Courtesy of RICOWde/Getty Images

What to Eat in New York City
It's fitting that New York's most popular nickname includes a reference to food. Experts say that the city is jam-packed with delicious places to eat, from the high-end celebrity chef hot spots to cozy eateries. When you're in this cosmopolitan city, you'll have to sample some of its specialties. Most people associate NYC with pizza: New York-style pizza consists of hand-tossed thin crust, a light layer of tomato sauce, plenty of mozzarella cheese and an assortment of toppings. There are dozens of pizzerias dishing out traditional pies across the city, but locals say Joe's Pizza and Grimaldi's Pizzeria are two of the top spots to grab a slice of pizza. Another New York staple? Bagels. The large, soft, doughy bagels can be topped with thick cream cheese (often you can choose from various schmear flavors), lox or your favorite breakfast sandwich accoutrements. Experts say you can't go wrong with a bagel from Ess-a-Bagel, Bagel Bob's or Tompkins Square Bagels.
In addition to its casual eateries, New York City has a vibrant food market (visit Chelsea Market and Gotham West Market) and farmers market scene. And of course, the Big Apple is home to numerous upscale restaurants highlighting cuisine from around the world. The list of must-try restaurants is constantly changing, but those looking to enjoy an exquisite multicourse meal should make reservations (well in advance) at Eleven Madison Park, Le Bernadin or Daniel. If you'd like to explore fine dining restaurants with more reasonable price tags, Butter, Scarpetta and Marc Forgione are a few celebrity chef-helmed eateries that won't completely bust your budget. The wealth of food options in the city is also part of why New York City consistently lands on the U.S. News ranking of the Best Foodie Cities in the USA. For a comprehensive understanding of the city's dining scene, take one of the Big Apple's top food tours.
What's more, New York City isn't only home to fantastic restaurants, but also to several stand-out bars and breweries. When the weather warms up, locals and travelers alike love heading to the top rooftop bars around the city to soak up the skyline views.
Find the Best Restaurants in New York City
- #1Diana of Little Chef, Little Kitchen#1 of 13,315 Places to Eat in New York City
Tripadvisor (110)$ - $$ | Italian, American, Filipino, Mediterranean, AsianNew York City, NYRead More » - #2Spot Dessert Bar#2 of 13,315 Places to Eat in New York City
Tripadvisor (296)$ - $$ |13 St Marks Place between 2nd & 3rd Ave, New York City, NY 10003-7807Read More » - #3Levain Bakery#3 of 13,315 Places to Eat in New York City
Tripadvisor (5002)$ | American167 W 74th St At Amsterdam Avenue, New York City, NY 10023-2216Read More » - #4Levain Bakery#4 of 13,315 Places to Eat in New York City
Tripadvisor (1652)$ - $$ | American2167 Frederick Douglass Blvd at 117th Street, New York City, NY 10026-2040Read More » - #5Piccola Cucina Osteria#5 of 13,315 Places to Eat in New York City
Tripadvisor (2513)$ - $$ | Italian, Mediterranean, Neapolitan, Campania, Sicilian, Southern-Italian196 Spring St Soho, New York City, NY 10012-3621Read More » - #6Piccola Cucina#6 of 13,315 Places to Eat in New York City
Tripadvisor (986)$ - $$ | Italian, Mediterranean, European, Sicilian, Southern-Italian184 Prince St, New York City, NY 10012-2979Read More » - #7Boucherie Union Square#7 of 13,315 Places to Eat in New York City
Tripadvisor (995)$$ | French, Steakhouse225 Park Ave S, New York City, NY 10003-1604Read More » - #8Obao#8 of 13,315 Places to Eat in New York City
Tripadvisor (1116)$ - $$ | Asian, Thai, Vietnamese, Healthy647 9th Ave, New York City, NY 10036-3661Read More » - #9Olio e Piu#9 of 13,315 Places to Eat in New York City
Tripadvisor (2468)$ - $$ | Italian, Pizza, Tuscan, Central-Italian3 Greenwich Ave, New York City, NY 10014-3543Read More » - #10Bleecker Street Pizza#10 of 13,315 Places to Eat in New York City
Tripadvisor (1468)$ | Italian, Pizza, Fast Food69 7th Ave S at Bleecker Street Pizza, New York City, NY 10014-4043Read More » - #11Mei Jin Ramen#11 of 13,315 Places to Eat in New York City
Tripadvisor (166)$ - $$ | Japanese, Asian, Soups1574 2nd Ave, New York City, NY 10028-2617Read More » - #12Spice Symphony#12 of 13,315 Places to Eat in New York City
Tripadvisor (2622)$ - $$ | Indian, Healthy150 E 50th St Between Lexington & 3rd Avenue, New York City, NY 10022-9500Read More » - #13Piccola Cucina Estiatorio#13 of 13,315 Places to Eat in New York City
Tripadvisor (164)$ - $$ | Italian, Seafood, Mediterranean, Sicilian, Southern-Italian75 Thompson St, New York City, NY 10012-4345Read More » - #14Pisillo Italian Panini#14 of 13,315 Places to Eat in New York City
Tripadvisor (979)$ | Italian, Fast Food, Healthy97 Nassau St 97 Nassau Street, New York City, NY 10038-2703Read More » - #15K Rico Steakhouse#15 of 13,315 Places to Eat in New York City
Tripadvisor (3141)$ - $$ | American, Steakhouse, Latin, South American772 9th Ave, New York City, NY 10019-6327Read More » - #16SottoCasa Pizzeria#16 of 13,315 Places to Eat in New York City
Tripadvisor (411)$ - $$ | Pizza, Neapolitan, Campania, Southern-Italian227 Lenox Ave, New York City, NY 10027-6542Read More » - #17City Vineyard#17 of 13,315 Places to Eat in New York City
Tripadvisor (402)$ - $$ | American, Bar, Seafood, Wine Bar, Grill233 West Street Pier 26, Hudson River Park, New York City, NY 10013Read More » - #18Le Mille Feuille#18 of 13,315 Places to Eat in New York City
Tripadvisor (281)$ - $$ | Cafe, European, French552 Laguardia Pl between 3rd Street & Bleecker, New York City, NY 10012-1459Read More » - #19Frisson Espresso#19 of 13,315 Places to Eat in New York City
Tripadvisor (160)$ | Cafe326 W 47th St Between 9th Avenue & 8th Avenue in Hell's Kitchen, New York City, NY 10036-3115Read More » - #20Liberty Bagels Midtown#20 of 13,315 Places to Eat in New York City
Tripadvisor (239)$ | American, Fast Food260 W 35th St, New York City, NY 10001-2503Read More »
Explore More of New York City
If you make a purchase from our site, we may earn a commission. This does not affect the quality or independence of our editorial content.