The 10 best restaurants near Bryant Park

Just a few blocks south of the park, Cafe China’s relatively new (since 2021) location a few doors down from its previous, decade-old, Michelin-starred address, is a formidable contender for lunch or dinner in the area—or when traveling in from anywhere. Add its attractive environs, room for groups and great drinks to its lengthy menu of hits like spicy soft shell crab and cumin lamb, and it all adds up to a real midtown winner. 

Keens is one of NYC’s oldest and most famous steakhouses, known by carnivores worldwide for its dry-aged steaks, mighty chops, “legendary” mutton chop and throwback decor. Tobacco pipes are among Keens’ most notable nostalgic design elements, including those purportedly puffed by Babe Ruth and Teddy Roosevelt. 

Venture five blocks south of the park to find Sushi 35 West–if you can! The fantastic sushi spot is through a smoke shop entrance and up a staircase. There are only two tables inside, so hope to get lucky, or prepare to take excellently sourced à la carte items like sea urchin, Spanish mackerel,  striped jack, lunch sets and a $115, 35-piece omakase, S35W's highest-priced item, to go. 

This rooftop spot opened two blocks south of the park at the end of summer, 2021. It has a 180 seats inside, a sweeping terrace with postcard skyline views, a dedicated martini menu and complimentary chicken salt seaweed popcorn. The particularly picturesque destination’s menu includes raw bar bites, steak katsu sandos and lobster rolls. 

To borrow from oft-exaggerated real estate parlance, L’Adresse is but steps from the park’s south west corner. It’s an easy choice due to its proximity, but also for its large interior and crowd-pleasing, seasonal menus at breakfast, brunch, lunch and dinner. It also has “social hour” from 3-6pm, when select wines and nine cocktails, including some classics and a cold brew martini, are $10. 

A few blocks north, Valerie is awash in honeyed hues and golden light across its ground floor dining room, long bar and stylish lounge up a grand staircase. Its a multi-duty choose-your-own adventure, equally suited to sit-down lunch, après-work cocktails, something for everyone dinner and, recently, brunch, for when you just can’t get enough of midtown. 

Take a scenic stroll past Times Square and into Jasmine’s Caribbean Cuisine. Its warm, vibrant interior, eponymous cuisine and mojitos, margaritas and rum punch are the finest way to warm up after a few turns around the ice rink, or even just the fifteen minute stroll from the park. 

For light speakeasy themes, a lot of space and seasonal menus that aim to spotlight local makers, head to the Andaz Hotel’s lower level. The restaurant and bar, down a staircase and through the requisite unmarked door, has also been known to offer hot cocktails into the fall and winter. 

First opened in 1913 with some ups and downs along the way, Grand Central Oyster Bar is back in action on 42nd Street. Sidle up and reel in dozens of oyster varieties, even more wines by the glass and mains from land and sea. 

Is going to Bryant Park’s titular restaurant like wearing a band T-shirt to that band’s concert? I don’t know, maybe! Why would that even be a problem? I don’t know, I think it was a set-up for a joke in an old movie? Is Bryant Park Grill literally in the park? Yes, and it’s pretty roomy with a long enough menu for your visiting family to all find something to order. Would it be easier to go here than ferry like a dozen in-laws even a few blocks away? Again, yes. And don’t worry: There’s booze.