best restaurants in manhattan – Enjoying food is one of the best parts of traveling to a new place, and luckily, there are all kinds of restaurants in New York where you can satisfy your appetite. NYC is the ideal place to pay tribute to the palate. Going to an exquisite restaurant is one of the best things to do in New York, especially if you are traveling as a couple.
You can find almost any cuisine you fancy, from juicy meats to delicious Italian and French cuisine. In this guide, I’ll name the cachet places to eat in New York, whether you’re craving classic American fare, a delicious Korean feast, or a spicy sampling of Indian dishes.
While this article focuses on the best restaurants in New York, which are high-end and quite prestigious places, I also have another guide to typical New York food with recommendations for popular (and cheap) dishes and where to try them.
In summary, if you are looking for something refined for a special occasion, these are the ten best restaurants in New York:
1. GRAMERCY TAVERN, ONE OF THE BEST RESTAURANTS IN NEW YORK
First, Gramercy Tavern is a Michelin-starred restaurant with nine James Beard awards. Its dining room and bar are open seven days a week, whether you want to have lunch or dinner in New York; so if you are looking for an elegant dinner with a casual touch, this is your place.
The menu consists of contemporary American fare made with seasonal ingredients, some of which are sourced from local farmers. Peruse the à la carte menu or indulge in the chef-curated tasting menu with items like roast duck confit, mushroom pie, tavern burgers, and dark chocolate mousse.
You can reserve a table in the elegant dining room or sit at the bar for a more relaxed atmosphere. Either way, ask your waiter about the perfect wine pairing for your meal; you will not regret it! Gramercy Tavern is close to Union Square, making it the best place to dine in New York in the Midtown area and a great place to eat after sightseeing.
Type of cuisine: American
Average price per person: 90$
Hours: Monday to Thursday, from 5 pm to 10 pm; from Friday to Sunday, from 11.30 am to 2.30 pm and from 5 pm to 10 pm.
Area: Flatiron District, Manhattan
Menu
2. DANIEL, ONE OF THE BEST RESTAURANTS IN NEW YORK WITH A MICHELIN STAR
Daniel is one of the best restaurants in New York for anniversaries or to celebrate a special occasions, as it is one of the most exclusive restaurants in the city. Chef Eddy Leroux creates prix fixe and tasting menus using local produce, seafood, and meats and can accommodate different diets with prior notice.
Its small plates stand out for their careful presentation and feature classic French food, with some adaptations to meet the demands of the American public. Enjoy delicious oysters and scallops, elegant escargots, foie gras from the Hudson Valley, and fantastic red snapper and black bass from Montauk. Try the Pennsylvania rabbit or the Berkshire pork ribeye if you prefer meat.
Daniel’s pastry chef, Shaun Vélez, prepares treats inspired by his international travels, like Japanese matcha tropezienne and Mexican dark chocolate, so save room for dessert.
This is a sophisticated restaurant with attentive service, so dress accordingly and prepare to spend some money. However, it is worth it for the wonderful dishes and the spectacular atmosphere; the neoclassical main dining room is grand, while the art deco bar and lounge are a little less formal.
Either way, having a luxurious dinner in New York is something I recommend if you come as a couple, so consider bringing your other half here to celebrate an anniversary or Valentine’s Day.
Type of cuisine: French
Average price per person: $275
Hours: Tuesday to Sunday, from 5 pm to 10 pm.
Area: Upper East Side, Manhattan
Menu
3. PER SE, ONE OF THE BEST RESTAURANTS IN NEW YORK FOR A ROMANTIC DINNER
Book a table at Per Se if you’re looking for the best New York restaurants for Valentine’s Day or another special occasion. This French/American fusion restaurant is run by chef Thomas Keller, author of The French Laundry Cookbook, who brings several recipes to life in Per Se’s kitchen.
His experience and delicious dishes have earned Per Se 3 Michelin stars, as well as multiple awards for its wine list, which has more than 2,000 bottles from around the world.
Here you can choose between the vegetable or chef’s tasting menu; both feature 9-course recipes, including porcini mushroom stew, green bean cassoulet, and Norwich Meadows Farm butternut squash salad. For carnivores, try Hudson Valley duck foie gras, a rack of lamb from Elysian Fields Farms, or herb-roasted Atlantic halibut.
Per Se is one of the best restaurants in New York with a view. Reserve a table because they don’t accept walk-in dinners and ask for a window table. Also, remember that all reservations require a deposit of $200 per person, which is deducted from the final bill.
Yes, Per Se is expensive, but it’s one of the best restaurants in New York for a date, so if you want to surprise your partner, it’s worth it.
Type of cuisine: French/American
Average price per person: $300
Hours: Monday to Sunday, from 4.30 pm to 8 pm.
Area: Hell’s Kitchen, Manhattan
Menu
4. THE MODERN, ONE OF THE MOST FAMOUS RESTAURANTS IN NEW YORK
The Modern is one of the most elegant places to eat in New York for contemporary American cuisine with a French twist. It is located in MoMA’s Kenneth C. Griffin Building and overlooks the Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Sculpture Garden.
The Modern is open for lunch and dinner and, in addition to beer and cocktails, offers an international wine list with 3,000 selections. You can sit at the bar to order from the a la carte menu, opt for the dining room, or get an exclusive table in front of the kitchen.
With two Michelin stars and four James Bread Awards, you can bet everything on the menu is amazing. You can tell the chef had fun selecting the menu, which is why this is one of the best restaurants in NYC in the Midtown area if you want to try a new take on an old favorite.
For example, try the broccoli and cheddar ravioli, the grilled octopus, or the lamb with sheep’s milk ricotta. For something more refined, choose foie gras, lobster, or black truffle tagliolini. Vegetarians will love the cucumber and pea salad, while carnivores swoon over the steak tartare with crispy potatoes.
Also, save room for dessert, as The Modern serves delicious ice cream flavors like toasted sesame and goat’s milk with rhubarb.
Type of cuisine: French/American
Average price per person: $250
Hours: Monday to Sunday, from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Area: Midtown, Manhattan
Menu
5. MOMOFUKU KO, A VERY EXCLUSIVE PLACE AND ONE OF THE BEST RESTAURANTS IN NEW YORK
Momofuku Ko prepares Asian food with an experimental New York twist. The original menu is inspired by the kaiseki tradition of Japan, combined with innovative recipes and seasonal ingredients. With 2 Michelin stars and one of the most exclusive menus in the city, Momofuku Ko is among the best restaurants in New York in Midtown.
You can sit in the main dining room, where you can sample the 11-course tasting menu, or at the bar, where you can order à la carte dishes. If you sit at the bar, you have the added experience of chatting with the chef who prepares your meal.
Either way, Momofuku Ko is a fantastic place for dinner in New York, although if you follow a strictly vegetarian or vegan diet, you’ll want to skip this option. Dishes include fan favorites like burgers and fried chicken and seafood specialties like mussels, fried calamari, and hake. The restaurant also appeals to those who like the finer things in life, such as soft-boiled eggs with caviar or black truffle ravioli.
Finally, dessert is an intriguing exploration of Eastern and Western flavors, with options like pecan pie or lychee and pine nut foie gras so you won’t miss out.
Cuisine: Asian/American
Average price per person: $300
Hours: Tuesday to Saturday, from 4 pm to 9.30 pm.
Area: Bowery, Manhattan
Menu
6. JUNGSIK, ONE OF THE BEST RESTAURANTS IN NEW YORK FOR KOREAN FOOD
Jungsik is among the best Korean restaurants in New York, thanks to its creative menu that goes far beyond classic kimchi. So forget the cafes in Koreatown; you’ll want to head to TriBeCa for Jungsik’s bold flavors and contemporary Korean cuisine, which earned the restaurant 2 Michelin stars.
Even with its modern and stylish decor, Jungsik has a laid-back vibe. Your waiter and chef will serve you well and can even adapt vegetarian orders.
Start by perusing the extensive wine list, then delve into various entrees like banchan foie gras or Korean rice cakes. The signature tasting menu includes 11 dishes: black cod, octopus, scallops, tuna kimbap, and sea urchin bibimbap. Some delicious vegetarian dishes include avocado tartare, mushroom, and leek meatballs in songee broth.
Your culinary experience ends with chocolates, macarons, and canelés, which accompany your bill.
Cuisine: Korean
Average price per person: $265
Hours: Tuesday to Sunday, from 5 pm to 9 pm.
Area: TriBeCa
Menu
7. LE BERNARDIN, ONE OF THE BEST RESTAURANTS WHERE TO EAT IN NEW YORK
Le Bernardin has the most James Beard awards for New York’s best fine dining restaurants, and with three Michelin stars, it’s an establishment you can’t miss.
Its history began in 1986 when Maguy and Gilbert Le Coze arrived in New York City from Paris and opened a restaurant similar to the ones they had in France. Within three months, Le Bernardin won critical acclaim and grew from there.
You can enjoy their tasting menu both in the dining room and in the restaurant’s lounge (there is also a vegetarian option). I recommend the yellowfin tuna and foie gras on toasted baguettes, accompanied by osetra caviar, sautéed prawns, and mushroom salad. If you love seafood as I do, try the marinated flounder ceviche with Thai basil and lime-infused olive oil or the scallops with black truffle and apple-horseradish vinaigrette.
Remember the wine list with 15,000 bottles and vintages dating back to 1875 or the delicious desserts, such as fig ice cream with goat cheese mousse and pine nut ganache.
Everything on the menu is delicious, but it is expensive. The tasting menu is $300 per person, and if you opt for the wine pairing, go up to $450 per person. Still, Le Bernardin is one of the best restaurants in New York for an anniversary or a particular date, so treat your partner to these French culinary masterpieces.
Type of cuisine: French
Average price per person: $375
Hours: Monday to Friday, from 12:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and from 5:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.; Saturdays, from 5 pm to 10 pm.
Area: Hell’s Kitchen, Manhattan
Menu
8. MAREA, ONE OF THE BEST ITALIAN RESTAURANTS IN NEW YORK
You can also eat at Marea on Columbus Circle if you need another reason to visit Central Park. This rustic yet elegant trattoria is among the best Italian restaurants in New York, bringing the flavors of coastal Italy to the urban streets of this cosmopolitan city.
This Michelin-star restaurant will captivate your senses with delicious aromas and flavors and a dazzling presentation. Here, you can enjoy a feast of caviar, oysters, Pacific yellowfin tuna, lemon-cured flounder, striped bass, and cuttlefish. You’ll want to take your friends out for seasonal antipasti, homemade pasta, and risotto. They’ll love trying the grilled ribeye, and roast duck breast washed down with great wine, beer, or cocktail.
It’s not just the entrees that have earned Marea a James Beard award; the restaurant has a great dessert menu that you will want to try. You can enjoy pavlova, tiramisu, panna cotta, gelati, and sorbet with dessert wines and delicious cheeses served with honeycomb. One bite, and you’ll see why this is one of the best New York restaurants in Central Park and maybe the entire city.
Type of cuisine: Italian
Average price per person: $135
Hours: Sunday to Thursday, from 12 pm to 2.45 pm and from 5 pm to 9.30 pm; Friday and Saturday, from 12 pm to 2.45 pm and from 5 pm to 10.45 pm.
Area: Midtown, Manhattan
Menu
9. DHAMAKA, ONE OF THE BEST RESTAURANTS IN MANHATTAN
With its colorful décor and vibrant flavors, Dhamaka will quickly become one of your favorite New York restaurants on the Essex Market, Lower East Side. Chef Chintan Pandya and restaurateur Roni Mazumdar have set out to bring lesser-known Indian flavors to the Big Apple.
Dhamaka’s menu allows you to try different flavors and recipes from all over the Indian subcontinent, from Bengali and Gujarati cuisine to Meghalayan cuisine. Undoubtedly, it is one of the best places to eat in New York.
Start with the papdi chaat with tamarind and yogurt, then dive into the delicious murgh kofta with minced chicken and poppy seeds. Meat lovers will appreciate the tiger prawns, goat belly, and rack of lamb, while everyone will love the paneer methi with cashew, cumin, and fenugreek cream.
They also have classics like biryani, chapati, and raita. However, I’d recommend saving room for Dhamaka’s only dessert option, chena poda, a baked cheese topped with caramelized sugar that you will want more of.
Type of cuisine: Indian
Average price per person: $100
Hours: Tuesday to Sunday, from 5 pm to 9 pm.
Area: Lower East Side, Manhattan
Menu
10. PETER LUGER, ONE OF THE CHEAPEST RESTAURANTS IN NEW YORK WITH A MICHELIN STAR
Finally, this list of the best restaurants in New York would not be complete without a steakhouse, and Peter Luger is one of the best in the city.
This upscale restaurant started as Carl Luger’s Café, Billiards, and Bowling Alley and opened before the Williamsburg Bridge was there. Once this bridge was built, it brought more traffic to the site, and over the years, the name changed to Peter Luger, gaining a solid reputation and receiving a Michelin star.
Peter Luger stands out as a steakhouse because the management carefully inspects all the products they purchase, following USDA guidelines and practices. They only buy USDA Prime meats, the country’s highest-quality beef.
Once the cuts are received, Peter Luger’s chefs keep the restaurant’s meat temperature and humidity controlled. Then, the meats are dry-aged for a secret time, resulting in delicious burgers and steaks.
When you order your steak, ribeye, tenderloin, or sirloin steak, the chef will ensure it’s cooked exactly the way you like it and the meat arrives at your table still sizzling from the grill. Pair your steak with German fries or creamed spinach or get more original and try the Jumbo Shrimp Cocktail or thick slices of bacon.
Peter Luger has a more relaxed atmosphere than other steakhouses in the city, making it one of the best restaurants in New York for a date or Friday night with friends. In addition, they will bring you the check with a couple of chocolate coins, the last flourish Peter Luger is known for.
Type of cuisine: Grill
Average price per person: 90$
Hours: Monday to Thursday, from 11.45 am to 9.45 pm; Friday and Saturday, from 11.45 am to 10.45 pm; Sunday, from 12.45 pm to 9.45 pm.
Area: Williamsburg
Menu
11. The View Rooftop Restaurant
The View restaurant is one of the unique places in New York, which is why it has earned an entire space on this list. This restaurant with classic and elegant decoration is located on the 48th floor with impressive city views. In addition, this place is unique because it is located on a rotating platform, ensuring you will have a panoramic 360o view of New York during dinner. This is an option if you are looking for a restaurant for a special occasion.
12. Gallow Green in The McKittrick Hotel
This romantic bar is located on the roof of the McKittrick Hotel and allows you to enjoy a drink in an idyllic garden with views of downtown Manhattan. If the weather is not excessively cold and the day is clear, the sunsets from this terrace are simply unforgettable. You will find simple but delicious dishes such as salads, fish, and pizzas on the Gallow Green menu.
Address: 542 W 27th Street
13. Mr. Purple
In the famous Indigo Hotel on the Lower East Side, we find the Mr. Purple bar-restaurant. On the 15th floor of this Chelsea building, it is possible to enjoy typical American comfort, such as Mac & Cheese, sitting at shared tables with views of the New York Skyline. In summer, it also has a swimming pool on one of its two terraces, an ideal place to escape for a few hours from the hustle and bustle of the city and relax. This a simple but exciting option for those looking for a dinner with luxurious views but in a light and pleasant atmosphere—all the info is on Mr.Purple’s site.
Address: 180 Orchard Street
