New York · best-of list
The 21 Best Restaurants in New York
All 21 restaurants our route editors picked in New York, across 10 destinations, gathered in one list. Each one is a stop on a route you can open and copy into a trip.
Our curated picks
21 restaurants in New York, grouped by destination. Destinations with the most picks come first; this is not a ranking.
Manhattan 4 picks
Chelsea Market
Manhattan · On our NYC Cultural Weekend route
Former Nabisco factory with food stalls, bakeries and shops at the south end of the High Line.
Tip: Los Tacos No. 1 inside has the line worth joining.
Photo: Ajay Suresh from New York, NY, USA · CC BY 2.0
Joe's Pizza
Manhattan · On our NYC Cultural Weekend route
Classic thin New York slice, served fast since 1975.
Tip: Order a plain cheese slice; cash and cards both fine.
Photo: Steam Pipe Trunk Distribution Venue · CC BY 2.0
Katz's Delicatessen
Manhattan · On our NYC Cultural Weekend route
Lower East Side deli serving hand-cut pastrami on rye since 1888.
Tip: Hold onto your ticket at the door; tip the cutter for a sample.
Photo: ajay_suresh · CC BY 2.0
Russ & Daughters
Manhattan · On our NYC Cultural Weekend route
Fourth-generation appetizing shop for smoked fish, bagels and babka.
Tip: Take a number; the Classic bagel with Gaspe Nova is the order.
Photo: ajay_suresh · CC BY 2.0
Midtown Manhattan 3 picks
Gallaghers Steakhouse
Midtown Manhattan · On our New York New Year's Eve route
Theater District steakhouse open since 1927, with its meat-aging locker visible from West 52nd Street.
Photo: ajay_suresh · CC BY 2.0
Keens Steakhouse
Midtown Manhattan · On our New York New Year's Eve route
Steakhouse open since 1885, known for its mutton chop and ceilings lined with thousands of old clay pipes.
Tip: The pub room takes walk-ins more easily than the dining rooms.
Photo: ajay_suresh · CC BY 4.0Le Bernardin
Midtown Manhattan · On our New York New Year's Eve route
Eric Ripert's seafood restaurant on West 51st Street, with three Michelin stars and a formal tasting menu.
Tip: Reserve as soon as December dates open; the lounge serves a shorter menu.
Beacon 2 picks
Beacon Bread Company
Beacon · On our Hudson Valley by Rail route
Bakery-cafe on Main Street with scratch breakfasts and bread.
Photo: Hannah Madaus · Google
Brothers Trattoria
Beacon · On our Hudson Valley by Rail route
Long-running family Italian on Main Street, open since 1998.
Photo: Elliot Anderson · Google
Brooklyn 2 picks
Juliana's
Brooklyn · On our NYC Cultural Weekend route
Coal-oven pizzeria from Patsy Grimaldi steps from the bridge.
Tip: The No. 1 margherita is the order; expect a short wait.
Photo: (User:Wgreaves) · CC BY-SA 4.0
Peter Luger Steak House
Brooklyn · On our NYC Cultural Weekend route
Williamsburg steakhouse serving dry-aged porterhouse since 1887.
Tip: Book ahead; order the porterhouse for two and the thick bacon.
Photo: Leonard J. DeFrancisci · CC BY-SA 3.0
DUMBO & Brooklyn Heights 2 picks
Nathan's Famous
DUMBO & Brooklyn Heights · On our New York New Year's Eve route
The original hot dog stand at Surf and Stillwell Avenues, serving since 1916 and open year-round.
Photo: Kidfly182 · CC BY 4.0The River Café
DUMBO & Brooklyn Heights · On our New York New Year's Eve route
Barge restaurant under the Brooklyn Bridge, open since 1977, with a five-course New Year's Eve dinner and live band.
Tip: Jackets are required for men at dinner.
Hudson 2 picks
Swoon Kitchenbar
Hudson · On our Hudson Valley by Rail route
Warren Street New American bistro, a Hudson dinner mainstay with seasonal local ingredients.
Tip: Open Wed-Sun; book on Resy.
Photo: Swoon Kitchenbar · Google
Wm. Farmer and Sons
Hudson · On our Hudson Valley by Rail route
Restaurant and inn near the station serving seasonal Southern-leaning plates.
Photo: Wm. Farmer and Sons · Google
Ithaca 2 picks
Moosewood Restaurant
Ithaca · On our Finger Lakes Wine Trail route
Vegetarian restaurant since 1973 whose cookbooks shaped American meatless cooking.
Photo: Kenneth C. Zirkel · CC BY-SA 4.0
Purity Ice Cream
Ithaca · On our Finger Lakes Wine Trail route
Ithaca scoop shop since 1936, known for big portions and local flavors.
Photo: Purity Ice Cream Co. · Google
Keuka Lake 2 picks
Crooked Lake Ice Cream Co.
Keuka Lake · On our Finger Lakes Wine Trail route
Old-fashioned soda fountain and diner on the Hammondsport village square.
Photo: Crooked Lake Ice Cream Company · Google
Village Tavern Restaurant & Inn
Keuka Lake · On our Finger Lakes Wine Trail route
Hammondsport square restaurant with a long list of Finger Lakes wines by the glass.
Photo: Village Tavern Restaurant & Inn · Google
Museum Mile 1 pick
Café Sabarsky
Museum Mile · On our NYC Cultural Weekend route
Vienna-style cafe inside the Neue Galerie with strudel, sachertorte and Wiener schnitzel.
Tip: Go early afternoon to avoid the lunch queue.
Photo: John Jun · Google
Seneca Lake 1 pick
Kindred Fare
Seneca Lake · On our Finger Lakes Wine Trail route
Farm-to-table restaurant in Geneva with a seasonal menu and local wine list.
Tip: Reserve on weekends.
Photo: Kindred Fare · Google
How we picked these
Every entry is a stop on at least one of TripsCircle's hand-curated routes, chosen by our route editors, who wrote the reason to go shown with each place. These are our curated picks, not a scored ranking: we haven't rated or reviewed them against each other. The list is grouped by destination, and within each destination places that appear on more routes come first.
Prices ($ to $$$$) and visit lengths are rough guides from our route notes, not quotes. Check opening hours before you go.
About this list
How did you choose the restaurants in New York?
Each one is a stop on a TripsCircle route that our editors built by hand, and each comes with a written reason to go. This page shows all 21 of them. They are curated picks, not a ranked score.
Which part of New York has the most restaurants on this list?
Manhattan has the most (4 of 21), followed by Midtown Manhattan (3) and Beacon (2).
More lists for New York
Best restaurants nearby
Destinations on this list
- Manhattan 4 on this list
- Midtown Manhattan 3 on this list
- Beacon 2 on this list
- Brooklyn 2 on this list
- DUMBO & Brooklyn Heights 2 on this list
- Hudson 2 on this list
- Ithaca 2 on this list
- Keuka Lake 2 on this list
Turn this list into a plan
Open a curated route in TripsCircle, add the spots your crew wants, vote with polls and keep everyone on one shared itinerary.