Food
Savouring New York City: The Essentials Dining Guide
Boasting one of the world's most formidable food scenes, New York City offers something for every palate – and these 10 hotspots, both new and classic, are not to be missed
New York City runs on big dreams, little sleep and some of the best food in the world. From Michelin-star restaurants and time-tested establishments to spectacular street food and buzzy new openings, diversity and creativity drive a dining scene as eclectic as the city itself. While hardly exhaustible, our guide is an essential jumping-off point for exploring New York’s vibrant culinary scene.
For Gourmet Gastronomy: Jean-Georges and Nougatine
Global sensation Chef Jean-George Vongerichten’s namesake New York restaurant has drawn discerning diners since its opening in 1997. Relying on the local farmer’s market and seasonal produce, his signature cuisine blends French, Asian and American flavours. Don’t skip the caviar egg, a pillowy soft-boiled egg topped with caviar, or the ultimate decadence: foie gras brulé with a caramelised sugar crust. Experience a pared-down version of Vongerichten’s mastery at Nougatine, its sister restaurant next door. Dine at the bar as the locals do, and soak up the verve of a cinematic open kitchen and charming park views, or relax immersed in greenery on the restaurant’s terrace.
[Photos via jean-georges.com]
For Prime People-Watching: The Polo Bar
For a taste of pure New York exclusivity, get on the phone (months in advance) and book a table at The Polo Bar. Low lights, wood panelling and equestrian-themed artwork play to Ralph Lauren’s ultra-preppy aesthetic; it’s like sneaking into the East Coast outpost of Hollywood’s most coveted country club. Keep your eyes peeled for celebrity sightings and political power hours over sublimely executed American classics and Ralph Lauren’s favourite dishes. Low-brow guilty pleasures like pigs-in-a-blanket flank caviar and potatoes on the appetiser list alongside oysters and crab cakes. Flinch-worthy prices for a burger or corned beef sandwich are worth the splurge, as is the perennial favourite side, charred heirloom cauliflower. Stick around after your meal for incredible cocktails and some of the best people-watching in the city.
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For A Great Cuppa: Caffé Reggio
In a city of near-daily pop-ups and hipster coffee chains, Greenwich Village establishment Caffé Reggio has survived the test of time. Established in 1927, Caffé Reggio allegedly served America’s first cappuccino – and continues to turn out a delicious one. The rustic, old-world interior feels specially designed for the poets and writers who still crowd the tables alongside locals and regulars. It’s like a mini museum in itself, with an antique collection that includes a 16th-century bench and an original Caravaggio. A cornerstone of New York City’s bohemian culture for decades, Caffé Reggio spews ambiance – cosy on the inside and great for people-watching outside – but also serves a great espresso or a simple brew coffee, as well as pastries, brunch classics and even a few pastas. Unlike New Yorkers, this landmark is going nowhere fast.
[Photo at left courtesy @dametraveler]
For Honest Eats: The Halal Guys
New York City’s food carts have come a long way from the hot dog and pretzel stands of yore. These days, you’ll find everything from empanadas, lobster rolls and every imaginable taco iteration, to gourmet ice creams and Belgian waffles. For a real taste of NYC and a truly delicious plate of chicken and rice, The Halal Guys are the reigning food truck kings. In 1990, three Egyptian immigrants ditched their collective hot dog stand to recreate family recipes at affordable prices. Their richly seasoned grilled gyro meat, chicken and falafel served with rice, crunchy lettuce and juicy tomatoes – a rarity for the city – first gained a following among cab drivers and, soon enough, everyone else. The brand has since gone global, but you can still visit their original location on 53rd Street and 6th Avenue, among several others. Wherever you land, don’t skip their legendary ‘white sauce’, its recipe an enduring secret for over 30 years.
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For Exotic Cuisine: Bangkok Supper Club
The team behind downtown fixture Fish Cheeks, known for authentic Thai seafood served family-style, has turned up the dial with Bangkok Supper Club. Another notoriously tough reservation, a table at this clubby little spot is worth the wait for melt-in-your-mouth scallop ceviche with chilli-topped watermelon granita. Indulge in crispy chicken wings stuffed with sticky rice, or bigger plates like whole grilled branzino, Chilean sea bass chakram curry, and shrimp satay along with dangerously well-crafted cocktails. The vibe is equally intoxicating, with U-shaped booths and mid-century design. In a city whose food scene is often defined by authentically executed international cuisine, Bangkok Supper Club delivers a true melding of street food and traditional Thai recipes in an ultra-NYC setting.
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For Farm-To-Table Fare: ABC Kitchen
Located in the Flatiron District, ABC Kitchen stands out as the city’s premiere farm-to table destination. Here, the kitchen uses exclusively seasonal, locally sourced ingredients that are also organic and GMO-free. Herbs and microgreens grow on the restaurant’s rooftop garden, and coffee, teas, spices and wines lean heavily on organic fair-trade cooperatives. The restaurant’s country-chic vibe features reclaimed and recycled materials, enhancing its eco-friendly, sustainable credentials. Expect innovative yet simple dishes that focus on prime ingredients and seasonal flavours. As an added bonus, work up an appetite (or burn off lunch) at the adjacent home furnishing mecca, ABC Carpet & Home, an NYC design establishment.
[Photos via abckitchen.nyc]
For Local Libations: Torch and Crown Beer Garden at Union Square
A true labour of love: co-owners of Torch and Crown, John Dantzler and Joe Correia, are literally living the dream. After a failed home-brew experiment and a trip to Ireland, the best friends vowed to one day succeed at making their own beer. Their flagship brewery and restaurant opened in 2020 in SoHo, with fast success encouraging them to open the Union Square beer garden two years later. An airy outpost in one of the city’s busiest squares, it’s a perfect oasis from the surrounding chaos. The beer garden offers a full selection of their canned ales, lagers and sours; the choice can be overwhelming, so a beer sampler is the way to go. If you’ve only got room for one, try their bright and peppery signature IPA, Almost Famous, or go for Tenement, a clean, hoppy no-nonsense pilsner. Soak it up with simple but hearty bar menu classics like buffalo wings, burgers and fresh salads. As Manhattan’s only brewery, this newcomer is set to become a new, New York classic.
[Photos courtesy Torch and Crown]
For A Sweet Treat: Fan-Fan Doughnuts
In her own words, Fan-Fan Doughnuts founder and pastry chef extraordinaire Fany Gerson is dedicated to making great doughnuts, making people happy, and bringing people together. Mission accomplished. Gerson’s last enterprise, Dough, reigned for years as Manhattan’s peak donut destination. Devotees now flock to Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn for her latest sweet success, where colourful confections are inspired by her joyful memories of growing up in Mexico, as well as by global flavours that celebrate the diversity of her new home in New York City. Gerson employs traditional Mexican techniques like rolling hand-grated cinnamon into her dough for a more genuine and expansive flavour. Chocolate glazes are created in-house, and everything is baked in small batches, yet her creations are as comforting and affordable as they are ornate. You’ll be spoilt for choice here, with a rotating menu including yuzu cream-stuffed eclairs and the sweet and savoury Miso Ringo. Or try the Madre Tierra doughnut, which comes topped in buttercream, crumbled pistachios and edible flowers.
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For An Iconic Experience: Katz’s Delicatessen
You can have what she’s having at Katz’s. Perhaps best known (among non-locals) for an iconic scene in the film When Harry Met Sally, this bustling, no-frills institution on the Lower East Side of Manhattan has been serving the city’s favourite pastrami on rye since 1888 – and the classic Jewish deli menu has remained unchanged over the centuries. Towering pastrami and corned beef sandwiches come served with a side of pickles (sour and half sour) from dawn to dusk. Their matzo ball soup, stuffed knishes and buttery potato latkes taste like a time capsule, and thankfully come in very generous portions. Dine in for the full experience, and don’t forget to scan the walls for photos of famous patrons past and present. Whether you stay or go, expect a line of justifiably eager and impatient customers (a mix of locals and tourists) with their orders at the ready, so study the menu in advance. Be sure to save room for a slice of babka – sweet braided bread that swirls chocolate and moist brioche together, topped with a crumbly crust.
[Photo: Katz’s Deli]
For A Night Cap: Bemelmans Bar
Nestled within the Carlyle Hotel on the Upper East Side of New York City, Bemelmans makes a perfect last stop before home. The bar is named after Ludwig Bemelmans, the creator of the popular “Madeline” children’s books, and his whimsical Central Park depictions adorn the bar’s walls. Low light, low ceilings and tightly clustered tables lend the place a playful and sophisticated ambiance. Sip classic cocktails, including their signature Martini and Manhattan, to the tune of live jazz and legendary Cabaret performances. A small bar menu features top-shelf snacks.
[Photos via Bemelmans]
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