New York
Best restaurants in New York: the classics, the stars and where to stay
At the door of Katz's you are handed a paper ticket you must not lose, and inside the queue snakes to the pastrami counter. New York has some of the world's finest restaurants, but the meals people remember have often been served for over a century.
In New York you can lunch somewhere that opened in the 1880s and dine at a three-Michelin-star restaurant, then walk between the two. The city has around 70 Michelin-starred restaurants. Yet most visitors go home talking about a deli, a steakhouse or an oyster bar that has been there for generations.
So we have split the list in two: the classics worth trying on any budget, and the starred kitchens you need to book well ahead. Each part comes with a hotel a short walk from the table.
If you book through the links in this article, Picolo earns a commission based on a percentage of the price. The views in this article are nonetheless entirely our own.
In short
The best restaurants in New York for a first visit are the classics. Have pastrami at Katz's, bagels and smoked salmon at Russ & Daughters, oysters at Grand Central and steak at Keens. For one big dinner, Le Bernardin is our pick. Book the famous tables several weeks ahead.
Our first choice: The Bryant Park Hotel, a short walk from Grand Central and the Midtown dining rooms.
Book your stay: See rooms at The Bryant Park Hotel (Paid link)
The classics: a century at the same table
Katz's Delicatessen
Katz's on East Houston Street is New York's best-known deli. You get a ticket at the door and hand it back on the way out, so keep hold of it. Order pastrami on rye at the counter and watch it carved by hand. There is always a queue, but it moves.
Russ & Daughters
Joel Russ started out selling herring from a cart on the Lower East Side in 1914, and his daughters gave the shop its name. Grab a bagel with smoked salmon and cream cheese at the Houston Street shop, or sit down at the café on Orchard Street.
Grand Central Oyster Bar
The oyster bar beneath Grand Central opened in 1913 under vaults lined with pale tiles. Take a seat at the counter and order oysters from both coasts. The whispering gallery is just outside the door.
Keens Steakhouse
Keens has served steak in Midtown since 1885, and its ceiling is hung with thousands of old clay pipes once used by regulars. The mutton chop is the house signature. In 1905 the actress Lillie Langtry took Keens to court for the right to dine in what was then a men-only room.
Peter Luger
Peter Luger in Williamsburg has been grilling steak since 1887 and is still family run. The porterhouse for two is the reason to cross the river. It has long been known as cash-only, so check how to pay before you go.
Lombardi's
Lombardi's on Spring Street is often called New York's first pizzeria and has fired its coal oven since 1905. The crust is thin and charred at the edges, the way New York pizza tasted before the world copied it.
citizenM New York Bowery
After pastrami at Katz's and a bagel at Russ & Daughters, the Bowery rooftop is a short stroll away.
Where to stay near the classics: citizenM New York Bowery
The hotel is on the Bowery, a few minutes from both Katz's and Russ & Daughters. Breakfast on Houston Street and dinner on the Lower East Side need no subway at all. It suits travellers who come for the food and do not need a big room.
Book your stay: See rooms at citizenM New York Bowery (Paid link)
The starred kitchens: book well ahead
Le Bernardin
Le Bernardin opened in New York in 1986 and has held three Michelin stars for many years. Chef Eric Ripert cooks fish and shellfish with French technique in a hushed room on West 51st Street. Lunch is the gentlest way into the kitchen.
Per Se
Thomas Keller's restaurant sits on the fourth floor above Columbus Circle, with Central Park filling the windows. Three stars, a tasting menu and an evening that lasts several hours.
Eleven Madison Park
Eleven Madison Park occupies an art deco room on Madison Square Park and holds three Michelin stars. The kitchen has moved to a plant-based menu, so check it before you book if you expect meat.
Jungsik and Daniel
In 2024 Jungsik became the first Korean restaurant in the US to earn three Michelin stars. Daniel Boulud's Daniel has been an Upper East Side institution since 1993.
Thompson Central Park New York
From West 56th Street, Per Se at Columbus Circle is a few minutes' walk.
Where to stay near the stars: Thompson Central Park New York
Thompson is on West 56th Street, between Columbus Circle and Midtown. Per Se and Le Bernardin are a short stroll away, so no taxi after a long tasting menu. It suits couples planning a trip around one big dinner.
Book your stay: See rooms at Thompson Central Park New York (Paid link)
Brooklyn: steak and a weekend market
Peter Luger is why many people make the trip to Williamsburg, but the streets around it also have bakeries, coffee bars and, in season, the Smorgasburg food market. A full Brooklyn day is in our 20 things to do in New York.
Stay in Williamsburg and you can walk to Peter Luger, then take a short subway ride to Manhattan in the morning. The Hoxton is a few blocks from the East River and suits anyone who wants to eat where the locals do.
Book your stay: See rooms at The Hoxton, Williamsburg (Paid link)
How to book a table
Starred restaurants: Tables are released on booking apps or the restaurant's own site, often a month ahead. Set a reminder.
The classics: Katz's, Russ & Daughters and Lombardi's do not take bookings for ordinary tables. Go outside lunch and dinner hours.
Tips and tax: Add 18 to 20 per cent to the pre-tax bill. More on money and tipping is in First time in New York.
Best restaurants in New York: frequently asked questions
What is the best restaurant in New York?
For a big night, we think the best restaurant in New York is Le Bernardin, with three Michelin stars and French-style seafood. For a true taste of the city at a lower price, Katz's Delicatessen and Grand Central Oyster Bar are hard to beat.
How many Michelin-starred restaurants does New York have?
New York has around 70 Michelin-starred restaurants. Five hold three stars, among them Le Bernardin, Per Se, Eleven Madison Park and Jungsik. Tables at the starred restaurants should be booked weeks in advance.
Do you need to book restaurants in New York?
At New York's most popular restaurants you need a booking, often several weeks ahead. Delis and pizzerias such as Katz's and Lombardi's do not take bookings for ordinary tables, so expect to queue. Go early or late for the shortest wait.
Where can you eat cheaply in New York?
The cheapest good meals in New York come from delis, pizzerias and food halls. Pastrami at Katz's or a bagel from Russ & Daughters fills you up for a fraction of a tasting menu. Food halls such as Chelsea Market put plenty of choice under one roof.