This art gallery-slash-restaurant is peak Soho: a space where serious art meets the artists who love to eat. Bronze spiders by Louise Bourgeois crawl the walls, an enchanting site-specific chandelier by Mika Rottenberg glitters overhead and a long communal table is literally a sculpture. The space was imagined by the art dealers behind the Hauser & Wirth galleries (feel free to stop by before or after dinner, as it’s just around the corner), while the menu is helmed by Sean Froedtert, who brings a seasonal American sensibility that fits right in with Soho’s existing dining scene.
The vibe: Manuela feels like the dinner party your nepo baby friend would throw: simple, satisfying food with stunning art that you’re a little afraid to be so close to. The crowd leans towards the art world, so dress to impress. You’ll be rubbing shoulders with collectors, editors, artists and every who’s-who in the downtown NYC art scene.
The food: Simple, modern and seasonal, with a menu that doesn’t offer many ways to go wrong. The half chicken, from the local Snowdance Farm upstate, is excellent, as are the truly satisfying biscuits with salty country ham and sweet, savory Steen’s butter.
The drink: If you’d guess there was an “Art Basil” cocktail on the menu, well, you’d be right. Don’t be afraid to order it—it’s punchy, herbaceous and as fun to drink as the rest of the pun-light menu.
Time Out tip: In a temple of high art, it’s important to stay grounded. During happy hour, which runs from 3-6pm, you can get a $10 beer-and-shot combo that’s just as satisfying as any bar in the city. Only here, you can get drunk in front of Cindy Sherman.