Our guide to the best restaurants in New York
Deciding where to eat in New York City is difficult as the options are endless! The city is brimming with some of the best bites you’re likely to ever have in your life. So, we thought we would share our top 10 must-visit restaurants. If you love to eat, this guide on some of the best restaurants in NYC is for you.
View all of our luxury holidays to the USA
Beauty & Essex
146 Essex St, New York, 10002
+1 212 614 0146
Hidden behind a pawn shop, Beauty & Essex oozes decadence. You will be mesmerised once you enter the restaurant, with an enormous winding staircase wrapping around a two-storey chandelier, a peacock themed dining room and free-flowing pink Champagne in the ladies’ toilets. Celebrity chef Chris Santos’ menu offers a selection of international tapa style dishes and there is a stand out vegan menu.
We recommend Grilled cheese, smoked bacon and tomato soup dumplings
Buddakan
75 9th Avenue, New York, 10011
+1 212 989 6699
Lavish is an understatement, Buddakan serves punchy Asian flavours within a dining hall decorated with 16th-Century style décor. Everything is theatrical, from the massive chandeliers hanging over the tables to the theatre lights shining down on the diners. The menu has a selection of both sharing plates and larger dishes, all with homage to Asian traditions.
We recommend Edamame dumplings with a shallot-sauternes broth.
Cecconi’s Dumbo
55 Water St, Brooklyn, New York, 11201
+1 718 650 3900
Housed in a 19th-century coffee warehouse, Cecconi’s is a chic eatery serving up modern Italian cuisine. The large terrace overlooks the iconic Brooklyn Bridge, while the interior dining room is glamorously decorated with glistening chandeliers, velvet chairs and marble flooring. There is an all-day menu with various cicchetti, which are traditional Venetian tapas, handmade pasta, pizzas and Italian meats.
We recommend Agnolotti del plin pasta, black truffle.
Simon and the Whale
23 Lexington Ave, New York, 10010
+1 212 475 1924
Simon and the Whale serve up inspiring and unusual dishes in a laidback and cosy setting. Led by Gabriel Stulman and his team, dishes are intricate but not pretentious and draw inspiration from a lifetime of travel. Everyone will find something to eat here, with a range of both casual and fancier dishes.
We recommend Grilled octopus, freekeh, chickpeas, broccoli, garlic chips.
The East Pole
133 E. 65th St, New York, 10065
+1 212 249 2222
A neighbourhood favourite in the Upper East Side, The East Pole follows the trendy ethos of farm-to-table. The interior is sophisticated and modern and there is the option to sit at the bar and have some light bites. Some of their best dishes revolve around vegetables, with the utmost respect and attention to detail paid to the produce.
We recommend Grilled summer squash and heirloom tomatoes with kaffir lime aioli.
August
791 Lexington Ave, New York, 10065
+1 212 935 1433
August is a charming French-inspired restaurant in Midtown Manhattan where the menu changes with the seasons. It uses outstanding seafood produce, with dishes such as bouillabaisse, charred octopus and diver scallops on the menu. The restaurant includes a sophisticated bar which serves a great range of citrus-based cocktails.
We recommend Ahi quality tuna on crispy rice with avocado, black sesame, soy glaze and chilli mayonnaise.
Lafayette
380 Lafayette Street, New York, 10003
+1 212 533 3000
Dishes are inspired by a variety of regions in France and the Mediterranean. Close attention is paid to every detail, even so far as to make their own pasta, bread and charcuterie on-site. Lafayette base their menu around what is bought at the market and take a modern twist on traditional dishes. Make sure to pop into their outstanding bakery to try delicious patisserie.
We recommend Prime beef tartare “New Orleans”, tabasco aioli, quail egg
Minetta Tavern
113 Macdougal St, New York, 10012
+1 212 475 3850
One of the most storied restaurants in New York, Minetta Tavern has served the likes of Ernest Hemingway and E.E. Cummings. Its style is quintessentially New York, with classic tiled floors, red leather booths and a classic wooden bar. It is probably New York’s best steakhouse, but it doesn’t stop there, serving top-class fish dishes including Island Creek Oysters and diver scallops.
We recommend Dry aged côte de boeuf for two with roasted marrow bones.
P J Clarkes
Multiple Locations incl. 915 3rd Ave, New York 10022
+1 212 317 1616
Nat King Cole famously named the bacon cheeseburger at P J Clarkes as the “Cadillac of Hamburgers”, and their lobster roll has become a favourite with locals too. The décor is quite retro, with checkered table clothes and red booths. It serves some of the best comfort food, but less unknown is its raw bar, where it serves the freshest oysters and clams on the market.
We recommend Jumbo lobster roll
The Smith Restaurant
Multiple Locations, incl. 55 3rd Ave, New York, 10003
1 212 420 9800
The Smith Restaurant is a low fuss sophisticated diner where you can get superb steak dishes in the city. It has four restaurants across New York City, each serving crowd favourites like crispy fried calamari, Caesar salad and mac & cheese. They add tempting specials each day of the week, including short ribs on Saturdays. Finish your meal off with a stack of giant homemade cookies.
We recommend Skillet roasted mac & cheese
