Best Restaurants in New York City

New York's greatest strength is range, and the city does almost every cuisine at a high level. Use this cross section as a starting point when you know the flavor you are craving but not yet the specific address.

• Le Bernardin

  French seafood at the highest level, refined and pristine.

• Carbone

  Theatrical Italian American cooking and a serious spicy rigatoni.

• Ippudo

  Rich tonkotsu ramen that helped launch the city's noodle obsession.

• Xi'an Famous Foods

  Hand pulled noodles and cumin lamb from western China.

• Sylvia's

  Harlem soul food, from fried chicken to smothered pork chops.

• Los Tacos No. 1

  Griddled adobada and fresh tortillas at a standing counter in Chelsea Market.

• Cote

  A Korean steakhouse mashup with tabletop grilling and dry aged beef.

• Dhamaka

  Bold, regional Indian cooking that leans unapologetically into heat and texture.

• Casa Enrique

  Michelin recognized Mexican cooking in Long Island City with excellent mole.

• Superiority Burger

  A cult favorite for inventive vegetarian burgers and sides in the East Village.

When the moment calls for tasting menus, polished service and a room worth dressing up for, these are among the city's benchmark destinations. Book well ahead, since the best tables go quickly.

• Le Bernardin

  Seafood focused fine dining that consistently sits at the top of the city's rankings.

• Eleven Madison Park

  An ambitious plant based tasting menu in a landmark Art Deco room.

• Per Se

  Thomas Keller's Columbus Circle flagship, with panoramic park views and a luxe tasting menu.

• Gramercy Tavern

  Gracious seasonal American cooking with both tavern and dining room options.

• Atomix

  A refined Korean tasting counter that pairs each course with a story card.

• The Modern

  Elevated dining overlooking the sculpture garden at the Museum of Modern Art.

• Daniel

  Daniel Boulud's elegant Upper East Side flagship for modern French cuisine.

• Aquavit

  Sophisticated Nordic cooking and a celebrated dining room in Midtown.

• Jean-Georges

  A polished, contemporary French destination near Central Park.

• Masa

  An intimate, extravagant sushi counter for special occasion omakase.

Some meals are less about a single dish and more about tasting the city's history. These institutions have shaped what New York eats, and many have been at it for generations.

• Katz's Delicatessen

  Hand carved pastrami and the definitive New York deli experience.

• Peter Luger Steak House

  Dry aged porterhouse served the same way since 1887.

• Russ & Daughters

  Smoked fish and appetizing classics from a fourth generation family shop.

• Grand Central Oyster Bar

  Oysters and pan roasts beneath the vaulted tiles of Grand Central.

• Keens Steakhouse

  A historic chophouse famed for its mutton chop and clay pipes.

• Barney Greengrass

  The Sturgeon King, an Upper West Side smoked fish landmark.

• Sylvia's

  Harlem's long running home of soul food and Sunday gospel brunch.

• The Halal Guys

  The street cart empire that turned chicken and rice into a Midtown ritual.

• Nathan's Famous

  The original Coney Island hot dog stand and home of the July Fourth contest.

• Veselka

  A 24 hour East Village Ukrainian diner beloved for pierogi and borscht.

These are the everyday glories of New York eating: the slice on the corner, the bagel with a schmear, the deli sandwich stacked past reason. You do not need reservations, just an appetite.

• Joe's Pizza

  The classic New York slice, thin, foldable and consistent.

• Di Fara Pizza

  A Brooklyn pilgrimage for hand finished, basil topped pies.

• Lombardi's

  Coal oven pizza from a spot often called America's first pizzeria.

• Roberta's

  Creative wood fired pies that helped define modern Brooklyn.

• Prince Street Pizza

  Famous for its spicy, crispy edged pepperoni Sicilian squares.

• Ess-a-Bagel

  Big, chewy hand rolled bagels with generous piles of cream cheese.

• Russ & Daughters

  Lox and appetizing spreads to build the ultimate bagel board.

• Katz's Delicatessen

  The gold standard for a towering pastrami on rye.

• Absolute Bagels

  An Upper West Side favorite known for fresh, pillowy bagels.

• L&B Spumoni Gardens

  A Bensonhurst institution for thick, sauce on top Sicilian squares.

• 2nd Ave Deli

  A classic kosher style deli for matzo ball soup and stacked sandwiches.

For an evening built around candlelight, a good bottle and lingering conversation, these rooms deliver mood as much as menu. Many are cozy, dimly lit and made for two.

• One if by Land, Two if by Sea

  A candlelit carriage house in the West Village, a longtime special occasion favorite.

• L'Artusi

  A stylish, buzzy Italian spot with a great wine list for date night.

• Buvette

  A tiny, romantic Gallic gastroteque tucked into the West Village.

• Il Buco

  A rustic, candle lit Italian room with a warm, farmhouse feel.

• The River Cafe

  A waterfront dining room in Brooklyn with sweeping Manhattan skyline views.

• Rezdora

  Handmade Emilian pasta in an intimate Flatiron setting.

• Frenchette

  A chic, low lit Tribeca bistro from a respected pair of chefs.

• Cafe Mogador

  A cozy, longstanding Moroccan spot with a candlelit, bohemian vibe.

• Raoul's

  A dark, classic SoHo French bistro known for its steak au poivre.

• Lilia

  A romantic, sought after Williamsburg trattoria in a converted garage.

Few things beat a New York skyline at golden hour. These rooftops and view driven rooms pair the scenery with drinks and, in many cases, a full meal.

• The River Cafe

  Elegant dining at the Brooklyn waterfront facing the Manhattan skyline.

• Manhatta

  A sky high Union Square Hospitality restaurant with sweeping downtown views.

• Le Bain

  A lively rooftop at The Standard, High Line with Hudson River sunsets.

• 230 Fifth

  A large open air rooftop bar with direct Empire State Building views.

• Westlight

  A high floor bar in Williamsburg with panoramic Manhattan skyline views.

• The Roof at Public Hotel

  A stylish downtown rooftop lounge popular for evening drinks.

• Refinery Rooftop

  A Midtown rooftop with a close up look at the Empire State Building.

• Magic Hour Rooftop

  A playful, whimsical rooftop bar and lounge in Midtown.

• Cathedrale

  A dramatic restaurant and rooftop lounge in the East Village.

• The Crown

  A rooftop bar and restaurant with skyline views on the Lower East Side.

Sometimes the deciding factor is simply where you already are. This neighborhood sampler points you toward a strong option in some of the city's most walkable dining districts.

• Katz's Delicatessen

  Lower East Side, the classic New York deli anchor of the area.

• Balthazar

  SoHo, a French brasserie that captures the neighborhood's energy.

• Momofuku Noodle Bar

  East Village, a modern noodle bar in a dense restaurant district.

• Carbone

  Greenwich Village, glossy Italian American in a lively downtown pocket.

• Gramercy Tavern

  Gramercy and Flatiron, gracious American dining near Madison Square Park.

• Sylvia's

  Harlem, the neighborhood's soul food landmark.

• Peter Luger Steak House

  Williamsburg, the borough's most famous steakhouse.

• Roberta's

  Bushwick, a cornerstone of the neighborhood's food scene.

• Casa Enrique

  Long Island City, acclaimed Mexican cooking in Queens.

• Barney Greengrass

  Upper West Side, a smoked fish institution near Central Park.

• Grand Central Oyster Bar

  Midtown, a seafood classic inside the transit hub itself.

New York's dining scene never stands still. These are some of the buzzed about and of the moment tables where reservations tend to be tight and the energy runs high. Booking ahead is strongly recommended.

• Dhamaka

  Fearless regional Indian cooking that draws devoted crowds.

• Cote

  A sleek Korean steakhouse hybrid with a strong following.

• Tatiana

  An acclaimed, of the moment restaurant celebrating Afro Caribbean and American flavors at Lincoln Center.

• Lilia

  A hard to book Williamsburg pasta destination.

• Rezdora

  A pasta focused Flatiron favorite with steady buzz.

• 4 Charles Prime Rib

  A clubby, intimate West Village steakhouse that is famously tough to reserve.

• Semma

  A celebrated South Indian restaurant in the West Village.

• Torrisi

  An ambitious Italian American room in Nolita with a tasting format.

• Foul Witch

  An inventive East Village spot from the Roberta's team.

• Kabawa

  A buzzed about Caribbean project in the East Village.