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. 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

#1
Diana of Little Chef, Little Kitchen
#1 of 17,320 Places to Eat in New York City
TripAdvisor (104)
$ - $$ | Italian, American, Filipino, Mediterranean, Asian
New York City, NY
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#2
Spot Dessert Bar
#2 of 17,320 Places to Eat in New York City
TripAdvisor (296)
$ - $$ |
13 Saint Marks Pl between 2nd & 3rd Ave, New York City, NY 10003-7807
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#3
Levain Bakery
#3 of 17,320 Places to Eat in New York City
TripAdvisor (4928)
$ |
167 W 74th St At Amsterdam Avenue, New York City, NY 10023-2216
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#4
Obao
#4 of 17,320 Places to Eat in New York City
TripAdvisor (336)
$ - $$ | Vietnamese, Fusion, Street Food
222 E 53rd Street between 3rd Avenue and 2nd Avenue, New York City, NY 10022-5205
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#5
Piccola Cucina Osteria
#5 of 17,320 Places to Eat in New York City
TripAdvisor (2622)
$ - $$ | Italian, Mediterranean, Neapolitan, Campania, Sicilian, Southern-Italian
196 Spring St Soho, New York City, NY 10012-3621
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#6
Levain Bakery Harlem
#6 of 17,320 Places to Eat in New York City
TripAdvisor (1641)
$ - $$ | American
2167 Frederick Douglass Blvd at 117th Street, New York City, NY 10026-2040
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#7
Piccola Cucina
#7 of 17,320 Places to Eat in New York City
TripAdvisor (1050)
$ - $$ | Italian, European, Sicilian, Southern-Italian, Mediterranean
184 Prince St Neighborhood: SoHo, New York City, NY 10012-2979
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#8
Olio e Piu
#8 of 17,320 Places to Eat in New York City
TripAdvisor (2523)
$ - $$ | Italian, Pizza, Tuscan, Central-Italian
3 Greenwich Ave, New York City, NY 10014-3543
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#9
Obao
#9 of 17,320 Places to Eat in New York City
TripAdvisor (1028)
$ - $$ | Asian, Thai, Vietnamese
647 9th Ave, New York City, NY 10036-3661
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#10
Pisillo Italian Panini
#10 of 17,320 Places to Eat in New York City
TripAdvisor (978)
$ | Italian, Fast Food
97 Nassau St 97 Nassau Street, New York City, NY 10038-2703
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#11
Boucherie West Village
#11 of 17,320 Places to Eat in New York City
TripAdvisor (1077)
$ - $$ | French, Steakhouse
99 7th Ave S, New York City, NY 10014-3415
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#12
Bleecker Street Pizza
#12 of 17,320 Places to Eat in New York City
TripAdvisor (1416)
$ | Italian, Pizza, Fast Food
69 7th Ave S at Bleecker Street Pizza, New York City, NY 10014-4043
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#13
Le Mille Feuille
#13 of 17,320 Places to Eat in New York City
TripAdvisor (280)
$ - $$ | Cafe, European, French
552 Laguardia Pl between 3rd Street & Bleecker, New York City, NY 10012-1459
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#14
Boucherie Union Square
#14 of 17,320 Places to Eat in New York City
TripAdvisor (985)
$$ | French, Steakhouse
225 Park Ave S, New York City, NY 10003-1604
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#15
Daniel
#15 of 17,320 Places to Eat in New York City
TripAdvisor (3259)
$$ | French
60 East 65th Street, New York City, NY 10065-7056
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#16
Spice Symphony
#16 of 17,320 Places to Eat in New York City
TripAdvisor (2559)
$ - $$ | Indian
150 E 50th St Between Lexington & 3rd Avenue, New York City, NY 10022-9500
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#17
Petite Boucherie
#17 of 17,320 Places to Eat in New York City
TripAdvisor (500)
$ - $$ | French
14 Christopher St, New York City, NY 10014-3523
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#18
Loi Estiatorio
#18 of 17,320 Places to Eat in New York City
TripAdvisor (523)
$ - $$ | Mediterranean, Greek, Seafood
132 W 58th St Between 6th & 7th Avenue, New York City, NY 10019-2135
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#19
Piccola Cucina Estiatorio
#19 of 17,320 Places to Eat in New York City
TripAdvisor (160)
$ - $$ | Italian, Seafood, Mediterranean, Sicilian, Southern-Italian
75 Thompson St, New York City, NY 10012-4345
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#20
K Rico Steakhouse
#20 of 17,320 Places to Eat in New York City
TripAdvisor (3022)
$ - $$ | American, Steakhouse, Latin, South American
772 9th Ave, New York City, NY 10019-6327
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