[title]
New York has never been short on places that look good on camera but, this year, the city is officially cleaning up in the design Olympics.
Robb Report just dropped a new national ranking of the most beautiful new restaurants in America and seven New York City spots made the cut, proving, once again, that dinner is rarely just about what’s on the plate. From moody supper clubs to sun-splashed atriums, these are the restaurants turning meals into full-on visual experiences.
Leading the aesthetic charge is Cafe Zaffri, a downtown stunner tucked inside a historic building once tied to Margaret Louisa Vanderbilt’s home for ambitious women. Today, it features soaring atrium light, layered textures and design details that are both old-world and theatrical, like you accidentally wandered into the best scene of a period drama.
In Tribeca, Huso takes the opposite approach, dialing things way down with a serene palette of oak, cream and gray that feels more like a spa retreat. Curved corners, deep blue banquettes and carefully placed art, including pieces by Keith Haring, make it one of those spaces that instantly lowers your blood pressure as you walk in.
Brooklyn gets its own glow-up with ABC Kitchens, Chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten’s first foray into the borough. The room has airy modern vibes with one serious local flex: two walls are built from leftover stone from the Brooklyn Bridge.
Meanwhile, in midtown Manhattan, Musaafer NYC goes big with lotus-flower chandeliers, mother-of-pearl inlays, hand-painted panels and a dining room inspired by India’s iconic palaces.
Then there’s Obvio, a sultry new supper club, where giraffe-patterned silk walls and Blade Runner-level lighting turn cocktails into a cinematic experience. Nearby, Mexican stunner Limusina brings maximalist energy with gold, peach and red hues juxtaposed against massive slabs of marble.
Rounding out the list is Yamada, a tiny, Michelin-starred spot that proves beauty doesn’t need square footage. Its Japandi design, which blends Japanese minimalism with Scandinavian warmth, centers on a chef’s counter carved from a single slab of hinoki cypress.
It’s a strong showing for the city and a sign that design is still very much part of how New York defines a good restaurant experience.