Where to Eat in New York
42 restaurants in New York
New York's restaurant scene is as diverse as the city itself. Whether you're after a quick bite or a multi-course experience, you'll find iconic institutions and neighbourhood gems scattered across all five boroughs. Long-established spots like Katz's Delicatessen, Nathan's Famous Hotdogs, and Russ & Daughters have defined New York eating for generations—these are places where locals queue alongside visitors, usually for good reason.
Pizza here deserves its own conversation. Totonno's, Di Fara Pizza, Lucali, and Roberta's Pizza each have devoted followings, with the style and quality varying enough to justify seeking out multiple spots. For seafood, Randazzo's Clam Bar brings classic flavour without pretence, while Blue Ribbon Sushi and Le Bernardin sit at the opposite end of the formality scale. Brooklyn Diner and Benito One offer the comfort-food middle ground.
If you want to dress up, Per Se and Jean-Georges represent the city's fine dining ambitions, though Brooklyn Fare, Peter Luger Steak House, and The Musket Room show that serious food happens across the city. Smaller spots like Nubeluz, George Bang Bang, and Sunny's prove that some of the most memorable meals happen far from the guidebook consensus.
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Katz’s Delicatessen
Must-seeIconic NYC deli since 1888; must-try pastrami, historic Lower East Side institution.
Katz's Delicatessen, 205 E Houston St, New York, NY 10002, USA - 2
Peter Luger Steak House
Must-seeIconic NYC steakhouse since 1887; essential for serious meat lovers and culinary tourism.
Peter Luger Steak House, 178 Broadway, Brooklyn, NY 11211, USA - 3

Le Bernardin
Must-seeThree Michelin stars, NYC institution since 1986, defines fine seafood dining.
155 W. 51st St., New York, 10019, USA - 4
Ivan Ramen
Must-seeAcclaimed ramen specialist with authentic tonkotsu broth; worth seeking out if ramen matters to you.
25 Clinton St, New York, NY 10002, USA - 5
Zabar's
Must-seeIconic NYC deli and specialty food marketplace essential to Upper West Side character and local food culture.
Zabar's, 2245 Broadway, New York, NY 10024, USA - 6

Da Gennaro
Must-seeHistoric neighborhood institution since 1965; authentic Little Italy experience worth a meal.
Da Gennaro, 129 Mulberry St, New York, NY 10013, USA - 7
Russ & Daughters
Must-seeHistoric 1914 Jewish appetizing shop; iconic smoked fish and NYC culinary institution on Lower East Side.
Russ & Daughters, 179 E Houston St, New York, NY 10002, USA - 8
Russ & Daughters Cafe
Iconic Jewish deli with century-old heritage; excellent bagels and cured fish in historic Lower East Side.
127 Orchard St, New York, NY 10002, USA - 9
Di Fara Pizza
Legendary Brooklyn pizzeria with 60-year heritage; essential for pizza-focused visitors.
Di Fara Pizza, 1424 Avenue J, Brooklyn, NY 11230, USA - 10

Per Se
Michelin-starred fine dining icon; essential for serious food travelers visiting NYC.
10 Columbus Circle, New York, 10019, USA - 11

Eleven Madison Park
Iconic fine dining with global reputation; book months ahead, plant-based focus.
11 Madison Ave., New York, 10010, USA - 12
Blue Hill At Stone Barns
World-renowned farm-to-table restaurant; exceptional and unique experience outside NYC proper.
630 Bedford Rd, Tarrytown, NY 10591, USA - 13
Lucali
Iconic Brooklyn pizzeria with consistently excellent thin-crust pies and neighborhood charm.
Lucali, 575 Henry St, Brooklyn, NY 11231, USA - 14
Roberta’s Pizza
Renowned wood-fired pizzeria; iconic Bushwick destination worth the trip for serious pizza lovers.
Roberta's, 261 Moore St, Brooklyn, NY 11206, USA - 15
COQODAQ
Acclaimed Korean fried chicken with Michelin backing; specialized rather than essential NYC dining.
COQODAQ, 12 E 22nd St, New York, NY 10010, USA - 16
Family Meal at Blue Hill
Michelin-pedigreed fine dining with unique communal format; special but not essential for first-timers.
75 W Washington Pl, New York, NY 10011, USA - 17
The Musket Room
Michelin-starred tasting menu worth the splurge for serious food travelers, but not NYC's defining culinary experience.
The Musket Room, 265 Elizabeth St, New York, NY 10012, USA - 18
Totonno's
Century-old coal-oven pizzeria; iconic NYC pizza institution with authentic unchanged recipe.
Totonno's, 1524 Neptune Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11224, USA - 19
Brooklyn Fare
Michelin-starred omakase counter, exceptional seafood tasting menu in intimate setting.
Brooklyn Fare, 200 Schermerhorn St, Brooklyn, NY 11201, USA - 20
Blue Ribbon Sushi
Established sushi spot with solid reputation; worth seeking out if sushi is your priority.
Blue Ribbon Sushi, 119 Sullivan St, New York, NY 10012, USA - 21
Pilot
Unique floating seafood restaurant with iconic skyline views; strong experience but not essential NYC dining.
Pilot, Pier 6 Brooklyn Bridge Park, Brooklyn, NY 11201, USA - 22

Jean-Georges
Iconic NYC fine dining institution; Michelin-starred and globally recognized, but ultra-premium pricing limits accessibility.
Jean-Georges, 1 Central Park W, New York, NY 10023, USA - 23

Chef’s Table at Brooklyn Fare
Award-winning omakase-style restaurant; extraordinary if fine dining is your priority in NYC.
431 W. 37th St., New York, 10018, USA - 24
Randazzo’s Clam Bar
Authentic, family-run Italian seafood spot with strong local reputation; worth visiting if in Brooklyn.
Randazzo's Clam Bar, 2017 Emmons Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11235, USA - 25
Nathan’s Famous Hotdogs
Historic Coney Island institution since 1916; iconic NYC experience worth the trip.
Nathan's Famous, 1205 Riegelmann Boardwalk, Brooklyn, NY 11224, USA - 26

Masa
Michelin three-star sushi omakase counter; NYC's most prestigious sushi destination.
10 Columbus Circle, New York, 10019, USA - 27
Nōksu
Michelin-starred tasting menu in intimate speakeasy setting; memorable but requires advance reservation.
Nōksu, 49 W 32nd St, New York, NY 10001, USA - 28
Favela Grill Steakhouse
Quality Brazilian churrascaria in Astoria; worth visiting if interested in meat-focused dining.
33-18 28th Ave, Astoria, NY 11102, USA - 29
Sunny’s
Sunny's, 253 Conover St, Brooklyn, NY 11231, USA - 30
Les Halles
Brasserie Les Halles, 411 Park Ave S, New York, NY 10016, USA - 31
Brooklyn Diner
Brooklyn Cafe & Eatery, 5924 Avenue N, Brooklyn, NY 11234, USA - 32
Bibliotheque
Bibliotheque, 54 Mercer St, New York, NY 10013, USA - 33
House of Small Wonder
77 N 6th St, Brooklyn, NY 11249, USA - 34
Benito One
Benito One, 174 Mulberry St, New York, NY 10013, USA - 35
Nathan's Famous
Iconic New York fast food with 100+ year history; worth trying if you're nearby on 5th Ave.
787 5th Ave, New York, NY 10022, USA - 36
Ice & Vice
221 E Broadway, New York, NY 10002, USA - 37
Montagu's Gusto
645 2nd Ave, New York, NY 10016, USA - 38
Nubeluz
Must-seeHigh-altitude rooftop cocktail bar with exceptional skyline views; luxury experience, requires reservation.
Nubeluz, 25 W 28th St, New York, NY 10001, USA - 39
George Bang Bang
Well-executed hidden speakeasy with distinctive aesthetic; a memorable cocktail bar but not essential to NYC experience.
George Bang Bang, 13 E 30th St, New York, NY 10016, USA - 40
Harriet's Rooftop
Premium rooftop bar with iconic Manhattan views; expensive but worth one visit for the setting.
Harriet's Rooftop, 60 Furman St Floor 11, Brooklyn, NY 11201, USA - 41
The Garret
The Garret, 296 Bleecker St, New York, NY 10014, USA - 42
Banter Bar
Local neighborhood bar; better options exist for first-time NYC visitors.
Banter Bar, 132 Havemeyer St, Brooklyn, NY 11211, USA
Where to Eat in New York: FAQ
What's the best pizza in New York?
That depends who you ask. Totonno's, Di Fara Pizza, Lucali, and Roberta's Pizza all have devoted followers—try a few and decide for yourself.
Where should I go for a fancy dinner?
Per Se, Jean-Georges, Le Bernardin, and Brooklyn Fare are among the city's most acclaimed fine dining restaurants. Peter Luger Steak House is the classic if you want a high-end steak experience.
Are there any truly iconic New York spots I shouldn't miss?
Yes—Katz's Delicatessen, Nathan's Famous Hotdogs, and Russ & Daughters are New York institutions that have been drawing crowds for decades. They're touristy but genuinely good.