NEW YORK CITY
Welcome to my ultimate New York City guide — a curated list of my favorite places to eat, drink, indulge in the city’s most delicious experiences. Whether you’re a local looking for new spots or a visitor ready to taste your way through NYC, this guide is for you. From hidden gems to iconic restaurants, I’ve gathered my personal recs that capture the true essence of the city’s food scene. And because this city is always evolving, so is this list. I’ll be updating it regularly as I continue to discover new places that inspire me. So check back often, and let’s eat our way through NYC together.
EAT
Bagels
Apollo Bagels
📍 East Village
Instagram: @apollobagels
Must-Have: Classic plain bagel with scallion cream cheese. Add onions, tomatoes, capers for a bagel sandwich
Black Seed Bagels
📍 Multiple Locations
Instagram: @blackseedbagels
Must-Have: Bagel sandwich with your favorite toppings, cream cheese, and spicy mayo
Pop Up Bagels
📍 Multiple Locations
Instagram: @popupbagels
Must-Have: Classic plain bagel with scallion cream cheese
Burgers & Sandwiches
Superiority Burger
📍 East Village
Instagram: @superiorityburger
Must-Have: Superiority burger
The Sandwich Board
📍 East Village
Instagram: @thesandwichboardnyc
Must-Have: Banh Mi
Brunch
Gjelina
📍 East Village
Instagram: @gjelinarestaurant
Must-Have: 4 onion pizza, potato pizza, lemon ricotta pancakes
Caribbean
Kabawa
📍 Multiple Locations
Instagram: @kabawa
Must-Have: Everything is amazing.
Chinese
Spicy Moon
📍 Multiple Locations
Instagram: @spicymoonnyc
Must-Have: Chopped Cheese Spring Roll, Wonton in Chili Oil, Dan Dan Noodles, Kung Pao Tofu
Antidote
📍 Williamsburg
Instagram: @antidote_nyc
Lucky Rabbit Noodles
📍 Brooklyn, DUMBO
Instagram: @luckyrabbitnyc
Must-Have: Vegan dumplings, garlic noodles, lychee lemonade
Ethiopian
RAS
📍 West Village
Instagram: @rasplantbased
James Beard Nominee
Must-Have: Injera Nachos, Fried Chik'N Sandwich
Fine Dining
Cesar
📍 Hudson Square
Instagram: @cesar.newyork
Michelin ❁❁ - Must have the Uni Toast
French
Chez Fifi
📍 Upper East Side
Instagram: @chezfifinyc
Must-Have: Tomato martini, Endive Salad, Escargot, Frites with Caviar
Indian
Adda
📍 East Village
Instagram: @addanyc
Must-Have: Makai Mattar Tikki, Jackfruit Lukhmi, Dhaniwal Malai Gobhi, Paneer Kurchan, Gucchi and Kumbh Pulao
Patiala Indian Grill & Bar
📍 Garment District, 35th St. Location
Instagram: @patialaindiangrillbar
Must-Have: Stuffed Mushrooms, Dahi Sev Poori, Paneer Tash Kebab, Paneer Lababdar, Onion Kulcha
KanyaKumari
📍 Union Square, Flatiron
Instagram: @kanyakumarinyc
Must-Have: Welcome Rasam, Vada Pav, Guntur Idli
Angel
📍 Jackson Heights
Instagram: @angelnyc
Must-Have: Bhel Puri, Veg Dum Biryani, Paneer Makhani, Amul Cheese Naan
Ahimsa
📍 Murray Hill
Instagram: @ahimsanyc
Entirely vegetarian menu, everything is really good and the staff is so amazing
Italian
Sartiano's
📍 SoHo
Instagram: @sartianos
Must-Have: Crudos, Caesar Salad, Veg Lasagna, Dirty Martini
L'Artusi
📍 West Village
Instagram: @lartusi
Korean
Sunn's
📍 Lower East Side, Chinatown
Instagram: @sunnsnyc
Must-Have: Banchan of the day, tteokbokki
Jua
📍 Flatiron
Instagram: @juanyc
Michelin ❁
Gurumé
📍 Midtown
Instagram: @gurumenyc
Must-Have: Brussel Sprouts, Soju Elixirs
Atomix
📍 NoMad
Instagram: @atomixnyc
Michelin ❁❁
Mexican
Super Burrito
📍 Williamsburg
Instagram: @superburritonyc
Must-Have: Wet Burrito with Verdugo hot sauce bottle on side
Santo Taco
📍 Williamsburg
Instagram: @santo.taco
Must-Have: Chicken and mushroom tacos
Mediterranean
Theodora
📍 Fort Greene
Instagram: @theodoranyc
Must-Have: Everything
Molyvos
📍 Midtown
Instagram: @molyvosnyc
Must-Have: Favorite lunch spot - All of the spreads, Ouzo Flamed Halloumi Cheese Saganaki
Shuka
📍 SoHo
Instagram: @shukanyc
Must-Have: All of the spreads
Shukette
📍 Chelsea
Instagram: @shukettenyc
Must-Have: Strawberry labneh, squash blossoms, frena, basmati rice
Au Zaatar
📍 East Village
Instagram: @auzaatar
Must-Have: Spicy falafel, hummus plus, labneh, spicy green and red sauces
Peruvian
Pio Pio
📍 Multiple Locations
Instagram: @piopionyc
Must-Have: Juanita's Chicken, Fried Rice, Aji Verde "Green Sauce"
Pizza
Lucali
📍 Carroll Gardens
Instagram: @lucali_bk
Must-Have: Plain Cheese
Chrissy’s Pizza
📍 Greenpoint
Instagram: @chrissyspizza
Must-Have: Plain Cheese
Prince Street Pizza
📍 Nolita
Instagram: @princestreetpizza
Must-Have: Plain NY Cheese
Una Pizza Napoletana
📍 Lower East Side
Instagram: @unapizzanapoletana
Must-Have: Margherita Pizza
Joe's Pizza
📍 Multiple Locations
Instagram: @joespizzanyc
Must-Have: Classic Cheese Slice
Sushi
Ume
📍 Williamsburg
Instagram: @umenyc
Must-Have: Add the Tuna, Uni, Salmon Roe bowl on top of the Sushi Set
Sushiro
📍 West Village
Instagram: @sushironyc
Must-Have: Kampachi Handroll
Nami Nori
📍 West Village
Instagram: @naminori.nyc
Must-Have: Salmon serrano
Thai
Thai Villa
📍 Flatiron
Instagram: @thaivillanyc
Must-Have: Green Curry, Drunken Noodles
Up Thai
📍 UES
Instagram: @upthainyc
Must-Have: Green Curry, Drunken Noodles, Basil Fried Rice
Valla Table
📍 Hell's Kitchen
Instagram: @vallatable
Soothr
📍 East Village
Instagram: @soothr nyc
Vietnamese
Obao
📍 Hell's Kitchen
Instagram: @obaonyc
Must-Have: Garlic Noodles
Omakase
Shion 69 Leonard Street
📍 Tribeca
Instagram: @69leonardst
Michelin ❁
Yoshino
📍 East Village
Instagram: @yoshinonewyork
Michelin ❁
Sushiro
📍 West Village
Instagram: @sushironyc
COFFEE + TEA
Urbana Coffee & Gallery
📍 Chelsea
Instagram: @urbana.coffee
Must Have: Maple sea salt iced latte
Dialogue
📍 East Village
Instagram: @dialogue_nyc
Must Have: Carrot cake iced latte
Maman
📍 Multiple Locations
Instagram: @_mamannyc_
Must Have: Iced salted tahini honeycomb latte, iced london fog with a vanilla almond with an early grey cloud foam
Devoción
📍 Flatiron
Instagram: @devocionusa
Variety Coffee
📍 Multiple Locations
Instagram: @varietycoffee
BAKERY + SWEETS
Radio Bakery
📍 Green Point + Prospect Heights, Brooklyn
Instagram: @radiobakerynyc
Librae Bakery
📍 East Village
Instagram: @libraebakery
Win Son Bakery
📍 Multiple Locations
Instagram: @winsonbakery
Soaked Bar
📍 Jersey City
Instagram: @soakedbar
Must-Have: lemon, cherry, biscoff, and oreo
*Note: Local Pickup only in Jersey City. Orders must be placed during the Sunday weekend limited drop for pickup the following weekend. It's the best tres leches you'll ever have. So so good!*
Big Gay Ice Cream Shop
📍 Tribeca
Instagram: @biggayicecream
Must-Have: The dorothy cone
Caffè Panna
📍 Gramercy
Instagram: @caffepanna
Must-Have: Everything is always so good, I usually opt for the limited time flavors
Culture An American Yogurt Company
📍 West Village
Instagram: @cultureyogurt
Must-Have: Original yogurt with caramel drizzle
Glace
📍 Upper East Side
Instagram: @glace.nyc
Must-Have: White Chocolate Brulee
Pastry Box
📍East Village
Instagram: @pastryboxnyc
Must-Have: Chocolate chip cookie, cinnamon roll
Hani's Bakery
📍East Village
Instagram: @hanisbakerynyc
Must-Have: Chocolate chip cookie
Culture Espresso
📍Multiple Locations
Instagram: @cultureespresso
Must-Have: Corn & sugar cookie, Chocolate chip cookie
Gooey on the Inside
📍 Lower East Side
Instagram: @gooeyontheinside
Must-Have: Banana Cream Pie Cookie
Postcard Bakery
📍 West Village
Instagram: @postcardbakery
Must-Have: Strawberry & Grape Fruit Sando
Salswee
📍 Flatiron
Instagram: @salswee
Must-Have: Strawberry Cake & Yuzu Dessert
DRINK
Double Chicken Please
📍 Lower East Side
Instagram: @doublechickenpleasenyc
Bemelmans Bar
📍 Upper East Side
Instagram: @bemelmansbar
Overstory
📍 Financial District
Instagram: @overstorynyc
Amazing views!
Katana Kitten
📍 West Village
Instagram: @katanakitten_nyc
Attaboy
📍 Lower East Side
Instagram: @attaboy134
SHOPPING
Madame Motavu
I have found some vintage gems here. Say hello to Rosemary! <3