The plush dining room of Jean-Georges restaurant.

The plush dining room of Jean-Georges restaurant.
Photo provided

Best Restaurants in New York City

Gourmets are spoiled for choice in the city that never sleeps. And why would you sleep when you can literally dine on dishes from all corners of the globe?

LE PAVILLON

Daniel Boulud offers seafood-centric fine French cuisine in a dramatic setting. The staircase is positioned so that when you begin your ascent to the second-floor dining room, the walls crop out everything but the top of the Chrysler Building. Huge windows at the bar reveal Grand Central Terminal in all its Beaux-Arts glory.

One Vanderbilt Ave, New York, NY 10017
+1 212 662 1000
lepavillonnyc.com

VIA CAROTA

Via Carota might be the perfect West Village restaurant. Chefs and co-owners Rita Sodi and Jody Williams focus on seasonal Italian food, including house-made pastas. Sit at the bar with a Prosecco and breaded, fried olives and watch the world go by.

51 Grove St, New York, NY 10014
+1 212 255 1962
viacarota.com

SAGA

On arrival, your host will escort you to the building’s 63rd-floor terrace, where you can admire a helicopter view of Manhattan. Reservations for the 56-seat tasting menu restaurant disappear within minutes of their release. You’ll also need to prepay the full menu price.

70 Pine Street, New York, NY 10005
+1 212 339 3963 
saga-nyc.com

CARBONE

This great Italian-American restaurant takes you back to the mid-20th century. Elegant and unpretentious, with exceptionally well-prepared food that has earned one Michelin star. Even simple dishes like tortellini bolognese are highly acclaimed. Reservations available 30 days in advance.

181 Thompson Street, New York, NY 10012
carbonenewyork.com

JEAN-GEORGES

The jewel of Jean-Georges Vongerichten’s restaurant empire right at Central Park. This fine dining spot has earnt four New York Times stars and two from Michelin by blending French, American, and Asian influences. Vongerichten also offers gourmet hot dogs with fancy condiments like kimchi relish outside the Mark Hotel.

1 Central Park West, New York, 10023
+1 212 299 3900
 jean-georges.com

BOQUERIA

This vibrant Spanish eatery is a great place to recover from shopping in Soho. Enjoy classic Spanish paella, tapas and 30-month-aged, hand-carved Jamon Iberico. Round off your meal with churros con chocolate. Also great for weekend brunch and afternoon Happy Hour.

171 Spring Street, New York, NY 10012
+1 212 343 4255
boqueriarestaurant.com

JAPONICA

New Yorkers who love Asian food head here for high standards, skilled chefs and great sushi as well as playful and artistically presented dishes. The place to go for Japanese cuisine, with an authentic interior. No reservations but if you have to wait, sit at the bar and watch the chefs at work.

90 University Place, New York, NY 10003
+1 212 243 7752
japonicanyc.com

BALTHAZAR

Keith McNally’s enduring Soho classic is ideal for steak frites and celebrity spotting. The warm, bistro-style dining room is always fizzing with energy, as waiters shuttle giant silver seafood towers to happy customers. The bar is one of the best solo dining locations in town – customers are offered a complimentary glass of bubbly.

80 Spring Street, New York, NY 10012
+1 212 965 1414
balthazarny.com

MOMOFUKU KO

David Chang’s two-Michelin star tasting menu restaurant shook up fine dining when it opened in 2008. Make a reservation for the counter, where chefs cook and serve food that draws on personal memories and techniques to showcase the breadth of cuisine available in the melting pot that is NYC.

8 Extra Place, New York, NY 10003
+1 212 203 8095
ko.momofuku.com

SHUKETTE

Bustling, vibrant and stylishly casual: the food, the room and the vibe all promise a good time. Ayesha Nurdjaja’s team keep the grill fired up with a seasonal menu that highlights the best of the green market. Kick off a great night with freshly baked bread, creamy hummus and a cocktail.

230 Ninth Avenue, New York, NY 10001
+1 212 242 1803
shukettenyc.com 

SUSHI NAKAZAWA

Sushi Nakazawa has been holding its own as one of New York’s top omakase spots for almost a decade, and the allure of fresh fish – prepared by Daisuke Nakazawa (of Jiro Dreams of Sushi fame) still holds strong. Stop in for a special lunch or dinner and sit at the counter for the best view.

23 Commerce St, New York, NY 10014
+1 212 924 2212
sushinakazawa.com

CADENCE

Vegan Soul Food. Everything from straight-up classics (fried okra served with jerk sauce, red potato salad, zingy with pickles and dill) to playful twists (oyster mushrooms standing in for fried chicken, a “crab” cake made from chickpeas and hearts of palm, perfect for dragging through a smoky chipotle aioli slaw).

122 E 7th St, New York, NY 10009
+1 833 328 4588
overthrowhospitality.com/cadence

LE BERNARDIN

Renowned chef Eric Ripert’s long-running success at his three-Michelin-starred Midtown seafood destination is built on the exacting standards of classical French cooking. Tasting menu options include a fourcourse menu split into three categories – Almost Raw, Barely Touched and Lightly Cooked.

155 W 51st St, New York, NY 10019
+1 212 554 1515
le-bernardin.com

NATS ON BANK

Seafood towers, sea urchin bucatini and baked Alaska are the standouts at this new neighbourhood classic with laid-back vibes and a party atmosphere. From the vivid birds adorning the shared platters to the fabulous bathroom décor, the whole experience is a thoughtfully curated good time.

51 Bank Street, New York, NY 10014
+1 347 897 5343
natsonbank.com

KEENS

For a traditional NYC steak house experience, you can’t go wrong with Keens. It has been serving rare red meat – including its famous mutton chop – for over 130 years. One of the world’s largest collections of churchwarden pipes adorns the walls – a memorial to its origins as a smoking club.

72 West 36th Street, New York, NY 10018
+1 212 947 3636
keens.com

IL BUCO

Order a board of salami. Drink wine from the 300-year-old cellar where Edgar Allen Poe used to hang out. Eat delectable risotto by candlelight in a restaurant that started life as an antiques shop. Whether romance is on your mind, or simply a great dinner, il Buco has you covered.

47 Bond Street, New York, NY 10012
+1 212 533 1932
ilbuco.com

COSME

Contemporary Mexican cuisine made with fresh Hudson Valley ingredients. Cosme has been ranked one of the world’s 50 best restaurants. Settle into the elegantly dark interior and enjoy uni tostada with avocado, bone marrow salsa and cucumber or duck carnitas, accompanied by fresh tortillas.

35 E 21st St, New York, NY 10010
cosmenyc.com

Katherine Knowles
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