New York is certainly in no shortage of tasty spots for grabbing a drink or a bite to eat. Below, we’ve put together a list of our favorite restaurants and bars all over the city.
CHINESE TUXEDO
At Chinese Tuxedo, guests can expect Chef Paul Donelly’s enticing menu to be full of reimagined traditional and classic Chinese banquet dishes. Restaurateurs Eddy Buckingham and Jeff Lam restored and opened this bi-level space, which was once a site for Chinatown’s notorious gang wars. With historic details and added midcentury touches, the sunken dining room’s interior draws guests in for an unforgettable experience.
•Enjoy a post-meal drink at Peachy’s—the downstairs speakeasy.
•Share a variety of dim sum dishes with friends.
•Sip the 36th Chamber cocktail.
Whitewaller recommends: Tasting the honey-glazed char siu pork.
ROSE BAR
Gramercy
As an in-the-know hot spot for the fashion, design, and art crowds, Rose Bar within the Gramercy Park Hotel is an intimate escape. The bar—boasting legendary art pieces and rustic design elements—serves cocktails worth noting and exudes a welcoming, elegant ambience worth coming back for.
Whitewaller recommends: Catching a live music event through their Rose Bar Sessions.
INDOCHINE
NoHo
For more than three decades, Indochine has been an incomparable meeting and dining spot in New York City for the art and fashion worlds. Welcoming guests to its exotic interior, and widely known in culinary and nightlife circles, the restaurant serves an inventive French-Vietnamese menu full of flavor.
Whitewaller recommends: Enjoying the Indochine Martini and Grilled Skirt Steak.
4 CHARLES PRIME RIB
West Village
The ten-table hot spot 4 Charles Prime Rib is an exceptional steakhouse by restaurateur Brendan Sodikoff (who is also behind Chicago’s Au Cheval, Gilt Bar, and Bavette’s), tucked away like a speakeasy inside a townhouse on Charles Street. Its vintage ambience is complemented by contemporary classics like prime rib, rib-eye steak, lamb chop, and the American cheeseburger.
Whitewaller recommends: Making a reservation in advance.
LOOSIE ROUGE & LOOSIE’S KITCHEN
Williamsburg
Located in South Williamsburg, Loosie Rouge and Loosie’s Kitchen is a hip destination in Brooklyn with food and drink that celebrates diverse roots of contemporary American home cooking traditions. Art, fashion, style, and music converge to make this homey venue a creative escape.
Whitewaller recommends: Trying the seasonal dishes from the new Chef Henry Lu.
THE POLO BAR
Midtown
Ralph Lauren’s The Polo Bar offers delicious American cuisine in an upscale environment, with interiors inspired by other iconic New York establishments. Guests can enjoy cocktails and appetizers at the brass bar top for a quick bite, or head downstairs to the main dining room, where leather seating and warm lights are complemented by equestrian sporting decor.
Whitewaller recommends: Enjoying the polo-inspired mural by Henry Koehler.
COTE
Flatiron
The modern Korean establishment Cote is a not-to-miss offering by restaurateur Simon Kim. Named after the Korean word for “flower,” the restaurant merges classic Korean barbeque flavors with American steakhouse cuts. For imbibing, Cote’s beverage director, Victoria James, has put together a drink selection including martinis, old-fashioneds, artisanal soju, and wines by the glass that are poured out of magnums.
Whitewaller recommends: Ordering the Butcher’s Feast prix fixe.
FLORA BAR
Upper East Side
After the success of Matter House’s first two restaurants (Estela and Café Altro Paradiso), the team decided to open Flora Bar in the lower level of The Met Breuer. Inventive and elegant, and designed in collaboration with Beyer Blinder Belle, the space has an iconic modernistic style with a marble bar, floor-to-ceiling windows, a courtyard, and custom furniture pieces.
Whitewaller recommends: Stopping by for brunch.
LALITO
Chinatown
In the revitalized Chinatown neighborhood, Lalito pops with a 50-seat restaurant and lively 11-seat bar. Now under the care of new executive chef Kia Damon, the spot features a Caribbean- and Latin-inspired menu, as well as several dishes that pay tribute to Damon’s southern roots. And Ben dos Remedios boasts beautiful graphic design work.
Whitewaller recommends: Taking a selfie in the “Waiting for Tonight”–themed powder room.
MACE
East Village
In the East Village, Mace stands out for its bold flavors and soothing ambience. Packed with a complex choice of innovative ingredients, such as wasabi, purple yam, and tobacco essence, the well-crafted cocktails are a special treat.
Whitewaller recommends: Sipping on the Mace cocktail.
STUDIO
Flatiron
By Gabriel Stulman’s Happy Cooking Hospitality Group (Fedora, Jeffrey’s Grocery,
Fairfax, and more), Studio is located inside Freehand New York, on the second floor. The Roman and Williams–designed space shines with 100 seats and a flavorful menu offering bright North African and Near East–inspired dishes.
Whitewaller recommends: Enjoying the Queen Persephone cocktail during dinner.
THE CROWN
Chinatown
Atop Hotel 50 Bowery, The Crown is a hip indoor and outdoor rooftop bar with
incredible views, cocktails, and small bites. With DJs and weekend parties happening often, the bar is known as a place to be in the summer.
Whitewaller recommends: Sipping the Rose-Colored Glasses cocktail outside.
THE POOL
Upper East Side
Restored last year by Major Food Group (responsible for the sister restaurant next door, THE GRILL), THE POOL shines within the former Four Seasons Restaurant, with special new designs. Inspired by the ocean and New York, the space features blue-tinted touches, custom furniture, wall textiles, high ceilings, and a seafood menu by partner and chef Rich Torrisi.
Whitewaller recommends: Stopping by The Pool Lounge, too.
MIMI
Greenwich Village
On Sullivan Street in Greenwich Village is MIMI—a restaurant that changes its hand- written menu weekly and is dedicated to seasonal dishes inspired by French classics. With sleek decor by the designer Camilla Deterre, MIMI shines with velvet window seats, bar stools, metal chandeliers, and a retro-mod vibe.
Whitewaller recommends: Ordering the Scallop Crudo and the MIMI cocktail.
ELEVEN MADISON PARK
Flatiron
In 2017, Eleven Madison Park was named the number-one best restaurant in the world by The World’s 50 Best Restaurants and underwent an extensive four-month renovation and redesign. With its reopening, we see the stellar restaurant showcasing more than just art in presentation, with pieces by artists like Rita Ackermann, staff suits by Todd Snyder, and more.
Whitewaller recommends: Ordering the tasting menu.
THE PONI ROOM
NoHo
AvroKO Hospitality Group’s newest project, The Poni Room, is a cozy subterranean
eatery located below AvroKO’s neighborhood favorite, Saxon + Parole. Under the care of Chefs Brad Farmerie and Nicole Gajadhar, it features a menu that focuses on Asian-centric seafood, signature cocktails, and an extensive selection of rosé.
Whitewaller recommends: Trying the Coconut Laksa with crab.
ROBERTA’S
Bushwick
Roberta’s is a multifaceted eatery with communal and private seating, a sunny atrium, rooftop greenhouse, Tiki Bar, garden, artisanal bread bakery, and more. Under the care of Chef Carlo Mirarchi, the spot specializes in house-cured meats, wood-fired pizzas, and seasonal dishes, using house-baked bread and a selection of produce grown on-site.
Whitewaller recommends: Visiting Blanca, Roberta’s two-Michelin-starred restaurant, next door.
TOKYO RECORD BAR
Greenwich Village
Paying homage to the jewel boxes of vinyl in Japan, Tokyo Record Bar (owned by Ariel Arce, who operates Air’s Champagne Parlor upstairs) is a not-to-miss spot. Its 16-seat space, inspired by the tiny record bars in Tokyo, welcomes guests (at 6:30 and 8:30 p.m.) for a seven-plate izakaya menu and custom playlists by guests.
Whitewaller recommends: Going after 10:30 p.m. for deejayed music and an à la carte menu.
WESTLIGHT
Williamsburg
Situated on the 22nd floor of The William Vale hotel, Westlight is a laidback rooftop spot with 360-degree views of the city and a playful menu by Chef Andrew Carmellini and Executive Chef Anthony Ricco. Westlight also features cool contemporary interiors by Studio Munge, complete with velveteen couches, floor-to-ceiling windows, and balcony seating.
Whitewaller recommends: Sipping The Hospitality—a tropical take on an old-fashioned.
PILOT
Brooklyn Heights
Reopened this spring, brothers Alex and Miles Pincus’s restaurant Pilot saw the transformation of a 1924 wooden racing schooner into a waterfront oyster bar, docked at Pier 6 in Brooklyn Bridge Park. Guests at Pilot can expect to enjoy views of the harbor from open-air top deck seating, while dining on Chef Kerry Heffernan’s menu of reimagined classic cocktails, oysters, and seafood dishes like Lobster Rolls, Softshell Crab Po’boys, and Caviar Hash Brown.
Whitewaller recommends: Tasting the six different variations of oysters.
THE OSPREY
Brooklyn Heights
1 Hotel Brooklyn Bridge’s The Osprey offers breakfast, lunch, dinner, and weekend brunch, with menu items that use local and seasonal ingredients to create fresh takes on American comfort food. The spot features lush greenery, wood and leather interior details, wall-to-wall glass doors, and outdoor seating perfect for enjoying sunny weather.
Whitewaller recommends: Sipping The Osprey.
SUGARFISH
SoHo
Sushi Nozawa restaurant group opened its second SUGARFISH location in New York earlier this year. The 42-seat restaurant features minimalistic interiors by Marmol Radziner and traditional sushi offerings by Chef Tom Nozawa, as well as fresh specials, updated daily.
Whitewaller recommends: Ordering the Don’t Think Just Eat.
NARCISSA
East Village
Situated just inside The Standard, East Village, Narcissa is a cozy restaurant offering New American cuisine and a complementing biodynamic wine menu by Chef Max Blachman-Gentile. While Chef Max draws from global influences to add variety, the best part of the menu is his naturally fermented sourdough breads, baked fresh daily courtesy of the hotel’s experimental bread program.
Whitewaller recommends: Popping next door to NO BAR.
HANOI HOUSE & SOUP SHOP
East Village
Located on St. Marks Place, Hanoi House is an authentic Vietnamese restaurant offering traditional dishes like crispy spring rolls, grilled squid salad, shellfish curry, and shaking beef. This spring, owners Sara Leveen and Ben Lowell also debuted a soup shop two doors down, offering a full menu of pho and sandwiches by Chef Daniel Le.
Whitewaller recommends: Sipping on the specialty egg coffee.
CHEFS CLUB
Nolita
Rather than offering a fixed menu, Chefs Club houses a unique residency program
that regularly invites new chefs to take over the establishment’s kitchen and menu—which means a new experience upon each visit. With interiors by David Rockwell, the exposed-brick design features an open kitchen, perfect for watching the chefs at work.
Whitewaller recommends: Booking the private studio for a party or cooking demonstration.
