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A definitive list of the best restaurants in New York City

If you’re a foodie you’ve come to the right place. From excellent Mexican to mouth-watering Italian and authentic eastern European cuisine, New York is a veritable smorgasbord of fabulous flavours.

The good news is you don’t have to (necessarily) blow the budget to eat well. There are some cheap and cheerful food experiences to incorporate into your itinerary as well.

 

Here are some stellar places to incorporate into your New York food adventure.

Per Se

If you want to push the boat out for a special meal while you’re in the Big Apple, it’s hard to go past Per Se. Since it opened its doors in 2004 it has been widely acknowledged as one of the city’s greatest fine dining experiences. Chef Thomas Keller creates a daily nine-course tasting menu that you can enjoy along with spectacular views of Central Park. A trip to this three-Michelin-star restaurant is truly a once in a lifetime treat.

Per Se New York
One of New York City’s finest dining experiences is at Per Se.

Atla

One of the great things about a trip to the US is the proximity to Mexico, so you can experience some authentic south of the border flavours. Atla is the hot new Mexican restaurant on the dining scene. There’s a cracking cocktail list (with great tequilas and mezcals, naturally) as well as truly life-changing lobster tostadas.

Atla New York
Dine at Atla’s authentic Mexican restaurant.

Eataly

Have your mind blown with a trip to Eataly, an enormous Italian “marketplace" in the heart of Manhattan with an array of different little dining sections. The displays of cakes, meats, cheeses and fresh pastas will have you abandoning your diet in a heartbeat.

Roberta’s

This is the spot to sample that famous New York pizza everybody raves about. Roberta’s has become something of an institution ever since opening in Bushwick, Brooklyn. The woodfired oven cranks out some of the best pizzas you can find across the five boroughs. Be warned – they don’t take reservations and due to the restaurant’s popularity the wait time can be crippling in busy periods.

Roberta's Pizza New York
Prepare to queue for a slice of pizza from Roberta’s Pizza in Brooklyn.

Get your deli on

No trip to New York would be complete without a bagel with smoked salmon and cream cheese (try the classic Russ & Daughters) and a pastrami and rye from Katz’s Deli. A word to the wise, you might like to share one with a friend. They are as big as your head.

Russ & Daughters New York
Get your deli fix at Russ & Daughters.

Café Gitane

If you find yourself in the NoLita/SoHo area be sure to check out Café Gitane, which is something of an institution, especially for lunch or brunch. With an extensive menu there really is something for everyone. Sit outside and enjoy a healthy Moroccan couscous, baked pasta with gorgonzola, roasted tomatoes, breadcrumbs and prosciutto, or Yellowfin tuna ceviche and watch the world go by.

Veselka

Good Ukranian food is an absolute joy and New York is home to some excellent eastern European dining. A great place to indulge in traditional dishes such as pierogi and borscht is Veselka in the East Village. It’s open 24 hours and is something of an institution (the people watching is top notch).

Veselka New York
You can’t go past the pierogies at Veselka.

Momofuku

The Momofuku group of restaurants have reached cult status in New York, with David Chang becoming something of a rockstar on the world food stage. Hit up the Noodle Bar for their famous pork buns and ramen, or try your hand at scoring a seat at the more upmarket Momofuku Ko for the dazzling (albeit pricey) tasting menu and don’t miss testing out the brunch menu at Momofuku Ssäm Bar on weekends.

Momofuku Ko
The upmarket Momofuku Ko is a dazzling New York dining experience.

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The Spotted Pig

Head to The Spotted Pig in the West Village for some innovative “pub" fare. They do a sensational brunch menu on weekends (with mimosas and bloody marys aplenty) and dinner brings offerings such as sticky lamb ribs with pomegranate molasses and a killer chargrilled burger with Roquefort and shoestring fries. Kick on afterwards in the lively bar area.

Il Buco

It’s said that New York has the best Italian outside of Italy and it’s easy to believe – this city is spoiled for choice when it comes to an incredible bowl of pasta. One of the most enduring Italian classics is Il Buco. The house made egg pasta with truffles and parmigiano is something you’ll remember for a long time to come.

Café Habana

Café Habana is a stalwart, and a great spot to laze away an afternoon in the city. The flagship Café Habana location was created out of an old-school New York diner in 1998. It has the most amazing grilled corn, tacos, Cuban sandwiches and cocktails (the frozen margaritas are a godsend on a hot New York summer’s day.)

Café Habana
Order a serve of life-changing grilled corn at Café Habana.

Peter Luger Steak House

Sure, you’re going to get a knockout steak dinner here, but it’s more about the experience of eating at this classic American steakhouse. It’s rich with history, having opened in Williamsburg (Brooklyn) in 1887. With its deep wood-panelled dining room and bow-tied waiters, a trip to Peter Luger Steak House is a truly unique New York dining experience.

 

Want more New York City foodie content? Read where to find the best coffee, the 15 bucket list eats in New York and New York’s most iconic snacks.

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12 grand journeys throughout North America

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    Discover North America’s epic adventures — from Route 66 and Alaska cruises to Hawai‘i road trips, NYC culture, Mexico trails and more.

    1. Route 66, the Main Street of America

    Travelling with: Ricky French

    Sunset on Route 66 in the California Mojave Desert.
    Hit the open road and trace America’s legendary highway. (Image: Getty/Der_Thomasa)

    Dubbed the Main Street of America, Route 66 radiates serious main character energy, cemented into popular culture through everything from John Steinbeck’s novel The Grapes of Wrath to the Disney Pixar film Cars. Spanning nearly 4000 kilometres from Chicago to Los Angeles, the historic highway celebrates its centenary next year, a timely invitation to take the mother of all road trips along the Mother Road. Allow two to three weeks to tackle the full length, or bite off a smaller chunk at either end, cruising the dramatic deserts of California or the more pastoral landscapes of Illinois, lined with neon-lit diners, retro gas stations and quirky roadside attractions.

    2. Mexico’s Día de los Muertos

    Travelling with: Carla Grossetti

    emblematic catrina of mexico with flowers and necklace with sempasuchil flowers
    Celebrate life and honour loved ones in vibrant style. (Image: Getty/Fabian Pacheco)

    You might know Oaxaca as the birthplace of mole and mezcal. But the state in southern Mexico is also where the Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) began. Time your visit to coincide with the colourful holiday, on 1–2 November, which honours and celebrates loved ones who have passed away. Oaxaca is also Mexico’s Michelin-starred culinary capital, with 18 restaurants and a humble taco stand listed in the 2025 guide.

    3. Museum-hop in New York City

    Travelling with: Carla Grossetti

    The Guggenheim Museum’s iconic spiralling exterior, a highlight of North America Epic Adventures.
    Step inside and marvel at bold, world-class art. (Image: Damiano Fiore)

    Your map app will look like it’s been scattered with confetti after you’ve dropped pins on all the museums you want to visit in New York City. Must-sees are the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, the Metropolitan Museum of Art aka the Met, and the Museum of Modern Art. The American Museum of Natural History is also a draw. It’s also worth venturing into the boroughs to browse institutions such as the Brooklyn Museum, which has a huge permanent collection categorised by culture.

    4. The USA’s music scene

    Travelling with: Elizabeth Whitehead

    The Seattle skyline at night, aglow with city lights on North America Epic Adventures.
    Soak up skyline views and dive into the city’s coffee culture. (Image: Abigail Boone)

    If you’re a muso, chances are you’ve wanted to make a pilgrimage to the United States, the epicentre of so many beloved genres. Whether you’re head-banging your way around the Grunge Circuit in Seattle, chasing the twang of the pedal steel through Tennessee or bouncing between blues bars in the Mississippi Delta, the USA’s rich music culture has something that’ll strike a chord.

    5. Road-tripping Hawai‘i

    Travelling with: Carla Grossetti

    A woman surfing in Hawaii, gliding across turquoise waves on North America Epic Adventures.
    Catch the waves and ride Hawaii’s iconic swells. (Image: Ben Ono)

    Hawai‘i is one of the most diverse US states to road trip around. Of the six major islands to visit, the Island of Hawai‘i packs in everything from the snowy summits of Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa to black-sand beaches and lava fields frozen in the act of flowing forward. Change down a few gears on the island of O‘ahu, too, where you can find your own patch of sand on Waimanalo Beach. Visit poi and pineapple plantations. And hang ten on beginner-friendly waves on the North Shore.

    6. Cruising Alaska

    Travelling with: Carla Grossetti

    Explora Journeys ship cruising in Alaska.
    Sail past glaciers and spot whales in pristine waters.

    Seeing Alaska from the sea allows you to cover a lot of distance quickly. This immersive frontier now beckons more than ever before with Explora Journeys adding the American state to its global destination portfolio. Best of all are the pre-and post-journey immersions that connect the luxury of a cruise onboard Explora III with the rugged grandeur of the Alaskan interior. UnCruise Adventures also weaves in access to remote national parks, legendary wildlife corridors and authentic cultural experiences on its Alaskan itineraries.

    7. The Wixárika Route in Mexico

    Travelling with: Elizabeth Whitehead

    People journeying through the Wixarika Route.
    Journey deep into sacred Huichol traditions and art.

    For generations, the Indigenous Wixárika People of Mexico have walked a sacred path known as Tatehuarí Huajuyé, or ‘The Path of Our Grandfather Fire’. The annual pilgrimage route spans 500 kilometres, taking in significant sites in Wixárika spirituality and cosmology. The route passes through the deserts, mountains and forests of northern Mexico before reaching Wirikuta, believed to be the place the sun first emerged. The route is a living cultural landscape of Indigenous culture pre-Columbian influence and, in July this year, was formally inscribed into UNESCO’s World Heritage List.

    8. Drive the Iceberg Coast in Canada

    Travelling with: Carla Grossetti

    Iceberg off the east coast of Canada
    Chase icebergs along Expedition 51 on Canada’s east coast. (Image: Canadian Tourism Commission/ Chris Hendrickson)

    Download the icebergfinder.com map to better plan your road trip along Canada’s Iceberg Coast. The new highway, which has been nearly 25 years and CAD$1.1 billion in the making, threads through the country’s pleated coastlines around Quebec, Newfoundland, Labrador, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick before looping in the French islands of St Pierre and Miquelon. As well as chasing icebergs along Expedition 51, travellers will have the opportunity to engage with cultures that have thrived in the pristine provinces for thousands of years.

    9. A foodie tour of Nova Scotia

    Travelling with: Katie Carlin

    Lunenberg Nova Scotia
    Try lobster rolls in Lunenburg on the east coast of Canada in Nova Scotia. (Image: Natalia Kvitovska/ Unsplash)

    World-famous for its lobster, Nova Scotia is a Canadian province best savoured through its culinary clout shaped by sea and terroir. Bite into lobster rolls at historic Lunenburg’s Salt Shaker Deli & Inn and sip maple rum at Ironworks Distillery. Winery-hop around Wolfville’s rising vineyards (don’t miss Lightfoot & Wolfville). Take a maple syrup tour at Sugar Moon Farm near Earltown. And pull up a seat at waterfront Bar Sofia in Halifax, where Nova Scotia oysters aguachile arrive bright with cucumber, lime and pickled onion.

    10. Soak up the sun in the Caribbean

    Travelling with: Carla Grossetti

    Overwater bungalows off a beach in the Caribbean
    Experience the white-sand beaches and cerulean seas of the Caribbean on board a cruise.

    The Caribbean is on the radar for seasoned cruisers. And it’s easy to see why, with white-sand beaches, cerulean seas and swaying palms so picture-perfect they look AI-generated. Cruise with Windstar, Royal Caribbean, and Celebrity on its inaugural Xcel season to the Caribbean to enjoy action-packed excursions such as snorkelling coral reefs and shopping for local trinkets. And those sea days? Spectacular.

    11. Red Chair Hikes of Canada

    Travelling with: Kassia Byrnes

    Red Adirondack chairs overlooking Lake Minnewanka in Canada
    Take a seat at Lake Minnewanka, one of more than 400 red Adirondack chairs scattered across Canada’s hiking routes. (Image: Getty Images/ Autumn Sky Photography)

    No one appreciates the great outdoors more than Canadians, emerging from snow-covered winters to tread glacial rivers and snowshoe through forests, or to hike mighty mountains and wildflower-strewn valleys come spring. Along popular hikes around the country, more than 400 red Adirondack chairs have been placed in peaceful, breathtaking locations. What started as a social media contest now sees hikers soaking in classic Canadian lake and mountain vistas, overlooking historic sites or gazing down on the mountainous path they just travelled.

    12. Ride the Rocky Mountaineer from Denver to Moab, USA

    Travelling with: Carla Grossetti

    Sweeping views from the Rocky Mountaineer.
    The Rocky Mountaineer will continue as the Canyon Spirit in 2026, seen here carving through Ruby Canyon.

    Sighting wild animals is one of many incredible thrills along the two-day luxury Rockies to the Red Rocks route onboard the Rocky Mountaineer across America’s Southwest between mid-April and mid-October. In addition to the lone bear, we spot bighorn sheep, elk, beavers, pronghorn antelope, bald eagles and ospreys. Riding the rails onboard the luxury train, which was founded in Canada in 1990 and has been awarded the prestigious World’s Leading Travel Experience by Train several times, has never been about just getting from A to B. Ride the train from Denver to Moab and you will see the scenery change from snow-capped peaks to meadows, red-rock canyons and soaring cliffs that resemble ornate Gaudí-esque cathedrals. But it’s not until you get off the train that you can produce the ultimate Venn diagram, with nature and adventure in the intersecting spheres.