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New York politicians get hungry too, and they have go-to restaurants they'll hit up when they need just the right meal to fuel up while running the city. If you want to eat where your elected officials eat, the NYC Hospitality Alliance’s newly-launched 2026 District Dining Guide has the deets.
Featuring personal recommendations from 44 elected officials—including 38 City Council members, four Borough Presidents, Comptroller Mark Levine and even Mayor Zohran Mamdani—the guide offers a delicious tour of the neighborhood joints powering the five boroughs.
First up is Mayor Zohran Mamdani, who named Omar Khayyam in Brighton Beach as his go-to spot. Known for its hearty Uzbek comfort food like fragrant plov and golden baked samsa, the Mayor encourages diners to step out of their comfort zones and order whatever catches their eye.
Over on the Upper East Side, City Council Speaker Julie Menin reveals that she frequents Budapest Café, a nostalgic slice of "Little Hungary" where she gets her favorite childhood comfort food: sweet crêpes packed with raspberry jam.
Meanwhile, Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso recommends Williamsburg’s HAAM Caribbean Plant Cuisine, where chef-owner Yesenia Ramdass puts a fresh, plant-based spin on classic Dominican and Trinidadian flavors.
In the Bronx, BP Vanessa Gibson highlights Drips Restaurant and Lounge, where classic Caribbean dishes meet an elevated lounge atmosphere. Manhattan BP Brad Hoylman-Sigal turns to Greenwich Village’s iconic Knickerbocker Bar & Grill for classic burgers and fries. Over in Staten Island, Council Member Kamillah Hanks loves the Roasted Cauliflower Cacio e Pepe at Seppe Pizza Bar, while Council Member Frank Morano frequents The Annadale Terrace for grilled calamari Mediterranean salad. Queens Council Member Shanel Thomas-Henry celebrates neighborhood immigrant roots at Evelia’s Tamales in Corona. You can search the guide by district to find out where your leaders go.
Beyond the good eats, the guide highlights the massive engine behind our local culinary scene. NYC’s restaurants and bars employed nearly 280,000 workers in 2024 and generated $28 billion in economic activity. So if you're looking for some real local recs, this guide will show you where the people running the city go, and will inspire you to support local small businesses. Find it at thenycalliance.org/districtdiningguide2026.