Guidebook for New York
Food Scene
Inatteso Cafe Casano
38 West StGreat ham & cheese croissant and espresso
Enclosed urban food court. The Food Network films above. Recommended restaurants inside: Green Market (farm to table), Tuck Shop (meat pies), Sarabeth's (cookies, raspberry bread pudding).
1123 locals recommend
Chelsea Market
75 9th AveEnclosed urban food court. The Food Network films above. Recommended restaurants inside: Green Market (farm to table), Tuck Shop (meat pies), Sarabeth's (cookies, raspberry bread pudding).
Shake Shack
Madison AvenueThe least-crowded Shake Shack in Manhattan!
Takahachi Bakery
25 Murray StreetJapanese bakery
Inatteso Cafe Casano
38 West StOK pizza & pasta if you must eat in the neighborhood.
Brushstroke
Japanese omakase for a special occasion $$$$$
Locanda Verde
377 Greenwich StItalian brunch
Osteria Morini
218 Lafayette StGo after 9 p.m. on Monday nights for $10 pastas!
Freshly made tofu, clean Japanese cuisine in a beautiful dining room $$$
45 locals recommend
EN Japanese Brasserie
435 Hudson StFreshly made tofu, clean Japanese cuisine in a beautiful dining room $$$
Ootoya Chelsea
8 W 18th StJapanese teishoku. Go early/solo to avoid the wait.
Basta Pasta
37 W 17th StJapanese-Italian cuisine. Delicious tobiko shiso or uni pastas.
dell'anima
600 11th AveTry the white bolognese pasta
L'Artusi
228 W 10th StCrudos, pasta, vino, deliciousness
Buvette
42 Grove StGastrothèque w/ a petit jardin. Nice wine selection.
Numero 28 Pizzeria
28 Carmine StWonderful thin-crust Napolitan pizza. Cash only. Casual.
Noodle Bar Asian Bistro
26 Carmine StCasual low-key Pan-Asian cuisine. Cash only.
Samurai Mama
205 Grand StHandmade authentic udon noodles
Great oysters. Also try their lobster roll & shoe string fries or grilled scallops.
60 locals recommend
Mary's Fish Camp
64 Charles StGreat oysters. Also try their lobster roll & shoe string fries or grilled scallops.
New American cuisine. $39 3-course lunch prix fixe M-F. Try not to eat in Battery Park unless you're forced to.
7 locals recommend
Clinton Square Pizza
201 Clinton StNew American cuisine. $39 3-course lunch prix fixe M-F. Try not to eat in Battery Park unless you're forced to.
Cute low-key neighborhood Italian restaurant for a date. Food is OK but not exceptional. (My back-up restaurant when I can't get into L'Artusi/Dell'Anima.)
23 locals recommend
Malaparte
753 Washington StCute low-key neighborhood Italian restaurant for a date. Food is OK but not exceptional. (My back-up restaurant when I can't get into L'Artusi/Dell'Anima.)
Emporio
231 Mott StNice pizzas & pastas
Diner
85 BroadwayGreat late-night diner w/ a creative menu
Financier Patisserie
Hanover SquareFrench patisserie
Grab a drink at this hot spot by Wisconsin-born West Village restaurateur Gabe Stulman.
30 locals recommend
Bar Sardine
183 W 10th StGrab a drink at this hot spot by Wisconsin-born West Village restaurateur Gabe Stulman.
Oysters, crudos, hanger steak, love. Another winner by Wisconsin-born West Village restaurateur Gabe Stulman.
80 locals recommend
Jeffrey's Grocery
172 Waverly PlOysters, crudos, hanger steak, love. Another winner by Wisconsin-born West Village restaurateur Gabe Stulman.
The Spotted Dog
1154 1st Ave.British gastropub
Nice spot to grab breakfast before touring the High Line. Try their smoothie.
25 locals recommend
Cafe Gitane
113 Jane StreetNice spot to grab breakfast before touring the High Line. Try their smoothie.
Haute food court: gourmet sushi, tacos, Cambodian sandwiches, tartines, bagels, and more
23 locals recommend
Tartinery - Hudson Eats
225 Liberty StreetHaute food court: gourmet sushi, tacos, Cambodian sandwiches, tartines, bagels, and more
Authentic Northeastern Thai cuisine. Spicy papaya salads, grilled meats, and more!
51 locals recommend
Somtum Der
85 Avenue AAuthentic Northeastern Thai cuisine. Spicy papaya salads, grilled meats, and more!
Chow like you're in Southeast Asia. Delicious khao soi, pork belly adobo, and more Thai & Filipino dishes.
98 locals recommend
Pig and Khao
68 Clinton StChow like you're in Southeast Asia. Delicious khao soi, pork belly adobo, and more Thai & Filipino dishes.
Ivan Ramen
25 Clinton StFantastic modern ramen!
Cull & Pistol Oyster Bar
75 9th AveTHE best place for oyster happy hour on weekdays.
Great udon spot! No signs out front so look carefully or you'll miss it. Cash only.
33 locals recommend
Raku
342 E 6th StGreat udon spot! No signs out front so look carefully or you'll miss it. Cash only.
Great new restaurant! Try the little neck clams pizza. Fantastic tips-included policy.
14 locals recommend
Pasquale Jones
187 Mulberry StGreat new restaurant! Try the little neck clams pizza. Fantastic tips-included policy.
One of my new favorite restaurants. Let the staff spoil you. The room is a bit too bright, but the food is outstanding. Favorites: uni cavatappi, sorbet, and ask about staff favorites and you can't go wrong.
8 locals recommend
Bruno Pizza
204 E 13th StOne of my new favorite restaurants. Let the staff spoil you. The room is a bit too bright, but the food is outstanding. Favorites: uni cavatappi, sorbet, and ask about staff favorites and you can't go wrong.
Takashi
Grill your own kobe beef :) Wear something you won't mind getting smelly.
Essentials
Small neighborhood market for basics — milk, bread, juice, vegetables, fruits, cold cuts, cheese. They also have a nice prepared foods section w/ rotisserie chicken, grilled vegetables, etc.
8 locals recommend
Battery Place Market Corp
77 Battery PlSmall neighborhood market for basics — milk, bread, juice, vegetables, fruits, cold cuts, cheese. They also have a nice prepared foods section w/ rotisserie chicken, grilled vegetables, etc.
Large grocery store if you're looking to make more elaborate meals. They also have a large salad bar and extensive & varied prepared foods section for takeaway.
800 locals recommend
Whole Foods Market
214 3rd StLarge grocery store if you're looking to make more elaborate meals. They also have a large salad bar and extensive & varied prepared foods section for takeaway.
Arts & Culture
Regal Battery Park Stadium 11
102 North End AveNearest movie theatre
IFC Center
323 6th AveIndependent films & documentaries
Fulton Street Art Gallery
116 John StIndependent films
Nitehawk Cinema
136 Metropolitan AveAn independent movie theatre with restaurant service
City Winery
155 Varick StReserve tickets in advance for nightly live music performances
Rockwood Music Hall
196 Allen StFree live music! (Mostly indie rock)
B Flat
37 Church StJazz bar
Music Hall of Williamsburg
66 N 6th StCheck schedule for the latest music performances
The Bowery Ballroom
6 Delancey StRock & roll
Mercury Lounge
217 E Houston StIndie rock venue
Everything Else
L'Arte del Gelato
75 9th AveFantastic olive oil gelato
Smorgasburg
90 Kent AveA Brooklyn Flea Food Market. Check website for latest schedule.
Sunshine Cinema
Independent films
Delicious small batch ice cream made from scratch. Wonderful season flavors. I hear their Williamsburg location stocks even more flavors.
9 locals recommend
OddFellows Ice Cream Co. The Sandwich Shop
75 E 4th StDelicious small batch ice cream made from scratch. Wonderful season flavors. I hear their Williamsburg location stocks even more flavors.
Drinks & Nightlife
Taste a few different flights of wine, and snack on escargots, oysters, deviled eggs, and tartines on the side.
31 locals recommend
Blue Ribbon Bakery Kitchen
35 Downing StreetTaste a few different flights of wine, and snack on escargots, oysters, deviled eggs, and tartines on the side.
Brandy Library
25 N Moore StSophisticated brandy lounge
1" binder filled with wines to try. Free sherry and other great happy hour specials from 5-7. Could get packed with finance folks on weekdays. (CitiBank corporate offices nearby)
7 locals recommend
Terroir Tribeca
24 Harrison St1" binder filled with wines to try. Free sherry and other great happy hour specials from 5-7. Could get packed with finance folks on weekdays. (CitiBank corporate offices nearby)
Pegu Club
Cocktail lounge
Nice spot to grab beers al fresco (during warmer months) on the charming cobble-stoned Stone Street.
44 locals recommend
Ulysses' Folk House
58 Pearl StNice spot to grab beers al fresco (during warmer months) on the charming cobble-stoned Stone Street.
Shopping
Barnes & Noble
33 E 17th StOur nearest bookshop
Go early in the morning or late at night to lessen the chance of fighting crowds. Good place to stock up on underwear.
260 locals recommend
Century21 Stores
32 Church StGo early in the morning or late at night to lessen the chance of fighting crowds. Good place to stock up on underwear.
Wide selection of consumer electronics (currently closed for renovations)
8 locals recommend
J&R Electronics Inc
Wide selection of consumer electronics (currently closed for renovations)
Sightseeing
Go early in the morning if you don't like crowds. Visit mid-day to catch the food stalls. Or catch the sunset from Terroir Wine Bar on the High Line.
2323 locals recommend
The High Line Park
Go early in the morning if you don't like crowds. Visit mid-day to catch the food stalls. Or catch the sunset from Terroir Wine Bar on the High Line.