55 Best Restaurants in New York City, New York

Reviews Updated by

Delesia Watson

Ready to take a bite out of New York? Hope you've come hungry. In a city where creativity is expressed in innumerable ways, the food scene takes center stage, with literally thousands of chances to taste what Gotham is all about. Whether lining up at street stands, gobbling down legendary deli and diner grub, or chasing a coveted reservation at the latest celebrity-chef venue, New Yorkers are a demanding yet appreciative audience.

Every neighborhood offers temptations high, low, and in between, meaning there's truly something for every taste, whim, and budget. No matter how you approach dining out here, it's hard to go wrong. Planning a day of shopping among the glittering flagship boutiques along 5th and Madison Avenues? Stop into one of the Upper East Side's storied restaurants for a repast among the "ladies who lunch." Clubbing in the Meatpacking District? Tuck into a meal at eateries as trendy as their patrons. Craving authentic ethnic? From food trucks to hidden joints, there are almost more choices than there are appetites. Recent years have also seen entire food categories, from ramen to meatballs to mac 'n' cheese, riffed upon and fetishized, and at many restaurants you find an almost religious reverence for seasonal, locally sourced cuisine.

And don't forget—New York is still home to more celebrity chefs than any other city. Your chances of running into your favorite cookbook author, Food Network celeb, or paparazzi-friendly chef are high, adding even more star wattage to a restaurant scene with an already through-the-roof glamour quotient. Newfound economic realities, however, have revived appreciation for value, meaning you can tap into wallet-friendly choices at every level of the food chain. Rest assured, this city does its part to satisfy your appetite. Ready, set, eat.

A.L.C. Italian Grocery

$ Fodor's Choice

Modeled after an old-school salumeria, and run by the grandson of Bensonhurst’s beloved Italian food importing and distribution business, D. Coluccio & Sons, this specialty grocery stocks everything from cheese, chocolate, salami, imported pasta, sauces, bread, and pizza dough to prepared foods and salads. The memorable Italian heroes and sandwiches include the Pork Ridge (with homemade porchetta, Italian Crucolo cheese, and the spicy, spreadable salami called 'nduja) and the vegetable and ricotta sandwich. There are a few tables up front, but the prime picnic territory of Shore Park is just a short walk away.

Baked

$ | Red Hook Fodor's Choice

Original creations like the Brookster (chocolate chip cookie dough baked inside a brownie) and delicious interpretations of whoopie pies, blondies, bars, and cookies keep this sleek bakery and café buzzing. There are breakfast items and a few lunchtime savory selections, too. Buy the cookbook so you can re-create the recipes at home.

Bakeri

$ | Greenpoint Fodor's Choice

When Williamsburg's best European-style bakery wanted more space, it opened a Greenpoint outpost and included a rustic communal table, antique finishes, and hand-painted wallpaper. From house-made focaccia to financiers, there are plenty of mouthwatering choices (including vegan and gluten-free options) for breakfast and lunch. At breakfast you can watch the bakers in the open kitchen as you sip your morning coffee and snack on a raspberry pistachio muffin or Norwegian skolebrød. Soups and sandwiches on freshly baked bread are served at lunch.

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Blue Bottle Coffee

$ Fodor's Choice

Self-described coffee aficionados line up for the espresso and pour-overs at Blue Bottle, which originated in Oakland but feels very much at home in Williamsburg. The former factory building has light streaming in through large windows so the La Marzocco espresso machine seems to shine, and a Kyoto-style iced-coffee dripper, which looks like it belongs in a science lab, is displayed opposite the coffee counter. There's not much seating, so it's best to get your coffee and snack (mmmm, s'mores) to go. Beans are roasted in a vintage Probat roaster in back.

Brooklyn Roasting Company

$ | DUMBO Fodor's Choice

Artfully disheveled staffers brew coffee from fair-trade and rain-forest alliance–certified beans, while local gallerists and start-up techies flirt over perfectly poured cortados and other beverages at this East River--adjacent café. The loft-style industrial space is filled with antique roasting equipment and ample seating, and also serves pastries and sandwiches.

Búdin

$ | Greenpoint Fodor's Choice

Coffee aficionados head to Greenpoint for Búdin’s $10 latte—it's pricey because it's made with Danish licorice syrup, topped with licorice powder, and served on a silver tray. Come during the day for coffee by the Oslo-based roaster Tim Wendelboe, whose beans are favored by top European chefs, or after hours for wine and Nordic craft beer. The back of the shop is stocked with a rotating selection of Scandinavian-design goods .

Cafe Regular

$ | Park Slope Fodor's Choice

A charming European atmosphere and a focus on top-quality products like La Colombe coffee, Jacques Torres hot chocolate, and Dona chai (hand-brewed in Brooklyn) make the two tiny locations in Park Slope feel like a special-occasion getaway. Snacks are few but the relatively new red banquettes make it comfy to linger longer. The petite spot at 318a 11th Street is best visited solo.

Devoción

$ Fodor's Choice

At this coffee shop with roots in Bogotá, the beauty of the space is matched by the quality of the coffee, which comes exclusively from small farms in Colombia. Fresh beans are brought directly to Brooklyn, where they're roasted on-site within a few days of arrival. Take a seat on one of the leather sofas under the skylight or at a table in front of the living wall, and enjoy a cappuccino with one of the homemade medialunas or croissants. The stylish space has books, magazines, and even dominoes—perfect for a relaxing Sunday afternoon.

Dough

$ Fodor's Choice

Ask the baker at Dough which doughnut you should try, and you may get this answer: “The only thing better than the chocolate salted caramel is life itself.” That may be true, but the cinnamon, original glazed, and more unusual flavors like the passion fruit and hibiscus are also unforgettably delicious—good luck choosing. The doughnuts are as big as a man’s hand, and they’re fried in batches throughout the day to ensure freshness. You'll see Dough doughnuts sold in cafés around Brooklyn and Manhattan.

Gorilla Coffee

$ | Park Slope Fodor's Choice

This popular Brooklyn-based brand has fueled Park Slope since 2002 with its specially blended roasts and beans from direct-trade and family farms. There's a pour-over menu with the concise descriptions you'd expect on a fine-wine menu. Business is just as brisk as at the now closed original location, but the sleek interior is a 180-degree upgrade. Muffins from nearby Blue Sky Bakery and baked goods from Colson's Patisserie are in good supply. The window seats are prime spots to watch the steady stream of foot traffic. There's free Wi-Fi, but no outlet use.

Little Skips

$ | Bushwick Fodor's Choice

Artwork by local artists, some of them customers, hang on the wall at this popular hangout space that lures a large contingent of freelancers typing away on their laptops. The sandwiches are excellent, and gluten-free substitutes are available for an additional charge. Service can be slow, but there's plenty of people-watching while you wait.

Madman Espresso

$ | Union Square Fodor's Choice

The unofficial Mayor of University Place, Marco Vacchi, runs this beloved neighborhood coffee shop, the original outpost of his expanding Madman empire. You’ll often see the mustachio’d owner playing barista, pulling espressos, and frothing cappuccinos—all powered by high-quality Caffé Vita beans—behind the postage-stamp-size counter. In warmer weather, there’s outdoor seating, too.

One Girl Cookies

$ | Boerum Hill Fodor's Choice

Vintage serving pieces, a hand-painted family tree, and life-size family photos adorn the interior of this aqua-walled bakery and café beloved for its old-world charm and tasty, bite-size cookies. The whoopie pies—chocolate or the very popular pumpkin—and cupcakes are worth checking out, too. The free Wi-Fi, spacious seating, and pleasant atmosphere invite lingering.

Ovenly

$ | Greenpoint Fodor's Choice

This tiny bakery has made a name for itself with standouts like vegan salted chocolate-chip cookies, pistachio agave cookies, and currant-rosemary scones. The seasonal specials are equally mouthwatering—just try to resist the bourbon-maple-pecan pie made for Thanksgiving. In warm weather, take your goodies up the block to WNYC Transmitter Park for a picnic that will make everyone jealous.

Abracadabra

This Turkish-owned bakery is a cozy stop for a quick breakfast, lunch, or afternoon snack. Grab a table in front of the street art--style mural and settle in with sandwiches and wraps, or vegan and gluten-free pastries like the coffee cake (served with berries in summer, pumpkin in fall). Chocoholics should try the intense Nutella pouf, a flaky confection filled with Nutella and served warm.

Almondine Bakery

$ | DUMBO

Jacques Torres's partner Herve Poussot bakes Gallic pastries (think fresh-baked fraisier with fresh strawberries and mousseline crème) and delectable quiches and croissants, and serves sandwiches on award-winning baguettes, in this spot across the street from Torres's chocolate shop. The petit storefront's interior is nothing special, but the staff are friendly and the seating is abundant.

AP Café

$ | Bushwick

Conveniently located amid the street-art murals of the Bushwick Collective, this minimalist café has expansive windows perfect for art- and people-watching—though most of the crowd is busy staring at their laptops. Grab expertly pulled coffee on the go or stick around for Instagram-worthy healthy sandwiches, soups, and brunch dishes.

Archway Cafe

$ | DUMBO

Artwork by local artists lines the walls of this breezy café that serves soups, salads, and excellent sandwiches big enough to share. In warm weather, take your order to go, and enjoy an alfresco spread on nearby picnic tables beneath the Manhattan Bridge.

Baked in Brooklyn

Follow the smell of fresh bread to this giant bakery with a storefront selling a variety of breads, cupcakes, cookies, danishes, and a select menu of sandwiches. It's especially convenient for picnics in Green-Wood Cemetery. The line of baked pita chips can be found all over the city.

Berg’n

$ | Crown Heights

This food and beer hall from the team behind Smorgasburg and the Brooklyn Flea lures visitors from all over Brooklyn and beyond to a warehouse on a formerly nondescript street. The massive space, often filled and sometimes completely jammed, has a 40-foot antique bar and a handful of Smorg’s favorite vendor stands including Mighty Quinn’s Barbecue, Lumpia Shack, and LandHaus. It's family-friendly until 9 pm on Friday and Saturday; after that, it's 21 and up only.

Bien Cuit

$ | Boerum Hill

Locally ground flour, hand-mixed doughs, and European recipes are among this artisanal bakery and café's secrets to success. Some regulars drop by to stock up on classic challah, French pain de mie (a sweet bread good for sandwiches or to toast) and baguettes, and Italian Pugliese loaves, but others come for the pastries, sandwiches, or quiches. It's hard to choose among the cranberry danishes, fruit tarts, chocolate pecan tortes, or the flawless croissants, the latter served plain or with various fillings.

Bittersweet

$ | Fort Greene

Tight on space but long on taste, this slim café is named for its two primary menu categories: coffee and desserts. Baristas know most customers both by sight and by their La Colombe coffee beverage of choice. Pair yours with pastries from the best of the local bakeries or opt for something savory like a salad or a sandwich on Balthazar bread.

Brooklyn Commune

House-baked pastries and breakfast are served every day of the week at this sunshine-filled eatery. Delicious sandwiches and a variety of tasty vegetarian and vegan options make up the rest of the menu offerings. Dinner isn't served, but weekend brunch is very popular.

Brooklyn Kolache

$ | Greenwich Village

If the Czech Republic and Texas had an edible baby and that baby were born in Brooklyn, it would taste a lot like the bite-sized sweet and savory cakes served at this diminutive shop. Kolaches were brought to Texas by Czech immigrants and have been a staple of Lone Star State cuisine ever since. Grab a few, plus a coffee, and enjoy them in nearby Washington Square Park or Father Demo Square.

Brooklyn Kolache Co

Sure, doughnuts are all the rage, but for something a little different, head to this cozy bakery-café near Pratt Institute for the renowned Czech (via Texas; the owner is from Austin) kolaches, pillowy pastries filled with sweet and savory ingredients like lemon curd, strawberry and sweet cheese, or sausage and cheese. There can be more than 20 varieties to choose from at any one time. Enjoy one (or several) with a fresh raspberry-lime rickey in the café's sunny back garden, or get a few to go.

Café Frederick

$ | Harlem

If you want to kick back in a comfortable environment with lots of natural light, try this laid-back neighborhood hangout. Its beans are sourced from the Brooklyn Roasting Company (one of the city's finest coffee emporiums), and, in addition to quality java, its menu features paninis, savory crepes, and other casual fare, as well as several wines by the glass and beers in the bottle.

Café Grumpy

$ | Greenpoint

Made famous by the HBO television show Girls—the character Ray works here—this indie coffee shop roasts its beans in the roastery next door and sends them to its other cafés around the city. Café Grumpy serves all the usual drip coffee and espresso drinks plus pastries, with gluten-free options. This location, opened in 2005, was the first.

Café Madeleine

In addition to excellent coffee, tea, and even kombucha (on tap), this bustling café near the Q train serves local farm-fresh and homemade fare from eggs and biscuits to veggie and poke bowls. Sandwiches come piled high with organic ingredients such as fresh avocado, leafy greens, and the "world's best" pastrami. You'll want to try all 10 grilled cheeses, be it classic cheddar, fig and apple, or another delectable variation. Though a tad cramped, the café's more than 30 tables are spread out in two rooms.

Café Pedlar

$ | Cobble Hill

The folks behind Frankie's 457 and Prime Meats in Carroll Gardens operate this bustling café whose limited seating only heightens its cachet. The expert staffers pull espresso drinks and pour-overs made with the latest and greatest roasts from nearby Stumptown. If you want to try something different, look for the output of "guest roasters" like Mad Cap from Grand Rapids, Michigan, or Anchored Coffee of Dartmouth, Nova Scotia. At the pastry counter you can pick up cookies, croissants, quiches, or the toothsome soft pretzels.

Café Rue Dix

$$ | Crown Heights

Whether it’s the rhythmic African music, the aromatic Ataya tea, or the stylish diners from all parts of Brooklyn, be prepared for this romantic Senegalese-French fusion bistro to steal your heart (and stomach). The charming knickknacks in this vibrant, intimate space create an authentic backdrop for dishes straight from the owners’ kitchen in Dakar, such as the hearty Thiebou Jen (stewed fish and vegetables over rice; the national dish of Senegal) and Fataya (beef empanadas with Senegalese hot sauce).

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