Morgan Carter

I often get the question: What's your new favorite restaurant on the scene? And oftentimes, that question alone is enough to make my head spin. Not for lack of trying, but attempting to stay up-to-date with the rotating door of restaurants debuting month after month can be quite an endeavor. So, we've decided to collect some of the latest and greatest on this list of the best new restaurants in New York, for my peace of mind, and so that you, the reader, can get out there and try it yourself. And who knows, maybe a few of these might make it to our best restaurants list by the end of the year. October 2026: A new restaurant opens in New York every minute. Honestly, by the time you are done reading this list, another has probably made its debut. As we near the end of the year, we are fondly looking back at some of our favorites, including an excellent Northern Mexican-style restaurant in Dumbo, a Dominican-style barbecue that found a home in Bushwick, and a quaint Korean bistro making waves in the West Village. In just a few weeks, we will drop our official list of the best of 2026. So watch this space, and get to eating already! 

If you’re a New Yorker, your favorite ramen spot might be the one closest to your apartment. You simply can’t go wrong with a rich bowl of broth, a pile of noodles and smoky chashu that melts in your mouth. Still, we’ve slurped our way through NYC to find the best-of-the-best ramen in the city’s Japanese restaurants, from out-of-the-way neighborhood spots serving up big chunks of birria beef in takeout containers to classic 12-seaters where you’ll have to wait outside for a table. Whether you’re into nearly tonkotsu broth or thick miso that rearranges itself beneath your spoon, you’re sure to find the perfect bowl for you.  We’ve evaluated every bowl of ramen on five baseline components: broth, noodles, chashu (or the closest thing to it, as we’ve included plenty of options for vegans and vegetarians), egg and veg. With so many different ramen styles, this lets us put the bowls head-to-head. So pair your next sushi dinner with a deep bowl of noodles or find a new spot for cheap eats: these are the best ramen restaurants in NYC. RECOMMENDED: The best restaurants in NYC Updated September 2026: As the nights get chillier and winter starts to close in, this is the time to find your new favorite ramen shop. New spots and old favorites have found their way onto the list, so you can rank the newcomers against the old standbys. Whether you stay in and order delivery or brave the cold while you wait in line for a steaming bowl, these are the must-visit ramen spots in NYC right now.

Find your new favorite spot for a morning iced coffee or an afternoon matcha at these coffee shops, cafes and bakeries. They don’t just serve classic lattes and cappuccinos (although they do make some of the best in the city), they also serve incredible cocktails, breakfast sandwiches that rival the best bodega BEC, and coffee drinks made with inventive ingredients like sweet durian and boba. Carve a few minutes out on your morning commute or make a special trip to try the latest colorful drink that’s blowing up on the ‘gram—these are the best coffee shops in NYC right now. RECOMMENDED: The best restaurants in NYC to book right now October 2026: Much like all of the restaurants and drinks that we find in the city, coffee also serves as a playing ground for the most creative. Of course, a good strong cup of the strong stuff will never fall out of style. But a latte that stirs in plantain syrup? Matchas that wink with Earl Grey? Clearly, these aren't your average cups. In this update, we added Flatbush's Antilles Cafe and the concept store/coffee shop in Bed-Stuy, Apartment Ra'el. We removed Casasalvo as it closed, and we also removed Che, Ninth Street Espresso and Winner. 

Choosing a favorite restaurant in New York City is a joyful task with myriad possibilities depending on the occasion, mood and even the time of year. Your favorite dive, fine dining destination and neighborhood favorite might all occupy top spots on your personal best list in spite of their disparate qualities.  Our list of NYC’s 45 best restaurants is the same, spanning each of those categories and more to comprise a catalog of all the places we wish we were at right now. They don’t have to be the newest or the most recently reviewed, just places that we’ve been to and want to return to again and again, and that we think that you will, too.  Best NYC restaurants at a glance: For an excellent slice: L'Industrie - The New York slice shop that made us fall in love with Burrata slices, now has a new locale in Little Italy (Little Italy, West Village and Williamsburg) For a spin on a classic diner: Thai Diner – Even six years later, crowds line up for Thai tea babka, French toast, and disco fries from this Thai diner. (NoMad) For killer tacos: Carnitas Ramirez – The taqueria is home to nose-to-tail pork cookery, just in taco form, and it all goes down in a laid-back setting (Lower East Side) For a classic steak: The Dynamo Room - The throwback steakhouse offers prime cuts of steaks and classic cocktails right off of Madison Square Garden (Penn Station) Updated October 2026: Fall is officially here, baby! For those who like to get a little spooky, even while eating and dri

Every drink seems ideal when you're at the perfect bar. Your dive’s beer is frosty, rooftops send you soaring toward the clouds and cocktail destinations shake and stir myriad ingredients into ideally calibrated glassware—leaps above what you try to craft at home. The options are unending, the ice is nicer and you aren’t just drinking, you’re at the spot.  Whether you're dabbling in low-ABV libations, making your way through dedicated martini menus or collecting passwords for pseudo speakeasies, there is an ideal location for every taste, tolerance and occasion. Find them among the best bars in NYC right now. Best NYC bars at a glance: For a taste of old New York - The Dead Rabbit - One of New York's best cocktail bars continues to serve up the smoothest pours of Guinness and one of the best Irish Coffees, period. (Financial District) For a boozin' and a bite: Bar Snack - Excellently fun cocktails with snacks like pickled, dusted cheese curds and spice bags (Chelsea) For a late-night croon and swoon: Saint Tuesday - A well-hidden bar found several flights underneath the Walker Hotel Tribeca (Tribeca) For Korean snacks, sips n' such: Sunn's – Sunny Lee's banchan-based bar is a welcome find in Chinatown for natty wines and close quarters. (Chinatown) For tiki anytime of year: Sunken Harbor Club - The speakeasy above Gage & Tollner didn't stay secret for long. And how could it? Their range of tiki cocktails makes for some seriously boozy nights. (Downtown Brooklyn) Updated

The best brunch in NYC can be found every day of the week. Saturday brunch is the best time to gear up for the night ahead, Sundays are perfect for relaxing and a weekday brunch is a rarefied treat designated for ad hoc time off—we would know. We make brunch our business. It doesn’t matter so much when you do it, but where you do it. And whether you skew more toward the breakfast or lunch ends of the portmanteau’s spectrum, toward coffee or mimosas, these are the best brunch destinations in NYC.  Updated October 2026: Fall may be here, but brunch season isn't over. We updated our entry for Sunday in Brooklyn after an awesome mid-morning day over crispy chicken sandwiches and those pancakes. We also added Union Square newcomer Seahorse to the list for its jazzy brunch. We removed Agi's Counter as it has closed.  For more on our editorial policies and ethics, feel free to check out How we review at Time Out.  Stay in the Loop: Sign up for our free weekly newsletter to get the latest in New York City news, culture and dining. 

Diners have a special place in New Yorkers’ hearts. Many of them have stood in their spots for years as regulars come and go with their cups of coffee and bags of donuts; others are brand-new, opened with the idea of reinventing diner food or recreating the vintage vibes of the diner’s heyday. Whether you’re looking for an updated take on the genre to cheap eats at a classic greasy spoon, NYC diners do it all. Check out some of the city’s most iconic burgers and sandwiches, taste an egg cream or ice box cake that’ll knock your socks off and join the long tradition of New Yorkers who have created community in the timeless draw of a diner. RECOMMENDED: Full guide to the best restaurants in NYC December 2025: New York is truly home to all manner of tried-and-true classics and fresh takes on the humble diner. For our update, we tried to strike a balance between both, adding in updated information for the West Village's beloved La Bonbonniere and Mike's Diner located in Clinton Hill. We also added Thai Diner and Kellogg's Diner to the list. We removed Cozy Soup 'n' Burger, Gena's Grill, Tom's and Waverly Restaurant. 

Didn't you hear the good news? FiDi is cool now. Yes, we wholeheartedly agree that New York's Financial District deserves much more credit as the place to be, despite the sheer number of men in puffy vests who roam the streets. History was made here—even the Schuyler Sisters knew that—as FiDi houses the New York Stock Exchange and Wall Street, peppered with hidden-in-plain-sight markers that date back to the 1600s. But the area doesn't solely rely on the laurels of the past to be relevant, as revitalization has come in the form of shopping centers and imported department stores and balloon museums that display the puffed-up works of world-renowned artists.   The food found around the district toes a similar line of what's old and new, as America's first fine dining restaurant, period, still operates. Some of the best contemporary fine dining revues in the world live here, too. But even click-clacking down uneven cobblestone streets yields excellent finds, be it bagels, modern Irish fare or taverns where George Washington quite literally picked up a drink himself.

A seafood tower is a culinary expression of celebration. It is the ingestible equivalent of flinging confetti into the air, but instead of bits of glitter, shredded paper or varied plastics, oysters, clams, shrimp and lobster land elegantly arranged on darling tiered trays. It promises abundance and signals joy. You’ll seldom be offered a seafood tower while waiting for the subway or at the reading of a will, but you can find them at a smattering of waterside restaurants, nautically inclined bars and even landlocked spots that simply embrace and promote splendor.   They’re also a delight to behold, a soothing glimpse of form and function at their most agreeable. Even just an image is an aesthetic break from the chaos of the day, a window to a daydream. You are sipping Sancerre at a sidewalk cafe. You’ve acquired comfortable wealth. We are on a boat right now. Of course they’d be even better to eat, and these are the top tier of seafood towers (and trays) for a peek and a treat in NYC.  September 2026: The seafood tower has gotten a makeover as of late (or a makeunder, depending on how you look at it). The most obvious change is that tiered towers that once climbed to the sky have now been grounded into single trays and platters. It is a little less glamorous and head-turning, but it serves its purpose all the same: a chance to eat quality seafood without blowing all your fun money in one go. New York's got plenty of towers and/or platters to fit all those who seek the sea, i

Why should you stay in The Loop? Well, the list of reasons is long, but to start with, because it’s close to nearly every CTA “L” line, the best museums in the city and the Willis Tower, and the river provides easy access to great boat tours, and gorgeous inner-city green spaces like Millennium Park and Grant Park. Oh, and the neighborhood is completely packed with brilliant hotels, promising everything from rooftop, Olympic-sized swimming pools to world-famous brownies. Scroll on for our handpicked selection of the very best places to stay in downtown Chicago.  The Loop’s best hotels at a glance: 🌳 Best for park views: Chicago Athletic Association 🌆 Best for iconic skyline views: LondonHouse Chicago 💎 Best for show-stopping luxury: JW Marriott 👛 Best for a central budget option: Staypineapple Chicago ➡️ Discover our ultimate guide to the best hotels in Chicago How we curate our hotel lists Our team of writers and travel experts review hotels all over the world—new openings, old classics and everything in between—to bring you fresh, honest recommendations, all year round. We have reviewed many of the hotels featured below, but we may not have stayed at every single one. Any we haven’t stayed in have been selected by experts based on their amenities, features, pricing and more. By the way, this article includes affiliate links. These links have no influence on our editorial content. For more information, see our affiliate guidelines. 🛏 Check out the best Airbnbs in Chi

The best way to enjoy a sacred day off work is to take advantage of all the best Labor Day specials New York has to offer. It might be one of those hazy-origin holidays associated with backyard barbecues and clothing sales, but it’s also one of your last chances to hit up a rooftop brunch NYC-style, scope out some of the best new restaurants in NYC, or just mosey over Monday-funday drinks at the coolest Lower East Side bars. Then again, you could just lounge in pajamas all day, but then you’d be missing out on all these crazy-good Labor Day specials. RECOMMENDED: Full guide to Labor Day NYC

Whether you’re a seasoned New Yorker or visiting the city for the first time, you’ve probably heard a thing or two about NYC’s best brunches and rooftop bars. It’s no surprise then that when these two famed Gotham favorites join forces, a delightful and delicious experience is guaranteed. From hotel terraces to beer-bar decks, these are the sky-high settings New York City brunch dreams are made of. RECOMMENDED: Full guide to the best brunch in NYC Updated September 2026: Rooftop season is still a go. We toured some of the best (all-weather) rooftops in NYC and gave this list a refresh. We added Red Hook's Alma, Electric Lemon in Hudson Yards and two rooftops from Williamsburg: elNico and Laser Wolf. We removed 230 Fifth, Catch NYC, Glass Ceiling and Hotel Chantelle. We also removed Sunday in Brooklyn, as their rooftop is now only open for private events. 

Four years of salsa deserve a proper celebration.   One of NYC's best free salsa nights, Salsa Thursdays, is celebrating four years of rhythm, fun and unforgettable nights with two (count em', two!) parties. The magic behind the sauce, DJ Ray Suave, Marlene Veras and Jessica La Timbelera, will kick off the party where it all began: Brooklyn's Time Out Market on October 15. The high-energy night will include salsa-themed specialty cocktails crafted by our master bartenders, featuring premium spirits from our official partner, Don Julio 1942.  Can't make it on the 15th? Don't worry, the trio will be bringing the party across the bridge to Manhattan's Time Out New York the following day, on October 16. The Manhattan party will start with a free salsa lesson for beginners, alongside craft drinks from the bar and signature dishes from each of our seven Market vendors. Whether you're a seasoned bailador or just coming for the vibes, take in the stunning scenic views of the skyline while moving to high-energy live salsa beats all night long. The Salsa Thursday anniversary party will be held at Brooklyn's Time Out Market on Thursday, October 15 and at the Manhattan Time Out Market location on Friday, October 16. Both parties will run from 7-11pm, and both are free to attend. Reserve your spot for the Brooklyn party here; reserve your spot for the Manhattan party here.

Get ready for the ultimate Halloween rooftop party at Time Out Market!  This Halloween night, Brooklyn's Time Out Market New York partners with RichGodd for Halloween Horror From Above. Entertainment industry insider and media personality Ken Starr (Hot 97, Revolt TV and Seeing Starz) will be holding down hosting duties alongside a special lineup of friends guaranteed to bring that authentic NYC energy. DJ Fatfingaz will set the vibe with hip-hop and club classics, followed by DJ Superstar Boogie to keep the good times going until late. The Time Out Market bar team will be shaking up exclusive Halloween cocktail specials powered by Bacardi and Grey Goose vodka. Don't forget to dress to impress, as the top costume of the night walks away with a $100 gift card. Time Out's Halloween Horror From Above will be held on Halloween night, October 31st, from 9pm to 2am. Tickets are free; head here to reserve your spot.    

Pumpkin carving just got even more fun. Join us at Brooklyn's Time Out Market New York for The Great Pumpkin Pour. Leading up to Halloween, our Market will host a unique hands-on fall event, pairing pumpkin carving with an open bar. Get crafty at the pumpkin carving station, complete with your own carving kit and stencils, so you can create at will. And as you make your masterpiece, you can indulge in an open bar—think seasonal cocktails, beer and wine—alongside over 22 dining selections from Mexican street eats to Portuguese sandwiches from our award-winning vendors. Bring your friends, enjoy a drink, and get to crafting! One ticket includes a pumpkin, a carving kit and access to the open bar from 7pm to 8:30pm. The Great Pumpkin Pour will be held at the Brooklyn location of Time Out Market from October 27 to October 30. Tickets are $75; reserve yours here. 

Enjoy cool, crisp beers on a breezy fall day on the Brooklyn waterfront! Time Out Market's 5th Annual Beer Festival returns to Dumbo on Saturday, October 24. Enjoy a variety of beers from local breweries, including Brooklyn Brewery, Threes Brewing, Montauk Brewing Company, plus Allagash Brewing Company. Find your favorite? Enjoy beer specials on drafts and buckets available all day long across the market. Bringing a slice of Oktoberfest to NYC, we are also hosting a stein hoisting competition, so start lifting now! And if you want to keep the party going, you can catch a live performance by DWAI to keep the vibes high all afternoon. Tickets are $22.56 and include tasters from all of the breweries in attendance. Buy tickets here. 

New York's MacDougal Street is an exciting little stroll. The one-way street that cuts through Greenwich Village swells with NYU students and the Comedy Cellar crowd in one block, all of whom spill out and take up precious sidewalk space to eat double-fried Belgian fries and falafel. Yet in the same strip of dives and bars, you'll find some of the city's most iconic spots, like Minetta Tavern and Dante. Somssi hopes to join the latter, and so far it's off to a great start for those looking for a middle ground in the neighborhood. Somssi (pronounced somh-shi) is partnered with Ellia and JP Park's NA:EUN Hospitality group, the same team behind the two Michelin-starred, fine-dining Korean restaurant Atomix and its older, more affordable sister, Atoboy. And that's because Ahris Kim used to oversee operations for both. Now her new restaurant falls under the shared umbrella. And you can tell, as only four months old, Somssi feels lived in already, her stroke of hospitality evident, as the feminine bistro plays on the classic model, infusing subtle and bold Asian flavors, all in one go. The vibe: In the former Acru space, a short-lived Michelin-recommended tasting menu from the same team, Somssi has a romantic edge. Vintage sconces hang from exposed brick, and lace curtains, some tattered, line the restaurant, handmade by Kim's best friend's mother. The thread of hospitality is strong: the staff makes you feel like you are visiting an old friend, even if it's your first time, all b

New York: basketball is finally back! Looking for a place to celebrate the Knicks ring ceremony on October 20? Head to Time Out Market New York, Union Square for an all-day party that brings the city's best food, drinks, and basketball culture under one roof. Presented by Time Out Market and Industry Mixer NYC, Ring Day marks the official launch of #TimeOutSports, our new platform that brings sports, culture, and community together at Time Out Market New York, Union Square. It kicks off at 3pm with the Boston Celtics vs. the Detroit Pistons matchup. During the game, guests can step into the ACES Lounge to score limited-edition gear, including the exclusive Knicks-colored ACES hat and basketball apparel. The Market will also feature a gallery curated by Shot by Sosa that showcases iconic NYC basketball history and local athletes, plus live DJ sets from DJ LP and Andre Nikolas the DJ. Stay for the main event at 7pm to watch the New York Knicks vs. the Philadelphia 76ers. Think you are the ultimate fan? Pull up in your ultimate Knicks fit for your chance to win official Knicks gear and Time Out Market gift cards. Looking for more chances to win? Purchase one of our specialty cocktails featuring Casamigos Tequila and Johnnie Walker Scotch Whisky and be automatically entered for a chance to win. Prizes include a custom Sprayground × Uncutart Ring Day bag, Knicks gear and Market dining passes. Ring Day is free to attend; RSVP here. An RSVP grants access to event updates and raffle

The glass door of Flatbush's Antilles Cafe traces the outline of Hispaniola, one of the Caribbean's most populous islands. The image leads to a commonly asked question fielded by owners Dru Goicochea and Erick Nicoleau: Is the cafe Haitian or Dominican? Turns out it's both, as the duo created the third space to represent their shared heritages, community, and love despite the two countries' long-held historical tensions. At Antilles Cafe, the motto is simple: "One Island, One Love." The saltfish bánh mì is an amalgamation of those cultures and then some: the traditional Vietnamese sandwich swaps pâté for a thin but bright layer of saltfish, still spread over a thick, plush French baguette, and tied together with a nice, lightly pickled crunch of Haitian pikliz. That also extends to the plantain brûlée latte; its smooth caramelized plantain syrup, swirled with nutmeg and cinnamon, drinks pleasantly sweet without going overboard. But even the dishes that don't mash the two together stand on their own, such as the unctuous morsels of griot, salty and fried to a deep brown, offset with forkfuls of deep purple cabbage, pickled and slightly heated. The menu is exciting, but it reads like a preview of more to come, as the portion sizes leave you more comfortable than full. But this November, Antilles' footprint will expand even further, as an extra space used for events will soon become a wine bar. Here's hoping for a future toast of tostones and wine in the near future.

Leitao came to Greenwich Village in 2020, bringing the flavors, foods, and traditions of northern Portugal to New York. And part of that tradition is the story of Fado. Fado, also known as the "Lisbon Blues," is a type of folk music, characterized by love, loss, and wanting. Each month, Leitao hosts an intimate evening dedicated to the Portuguese genre: Fado Night. Held in the restaurant's candlelit basement, the night centers on Fado, with a live band of singers playing right at the foot of your table. To complete the immersive experience, a four-course meal is served, cycling through staples of Portuguese cuisine such as octopus carpaccio with linguica, little neck clams sautéed with a mix of spicy salami, nduja, and chorizo, and sirloin steak in a garlic sauce. Each course comes with a pairing of Portuguese wines from around the region. Generally held monthly, the next Fado Nights will be held on October 14, November 11, and December 9, starting at 8pm. Tickets start at $165 for side seating, with a slightly obstructed view, and $220 for prime seating. Reserve your tickets on Resy.  

Matthew Moinian is the mind behind one of New York's most opulent "coffee concepts," Felix Roasting Co. He also happens to be a developer, investor and principal at the Moinian Group, one of the largest privately held real estate investment companies in the world. It is important to distinguish, however, that Moinian's fascination with coffee is that of a passion project rather than a pet—the coffee here has a serious pedigree. But given that his investment company develops "visually distinguished properties," it is perhaps no surprise that Moinian's resulting coffee shops are just as fantastical. Grand is certainly one of the words we would use to describe the fifth location that landed in midtown in 2025, as blush pink chairs shake with fringe, hand-laid mosaic tiles zig-zag across the floor and the chandeliers that hang here look like they've been lifted from The Met. You can't help but look up and take it all in, especially as an egg-shaped copper dome hovers over the counter, a magical starry scape painted at its center.  But Felix Roasting Co. does well not to rely on good looks alone, as the shop roasts and packages its own blends, makes its own syrups, tonics, and, short of getting a cow in the back, blends its own nut milks—cashew, almond and pumpkin seed. It all ladders up to a coffee shop where people linger with colleagues over Americanos and espresso and likely impress incoming clientele. But beyond the standard pours, Felix also has a flair for the extravagant:

John McDonald has proven he knows his way around the sea, as his longtime ship, Lure Fishbar, has served as a seafood beacon in SoHo since 2004. He seems to have done so again at Seahorse.  Making waves inside the W Hotel Union Square, Seahorse is just as nautical as its sister restaurant, perhaps even a tick more so with yacht-style wood, blue mermaid scales that frame the back bar and a 40-foot hand-painted mural that hangs above the dining room, telling the tales of the ships, sirens and sea creatures. Selections from said waters follow with oysters plucked from the east and west coasts, crudo flights and tuna steaks seared and cut tableside like steaks, served with a trio of sauces for dipping. A shoo-in for dinner it is; those who sail over on Saturdays will be rewarded with a jazzy brunch. A la carte is always an option, with your choice of salmon towers and golden and incredibly buttery pancakes, or you can go prix fixe to add oysters on ice and unlimited spritzes of the Hugo and amaro variety to the mix.

Gowanus's Shania’s Max Bet feels like a bartender's bar. And that's because it is: co-owners Jericho Davidson and Robinson Daily met bartending at Royal Palms Shuffleboard Club while Michael Brown, the third partner, was once their dedicated regular. They created a bar that is both Shania Twain-themed (the first part of the name) and Atlantic City-themed, as the latter part harkens back to their shared group chat that made the trek to "America's Playground." It's maximalist as hell, with mirrored ceilings, cushioned walls, and a massive disco ball whose lights bounce off shiny, cherry-red walls. Behind the bar—laid with thousands of dice in resin—you'll find a mural of revelers dancing, which is likely what you'll be here for too: jiggling under the disco lights is customary, and you can do it until 4am. And to sustain such levels of partying, Shania's has plenty of ways to get you liquored up. Several drinks here feel a little like a bartender's dare, and they kind of are. Take the big dirty under the "Minderasers" part of the menu: a tall Diet Coke with a pour of olive brine and gin. It was once a punishment drink given to staff and newbies, who turned out to actually kind of like it. We do too, as the drink is briny and just on the edge of good salt. Some are a little less palatable, like the blueberry (blueberry vodka, coffee liqueur, and seltzer), which's too sweet and tastes a little like a melted Dum Dum sitting in a coffee cup. But if you aren't looking for a mind-ben

The inside of Apartment Ra'el feels like the home of your loftiest, coolest friend who probably throws clay on the side and has a knack for finding vintage pieces on the fly. That's because Apartment Ra'el is a lifestyle and vintage concept store in Bed-Stuy that also sells coffee. That means the decanter and mirrored ice buckets on the bookshelf, down to the curvy metal stools you may be sitting on, might be up for sale. But even if you don't plan on walking out with a baggie full of $70 candleholders and a hold on a cow print bench, you can always settle in over a cup. Your coffee can be straightforward if you want it to be, americanos, cappuccinos and cortados, with a few variations peppered in, such as a lightly sweet and nutty maple black sesame latte, matchas with subtle hints of Earl Grey and lattes with heady toppers of cream and fresh shavings of orange zest. No matter what you get, all will be served on a metal tray stamped with florals that looks like it once belonged to grandma. Take your cup to the long wooden table to click away at some afternoon work (we've seen guests take full-on Zoom calls here) or linger on the handsome chocolate couch while you pick at your cookie or croissant sourced from Bien Cuit.

This time last year, chef Rasika Venkatesa was experiencing burnout. Not surprising as the chef hit the ground running when she arrived in New York in 2024, including cheffing at a four-month residency, popping up at wine bars and coffee tasting rooms and cooking at private events. “I was at a pop-up burnout, you could say. I had been pushing for a very long time,” she recounts.  But it was all laddering up to the opening of her own: Mythily, a progressive Indian concept with a Brooklyn soul. And while she initially received offers from private equity and angel investors to fund a brick-and-mortar spot, it didn’t align with her overall vision.  “I was like, ‘Maybe it's not the right time, maybe I need to find an actual job [or] go into private cheffing," she says. "I kind of put a pause on the dream for a bit.” But what a year a difference makes. Last fall, the chef was named as one of Time Out’s “Best Young Chefs.” By winter, the chef signed a lease and went into business with her friends, Varun Kandadi and Nicolas Chavotier. She launched a Kickstarter, raising over $100,000, funded by friends and family. And now, after a months-long, very hands-on demolition process that she documented, the pop-up that she named after her grandmother now has a permanent home in Williamsburg as of September 30. Here are seven things to know about Mythily. The chef found her restaurant space in a very New York way–over a slice of pizza. Last year, Venkatesa started touring around some of New

Is it too bold to say that New York has some of the best Latin food right now? For a long time, our city was often rivaled by our West Coast sister, and we often relented. But New York's far-ranging scene has something to say, as each of our boroughs shares slices of culture and cuisine from across the world, from top tacos in Mexico to Peruvian ceviches and arepas from Colombia. Hungry for such specialties? We tapped some of New York's finest Latin chefs on where they like to eat, grab a drink and kick back on their day off.  Your shift just ended. Where do you like to go out to eat in New York? José Luis Chávez, Mission Ceviche: After a long shift, I love somewhere casual where the food speaks for itself. Great NY Noodletown in Chinatown is one of those places for me. No complications, just comforting, flavorful food, especially late at night. José Luis Flores, Masa Madre: There’s a very small place in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, that I think is one of the best Japanese restaurants around; it’s called IWAK. The chef-owner is there most of the time. The food is always fresh and delicious. Alejandro Osorio, Arepa Lady: We usually close late; luckily we have a lot of options in the neighborhood. Top two is tacos Birria-Landia up the block or Latino Bites for Colombian burgers on Northern Blvd.  Ruben Santana, Bark Barbecue: If it's breakfast, I like going to Nurish—it's a cafe on Washington Ave in Prospect Heights. For dinner, I really like the burger at Au Cheval.  Photograph

Union Square is kind of an ecosystem unto itself. Regardless of the season, the Square stays lively year-round, with crowds lazily perusing fresh-from-the-farm finds at the weekly Greenmarket to old-timers and young people playing rounds upon rounds of chess. Of course, restaurants are part of the integral fold as the neighborhood is home to new finds to iconic landmarks that are still some of the city's finest (including a certain food market that we are particularly fond of). But to truly experience all the foods that the square has to offer, you'd have to chart out proper planning and an entire budget to blow. Instead, some of the Square's best chefs are coming together for one night. Even better? It's all for a good cause.  On November 10, the Union Square Partnership is hosting Harvest 2026 – A Benefit for Union Square Park. Returning for its 28th year, the evening gathers the best culinary talent found across the neighborhood for one night only.   “Harvest is truly the best of Union Square in a single night,” said Julie Stein, executive director of Union Square Partnership in a press release. “It is a rare chance to connect directly with the chefs behind our beloved neighborhood staples and the exciting new spots that opened this year.”  Photography courtesy of Jane Kratochvil, Courtesy of Union Square Partnership| Harvest 2026 – A Benefit for Union Square Park A veritable who's who of the square will be in attendance, with bites from all-day Italian restaurant Leon’s

Just last month, I found myself shoulder to shoulder with strangers in the basement of a New York club, screaming, shouting the lyrics to “Dancing Queen” with a live band and collectively grooving to original and electrified disco beats. In the middle of the headlining set, a short scene played out—the lead singer pointed to a couple in the crowd, and in one swift motion without breaking the tempo, the two were carefully escorted out. Why? Because they broke the cardinal rule: recording during a no-phones dance party. RECOMMENDED: The world’s 20 best cities for nightlife in 2026 Or really, they broke the only rule of WHO’S DANCING?, a roving, underground disco where phones are taped so inhibitions can be free. Behind the phone-free event is the artist X&ND (pronounced "zand"), a funk, soul and disco revivalist based in Harlem. The idea was initially sparked while the artist was conceptualizing their sophomore album, also named “WHO’S DANCING?”, an album that channels the disco and soul era. The genre choice was an intentional one, as the music is rooted in Black and queer liberation, offering joy in the face of adversity. It is a sound that is needed now, more than ever, according to the artist, particularly following the re-election of Donald Trump. “Trump got reelected, and I was like, the counterculture is going to have a serious moment,” they said, comparing the political tension to that of the Vietnam War and the Civil Rights Movement. “So I was like, ‘What genre of musi

Close to two years ago, Mexico City’s first Michelin-starred taqueria, El Califa de León, traveled to New York, bringing its famed bisteca and ganoera tacos to the city. But it seems the visit was more about getting a feel for the market than just a one-off, as the almost 70-year-old taqueria expanded for the first time, landing Flatiron on August 24. Unlike the 100-square-foot, standing taqueria in CDMX, the El Califa de León of New York is made to stay, as the location has 60 seats. Yet the inside still evokes the feeling of the taqueria back home with terracotta floors, brick-red tiles that color-match the original and accordion doors to give the same indoor-outdoor experience. The seats at the counter look on into the kitchen as three grills center the whole operation. The plastic plates have been swapped with the real thing, too, this time emblazoned with their claim to fame that reads, “Mexico’s Highest-Awarded Tacos.” Photography courtesy of Christian Rodriguez| El Califa de León And so what about these tacos? You’ll find the same menu as you would in CDMX, but with albeit, New York prices, as the most expensive goes to the costilla or beef rib at $19. The taqueria is also selling the pork chop known as chuleta for $7 and New York strip steak aka the bistec for $9. Naturally, their most iconic cut that the taqueria helped to popularize, the ganoera (prime tenderloin), came along as well, priced at $11. Sourcing from Pat LaFrieda Meat Purveyors, the meat here is seaso

Fernando Vaz has lived many lives, many of them in different countries. A man of the world, he’s traveled across Australia, New Zealand and French Polynesia on a budget of just $10 a day and hitchhiked all the way from Los Angeles to Alaska. But even after visiting more than 100 countries, when it comes to his favorite, he can’t help but be biased. For Vaz, his home country, Portugal, still ranks No. 1. After an aviation career was put on hold due to the pandemic, Vaz decided to share his love of his country as a tuk-tuk tour guide in Lisbon in 2022. Over the years, Vaz noted an influx of American clientele from all around, including New York, Chicago, Minnesota, and Alabama, eager to learn more about the country. It was a stark difference for Vaz, whose home country was once seemingly unknown. “When I started traveling 10 years ago, and I would tell [Americans] I'm from Portugal, most of them would ask me, 'Is that in Spain? Is that in South America?' Not only Americans; people generally around the world. Portugal was an unknown destination. The only reason for people to know of Portugal is because of Cristiano Ronaldo.” And when it came to Portuguese food, the learning gap was even wider.  “Portuguese traditional cuisine is severely underrepresented worldwide, so you don't find it anywhere outside of Portugal or outside of Portuguese communities,” he says, citing a few Portuguese enclaves in Newark and in Mineola, Long Island.  So Vaz had the idea of bringing one of Portuga

Last year Pervaiz Shallwani was at the James Beard Awards chatting away about something he knows quite intimately: hot dogs. Not too surprising, given that Shallwani pioneered chutney-laced Desi dogs with his NYC-based pop-up Chaat Dog. At the time, he just happened to be conversing with Tristen Epps, the winner of Top Chef season 22. The two found kinship in their shared love of the humble hot dog, so much so that Epps and Shallwani hosted a hot dog pop-up at Time Out Market, doling out a dual menu featuring chaat dogs and hot dogs layered with kifto chili and cracklin’ injera. The experience was twofold for Shallwani: the pop-up led to a permanent residence, with Chaat Dog landing in the Brooklyn market this past June. It also sparked a follow-up pop-up series, which Shallwani brought with him in the move. All summer long, Shallwani has hosted Hot Dogs with Friends at Chaat Dog. The ongoing video and food series tapped a lineup of culinary talent, including Food Network host Monti Carlo, Ham El-Waylly of Strange Delight and Jae Jung of KJUN. The resulting friendships and franks have led to Japanese and Peruvian dogs with pickled cucumbers and rocoto purée from Papa San’s Erik Ramirez, and a New York City-Caribbean dog with tamarind barbecue sauce and habanero chow chow courtesy of Lana Lagomarsini, a Top Chef alum and chef behind the upcoming Creola. There’s even been a creation that swapped the dog for fish, herring to be exact, with a little bit of chaat, thanks to a tea

To say Kwame Onwuachi is busy is an understatement. The James Beard Award-winning chef and TV personality has been crisscrossing the country as of late, opening concepts in Las Vegas (Maroon by Kwame Onwuachi) and Washington D.C. (Dōgon by Kwame Onwuachi), while continuing to run New York’s hottest table, Tatiana by Kwame Onwuachi. Where he found the time to write another cookbook in the middle of it all, we don’t know. But he did, and his latest, “ALL HOURS: Crazy Good Food for Whatever, Whenever” is coming out on September 22. To mark his second cookbook, Onwuachi is making a show of launch day, quite literally under the stage lights at Lincoln Center  On September 22, Onwuachi is hosting All Hours with Kwame & Friends at the Mitzi E. Newhouse Theater, presented by Resy. For one night only, the top toque will host his own late-night talk show for an evening of conversations and storytelling with a lineup of very special guests. Naturally, food will be a part of it, too, as Onwuachi will be cooking live and walking the studio audience through recipes from his upcoming book. Sure to engage the crowd further, guests can expect pours of Tanteo Tequila and will leave with a co-branded ALL HOURS x FreshDirect gift bag, filled with goodies curated by Onwuachi himself, his new cookbook included. Following the show, Onwuachi will be hosting a very special after-party just a few steps away at Tatiana with bites and beverages inspired by the book.   And this is just part of the tour.

Even though it's over 100 years old, "Take Me Out to the Ball Game" is still a relevant tune, sung in stadiums during the seventh inning of baseball games across the country. But we think the third line, “Buy me some peanuts and Cracker Jacks,” is in need of an update.  Nowadays, sports stadiums have gone gourmet, feeding hungry fans with local favorites that go beyond just nachos and a hot dog (though we would never turn down either). Yelp recently analyzed hundreds of game day havens across the country—MLB, NFL, WNBA and NBA included—all in the search of the Hall of Famer when it comes to food. And New York? We came out at number one.  Queens' own Citi Field took the number one spot on Yelp’s Top 50 Stadiums for Game-Day Eats. With 27 vendors within the world-class stadium, callouts went to The Queensboro’s Kimchi Reuben with “house-cured corned beef, kimchi fennel, and Russian dressing stacked on toasted rye” and Willets Point Brewery’s 9-9-9 Challenge, where adventurous eaters have to eat nine mini Nathan’s hot dogs and nine four-ounce beers across nine innings of the game. Adding to the list of things to try, we have to give a shout to fried chicken and kimchi-laden slice at Napoli’s Pizza Co. and brisket mac and cheese at Pig Beach BBQ. Giving you good reason to climb up to the top-level, the Coca-Cola Corner's current food truck vendor is run by the Taqueria Ramirez team, where you can find suadero and pastor tacos in all their roasted, fatty and greasy glory. RECOMM

For Matt Greene, Greg Preston, and Brandon Siu, it all starts in the group chat. You see, the trio are behind Rusty Supper Club, a laid-back, dinner party-like pop-up that’s been cooking in the city since 2022. Their active thread often circles back to food, perhaps to the dismay of their respective partners who also reside in the same chat, whether it's a taco stand that sparked inspiration or one-word exclamations such as “CORN." But the trio makes good on actually getting the idea out of the chat, as the resulting corn-themed dinner led to golden-fried cannolis piped with esquites, and cinnamon fritters with scoops of basil-corn ice cream. From backyard barbecues to dinners partnered up with Airbnb, we caught up with the trusty three to speak about the start of the supper club, the very active group chat and the camaraderie that naturally blossoms.  What got each of you into the restaurant industry? Matt Greene: I grew up in London and worked on a kosher food truck at Wimbledon at 17, which was…something. I then spent summers working for this gourmet burger truck; burgers are my first love.  Greg Preston: We all grew up around the service industry; working as bartenders—even bouncers in bars—servers and [on the] lines at various restaurants, food trucks and restaurant groups after college. We all work 9-5s, but we missed the liveliness and culture of the restaurant scene.  Brandon Siu: I grew up in Hong Kong surrounded by a very lively food scene. I started working in res

Brooklyn Kura holds the title as one of the first sake breweries in New York. Acting as a sort of quiet reprieve to the literal maze that is Industry City, the taproom respects the traditions of Japan, reflective in its zen-like hall and approach to brewing, while producing sake that is all American. To mark the upcoming World Sake Day, naturally, the brewery is celebrating in style.  On October 2, Brooklyn Kura is hosting its third annual Sake Day Brooklyn. Over 50 breweries, leading importers and producers, will be in attendance, many of which will be making the journey from Japan. “Ten years ago, to taste this variety of sake, you would have had to fly to Japan,” said Timothy Sullivan, director of education at the Sake Studies Center, in a press release. “On October 2nd, it’s all in one taproom in Sunset Park—the classics from Japan next to sake brewed right here in New York. That’s exactly what Sake Day [Brooklyn] is for.” RECOMMENDED: The best cocktail bars in NYC, where craft, care and consistency rise above the noise The line-up includes selections from Hakkaisan and HEAVENSAKE, plus pours from importers such as Komé Collective and Sake Suki. New York-based sake breweries will have representation, too, as Brooklyn Kura will be sampling alongside Bushwick’s Kato Sake Works and Hyde Park's Dassai Blue. During the fest, the brewery will be home to a DJ and raffles with sake classes at the Sake Studies Center and Brooklyn Kura as prizes. Instead of journeying back through

For most of his career, chef Regi Mathew has championed the foods of his homeland of Kerala, India. At Kappa Chakka Kandhari in Chennai and Bengaluru, chef Mathew works to preserve the area’s diverse food traditions, using recipes gleaned from mothers and home cooks across the region. It's this commitment that earned the chef a designation as one of India’s top chefs in 2024. The following year, the chef decided to share his story to a larger audience, making his stateside debut with Chatti by Regi Mathew. A culmination of his three-year journey cooking across the southern state, the midtown restaurant serves as an homage to Kerala's iconic toddy shops with grilled lamb chops to clay pot fish curries. Now the chef is going a step further, bringing one of the region’s largest festivals to NYC. From August 24th to August 27th, Chatti is throwing an extravagant feast in celebration of the state’s most recognized holiday, Onam. So what is Onam? Generally falling between August and October, Onam is a ten-day festival that marks the Malayalam New Year and celebrates the harvest season in Kerala. On the final day, known as Thiruvonam, the festival culminates with a grand vegetarian feast known as Onasadhya. In Chatti’s case, the restaurant will be marking the holiday with a feast of its own, cooking up a whopping 27 dishes, all vegetarian with a few dishes that are completely vegan. All served on a banana leaf, Chatti’s multi-course feast starts with thick cuts of raw banana, fri