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04/04/2023 • 8 min
Best restaurants in New York City
Planning a trip to the Big Apple? Check out the best places to eat in New York and make the most of your meals. Here are the best restaurants in New York.
New York City is bursting with reasons to visit, and you won’t be able to walk past the food. Every corner of NYC is home to a variety of cuisines, from American classics to award-winning international dishes. Whether your time in The Big Apple is short and sweet or a longer vacation, you’ll want to make every meal count.
If you’re packing your itinerary with the best places to eat in New York City, look no further. We’ve rounded up some of the best restaurants in New York so you can spend more time chowing down and less time waiting around.
Photo credits: Katz's Deli
Katz’s Delicatessen
205 East Houston Street, New York, NY 10002
A self-described New York institution since 1888, this stalwart of the NYC dining scene is a must-visit for at least one lunchtime in New York City. Located on Lower Manhattan’s famous Houston Street, Katz’s Deli has been serving up Jewish delicacies and New York staples for generations.
Their pastrami and corned beef are the talk of the town – piled high with dill pickles on their freshly baked rye bread. As well as their delicious deli meats and unmatched New York-style bagels, Katz’s Deli serves up all the comfort food classics, including traditional hotdogs, matzoh ball soup and decadent NY cheesecake.
Katz’s Delicatessen is undisputedly one of the best places to eat in New York – just ask the people in line.
Joe’s Pizza
7 Carmine Street, New York, NY 10014
No trip to The Big Apple is complete without a real New York slice. Sure, there are pizza joints all over the city claiming to be the best, and every New Yorker has their favorite, but you’ll struggle to find many better than Joe’s Pizza.
Founded in 1975 by a native Neapolitan, Joe’s Pizza started slinging pies in Greenwich Village nearly 50 years ago and now has locations all over the city. Founder Joe Pozzuoli can still be found working at its original location, serving classic cheese, fresh mozzarella and Sicilian square slices.
Whether you’re tempted by their tasty toppings or you’re a real pizza purist, you won’t be disappointed with a slice from Joe’s.
Peter Luger
178 Broadway, Brooklyn, New York, NY 11211
A restaurant as well-aged as its prime cuts, this steakhouse has been a Brooklyn institution since it opened as ‘Carl Luger’s Café, Billiards and Bowling Alley’ in 1887. For a taste of old-school German grandeur and probably the best steak you’ll ever eat, Peter Luger is a steakhouse experience like no other.
From the minute you step into its welcoming dining room, you’ll feel as though you’ve been transported back in time. Enjoy classical cooking masterfully done with a traditional menu including shrimp cocktail, grilled salmon, German fried potatoes, creamed spinach and apple strudel (served with homemade ‘schlag’ whipped cream). Oh and, of course, their prime beef steaks are the pièce de résistance.
Just bear in mind that neither the Brooklyn nor the Great Neck location accepts credit cards.
The Russian Tea Room
150 West 57th Street, New York, NY 10019
Yet another jewel in the crown of the best restaurants in New York, The Russian Tea Room is synonymous with opulence, elegance and luxury. If you’ve never heard of it, you’ve probably seen it on the big screen in the likes of Tootsie, When Harry Met Sally and Big.
Established in 1927 by members of the Russian Imperial Ballet, this is the place to visit for a culinary experience that crosses borders and transcends time. Let the lavish Russian decor envelop you in its warm glow as you enjoy a refined afternoon tea or a sumptuous three-course meal, including homemade Russian dumplings, borscht and stroganoff. Or perch at the impressive bar and sample its huge selection of exquisite caviar and fragrant tea blends.
Sylvia’s
328 Malcolm X Boulevard, New York, NY 10027
This Harlem hotspot is well worth the journey if you’re after a taste of some good old-fashioned soul food. Founded in 1962 by Sylvia Woods, this restaurant has been a home away from home for Harlemites and celebrities alike – and even the occasional US President. Nowadays, Sylvia’s offers Gospel brunch Sundays and live music on Wednesdays, but it’s still owned and operated by the Woods family.
While the spiritual home of soul food is in the South, Sylvia’s has brought that same passion and flavor to create one of the best restaurants in New York and rivals any other soul food eatery in the States. From fried chicken and waffles, BBQ ribs and fried catfish to macaroni cheese, collard greens and cornbread, you’ll find everything to satisfy your cravings at Sylvia’s.
Photo credits: Daniel Krieger for The New York Times
Bâtard
239 West Broadway, New York, NY 10013
The US has always had a love affair with French cooking, and Bâtard proves that contemporary European dining isn’t just for our cousins across the pond. This Michelin-starred restaurant in the heart of Tribeca is renowned for delivering simplicity alongside elegance in a pared-back space that puts diners at ease. Leave your pretensions at the door: this is a fine dining experiencing that champions quality over flashy gimmicks.
Their menu changes with the seasons as their executive chef Doug Brixton [CH(S1] continues to innovate with the freshest ingredients, leaving diners dazzled. From indulgent foie gras and perfectly seasoned beef tartare to sumptuous scallops and Bâtard’s famous selection of cheeses, every dish is spellbinding. There’s no better place to celebrate a special occasion than at one of the best restaurants in New York.
Mario’s Restaurant
2342 Arthur Avenue, The Bronx, New York, NY 10458
Mario’s Restaurant has been serving up simple and delicious Neapolitan fare to residents of The Bronx for over 100 years. [CH(S2] Not just an historic eatery in the neighborhood, this restaurant is a reminder of the strong Italian traditions that permeate New York culture.
This casual restaurant may not have the frills of some of the trendier dining spots in the city, but what Mario’s lacks in finesse it more than makes up for in harmonious flavors and warm, convivial atmosphere.
Come ready to feast on all the classics: calamari fritti, burrata, minestrone, saltimbocca, eggplant parmigiana and any pasta your heart desires. If you’re able, save room for their gelato or tiramisu.
Spicy Village
68 Forsyth Street B, New York, NY 10002
New York’s Chinatown is iconic and overwhelming. With so many delicious smells wafting through the streets, it can feel impossible to know which place to stop by. For somewhere small that packs a big punch, you have to choose Spicy Village.
This hole-in-the-wall establishment may not look like much from the outside, but it promises immense flavors at reasonable prices. Its most famous dish is its ‘big tray chicken’: succulent, bone-in chicken and potatoes served in a rich, hot and spicy sauce bursting with Sichuan peppercorns and studded with fresh cilantro. Order this alongside some pork-filled pancakes, xiaolongbao, lamb hu mei and some of the freshest hand-pulled noodles you’ll ever eat, and you’ll have a feast fit for an Emperor.
If you didn’t know it was there, you would breeze right past it. Don’t do that: this is easily one of the best places to eat in New York.
Per Se
10 Columbus Circle, New York, NY 10019
If you’re embarking on a pilgrimage for culinary excellence, make Per Se your Shangri-La. Boasting three Michelin stars, Per Se is undeniably one of the best restaurants in New York. From the breathtaking views at each table to its tranquil dining room, everything about the ambiance is flawless – and that’s before you even get to the food.
Per Se specializes in its daily nine-course tasting menus – one completely vegetarian – that showcase the artistry of chef Keller’s French-taught techniques coupled with the outstanding quality of the ingredients from his trusted farmers and foragers. With an impetus on seasonality and balance, you can sit back and allow the chef to enthrall you with a menu where no single ingredient is repeated. This is a remarkably special restaurant that must be savored.
From the humble bagel to the most elaborate haute-cuisine, NYC has it all. No matter what you’re craving or whereabouts you are, you can be sure that you’re never too far away from something utterly delicious.
Get to know more about New York City
Now you’ve got dinner sorted, it’s time to figure out the rest of the best of NYC.
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