splash of finocchietto liqueur. If you make it to Sunset Hour at the bar (5-7pm), you can say farewell to the sun with $11 cocktails in hand. 

Alma has the kind of restaurant story we love to hear. It started all the way back in 2002 when three partners purchased a vacant lot in Red Hook and built the tri-story restaurant from the ground up (the same team moseyed down the waterfront to build Brooklyn Crab a decade later, which also sits three stories off the ground). But in 2024, Roberto Lopez and Emilio Sanchez took over the operation, sprucing up the floors and decor across all three levels. To ensure the integrity of Alma remained intact, chef Francisco Lopez, who'd been there for 20 years, stayed put in the kitchen to continue cooking Pueblan cuisine, the food of his Mexican hometown. A true family affair, his wife, Margarita, brings her Oaxacan roots to the table, focusing on salsas and moles that she makes from scratch, while their daughters, Daisy and Daphne, tend to the front of house.  The cuisine is more homey than groundbreaking: bowls filled to the brim with guacamole, flautas as crunchy and crisp as can be and tortillas made in-house and served warm every time. The red snapper is a sleeper hit with a punchy, warm tomatillo-and-saffron sauce, while the short rib enchiladas did the job, spilling out with shreds of meat and plenty of cheese, covered in a luscious mole. Billed for two (though there's plenty to feed three people), the parillada platter features several proteins—some a bit overcooked—including grilled steak, shrimp, chicken and chorizo, plus triangles of gooey fried cheese, mango salsas...

A jaunt away in Red Hook, Brooklyn Crab channels the seaside shacks of Maryland—but times 1000. The triple-decker restaurant that's built on stilts (which survived Hurricane Sandy, after all) has a little bit of everything: glowing arcade games and cornhole on the ground floor, free putt-putt and a beer garden out back. Its second and third floors peer over the Red Hook Channel, with views of Lady Liberty herself, depending on where you are parked. And it's kitschy! Let's just say half the pleasure of visiting here is counting the number of mounted shark heads and open-mouthed orcas on display. The food: This shack certainly has seafood—lots of it—from raw to baked and steamed. The food here isn't necessarily life-changing, but paired with good drinks and waterfront views, it evokes a feeling of forever summer we can't deny. Call-out starters include the spicy ahi tuna nachos with nicely crisped fried wonton chips, used for scooping up bites of fish and thick rounds of jalapeno. The grilled lobster tail on its own? Fine, if not a bit rubbery. But the white wine and shallot-heavy butter broth that it came with? It's a gold mine and makes for good use of the bread. The Greek-ish octopus salad with its mix of celery, onions, feta cheese and kalamata olives started out well, only to become a vinegar-y and pickled mess by the end of it. The same goes for the lobster and shrimp gnocchi, which was billed as a Jambalaya-like dish, whose watery sauce sorely lacked the punch of...

If anyone can claim to be an expert on Neapolitan pizza, it’s Keste’s Roberto Caporuscio: As president of the U.S. branch of the Associazione Pizzaiuoli Napoletani, he’s top dog for the training and certification of pizzaioli (a former dairy farmer and mozzarella maker, he’s also intimately familiar with that most essential cheese). In addition to all the hallmarks of the Neapolitan product—San Marzano tomatoes, double zero flour, a scorching-hot wood-burning oven—Caporuscio uses a slow-speed mixer to work his dough. Then, he gently stretches it into a round with his hands, since it’s far too soft for tossing. The resulting crust is tender yet resilient, puffed with warm pockets of steaming airs. All over the golden surface is an even spotting of tiny black blisters, just enough to deliver that brick-oven sear, but not so much that any single bite tastes burnt. Whatever you put on it, from the classic Margherita toppings to butternut squash puree with smoked mozzarella, it’s as close to the platonic ideal as we’ve found.

We really like eating around the city, and we're guessing you do, too. So lucky for all of us, we've packed all our favorite restaurants under one roof at the Time Out Market New York. The DUMBO location in Empire Stores has fried chicken from Jacob’s Pickles, pizza from Fornino, delicious bagels from Ess-a-bagel and more amazing eateries—all cherry-picked by us. Chow down over two floors with views of the East River, Brooklyn Bridge and Manhattan skyline.  RECOMMENDED: The best things do in NYC

If you thought getting a table at Per Se was tough, try getting into Rao’s. On second thought, don’t. Rao’s (pronounced “RAY-ohs”) is really a private club without the dues. To eat here, you’ll need a personal invite from one of the heavy hitters who “owns” a table. These CEOs, actors, politicians, news personalities and neighborhood old-timers established a long-standing arrangement with the late, legendary owner Frankie “No” Pellegrino, and that's what ensures a seat at one of the ten tables at the Italian-American icon. In fact, reading this review is probably the closest you’ll get to Rao’s.

New York’s ever-changing skyline acquired another sky-high attraction for Gothamites to climb in 2019: Vessel. The 150-foot-tall, 60-ton landmark, located at sleek cultural destination Hudson Yards, resembles a honeycomb, although some New Yorkers say it looks like a waste can. Others say the larger-than-life art installation designed by British architect Thomas Heatherwick is New York’s version of the Eiffel Tour. As for what we say? The gleaming bronze-toned structure looks like a good excuse to get your steps in and snap some pics for Instagram. We climbed the spiral staircase made up of 154 interconnecting staircases, almost 2,500 individual steps and 80 landings—the various outlook points offer panoramic views of the Hudson River, the West Side skyline and the ever-expanding Hudson Yards campus, all of which appear mighty dreamy at sunset. Bonus: New Yorkers can visit for free on select days; here's how.

  Located on the 18th floor of the hotel, the "jewel box" space by Med Abrous and Marc Rose, who are food and beverage partners of the hotel and co-founders of the hospitality group Call Mom, opens up to incredible views of the boroughs, the bridges and the East River, which shine like stars at night. Designed by James Beard Award-winning design firm Parts and Labor Design, Panorama Room is visually dramatic. Its palatial vibes are set by luxurious velvet vintage-inspired tubular lounge sofas, chrome and marble touches, mosaic tile columns and its giant, tubular acrylic chandeliers that hover above the massively long bar. It's not only luxe but it's somehow simultaneously futuristic and retro. The space is filled with art from artists like Julia Chiang, Spencer Lewis, Alake Shilling, JPW3, Chris Martin, Brian Belott and Ida Eklbad, selected by Venus Over Manhattan partner Anna Furney and designer/creative director Darren Romanelli (aka Dr. Romanelli or DRx). Artist Sophie Parker and her botanical studio, Wife NYC, will also make custom arrangements and sculptural artwork for the lounge. There's even a custom-designed DJ booth made in Normandy by Hervet Manufacturier and Cédric Hervet, the long-time creative director for Daft Punk. The vibe: This is a swank place with a lot of cultivated ambiance, so there’s a cocktail attire dress code for entry i.e. no sweatpants, cargo shorts, or slides. The food: Mostly raw preparations of seafood, so it’s not the kind of place you...

We curated every last detail at the Time Out Market: the food, the cultural experiences, the drinks, the space—everything including the breathtaking view, which is the perfect backdrop for the “best in New York City” experience. At The Rooftop at Time Out Market you can discover impressive bites from culinary rockstars while relaxing on sea foam seats on the outdoor terrace. Post up for acts selected by our team, complementing the entertainment of the breathtaking, sweeping views of the Brooklyn Bridge and the Manhattan skyline, perfectly framed by the grand windows. Signature Cocktails ($14) New York SourAmador Double Barrel Whiskey, Lemon, Simple, Aquafaba and Reserve Port Hibiscus ChillCasamigos Reposado, Combier Orange, Lime and Hibiscus Syrup Sangria SpritzBertoux Brandy, Mulling Spice, Red Wine Blend and Club Soda Smokin' Cherry MuleAgave De Cortes Mezcal, Black Cherry, Amaro, Lemon and Ginger Beer SouthsiderSpring 44 Vodka, Aloe, Mint and Cucumber My Kind of Old FashionedHigh West Double Rye, Bertoux Brandy, Maple and Bitters Coconut CarouselOwney's Rum, Dark Rum, Orange, Pineapple, Coconut and Nutmeg Strawberry BelliniGrey Goose Vodka, Strawberry, Basil and ProseccoBeer Selection ($8) Brooklyn Brewery, Bronx Brewery, Stella Artois ($9), Modelo Especial ($9), Asahi Brewery, Estrella Damm, Mikkeller Brewery ($12), Five Boroughs Brewery Wine List SparklingLambrusco, Otello Ceci, Emilia, Italy ($12, $54)Mumm Napa, Blanc De Blancs, Napa, CA ($13, $56)Bedell Sparkling...

In need of a summertime adventure? Set sail for The Yacht Club. The same seafaring squad who brought us bivalves on a barge (Grand Banks) and a waterfront hangout in the West Village (Drift In) adds to last summer's ever-growing fleet with The Yacht Club. Docked in Chelsea, the restaurant is the largest of the bunch, with a whopping 20,000 square feet spanning two floors, featuring an indoor dining room with blue-hued booths and nautical touches, and a sprawling terrace that sings a sweet siren call in the summertime. Stuffy and snobby, this club is not, as the hall is home to a friendly crew ready to ply you with seafood towers and shucked oysters, lobster made every which way—in a roll or even lobster frites—and tater tots strewn with caviar, better known as Yacht Tots. When the weather is warm, take to the terrace for the duration of your journey with a glass of bubbles in one hand and an oyster in the other.