Guidebook for New York
Food Scene
Dark, noisy, romantic bar and restaurant with good French-Brazilian-African food and nice French wines. DJ later on in the night.
34 locals recommend
Les Enfants de Bohème
177 Henry StDark, noisy, romantic bar and restaurant with good French-Brazilian-African food and nice French wines. DJ later on in the night.
Very cute, old fashioned diner, perfect for lazy breakfasts. Eat at the counter or the window, and people-watch
31 locals recommend
Cup & Saucer
Very cute, old fashioned diner, perfect for lazy breakfasts. Eat at the counter or the window, and people-watch
Nom Wah Tea Parlor
13 Doyers StAuthentic Dim Sum in Shanghai/Hong Kong nostalgic atmosphere.
Famous Blue Bottle coffee, big rustic farmhouse tables to sit around, and locally made men's accessories and surfwear. Plus, free Wifi, if you ask.
30 locals recommend
Lost Weekend NYC
Famous Blue Bottle coffee, big rustic farmhouse tables to sit around, and locally made men's accessories and surfwear. Plus, free Wifi, if you ask.
Just downstairs, serves steaming fresh dumplings, fried or boiled. Vegetarians can ask for the huge scallion pancakes or boiled veggie dumplings. The best.
56 locals recommend
Prosperity Dumpling
Just downstairs, serves steaming fresh dumplings, fried or boiled. Vegetarians can ask for the huge scallion pancakes or boiled veggie dumplings. The best.
Very hip, airy, and rustic. British-inspired, veggie-based menu, with a few heavier items. Great winelist, and lots of pretty people.
193 locals recommend
The Fat Radish
17 Orchard StVery hip, airy, and rustic. British-inspired, veggie-based menu, with a few heavier items. Great winelist, and lots of pretty people.
Great, varied menu, especially for brunch (Middle Eastern, Asian-inspired, and Latin). Reasonable prices, nice staff, and never a long wait.
99 locals recommend
Cafe Petisco
189 E BroadwayGreat, varied menu, especially for brunch (Middle Eastern, Asian-inspired, and Latin). Reasonable prices, nice staff, and never a long wait.
The best coffee, across from the park, but no Wifi and nowhere to sit. Good pastries, too.
104 locals recommend
Café Grumpy - Lower East Side
13 Essex StThe best coffee, across from the park, but no Wifi and nowhere to sit. Good pastries, too.
Delicious, fresh, authentically boiled bagels, and the best bialys (flat onion bagel type bread) in NYC. Get your cream cheese and lox at Russ & Daughters, though (it's better).
50 locals recommend
Kossar's Bagels & Bialys
367 Grand StDelicious, fresh, authentically boiled bagels, and the best bialys (flat onion bagel type bread) in NYC. Get your cream cheese and lox at Russ & Daughters, though (it's better).
Known for its Shanghai-style soup dumplings, but pretty crowded with tourists usually.
196 locals recommend
Joe's Shanghai
46 BoweryKnown for its Shanghai-style soup dumplings, but pretty crowded with tourists usually.
Enjoy delicious food and coffee at this cafe, with a relaxed, artsy atmosphere. Run by Melia Marden, an excellent chef and the daughter of artist Brice Marden.
23 locals recommend
Smile To Go
22 Howard StreetEnjoy delicious food and coffee at this cafe, with a relaxed, artsy atmosphere. Run by Melia Marden, an excellent chef and the daughter of artist Brice Marden.
Very popular, very very good Italian food, set prixe-fixe menu only. Hard to get a reservation.
20 locals recommend
Torrisi
250 Mulberry StVery popular, very very good Italian food, set prixe-fixe menu only. Hard to get a reservation.
Cafe Katja
79 Orchard StGreat, filling Austrian food and beer. Perfect for a winter evening.
H K Wonton Garden
79 Mulberry StDelicious wonton soup and roasted meats. Try the Pork and Chive Dumplings.
Barrio Chino
253 Broome StGood Mexican food, in a beautiful Chinese retro setting.
The best Shanghai-style soup dumpling (xiao lung bao) outside of Shanghai.
31 locals recommend
Shanghai Dumpling
100 Mott StThe best Shanghai-style soup dumpling (xiao lung bao) outside of Shanghai.
Drinks & Nightlife
Cocktails, great music, and sometimes dancing, in a hidden Chinatown alleyway.
212 locals recommend
Apotheke
9 Doyers StCocktails, great music, and sometimes dancing, in a hidden Chinatown alleyway.
Oyster bar and cocktails in a casual, Hamptons-rustic atmosphere. Strong, good cocktails and delicious little bites.
105 locals recommend
Bar Belly
14 Orchard StOyster bar and cocktails in a casual, Hamptons-rustic atmosphere. Strong, good cocktails and delicious little bites.
The perfect dive bar: loud, with a great jukebox, grumpy bartenders, and strange decor. Live music sometimes.
183 locals recommend
169 Bar
169 E Broadway The perfect dive bar: loud, with a great jukebox, grumpy bartenders, and strange decor. Live music sometimes.
Oro Bakery and Bar
375 Broome StBar and bakery together, perfect for an afternoon stop.
Hotel Chantelle
92 Ludlow StA nice rooftop, and pretty good cocktails.
Cute, cozy surfer bar with good Greek-inspired bar food. Friendly waitstaff, great atmosphere.
181 locals recommend
Forgtmenot
138 Division StCute, cozy surfer bar with good Greek-inspired bar food. Friendly waitstaff, great atmosphere.
Parisian-run cocktail bar, with French colonial tropical decor. Big space and good music, but more of a lounge than a club.
21 locals recommend
Experimental Cocktail Club
191 Chrystie StParisian-run cocktail bar, with French colonial tropical decor. Big space and good music, but more of a lounge than a club.
Sightseeing
Hester Street Fair: a great food fair on Saturday mornings. Otherwise, a peaceful park with people doing Tai Chi in the morning.
40 locals recommend
Seward Park
Essex StreetHester Street Fair: a great food fair on Saturday mornings. Otherwise, a peaceful park with people doing Tai Chi in the morning.
Amazing views all along the East Side, views of the bridges and Brooklyn. Much more beautiful and less crowded than the Hudson park on the west side.
89 locals recommend
East River Promenade
East River PromenadeAmazing views all along the East Side, views of the bridges and Brooklyn. Much more beautiful and less crowded than the Hudson park on the west side.
Tenement Museum
103 Orchard StMuseum of the Lower East Side's tenement history. Book a tour.
Arts & Culture
Community Arts Center, inexpensive and offbeat arts. Check out their website for listings.
10 locals recommend
Abrons Art Center
466 Grand StCommunity Arts Center, inexpensive and offbeat arts. Check out their website for listings.
Rockwood Music Hall
196 Allen StGreat, small live music venue. Usually no cover.
In my opinion, the best music venue in NYC, in terms of the talent and the space. Check out their website.
135 locals recommend
The Bowery Ballroom
6 Delancey StIn my opinion, the best music venue in NYC, in terms of the talent and the space. Check out their website.
Shopping
Great mini-market with late hours, good coffee, and surprisingly most groceries you might need. Mostly higher-end, organic items.
26 locals recommend
Nolita Mart & Espresso Bar
156 Mott StGreat mini-market with late hours, good coffee, and surprisingly most groceries you might need. Mostly higher-end, organic items.
Every kind of pickle, in giant vats, sold by very loud and friendly guys.
30 locals recommend
The Pickle Guys
357 Grand StEvery kind of pickle, in giant vats, sold by very loud and friendly guys.
Opening Ceremony
High-end, offbeat designer clothes, in hipster setting.
Odin
161 Lafayette StUpscale, hip, rustic men's clothing.
Essentials
Enormous Asian supermarket, with good fresh produce and every kind of Asian food you would ever need.
38 locals recommend
Hong Kong Supermarket
157 Hester StEnormous Asian supermarket, with good fresh produce and every kind of Asian food you would ever need.
Everything Else
Good place to get everything you might need, including organic produce and any health foods and toiletries.
1895 locals recommend
Whole Foods Market
95 E Houston StGood place to get everything you might need, including organic produce and any health foods and toiletries.