NEW YORK CITY
This guide is for my friends—the New York locals and the tourists that keep coming back to the city of infinite discovery.
I’ve chosen 24 places that are special to me and written a blurb with my personal tips, favorite dishes, etc. True to form, the Google Map below the guide is a categorized + color-coded master guide to a full array of food, drinks, experiences around the city that I’ve enjoyed or are on my list to hit up. Choose your own adventure and let me know what you enjoyed!
Last Updated: Spring 2023
Raku
Hello, udon heaven. I love the hot niku udon and during the blazing summer I opt for the cold ja ja udon. If you’re into mackerel, you have to try the sabazushi—pressed sushi, slightly seared. They have 2 NYC locations: East Village which is more intimate and SoHo which has space for larger groups. Make a reservation if you don’t plan on waiting for a seat at the bar!
abraço
Run by a husband and wife team, abraço used to be a small hole-in-the-wall counter that now has a built out coffee shop with seating inside. He heads up the coffee while she does the baking. Don’t miss out on her olive oil cake! Their iced lattes are made with a dash of simple syrup at the bottom for the perfect first sip.
The Primary Essentials
On the edge of Boerum Hill, there’s a number of fantastic interiors shops that anyone with a design eye will appreciate. Most notably, The Primary Essentials and Horseman Antiques have been a mainstays on Atlantic Avenue for longer than most. Assembly Line, Michele Varian, and PORTA are welcome new additions.
Shelsky’s
For Brooklynites looking for a Russ & Daughters alternative (with less hoopla), stop over at Shelsky’s for all your lox and pickled fish cravings. The quality & quantity of their fish justifies the price. My most ordered is the Member of the Tribe which is their equivalent to the Lox Deluxe—just choose your bagel + cream cheese of choice! Find them in Cobble Hill or Park Slope.
Still House
Still House is a quaint and minimalistic home wares and jewelry shop in East Village. I love their gallery-like storefront and their
in-house jewelry collection where I got my wedding ring. Keep an eye out for their shop dog, Gracie, hanging around.
Bar Bête
Casual French fare with an extensive wine list and charming outdoor seating in the cooler months, Bar Bête is one of the newer additions to my old neighborhood that makes me miss Boerum Hill. The duck fat potatoes are a crowd pleaser!
Frankies 457 Spuntino
A Brooklyn establishment. House-made pastas, picturesque backyard seating under string lights, what more can you want? My husband and I are forever torn between their Cavatelli with Hot Sausage & Browned Sage Butter and Pappardelle with Lamb Ragu, so we usually get both. Don’t skip their salads! And of course every table is greeted with their signature olive oil + bread.
Roman and Williams Guild
For the aspirational and upscale interiors enthusiast, this place is a kind of mecca. Beautiful furnishings, luxurious linens and artisan tablewares are found in every nook and cranny of the often dimly-lit store. The attached French café, La Mercerie, is cozy and flooded with natural light, while Guild Gallery down the street showcases art exhibitions for sculptors and decorative artists.
Noguchi Museum
Designed and created by the Japanese American sculptor and designer Isamu Noguchi, this 2-story museum is located in Queens and is one of my favorites. The sculpture garden is true zen and the shop has his notable light fixtures on display. The first Friday of every month is free, otherwise $10 admission.
Don Angie
This Italian American restaurant makes the best lasagna I’ve ever had. Their pinwheel shape lets each diner feel like they got the coveted charred corner slice. The unique plates here are the Chrysanthemum Salad and Stracchino Gnocchi. If you love Frankies, you’ll appreciate what Don Angie brings to the table.
Double Chicken Please
From the same family as Raku, Double Chicken Please is a buzzy, experimental bar with best in class cocktails on tap. Sure, the hot honey chicken sandwich may be their claim to fame, but try the tofu peanut butter sandwich if you’re feeling adventurous! Reserve the back room if you want table service and seating. The front (walk-in) is standing room only.
J.G. Melon
Cash-only burger joint open late. Classic and consistent, you will not regret going here after a night out or just when you want a nice, solid burger. Their fries are cottage style, which aren’t my preference but I think their chili is where it’s at. Just walk in!
Morgensterns’s
For your every day kind of scoop shop, I can always find an interesting flavor to try at Morgenstern’s. They’ve got your classic flavors done well and some with a twist. They have two shops now—one on West Houston and the original on Rivington.
cocoron
My favorite soba in the city has got to be cocoron. They specialize in buckwheat noodles served in a warm soup, chilled, or dipping style (shown above). I usually order the Mera Mera or Pork Kimchee dip soba. Great for a solo meal or a party of two. They have 2 different locations on Delancey Street, but 16 Delancey has more seating. Walk-ins and cash only!
Goods for the Study
This is hands down my favorite stationery store in New York. They have 2 locations now—their original space on Mulberry with cozy side-by-side storefronts separating stationery and writing instruments and their larger 8th Street location near Washington Square Park.
Ernesto’s
It’s Basque bliss in LES! The chef, sommelier, and bartenders here know exactly what they’re doing. I’ve been here multiple times (admittedly with the same group of friends) and have experienced incredible meals, cocktails and natural wines each and every time. Apparently Pete Wells agrees. Get a reservation and save room for dessert.
Devocion
This Colombian coffee company pays attention to supply chain, sustainability, and design. Devocion’s Williamsburg location is usually bustling with tourists taking photos against their vertical garden wall, but their newer Downtown Brooklyn and Flatiron locations are reliably quieter with local crowds.
Ruchki da Nozhki
My favorite Brooklyn nail salon never smells of chemicals and uses natural products. It’s on the pricier side, but I love their selection of polishes and tea during your service. I don’t often get nail art, but I’ve seen them do an incredible job on their Instagram. It gets busy on the weekend, so make an appointment!
Paulie Gee’s
I’m not trying to start a pizza debate, but I stand behind the quality, flavor and friendliness of Paulie Gee’s. Their Greenpoint location doesn’t take reservations, but they have a slice shop a few blocks down. If you’re lucky enough to dine in, chances are Paulie himself will make sure you’re enjoying your pies. The Hellboy is a classic, but their expansive pizza menu will give you analysis paralysis.
nonono
Located on the edge of Koreatown, nonono specializes in yakitori and their tapas-sized dishes make it a great spot for groups. My go-to picks are the chicken oyster and kinoko cream yakitori, salmon tataki, and teba gyoza. Make a reservation for 4+.
Iconic Magazine
Print is not dead (yet). There are literally stacks on stacks of international and rare publications at Iconic. It’s hard to walk out of there empty handed. They’re open 24-hours and have 3 locations on Mulberry, Bowery, and Lafayette.
The Metropolitan Museum of Art
“Gossip Girl here, your one and only source into the scandalous lives of Manhattan's elite.” Need I say more? Half kidding, but The Met is a must. Historically admission has been pay as you wish, but post-2020 only NY Residents and tri-state area students get that pass. Admission is $30 for adults; $22 for seniors; $17 for students, and free children under 12.
Hotels
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1 Hotel Brooklyn Bridge
Ace Hotel Brooklyn
Franklin Guesthouse
The Hoxton, Williamsburg
The William Vale
Wythe Hotel
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11 Howard
The Beekman
The Bowery Hotel
The Greenwich Hotel
The Jane
Nine Orchard
NoMo SoHo
PUBLIC Hotel
The Standard, High Line or East Village
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1 Hotel Central Park
Aman New york
Arlo NoMad
The Carlyle
Equinox Hotel
Freehand New York
Made Hotel
The Mark Hotel
The Ned
Park Lane New York
The Times Square EDITION
Virgin Hotels New York City
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Boro Hotel
The Collective Paper Factory
Graduate New York
The Modernist Hotel