One of my most asked questions on instagram, is “where should I go to eat in NYC ?!” Therefore, I wanted to create this virtual list of some of my favorite locations here in Manhattan. These picks are by no means the best Michelin star restaurants..they are just places I enjoy or that you may enjoy. Places with ambiance and good food to enjoy with friends, family or a significant other! Every location is linked to either one of my Instagram posts or the business’s IG page. Would love to hear your feedback! Xo SS
Features:
Breakfast/Brunch
Lunch/Dinner
Special Occasion
Fun For Groups
Rooftops
Breakfast/Brunch
The Most Important Meal Of The Day!
ABC Kitchen A Jean-Georges restaurant known for amazing seasonal dishes in a rustic setting!
Broken Coconut Come here for your quick, vegan bites after your Rumble workout in Noho!
De Maria NYC Delicious healthy dishes.
Citizens of Chelsea An Australian style cafe with some amazing avocado toast! They also have a location in Gramercy.
The Butcher’s Daughter A plant-based favorite in Bowery, for a reviving hot tonic and crisp kale salad. I love the other space they have in BK..and I cannot wait to visit the Venice location one day!
Two Hands Restaurant & Bar Get the brassicas bowl!
Maman Tribeca Get the constructed avocado toast for the ultimate foodstagram pic.
Jack's Wife Freda every dish here is full of flavor!
Hotel Chantelle Aside from being the perfect location for night out in LES..their jazz brunch is amazing!
Egg Shop NYC If you’re an egg fanatic like me…this one is a must.
Epistrophy Honestly, the perfect spot for a casual night to catch up with a friend.
RH Rooftop Restaurant One of the most BEAUTIFUL spaces in the entire city.
Wattle Cafe Known for their waffles and latte art!
Upstairs At The Kimberly Luxe space with a great view of the Chrysler building!
Shuka Mediterranean food haven!
Sadelles Simple and classic breakfast favorites in Soho by Major Food Group (the team behind Carbone, Dirty French, and Santina) alongside towers of wild caught salmon, white fish and caviar! My low-carb favorite here is called the Leo!
Lunch/ Dinner
Enjoy Quality Foods Here!
Barbounia Restaurant Great spot to meet at location likely to be “central” for all your friends. Modern Mediterranean cuisine. They also have great happy hour and brunch specials!
BG Cafe at Bergdorf Goodman Looking for the perfect lunch break or afternoon tea after a long day of shopping on 5th ave? This is your spot. Be sure to make a reservation for a window seat, to enjoy a view of South Central Park while dining. Another spot with a similair vibe and just a little further up on Madison Ave is Freds at Barneys .
Babu Ji Modern Indian Cusine!
Boucherie: A traditional French brassiere and steakhouse. This is a great spot to come to for French classics like the steak frities and Moules Normandes as well as Escargot, if you’re into that! I personally enjoy the West Village location more than the Union Square one because I love their outdoor seating!
The Fat Radish Beautiful rustic interior and farm to table, British inspired cuisine on the lower east side!
Cafe Clover Known for their creative, organic and guilt-free dishes!
Bondst Japanese Restaurant in Noho. I love sitting downstairs in the lounge area. You must get the Big Eye Tuna Tarts with white truffle oil (*drooling face*),
The Little Beat For quick eats on the go, I come here or By CHLOE for a “healthier” casual lunch or dinner.
Sant Ambroeus you guys know this is one of my favorites! Love the Milano experience here. Check out one of their three location in NYC (and one in the Hamptons)! My healthy go-to’s on this pasta heavy menu are Carpaccio di Finocchio (fennel carpaccio) and the insalata di carciofi (arugula salad) !
Del Frisco’s Steakhouse If you need a spot near the Rockefeller Center for American classics, come here or Limani for traditional Greek specials.
Dirty French Delicious French inspired menu. I never do this, but I highly a “solutions” friendly serving of their complimentary flatbread (it’s that amazing), but be sure to get their Vin Blanc (black bass) for a healthy entree choice!
Eataly NYC A seasonal rooftop restaurant that will always have an impressive decor plan! Eataly is usually known as a pizza and pasta haven tucked inside a pricey specialty grocery store.
Hunt and Fish Club Touristy location but for after a broadway show or for a midtown meal…this is a smart choice. Extra points for their standout, “instagrammable” ceiling.
Le Turtle LES modern French restaurant. My tips: ask for the Mirrored Vip booth, order the beef carpaccio and beet & cheese plate, enjoy the pink lighting and try finding the #leturtlemirror !
Lure Fishbar -Fresh seafood and a great happy hour menu in Soho. Great place to stop by for a meal after a day of shopping.
Mercer Kitchen Mercer is a classic, multilevel restaurant that is a go-to, also in Soho!
NIX - looking for vegetarian eats? This is a great place to for an “indulgent” vegetarian based meal. It will meet your dietary needs, however it is no where near a healthy dinner night!
Old Rose - If I’m on the west side, and want something less “sceney” then Chelsea/ Meatpacking spots. This is a cute, underrated restaurant to go to.
When We Were Young - Probably the most instagrammable restaurant in NYC! Get ready to sit amongst bloggers and influencers and enjoy the extremely friendly staff!
Public Kitchen Before heading up to the rooftop at this hotel, sit down in their outdoor garden (weather permitting) or their indoor dining room for a mouth watering brunch! I’m obsessed with the Public Hotel in Bowery and this restaurant inside is so delicious. In fact, it is one of the many Jean Georges restaurants here in NY!
Quality Italian Must get the Chicken Parmesan Pizza- let’s just see the crust is made of fried chicken! (Hello treat meal)
Yara NYC -Such a stunning Lebanese restaurant in Midtown with delicious food, a downstairs lounge & bar and the best hummus in NYC!
Rubirosa NYC - This is the spot to go to for the most amazing pizza in Nolita. Must get the Tie-Dye pizza, made with vodka sauce, fresh mozzarella and pesto sauce!
Santina - What I love most about Santina is their Gluten Free Menu and their many dairy free options that I get to enjoy while surrounded by amazing Murano glass chandeliers! (Another winner by Major Food Group).
Beautique Dining - Looking for a dinner near the Plaza Hotel, this could be a great place, nearby to make a last minute dinner plan with a date or group of friends! it has an old school vibe for sure and is close by to many midtown East hot spots, if you want to stay within that area.
Seamores This is absolutely a winner in my eyes, from happy hour, to late dinner to weekend brunch scene. Seamores has an emphasis on fresh seafood and sustainable and locally sourced foods. My favorite on the menu (and great bang for your buck) is “The Reel Deal” a selection of one proteins, one sauce and three seasonal sides.
The Odeon Restaurant a classic in Tribeca, around since 1980, serving classic French-American eats.
The Smith -A spot I go to if I can’t find a reservation and need a restaurant to meet a friend or client. The after work crowd can be found here at one of their many locations throughout the city.
The Standard, High line Come for an American bistro meal under the High Line inside the Standard Hotel in the meatpacking district. They have outdoor and indoor seating available and it’s generally easy to hop from here to the next place.
Laduree SOHO - Come for French luxury macaroons but stay for the outstanding Parisian vibes. From their beautiful teat room to their outdoor Terrace and Garden.
Bar Primi -An Italian pasta shop in NoHo. My favorite appetizer is the ricotta crostini topped with truffle hazelnuts and honey. But it’s not my absolute favorite NYC Pasta restaurant.
Nur - Mediterranean eats with interesting presentation, get your Iphone camera ready!
JAMS @ The 1 Hotel Central Park - I come here for one of my favorite kale salads in the city…seriously.
ULIVO Trattoria-Pastificio - Honestly, solid Italian food made in house, conveniently located in NoMad.
Mimi - A daily changing menu at Greenwich village’s most delicious hole-in-the wall French restaurant! Worth the hype. If there’s fresh fish on the menu, make sure you order it. Also, check out the interesting art in the on your way down to the restroom haha.
Quality Eats (Westvillage, NoMad, UES)- There are a few locations throughout nyc, and this restaurant is brought to youby the same people behind Quality Italian and Quality Meats. However, this restaurant is known to have more vegetarian based options on their menu such as the roasted beet tabblouleh!
Palma - one of the most romantic and dainty restaurants in the city. Palma located in West Village serves Italian classics using organic ingredients, is covered in candles and roses and many of my girlfriends have admittingly said they would love if a guy took them here on a date!
Her Name Was Carmen - A Latin restaurant with a downstairs basement club. Great for a fun and casual night with friends, although I did not have the best culinary experience.
The Terrace & Garden at The Times Square Edition Hotel - Absolutely stunning, but also very pretentious staff. Be sure to make a reservation, I had a reservation and the managers still wanted to me to move my table as someone had “requested” my table that I was sitting at. Aside from that incidence, the staff made it up to us and we were able to enjoy a wonderful brunch in a gorgeous space, surprisingly located in Times Square.
Special Occasion $$$$
Bring Them Here To Impress
The Aviary NYC : On the 35th floor of the Mandarin Oriental overlooking Columbus Circle! This is a place for crazy $30 cocktails that look more like science experiments than actually something you can drink, alongside an exquisite tasting menu.
The next 3 are great restaurants brought to you by Major Food Group for upscale Midtown Dining.
-The Lobster Club: cool vibe and exotic Japanese sushi rolls.
-The Pool: A famous dining room, previously known as Four Seasons.
-The Grill: A landmark restaurant in the city.
The Polo Bar Ralph Lauren: American classics by designer Ralph Lauren, served in an immaculate room with equestrian focused design. This is a reservation only restaurant, in which you must enjoy the gourmet burger and chocolate sundae desserts. Also, don’t skip on the complimentary popover, worth the splurge!
Eleven Madison Park: Upscale American tasting menus from chef Daniel Humm served in a high-ceilinged restaurant space. The restaurant offers an eight to ten course menu in the main dining room, but guests can also sit at the bar for a smaller tasting menu, some small dishes or simply drinks.
Per Se: Chef Thomas Keller's 3-Star Michelin restaurant overlooking Columbus Circle & Central Park located in New York City. Very Luxe!
Plaza Hotel: Enjoy one of the many dining experiences inside this hotel. From the chandelier covered Champagne Room, to the Rose Club to the Palm Court where you can enjoy an immaculate afternoon tea.
Majorelle Literally my favorite restaurant on the upper east side. The treatment and service here is unreal, from the table side servers cutting and pouring food onto your plate, to them helping you push in your chair, to the complimentary bench they bring for your purse (like omg was that necessary?…yes maybe lol). Beside the vip treatment, there is an overall beautiful ambiance. But be prepared for their obligatory $100 per person dinner in which you receive an appetizer, entree and dessert. The lunch menu however is a la carte!
Bellini At Mr. C Seaport - Italian gem brought to you by Cipriani
Nello: A premium Italian restaurant on Madison Avenue. Handmade pasta, truffle overload and ingredients sourced from Northern Italy. Be prepared for a Market Price menu and aristocratic, European vibe
Megu - In the mood for high end Japanese food in a posh subterranean room.. this is the place for you. This is located under the Dream Downtown hotel, downstairs through the trippy lights into a 3D pink lit dining room where you can dine on Wagyu steak and sahimi.
O Ya -A special occasion for an omakase tasting! Ideal to be seated by the sushi chef at the bar for the full experience. This is a minimal restaurant on the outside so be aware that it is one of the most expensive restaurants in NYC $$$$ You’re welcome to order a la carte, but be prepared for bite sized servings. Eighteen-course menu at $185, twenty four-course menu at $245. Kumamoto oyster with ponzu watermelon pearls and cucumber mignonette and hamachi belly with hokkaido sea urchin were my favorites.
Nobu Fifty Seven or Nobu Downtown : No matter which location you visit, expect an amazing Japanese meal…very possibly amongst celebs.
Carbone - Known to serve “the best” Italian food in NYC. Reservations are made by request only. Be prepared to wait 3-4 weeks for an opening..
Grand Salon at the Baccarat Hotel -One of my favorite places to be in NYC, the ultimate luxurious venue covered in red roses, champagne and the perfect amount of Baccarat crystal !
Quality Meats -I came here this past NYE to end the year with an indulgent steak and truffle dinner. I was far from disappointing with our mouth watering filet mignon.
Avra Madison Estiatorio on 60th- If you are going to go to Avra, I recommend the location on 60th vs the one on 48th street. The staff is professional, the venue has a beautiful open space and ambiance and the food is fresh Greek cuisine. My favorites are the octopus and salmon sashimi.
The Mark - Located inside the Mark Hotel on the upper east side with well..remarkable food and by ambiance by Chef Jean George.
Amaranth - A classic upper east hot spot for top service, Italian cuisine, and a fun crowd. It feels more like a dinner party in here than your average midtown sit down dining experience.
Harry Cipriani - One of the most upscale restaurants in nyc, replicating the original Cipriani in Venice (which I’ve actually also been to). You must get the beef carpaccio, arugula salad, pasta bolognese and tagliolini. Don’t forget about the infamous vanilla merengue cake.
Cipriani Downtown If you’re in the mood for Cipriani but want a less formal vibe, go to the downtown location in Soho after a day of shopping!
Estiatorio Milos at Hudson Yards Fresh seafood & delicious Greek cuisine, overlooking the Hudson River and NY’s latest attraction, the Vessel. They are super overbooked so expect a wait (even if you have a reservation) This is the place to get that Salt- Baked Fish you love.
Fun Dinner For Groups:
Celebrate With Friends
STK -two locations, one in meatpacking and the other in midtown. It’s a sceney steakhouse with a DJ a crowd that' is likley celebrating a birthday.
TAO Downtown Tao group has many restaurants, but I must say Tao downtown is one of my favorites because any day Mon-Thursday feels like a weekend. A lively crowd “living their best life” most likely enjoying a pregame meal before heading to the club below the restaurant. For a more exclusive experience, inquire about their 20 person dinner experience on their balcony seating.
Bagatelle - From brunch and dinner parties to delicious french inspired menu, this restaurant is the place to go to, for a fun day with friends! Best time for a brunch reservation is about 1:30 pm, reservations need to be made a month in advance. Last but not least, the music starts at about 3:30 pm and everyone is always looking to go elsewhere after to continue the fun.
Bodega Negra - Loco Mondays is the night to go here. So if your birthday falls on a Monday and you feel like there is nothing fun to do, think again and celebrate it here. Astounding burlesque performances that happen right on top of your table, sombreros for everyone and an Instagramable Don Heuvo molten chocolate sphere cake to seal the deal (which you’ve prob seen all over your ig feed before).
Buddakhan : One of the most insane venues in chelsea! The main dining room is one of the many areas to sit and dine in under gigantic chandeliers. Enjoy the Asian fusion menu and the eclectic vibes.
Beauty and Essex: a Tao group restaurant on the Lower East Side, the perfect start to your night. It has two levels, three dining rooms and three bars. You might wonder where the third one is if you’re a guy, but it’s actually downstairs in the women’s lounge where there is complimentary rose!
Lavo NYC -upscale, Italian restaurant equipped with truffle fries, Pasta Carbonara, 20 layer Peanut Butter Chocolate Cakes, DJs, a lower level nightclub, dinner and brunch parties and an overall escape from your stressful day to day life. Perfect place to celebrate with a group of friends, be sure to make your reservation a few weeks in advance.
Pergola - Pergola was a home away from home for a few years for me. I love the Mediterranean eats and this is the best hookah lounge in the city. All the staff are super friendly, and most of the customers our regulars that come on a weekly basis, whether it be for happy hour or on a Saturday night. People love to celebrate birthdays, office parties or just come here on any day of the week for a lively time.
Kyma Flatiron -sceney, semi-upscale spot to celerate someone’s birthday who doesn’t want to make a big deal out of the night, but wants to get everyone together for some delicious Greek food and and baklava cake!
Rooftops:
Enjoy Panoramic Views Of The City
Salon De Ning A classic destination in Midtown East, at the rooftop of the peninsula where you can enjoy an amazing view and if you’re into cigars, feel free to enjoy one here.
The Roof At The Public : This is one of the best rooftops downtown with a stunning view of Manhattan. Be sure to make a reservation online and be prepared for a 30 minute wait downstairs.
Mr. Purple: The rooftop of Hotel Indigo on the Lower East Side. Two outdoor terraces, Djs, and a fun crowd, the type of crowd that doesn’t feel like dressing up and heading over to the more pretentious Public Rooftop.
Make Believe At Sixty LES : Disco balls, pink couches, matcha cocktails and many more instragrammable moments here.
Broken Shaker At Freehand Hotel : This rooftop in Gramercy has a tiki vibe, wicker furniture and a big wraparound patio.
Bar SixtyFive In Rainbow Room: NYC’s highest terrace bar on the 65th floor. An expensive night to enjoy a sunset over Rockefeller Center.
Refinery Rooftop : A midtown favorite for people to go to after work or on the weekend. It’s definitely a little more basic but good if you are working in Midtown.
Good Behavior At Made Hotel: ANother rooftop in NoMad with a tropical theme, dance floor and a view of the Empire State Building that you can see without having to go to the infamous and very touristy 230 Fifth.
Rooftop At Arlo NoMad: Big outdoor patio to meet wit friends.
Magic Hour At Moxy Times Square : This space is like an amusement park sized down to fit on a rooftop. From a spinning carousal, to “riskay” animal sculptures and bottles floating around with sparklers. Enjoy this rooftop at least once in your life and get it out of your system. The new Moxy Hotel in Chelsea has a more upscale rooftop lounge called The Fleur Room that might be more up your alley!
Haven Rooftop I haven’t visited this location, but this is a good “midtown” rooftop.
Jimmy At The James Perfect chill rooftop in Soho, doorman is usually lenient with letting people in. Hop from Gitano brunch to The JIMMY for the perfect Sunday “Funday” in Soho.
PH-D At Dream Downtown Panoramic skyscraper views, indoor and outdoor seating and live dj.
Boom Boom Room - Standard Hotel A regal room known for top shelf drinks, small plates and live music!
Le Bain - Standard Hotel Amazing views from the meatpacking district of the Chelsea and The Hudson River
