Rachel Pelz

Some of NYC’s best restaurants feature Middle Eastern favorites: spicy kebabs, creamy baba ganoush and classic falafel sandwiches can be found on menus all over the city. From Astoria to Bay Ridge and everywhere in between, Middle Eastern fare is just as satisfying at a fine dining destination as it is when you stop for cheap eats after a night out on the town. Whether you’re craving kibbeh from Lebanon, stuffed Kurdish dumplings or a bubbling pan of shakshuka at brunch, you can find the best of NYC’s Middle Eastern dishes at these 12 restaurants.  RECOMMENDED: Full guide to the best restaurants in NYC

The Lower East Side’s food scene is as diverse and dynamic as its history. Brushing up against Chinatown and Little Italy, it’s the sort of neighborhood where you can find the best New York deli just steps away from some of the city’s best sandwiches. Snack your way through some of the city’s best ice cream shops, order a slice of unparalleled pizza and soak in the living history of New York City one bite at a time.  This time, we added Kisa, Datz Deli and Dhamaka to the list thanks to their fabulous offerings. RECOMMENDED: See the full guide to Lower East Side

Cue the Mariah: Christmastime is finally here in NYC! You’ve got your mug of hot chocolate (or your fireplace cocktail) in hand, you’re taking in the stunning holiday windows and sparkling holiday lights and you’re feeling the holiday cheer…now you just need to figure out where to eat! While a lot of spots might be closed on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day in NYC, we’ve found the best restaurants that are keeping their doors open on Tuesday and Wednesday for you to celebrate in style. Make your reservation to enjoy a Chinese feast, a prix fixe menu with multiple courses or a festive meal in a holiday-themed heated garden. These are the very best restaurants in NYC open on December 24 and December 25, 2024.  RECOMMENDED: Full guide to the best restaurants in NYC

The bohemian roots of the West Village have long since branched into one of the buzziest, busiest Manhattan neighborhoods. The dining scene, though, maintains many of the nabe’s intimate charms—lean over a small table while dining outdoors or dish about last night’s date at a weekend brunch with friends. Whether you’re stumbling out of a bar to grab some cheap eats or nabbing a reservation at one of the best Manhattan restaurants, the West Village restaurant scene has it all.  RECOMMENDED: Full guide to the best restaurants in NYC

Is there a better meal than a burger between two buns? Whether it’s fast food chuck that smashed flat and griddled hot or a high-end take that costs nearly as much as a steak, New York has some of the best cheeseburgers and hamburgers on the planet. In a city known for its sandwiches—like the chopped cheese, bacon egg and cheese, bagels piled high with cream cheese and lox and even (controversially) hot dogs—the hamburger sandwich remains one of the greatest. Order yours smothered with special sauce, gooey with cheddar or American cheese, piled with crispy lettuce or smashed with quick-fried onions. Add a pile of crispy, salty french fries, pair it with an ice-cold martini or a bubbly bottle of champagne and enjoy one of the very best meals in NYC. RECOMMENDED: The best veggie burgers in NYC 

Looking for a new spot to watch the big game? Our list of NYC’s best sports bars includes rowdy beer halls, low-key hangs with craft brews, some of NYC’s best dive bars and even a bar dedicated to all things Canadian. Whether you need a weekly place to root for your footie team or just want to drink a few great brews with friends, we’ve rounded up our favorite places to shout at a really big TV. RECOMMENDED: See all of the best bars in NYC

When in Florence, eat like the Florentines—and that means dining on the freshest homemade pasta, traditional pastries like crispy schiacciata and glasses of Chianti wine straight from the vineyards in the rolling Tuscan hills. By exploring Florence and the nearby countryside through a culinary tour or cooking workshop, you’ll get to experience the food, culture and astounding history of Florence with the help of local chefs and food and wine experts. GetYourGuide helps you make memories with locally-vetted, expertly curated tours that take the stress out of planning your trip and help you find the best-of-the-best of Florence’s culinary scene. We’ve looked through every last tour and workshop to find the ones that’ll turn your trip into an absolutely unforgettable experience. In the heart of Florence, you can learn the secret to making the world’s creamiest gelato and enjoy a crispy, almond-studded cantuccini cookie as you stroll through a street market packed with local fruits, veggies and cheeses. Or jump on a bus and be whisked to the countryside to make your own pizza on a country estate or stroll the lush vineyards of the Chianti region—with every bite and sip you take, you’ll make memories of the City of Lilies to last a lifetime.

Like New York’s beloved dollar slice, tacos have it all: Portability, versatility and the ability to be jazzed up with an endless array of crackling meats, gooey cheeses and eye-wateringly spicy sauces. The city’s very best tacos includes traditional tastes from fan-favorite Mexican restaurants, stellar cheap eats options and trendy dishes from fine dining hot spots. With out-of-the-way taquerias firing up juicy al pastor, a Bushwick tortilla factory cranking out the city’s best chorizo and a beachside spot for hyper-fresh fish tacos, we’ve made it muy easy to plan your next city-wide taco crawl. RECOMMENDED: Full guide to the best restaurants in NYC

What does a “New American” restaurant really mean? With standard-bearers like Blue Hill at Stone Barns and the now completely plant-based Eleven Madison Park, New American food is marked by a showcasing of hyper-local produce, a focus on sustainability and tableside flourishes that come pretty darn close to theater. But New American dining can be more than just fine dining and farm-to-table restaurants—as good as they may be. The newest buzzy restaurant on the NYC scene, Afro-Caribbean restaurant Tatiana, serves up spectacular curried goat patties and crispy okra, dishes as reflective of America as pizza or hot dogs. We’re lucky enough to get to experience NYC’s reimagining of New American cuisine, so set your alarm for some reservation drops and try the best New American restaurants in NYC. RECOMMENDED: Full guide to the best restaurants in NYC

There are nearly forty islands in New York City—that’s a lot of waterside property. While it can be hard to remember when you’re stuck in gridlock midtown traffic or in the high rises of downtown Brooklyn, we’re lucky enough to be living in a city of islands. From waterfront restaurants to sunset boat tours, there are plenty of ways to celebrate New York City’s waterways. Our favorite? Tucking into some of the city’s best seafood, including raw bar seafood towers, East coast oysters, luxurious tins of caviar and the currently-trending (again!) shrimp cocktail. Whether you’re in the mood for a lobster roll with a view of the Hudson or a bag-it-yourself experience at a bustling Astoria fish market, we’ve rounded up the 15 best seafood restaurants in NYC. RECOMMENDED: Full guide to the best restaurants in NYC

Find your new favorite spot for a morning iced coffee or an afternoon matcha at these coffee shops, cafes and bakeries. They don’t just serve classic lattes and cappuccinos (although they do make some of the the best in the city), they also serve incredible cocktails, breakfast sandwiches that rival the best bodega BEC and coffee drinks made with inventive ingredients like sweet durian and boba. Carve a few minutes out on your morning commute or make a special trip to try the latest colorful drink that’s blowing up on the ‘gram—these are the 21 best coffee shops in NYC right now. RECOMMENDED: Full guide to the best restaurants in NYC

Queens, the most diverse large county in the United States, has no shortage of things to do. Soak in the sun at Rockaway Beach, head to Flushing Meadows Corona Park to live out your Men in Black fantasy, take in some tennis or just belly up to one of the best bars in the borough. This diverse destination is, luckily for us, home to some of the very best restaurants in NYC. From a Sichuan spot where you can sip a flight of baijiu to a seafood restaurant where you can choose your meal from the catch of the day, you can taste your way through the world in just 109 square miles. Grab a burger from a corner tavern frequented by locals or put on a cocktail dress to sip an oyster mignonette martini—these are the 32 very best restaurants in Queens.  And check out our list of the best bars in Queens while you’re at it! RECOMMENDED: The best restaurants in NYC

Open 24 hours a day from Tuesday to Saturday, this Korean comfort food spot offers up spicy hot pot, noodles and K-barbecue. If you’re stopping by after a late night out (ahem), you may be compelled to order up the hangover soup: made with dried pollack, pork bones and greens, it’ll fortify you to face the day ahead. It’s a perfect spot for big groups, so don’t be surprised to see a bachelorette party stop by fresh from a karaoke lounge.   View this post on Instagram A post shared by BOBO🍬Foodie (@bobo_foodie.ny)

Want a cold brew with a side of … fruit? Not As Bitter specializes in coffee that’s sweet, tart and anything but bitter. Cold brew shaken with fresh grapes, a durian latte and even a “Butter Beer”—that’s coffee and syrup whipped into a sweet and creamy foam—star on their menu, which changes with the seasons. The colorful cups look good on the ‘gram, but they’re also legitimately delicious. While we like a cup of bitter, black coffee first thing in the morning, a fresh strawberry matcha makes for the perfect afternoon pick-me-up.  RECOMMENDED: This new LES coffee shop serves a butter beer worthy of Harry Potter

Serving up Sey and Uncommon beans, this coffee shop is one for the coffee-heads. It’s also one for the egg sandwich fanatics. Their gigantic version features pimento cheese, green tomatoes and paprika mayo, turning the classic bodega BEC into a destination-worthy meal. The cafe’s interior is small and slick-ly designed (the owners of Che also run the cool-kind wine bar Daughter and concept shop Sincerely, Tommy), so it’s one of our top picks for impressing on a getting-to-know-you coffee date.

It’s tough to find Cambodian food in NYC, but you can get a bite on the Upper East Side. At Bayon (which was recently opened by the owners of the beloved Angkor, and in the same location), order the prahok, the salted, fermented fish paste that adds an umami burst to every bite, and the baked amok, which is one of Cambodia’s best-known dishes. This souffle-like meal is steamed, fragrant with scallops, coconut milk and lemongrass, and totally transportive.

Chef Julian Medina has conquered Mexican and Cuban restaurants—now, he’s turning to Italian food. In a cozy townhouse on the UES, he’s serving up his take on the traditional cuisine. Try zucchini blossoms stuffed with cheese and Calabrian chilis, arancini with black truffle and even a spicy pizza topped with sweet peaches. Bring a date to twirl up some pasta—their Sunday gravy, which is made with beef cheeks and slow-cooked tomato sugo, is thankfully served every day—and order from their martini menu or peruse the entirely Italian wine list. 

This new spot in a modern office tower serves up Sichuan and Hunan food—the spicier, the better. It’s an upscale-ish spot to bring a date, especially since it doubles as a cocktail lounge. Their specialty is baijiu (a spirit often made from, you guessed it, sorghum), and you can try it in their take on a Negroni, a sling or in a flight of four. Pair your baijiu with some dim sum to share—we like the crispy taro puffs and the spicy wings with garlic.

Late night or early morning, Cuban breakfast always hits. Grab an order of sweet pan dulce, an omelet topped with ham and cheese or French toast smothered with banana, nuts and gooey peach jam. They’re known for their sandwiches, too, with a solid Cubano that rings up at just $6 (a total bargain, as the line will prove) along with mofongo served with shrimp, chicharrón and other proteins. With a stubbornly affordable menu and always-open hours, the place is usually packed with local regulars for you to rub shoulders with.  View this post on Instagram A post shared by Floridita Restaurant (@floriditanyc)

This elevated neighborhood spot turns the classics (think burgers, a big chopped salad) into parent-pleasing delights. In the early evening hours, the intimate tables are full of young parents and their toddlers, but as the night grows later, don’t be surprised if you see a celeb sitting down for dinner. Make sure to finish the night with a slice of seven-layer cake, which might be the best thing on the menu. It’s technically sized for two, but if you want to let Mom and Dad share and get your own, we wouldn’t blame you.  This is the sister restaurant to Gertie.

Pasta Louise, situated along a fairly quiet stretch of South Slope’s 8th Avenue, was basically purpose-built for parents. It’s allergen-friendly, super laid back and you certainly won’t be the only table dining with two or three generations of family. Every night, they serve a single homemade pasta shape—you get to choose the sauce and the toppings, including meatballs, homemade ricotta and a silky, salty cacio e pepe. The food menu is as full of crowd-pleasers as the drink menu, which offers a selection of spritzes designed for moms to love. 

Mary’s has everything you could want in a LES bar: an icy martini, solid bar food (Ritz crackers and pimento cheese dip or fried cheese curds might just help you ward off that looming hangover) and late-night dancing under a glittering disco ball. Happy hour brings $12 cocktails (that’s $3 off the regular price for their martinis, mules and more), $6 drafts and $10 wine. As a bonus, stop by on “Martini Mondays” to grab an “Adult Happy Meal” all day long—that’s a martini and a basket of fries for $18.

This just-opened Ecuadorian sports bar in Park Slope serves up hard-to-find dishes like salchipapas, made with thin-sliced sausage and salty fries and ideal for eating under a giant TV. At happy hour, they serve up a mini version of salchipapas for $8, plus a $5 Ecuadorian hot dog with chorizo and crushed potato chips on a baguette. Wings are only a buck then, too, and they go down real easy with $5 Coronas, Corona Lights and Miller High Lifes. Classic margs, daiquiris and mezcal negronis are $10, and wines and sangria are $9. 

Michelin-starred chef Sungchul Shim has followed his fine dining restaurants with a new, more casual concept. Here, he’s serving up Korean hand rolls alongside mini bowls of pho and wang mandu, which are dumplings stuffed with pork, chive and tofu. With a nearly translucent wrapper and a pleasingly hefty size (wang mandu translates to “king dumpling”), a single mandu and a set of four hand rolls make for a perfect midtown lunch.