New York City Travel Guide

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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.

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

#1
Diana of Little Chef, Little Kitchen
#1 of 16,291 Places to Eat in New York City
TripAdvisor (95)
$ - $$ | Italian, American, Filipino, Mediterranean, Asian
New York City, NY
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#2
Levain Bakery
#2 of 16,291 Places to Eat in New York City
TripAdvisor (4607)
$ |
167 W 74th St At Amsterdam Avenue, New York City, NY 10023-2216
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#3
Levain Bakery
#3 of 16,291 Places to Eat in New York City
TripAdvisor (1590)
$ - $$ | American
2167 Frederick Douglass Blvd at 117th Street, New York City, NY 10026-2040
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#4
Piccola Cucina Osteria
#4 of 16,291 Places to Eat in New York City
TripAdvisor (2111)
$ - $$ | Italian, Mediterranean
196 Spring St Soho, New York City, NY 10012-3621
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#5
Club A Steakhouse
#5 of 16,291 Places to Eat in New York City
TripAdvisor (3557)
$$ | American, Steakhouse
240 E 58th Street, New York City, NY 10022-2001
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#6
Piccola Cucina
#6 of 16,291 Places to Eat in New York City
TripAdvisor (730)
$ - $$ | Italian
184 Prince St Neighborhood: SoHo, New York City, NY 10012-2979
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#7
SottoCasa Pizzeria
#7 of 16,291 Places to Eat in New York City
TripAdvisor (343)
$ - $$ | Pizza
227 Lenox Ave, New York City, NY 10027-6542
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#8
Boucherie Union Square
#8 of 16,291 Places to Eat in New York City
TripAdvisor (661)
$$ | French, Steakhouse
225 Park Ave S, New York City, NY 10003-1604
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#9
Song E Napule
#9 of 16,291 Places to Eat in New York City
TripAdvisor (275)
$ - $$ | Italian, Pizza, Mediterranean
146 W Houston St, New York City, NY 10012-2561
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#10
Pisillo Italian Panini
#10 of 16,291 Places to Eat in New York City
TripAdvisor (919)
$ | Italian, Fast Food
97 Nassau St 97 Nassau Street, New York City, NY 10038-2703
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#11
Loi Estiatorio
#11 of 16,291 Places to Eat in New York City
TripAdvisor (367)
$ - $$ | Mediterranean, Greek, Seafood
132 W 58th St Between 6th & 7th Avenue, New York City, NY 10019-2135
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#12
Los Tacos No. 1
#12 of 16,291 Places to Eat in New York City
TripAdvisor (249)
$ | Mexican, Latin, Central American, Fast Food
229 W 43rd St, New York City, NY 10036-3982
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#13
Boucherie West Village
#13 of 16,291 Places to Eat in New York City
TripAdvisor (737)
$ - $$ | French, Steakhouse
99 7th Ave S, New York City, NY 10014-3415
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#14
Le Mille Feuille
#14 of 16,291 Places to Eat in New York City
TripAdvisor (271)
$ - $$ | Cafe, European, French
552 Laguardia Pl between 3rd Street & Bleecker, New York City, NY 10012-1459
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#15
Petite Boucherie
#15 of 16,291 Places to Eat in New York City
TripAdvisor (429)
$ - $$ | French
14 Christopher St, New York City, NY 10014-3523
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#16
Daniel
#16 of 16,291 Places to Eat in New York City
TripAdvisor (3174)
$$ | French
60 East 65th Street, New York City, NY 10065-7056
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#17
Olio e Piu
#17 of 16,291 Places to Eat in New York City
TripAdvisor (1770)
$ - $$ | Italian, Pizza
3 Greenwich Ave, New York City, NY 10014-3543
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#18
Spice Symphony
#18 of 16,291 Places to Eat in New York City
TripAdvisor (2232)
$ - $$ | Indian, Asian
150 E 50th St Between Lexington & 3rd Avenue, New York City, NY 10022-9500
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#19
Spice Symphony 31st
#19 of 16,291 Places to Eat in New York City
TripAdvisor (135)
$ - $$ | Indian, Asian
182 Lexington Ave Between 31st and 32nd street, New York City, NY 10016-6849
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#20
Two Little Red Hens
#20 of 16,291 Places to Eat in New York City
TripAdvisor (669)
$ - $$ | American, Cafe
1652 2nd Ave South of 86th Street, New York City, NY 10028-3110
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