Morgan Carter

Few dining daydreams capture a corner New York City’s culinary appeal as keenly as the notion of the classic steakhouse. Bustling dining rooms lined with big, plush booths. Moody lights. Tables topped with frigid martinis martinis, perfectly paired sides and cuts you just can’t quite recreate at home.  The New York City steakhouse can turn any occasion special, significant, or quietly distinguished. And while we have plenty to choose from, some are simply better than the rest. So sharpen those knives for a slice of Gotham at its prime.  RECOMMENDED: Full guide to the best restaurants in NYC August 2025: We added New York's first fine dining restaurant to the, list Delmonico's. We also added newcomer to the steak scene, chef Sungchul Shim's Gui Steakhouse. We removed Bowery Meat Company Gus's Chop House, Porter House Bar and Grill, St. Anslem, Sparks Steakhouse and Wolfgang's Steakhouse.  For more on our editorial policies and ethics, feel free to check out How we review at Time Out.

August 2025 update: There's new songs being added to karaoke machines on a regular basis, so we see it as our duty to keep this list bang up to date. Our latest additions include a modern British classic from Lola Young, as well as the bounciest anthem to emerge over the past 12 months from Blackpink's Rosé and Bruno Mars. Whether you’ve got the voice of an angel or you’re totally tone deaf, karaoke unites us all. But heed our warning: choosing the right song is crucial (aka, don’t opt for that Whitney Houston tune if you haven’t the range. And if you don't have good enough flow, steer clear of rapping. Kapeesh?) So we thought we’d help out a little bit. In our list of the best karaoke songs ever, we’ve got everyone from Adele to Toto, and from Frank Sinatra to Ricky Martin. There's even recent singalongs from Sabrina Carpenter and Chappell Roan. Something for everyone. So down that shot, grab that mic and take to the stage. Your audience awaits you. Here are the best karaoke songs ever.  RECOMMENDED:❤️ The best love songs☀️ The best summer songs🎉 The best party songs🕺 The best albums of 2025 so far  

In New York City, “underground” is good: think speakeasy-themed bars, hidden streets, secret gardens, you know, the actual underground. But sometimes you want to soar above it all, sipping effervescent libations among the clouds like some kind of fancy bird with an expense account. You want to be uplifted.  In the city that never stops sprawling, upward expansion has also reached great heights. Many incredible eating and drinking destinations are poised in the sky like treehouses with cover charges. Among these rooftop bars are old New York throwbacks, party destinations and seaside terraces practically fashioned for Instagram. They each offer booze, some kind of view and an invitation for you to get high.  August 2025: Just because August is here doesn't mean that rooftop season is anywhere near over. We've added another locale to our list: the enchanting terrace atop the Conrad New York Downtown, known as Leonessa, which transports guests to an Italian getaway. RECOMMENDED: The best bars in NYC

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 35 best restaurants is the same, spanning each of those categories and more to comprise a catalogue 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.  RECOMMENDED: NYC’s best bars right now August 2025: After a recent five-star review, we added the beloved Thai-American eatery, Thai Diner, to the list. 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.

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 50 best bars in NYC right now. Updated August 2025: After a recent visit, we added the East Village's Bar Snack for its seriously good frozens and the late-night snack that is the Spice Bag. We removed Jimmy's Corner. For more on our editorial policies and ethics, feel free to check out How we review at Time Out.

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.  RECOMMENDED: The best boozy brunches in NYC July 2025: After a recent visit, we added Coqodaq and Kellogg’s Diner. We removed Sweet Afton and Dimes. 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. 

If you don't know already, the summer edition of NYC Restaurant Week is well underway. But if you follow us, you are probably well aware, as we can't stop talking about it. And how could we not? Over 600 restaurants across our five boroughs are inviting us to the table over seriously discounted deals that don't tip over $60, on offer morning, noon and night. We've already thumbed through our best picks across all five boroughs as well as rattled off a handful of Michelin-rated restaurants that we think are worth the visit, especially at a more affordable price point. But, speaking of affordable, if you are looking to get the most bang for your buck, we hear you. Close to 300 restaurants are doling out deals around the $30 mark, making it easy to bop around from place to place with monies relatively intact. Hungry? Eat and save at these cheap NYC Restaurant Week deals.  RECOMMENDED: The 20 best cheap eats in NYC

Thirsty? Of course you are, but thankfully we’ve got just the tonic. Our cities are packed with brilliant, innovative and downright wacky bars, where crafty mixologists are shaking, mixing and stirring cocktails and bartenders are carefully pouring moreish wines. But the best ones? Only locals can tell us that, so that’s why we’ve called on Time Out’s international network of writers and editors to tell us all about their favourite spot for a drink in their city. Below is a varied menu of vibes and flavours, from a classy little wine place in Madrid to a speakeasy in Manila, a sultry cocktail joint in Edinburgh to a no-fuss institution in London. Read on for Time Out’s fresh roundup of the best bars in the world’s best cities. Recommended:🌇 The best rooftop bars in the world✨ The best cities in the world for nightlife🍕 The best pizzas in the world🍝 The best cities in the world for food Liv Kelly is the writer for Time Out Travel, based in London. At Time Out, all of our travel guides are written by local writers who know their cities inside out. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines and check out our latest travel guides written by local experts.

Brooklyn has at least one of everything and bars are no exception. One could spend a lifetime in the borough of Kings and perhaps merely glimpse every dive, wine bar, beer garden and classic drinking emporium. Each one of the best bars in Brooklyn is special in its own way, and our top picks shine with excellent cocktails, hospitable ambiance and qualities that simply keep you coming back.  Updated July 2025: Many of our favorite Brooklyn bars have sadly closed since our last update, including Cobble Hill's Leyenda and our favorite fête, The Rogers Garden. Pilot is also gone from the list as it is closed for the season. We also removed Brooklyn Beer Garden, Goldie's, Good Judy, Happyfun Hideaway, Jaffa Cocktail and Raw Bar, Montero and Night of Joy. We added Place des Fêtes, Frog Wine Bar and Mr. Melo.  Time Out has instituted a sitewide policy change. For more on our new policies, feel free to check out how we review at Time Out. 

Feeling a little peckish at 3am? Whether you’re coming home from a karaoke sesh that stretched into the morning, getting hungry after a night of cocktails at one of NYC’s best bars or fighting off some jet lag, there are plenty of 24-hour spots to grab a bite in New York City. While you’ll find classic greasy-spoon fare at some of the best diners in NYC, you’ll also find spicy, soothing Korean hangover soup (in case that’s something you might need…) and the best pastrami in NYC piled high and waiting for you any time of the day or night. While the 24/7 spots in NYC may be dwindling, there are still plenty to be found for all the night owls and early risers in the city that never sleeps.  RECOMMENDED: Full guide to the best restaurants in NYC July 2025: We added a few new 24 hour restaurants to the list, including Kellogg's Diner. We also added LIC's longstanding favorite, Court Square Diner. We also removed Veselka and Tosokchon as they are no longer open 24 hours. We also removed Coppelia. 

New York City Restaurant Week’s summer edition is back! More than 600 restaurants are offering special pre fixe specials citywide from July 21 to August 17. This year’s price points are $30, $45 and $60 for brunch, lunch and dinner menus on the days of each venue’s choosing. With so many sensational spots, and so little time to taste them all, it can be hard to narrow the field. Luckily, we've have thumbed through the list and highlighted the top options to snag that reservation. And if you are still looking for more, we have a guide of must visit places, specific to Brooklyn. Check out the best places to visit and everything to order during NYC Restaurant Week this summer. Updated July: We added The Flatiron Room, Gui Steakhouse, Hawksmoor, Le Pavillion,Nudibranch and Sweet Catch. We removed Alice, Baar Baar, Dowling's at the Carlyle, Fish Cheeks, Francie, Frenchette, HanGawi, Iris, Kanyakumari, Kimika, Kokomo, Le B, Le Gratin, Shan and Time & Tide.

Some cities have more sprawl, sure, but we’re partial to the ones that surge upward. And thankfully for all of us, New York City stretches sky-high, from elevated parks like the High Line, to rooftop bars that pair tasty drinks with dizzying views, to beautiful buildings that skim the clouds. But instead of just serving up some of the best views in NYC, the city’s best rooftop restaurants do all that as well as offering some of the finest food and drink options at any elevation. So ready your Instagram filters and get ready for your most scenic foodie snap yet—these spots are your ticket to the top.  RECOMMENDED: The best restaurants in NYC right now July 2025: It's still rooftop weather and there's more to do than drink in the views. For this update, we removed Electric Lemon, The Rooftop Restaurant RH New York, Serra by Birreria at Eataly Flatiron and Sushi Lab. In their place, we've added Saishin, a glam omakase den atop the Gansevoort Rooftop. 

A name like Hawksmoor conjures a steakhouse of the old-school era—dark woods and dim corners that curl with smoke. But the New York location of the London-born import is nothing of the sort. The modern-day steakhouse is a marvel, as the cavernous dining hall implores you to look up and gaze upon its 30-foot vaulted ceilings and original crown molding. Such glorious environs feel almost church-like, which tracks, as the dry-aged, Sunday Roast is as close to a religious experience that you can get. The vibe: Occupying the former United Charities Building, the steakhouse exudes a certain level of grandness. A server keyed me in on the details: anything above the greenish-blue paint on the walls is an original of the building, from the aforementioned ceilings to the restored stained glass. Yet, likely due to both, Hawksmoor is a bit of a noisy one, as sound easily reverberates for a louder-than-average steakhouse. But it isn't just the jovial laughter of button-down businessmen that you'll hear, as the dining hall is filled with young people and even families who are here to be wowed.  The food: A funny little thing I noticed, the hostess and the waitstaff each commented on the massive size of the menus before handing them off. They aren't wrong—they require two hands and easily take up your respective corners of the table. But it doesn't take much to thumb through, as the steakhouse divvies up into the usual suspects: oysters and starters, then steaks and sides. Oysters are tr

Missed out on cruising around Europe this summer? Yeah, us too. Thankfully, Ariel Arce (yes, the very one behind Heroes, Pearl Box and the once beloved Champagne lounge, Niche Niche) opened her very first hotel bar this spring, inviting all of us to her Italian terrace. Taking to the skies for her first hotel bar, Arce opened Leonessa, a spritizing and snacking bar on the 16th floor of the Conrad New York Downtown. The jewel-box-like roof is seemingly lifted from the motherland, with limoncello-colored couches and corners, a bubbling lion's head fountain and lush greenery, including a few real lemon trees. No, you won't be able to gaze upon the waters of the Amalfi Coast, but you can at least give a wave to Lady Liberty herself. Cycle through spritzes and bitter-forward drinks like the Sbagliato (with prosecco a la Emma D'Arcy). Yet the drink of the summer has to go to the Sgroppino, a Belvedere vodka and prosecco-based cocktail that comes with a foamy head of lemon sorbetto. Snacking will come at a later season (there are currently only nuts and olives for eating), so make sure you get a little something in you before you get to spritzing.

Brooklyn's oldest steakhouse is still a charmer. The stalwart has captured the hearts of many and has remained virtually unchanged, almost staunchly so, as New York's steak scene continues to swell around it. Do you come here for the best steak of your life? No, not really. But eating a meal at one of the city's relics—seriously, it opened in 1887—is reason enough to give Mr. Luger a try.  The vibe: A little bit of everyone finds their way to this South Williamsburg establishment, as tables are filled with the old and the young, lovebirds and families. White-aproned servers of a certain age tend to tables with swiftness and, at least at our table, a smile, scribbling orders on pads of paper and dropping off white napkined breadbaskets with efficiency. It all goes down in a setting that looks like a German beer hall, with dark woods, golden candelabras that gleam, and, in one room, a few steins lined the wall. That's because it once was, as the initial restaurant that debuted back in the late 1800s was "Carl Luger's Café, Billiards and Bowling Alley."   The food: The menu is straightforward, and virtually unchanged, minus the addition of the steak sandwich that was tacked on a few years back. You always get a complimentary basket of bread, some of which spills open with cooked onions and burnt flecks of garlic. It comes with a few pats of butter, served on a whimsical, seafaring plate that looks like it should be framed in a New Jersey household (psst...my born and raised New

If you ever wondered where George Jetson may have dined, we imagine it would've looked a little something like The Dynamo Room. Modern it may be, the steakhouse is quick to hit us with all the nostalgic feels, as the interiors design jumps from the atomic age to the space race with a massive Sputnik-styled sculpture that dangles above the bar. The kitchen throws it back too, as Sunday Hospitality’s co-founder Jaime Young and head chef/partner Derek Boccagno uses the cooker of chef Charles Ranhofer as a guide (yes, the famous Victoria chef who put Delmonico's on the map back in the 19th century). The two straddle steakhouse classics alongside the ever-changing palates of the city, serving chilled lobsters complimented with a deviled egg filling and a Smoked Cheddar Souffle that gets even cheesier with a pour of molten cheese. Eleven cuts of beef grace the menu here, from KC Strip Steak to 50-Day Dry-Aged Ribeye, shareable for two or even three hungry souls. If the number of steaks on the menu intimidates you, fear not. Before an order is placed, servers present a tray of all of the prime cuts via a rolling cart, gently walking diners through each marbled and dry-aged portions.

For a good stretch, Hoyt-Schermerhorn was the hottest train stop in town. Just a few steps away from the G train laid the 18-seat fine dining operation home to Chef’s Table at Brooklyn Fare. The rotating 15-course show became the first New York City restaurant to receive a three Michelin-starred status outside of Manhattan and was even a feature on Anthony Bourdain's No Reservations. But once it moved in 2016, the sparkling locale went dark and stayed that way due to the ensuing pandemic. Enter Dr. Carlos Gasperi. A study of German literature and philosophy, the aspirational professor changed his course, also spurred by the pandemic, following a love for restaurants and the chefs that staff them. His living room soon opened up to strangers who hungered for more, and soon, his underground dinner parties began to operate in mansions in the East Village and four-story penthouses in SoHo. As the world started to stabilize, so did Gasperi, and he finally brought his roving pop-up to rest at the former intimate kitchen space in Downtown Brooklyn. The stainless steel jewel box has been led by the likes of alumni from Eleven Madison Park and Le Coucou to Jungsik and Restaurant Yuu. You can still find Gasperi here, this time as host and sommelier, pouring wines and guiding diners evermore.

This weekend, New York will soon be graced with "The Greatest Sneaker Show on Earth." On August 9 and August 10, Sneaker Con is returning to the city. Stomping over to Brooklyn Store House in the Navy Yard, the weekend-long event will gather collectors, creators and fans over rare and exclusive sneakers. Celebrating NYC’s biggest sneaker weekend with style, sound and culture is Time Out Market.  Serving as the official pre-game for the sneaker-heavy weekend, Time Out Market is hosting Fresh Kicks Fridays. On Friday, August 8, the party is going down, or really, up, on the market's 5th-floor rooftop, with tunes from DJ Long Island and DJ Fatfingaz and specialty drinks courtesy of Patron Tequila. Looking to start the weekend off on the right foot? The market will be raffling off a pair of 2025 Undefeated Air Jordan 4s plus a Time Out Market gift card. So sport your finest soles and we will see you sneakerheads at the market.  

On a random summer night, a bouncer perched outside Bar Snack called out to me and other passersby on the street, luring us with the promise of great drinks, great food and "the best bathroom in the East Village." Reader: I am here to tell you—he was right. But if a disco-fresh bathroom isn't enough to tempt you in, the convivial nature and solid list of tasty cocktails (and snacks!) found at Bar Snack certainly will.  The vibe: After surveying the East Village and its many, many (expensive) cocktail bars, bartender Iain Griffiths and Brooklyn-based bar owner Oliver Cleary decided they wanted to create something—and so they did, serving "dressed-up classics for dressed-down people." The inside gives off '70s lounge—think wood paneling and a dark, walnut-wood bar lined with glittery orange bar stools. Snagging a seat during the nighttime hours can prove difficult as this bar certainly attracts a crowd, making standing room your best bet. But even the daytime can bring a rowdy good time, as rock and throwback hits (hello Spice Girls!) blare through the speakers. The food: Snack is in the name, isn't it? And snacks, they do so well. Fried cheese curds are tossed in pickle dust and hot dogs get a little fancy with onion jam and a hot pickle. But the snack of all snacks is the Spice Bag ($18). Leaning on Griffith's Irish roots, the bag comes to the table in a white paper bag labeled "Spice Bag" fashioned in the style of the Spice Girls logo. As much as you'll want to save it, you

Death & Co. ushered in a bit of class to the cocktail world when it made its debut on New Year's Eve in 2006, spearheaded by David Kaplan, Alex Day and Ravi DeRoss. The bar continues to top the category, winning countless awards and accolades, nearing its 20-year stretch. Even as D&C's reach extends beyond the city limits—with locations in Denver, Los Angeles and Washington D.C.—the original speakeasy remains the top in NYC for its innovative spin on what's in the glass.  The vibe: There isn't much to let you know you've arrived at D&C, as the faded exterior easily blends into the background of Sixth Street. But the imposing wooden door with a green handle, which has turned gold from the number of hands coming and going, is the biggest clue. Inside, the bar leans gothic, as tulip-shaped, oil-burning candles gently illuminate exposed brick and deep woods. Low slung tables are most certainly an option for close cocktailing, but the bar is the best seat to watch the magic in action.   The drinks: If you have any curiosities as you thumb through D&C's cocktail menu, organized by "Light & Playful" to "Boozy & Honest," just ask the bartender before you. Depending on your level of interest, you can easily nerd out with the staff, from how they completely re-do the menu twice a year—every year—to how they troubleshoot a foamy faux egg white (psst...the answer lies with xanthan gum and soy lectin). So, what do you drink? A recent visit yielded the Occam Razor with mezcal and matcha co

As I sat before the bartender at Attaboy and wished to pick his brain, he remarked he had about 900 cocktail recipes rattling around up there. And I believe him. You see, this is just the type of talented barkeeps you'll find at Attaboy. Founded by Sam Ross and Michael McIlroy—alumni of Milk & Honey, the acclaimed speakeasy that once stood in its space—Attaboy carries the torch of its previous tenant and has done so for 13 years. Those who seek it will be rewarded with tipples that suit any whim, fancy or feeling, as all drinks here are made on the fly. The vibe: Attaboy still maintains its secrecy to this day. The only giveaway is a metal door on Elridge Street that reads, "Please Wait To Be Greeted" and "AB" placed where a peephole would be. Find the buzzer and soon a staff member will arrive to usher you past the curtain (if you have a reservation). Your eyes may take some time to adjust to the dim digs before you, moderately dressed with whitewashed brick, tin ceilings and a line of stools pushed up against the steel bar top. If possible, it's best to park it at said bar where you can pique the interest of the staff at your leisure.  The drinks: There are no menus; only a conversation with the bar staff is needed. You could be as granular as you want to be, specifying by liquor of choice, cocktail type and general avoidances. Or, you could play it like "Mad Libs," much like my drinking companion did, throwing out verbs like "impactful," "zingy," and "strong" and letting t

A born and raised Harlemite, Kim Harris constantly had to travel outside of her neighborhood in search of a good beer. And so, she figured it was time that Harlem had its own. Partnering with fellow HBCU grads Jason Wallace and Stacey Lee, the trio founded Harlem Hops in 2018, the area's first Black-owned craft beer bar. Made to be a place for all to gather, the interior is a sleek find with black, wood-paneled walls and a handsome black bar that nearly runs the length of the space. You know you have truly arrived, as the word "Harlem" is spelled out in lights up above you. The talented team specializes in hard-to-find beers, with suds sourced from Beacon to Bed Stuy. The bar is also thoughtful to include all, as beers from women- and POC-owned businesses constantly rotate on tap and in cans. There's even a tight lineup of snacks for when the hunger inevitably hits, with salted Bavarian pretzels to pies filled with veggies, beef and even crab on order. When the weather is pleasant, it's easy to take your brew to the backyard and admire the bold mural out back. But for a bit of booze and conversation, you can take a seat at the long bar to learn from the bartender about the science and magic of craft brews. Time Out tip: If Harlem feels a bit out of reach, the brewery has a small satellite location in Pier 57 so you can have a brew or two right by the water's edge. 

Last month, deadly floods swept through the central Texas area, devastating families and the area as a whole. With deep family roots in Texas, Marc Glosserman, founder of Hill Country Barbecue Market, is rallying New Yorkers to help those in need. On Wednesday, August 6, Hill Country Barbecue Market is hosting the benefit concert, Hill Country Bands Together: Texas Flood Benefit. The one-night only event will support the communities affected by the recent floods in Kerr County, Texas. The evening includes an amazing lineup of music, including Rhett Miller of The Old 97’s, Rusty Truck led by Mark Seliger and special guest, Des Rocs. Naturally, the Hill Country team will be helping out the best way it knows how. And by that, we mean with barbecue. General admission tickets include standing access to the concert, plus two tacos filled with the likes of brisket, pulled pork and smoked chicken. Plus, ticketholders get a choice of two beers or margaritas. The Reserved Seating option also includes food and drink specials, with the addition of prime views of the stage. 100 percent of ticket sales, food and beverage purchases will be donated to the Kerr County Flood Relief Fund, managed by the Community Foundation of the Texas Hill Country.  General admission tickets are $100, and Reserved Seating is $150, which can be purchased here. But if you can’t attend but still want to help, you can make a direct donation to the organization here.

Hey—it pays to be a fan.  Introducing Booze on First. Our new monthly tradition, the market hall will be pouring out discounted drinks all day long for the first three days of the month—exclusively for Time Out Market newsletter subscribers. So, how do you become a part of the club? It's simple. All you have to do is subscribe to our newsletter, show your confirmation status to one of our three bars, the Lobby Bar, The Local Corner, or the 5th floor Roof Top Bar, and boom! A sip of the good life awaits you.

If someone were to ask, “Is a tomato a fruit or a vegetable?”, you may get differing answers depending on the company. Commonly classified as veg, the savory red plant is, in fact, a fruit, or really a berry, as the fruit grows from the flower of a plant and has a chamber of seeds inside. That being said, NFL player George Kittle dropped a further dilemma on us, positing on X: “If tomatoes are a fruit, is ketchup a smoothie?” Now his musings have come to fruition, as one iconic condiment brand is bringing the ketchup smoothie to life. RECOMMENDED: The best smoothie and juice bars in NYC right now Just in time for the peak of the tomato season, HEINZ has debuted The HEINZ Tomato Ketchup Smoothie. Starting today, August 6, select Smoothie King locations around the country, including Atlanta, Chicago, Denver and right here in the city, are blending up the ripened red smoothie for a limited time. More than just a squirt of the stuff in a Styrofoam cup, the smoothie comes with a blend of açaí sorbet, apple juice, strawberries and raspberries for a sweet and tangy sip.  “After months of meticulous R&D, testing, and tasting, we landed on a savory-sweet blend that celebrates the tomato in all its glory,” said Lori Primavera, vice president of R&D and product marketing at Smoothie King, in a press release. Of course, this isn’t the first time the smoothie franchise has blended up something special. Last year, the brand partnered with Dude Perfect, a group of influencers whose content

If you’ve lived anywhere in the vicinity of Prospect Heights for the past decade, it is likely that you’ve come across the name Greg Baxtrom. Studying under the guise of Per Se and Alinea in Chicago and Dan Barber’s Blue Hill at Stone Barns in Westchester, the chef brought his culinary know-how to Brooklyn in 2016, but in an accessible package, with the opening of Olmsted. His ambitions paid off as the restaurant easily became one of New York’s finest, riding the wave of farm-to-table restaurants across the city. Over the years, Baxtrom expanded his footprint on Vanderbilt Street, starting with the self-billed French yakitori restaurant, Maison Yaki, and the Midwestern eatery that paid homage to his mother, Patti Ann’s.  Yet in the years since, it seems as though Baxtrom’s hold on Prospect Heights has come loose. In 2023, Maison Yaki converted to a reimagined French bistro, Petite Patate, before shuttering at just eight months old. And earlier this spring, Patti Ann’s quietly closed to little fanfare or announcement. Now, Baxtrom’s last holdout on the street is also coming to a close, after a nine-year run.    This week, Baxtrom announced that Olmsted is closing. Baxtrom posted about the closure on Instagram, stating that the last day for the restaurant would be Sunday, August 17.  “As we settle into nearly ten years on Vanderbilt Avenue with these small restaurants, I realize they no longer have the capacity to meet the standards that mean so much to me,” Baxtrom said via In

If you were around the West Village last weekend around 2am on Saturday, you may have just spotted me standing outside in a queuing line, waiting to be let inside a bar. But despite the hour, I wasn’t in a drunken state, charting a bar crawl of my own making. In fact, my purpose was a simple one: to score a soup that was only served at closing time.   You see, more often than not, when bars flick on the lights and the sign flips from open to closed, those who were once patrons become parasites. In an instant, hospitality is all but lost as staff hurriedly shoo clientele out the door in attempts to close as soon as possible. Most parting words are barked by towering bouncers or said lackadaisically from the bar staff, smile included—if you are lucky. Food is usually on the onus of the drunken, as they stumble the streets in search of pizza slices and bodega burgers, or wander into one of New York’s many 24-hour eateries. But one New York speakeasy ensures that the final goodbye is a memorable one. For if you stay until the closing hour at Employees Only, the reward is a cup of soup on the house.  RECOMMENDED: The 20 best speakeasy-inspired bars in NYC Back in 2004, founders Bill Gilroy, Igor Hadzismajlovic, Jason Kosmas, Henry Lafargue and Dushan Zaric decided to open a bar, intended to attract fellow barflies over well-made cocktails in a semi-secretive space that didn’t take itself too seriously. Twenty years later, and folks still line up to seek the pseudo-psychic stand th

Once a year, some of the best bar talents from around the world make their way to New Orleans for the annual Tales of the Cocktail. The week-long conference celebrates all things in the cocktail and mixology world, with seminars and workshops, plus a bunch of raucous, after-hours pop-ups that spotlight talented teams. As much as a party it can be, the event is much more than a good time to imbibe.   Ending the week of revelry, the conference closes with the Spirited Awards. For its 19th year, the annual award ceremony, held on July 24, honored excellence in the drink industry and recognized professionals, organizations and establishments that are shaping the hospitality community. This year, New York won big, nabbing one of the most coveted awards of the evening. This title of Best New U.S. Cocktail Bar award went to Shingo Gokan and Steve Schneider's bi-level cocktail bar, Sip & Guzzle. This is the second year in a row that a New York bar has received the honor, as last year’s award went to Ignacio “Nacho” Jimenez's rousing tequila and agave hotspot, Superbueno. This year’s award winners thanked their team via Instagram.   View this post on Instagram A post shared by Sip&Guzzle (@sipandguzzlenyc) “From a wild idea between Steve and Shingo — an odd couple with one shared dream — to now being named Best New U.S. Bar by the Spirited Awards! We are so honored and thankful for this recognition.” The post continued on, “To our team: this win is yours. Your grit,

The all-white affair that is Le Dîner en Blanc is returning to NYC this fall, landing in an undisclosed location on September 19. Billed as the “World’s Largest Dinner Party,” the roaming event gathers 100,000 people around the globe, all clad in white, to celebrate an evening of gathering, food and revelry under the stars. This year, lucky New Yorkers attending the French-inspired picnic will be joined by an authority of the cuisine itself: the one and only Daniel Boulud. The acclaimed chef, restaurateur and cookbook author will be curating picnic baskets for the exclusive evening. “Dîner en Blanc always brings a burst of French summer feasts to cities around the world in a celebration of friendship, fashion, and food,” said Boulud in a press release. “As a French New Yorker, I’m honored to prepare a festive picnic basket for this magical evening. It will certainly be the largest and chicest gathering of fête a la Francaise!” Photograph courtesy of Dîner en Blanc| Le Dîner en Blanc Priced for $130 per person, the Épicerie Boulud Basket: Capucine includes plenty of nibbles, including green gazpacho and paté en croûte to lavash, hummus and baba ganoush spreads. The Roasted Chicken Salad serves as the main, and the basket includes two desserts: a raspberry shortcake with vanilla creme and poppy seeds and orange blossom madeleines. If your tastes lean towards vegetarian, you can order the Épicerie Boulud Basket: Tournesol. For $115, the basket includes all the fixins' listed u

There’s something truly special about summertime in New York. It seems like, in a way, the city finally cares about our well-being, blessing us with free movies in the park, outdoor music festivals and beachside fireworks each and every Friday. But even the simplest things give us joy, like having a spritz in hand and finally enjoying the summer sun at one of our fine rooftops. Luckily, the crew at Time Out Market agree, so much so they recently dropped a series of spritzes ripe for the taking.  Just in time for the season, Time Out Market has released its summertime spritzers menu. Four effervescent drinks can now be found at either bar, from the cool reprieve that is the basement-level bar, the Lobby Bar, to the sunshine-speckled terrace on the 5th floor, the Roof Top Bar.  RECOMMENDED: This Dumbo rooftop is shaking up $10 frozen cocktails when the weather hits 90 degrees  Naturally, you can’t go wrong with the classic that is the Aperol Spritz. The semi-polarizing yet surprisingly refreshing drink is made with Aperol, a splash of prosecco and club soda, plus an orange slice for garnish. But if your tastes lean more floral than bitter, the Hugo Spritz is sure to be the drink of your summer, stirred with St. Germain, prosecco, club soda and sprigs of mint. The Purple Daze is likely to cause the most buzz, almost guaranteeing that at least one fellow patron will ask you, “What are you drinking?” Getting its deep purple hue from the addition of Crème de violette, the sparkler

Do you prefer your whiskey on the rocks? Or is a shaken Whiskey Sour more of your speed? Well, Williamsburg’s latest bar is here to please, however you like to “handle your brown."  As of July 12, Foolproof opened its doors on 476 Driggs Avenue. Andy Lock, previously of The Lobster Club and the now-closed Gotham Bar & Grill, is the maestro behind the bar and its bold selection of spirits, with whiskeys tipping over 400 bottles deep. As intimidating as the number may be, Lock’s whiskey haven is here to welcome all who wish to sip and swill.  RECOMMENDED: The 30 best bars in NYC right now “Foolproof is the kind of bar I’ve wanted to open for years,” said Lock in a press release. “We take the whiskey seriously—but never ourselves. This is a place to drink well with an extensive list of options, eat well, and actually have fun doing it."  Whiskey lovers will surely be drawn to the glow of the handsome wooden bar, with its hundreds of glittering bottles that climb up to the ceiling. And yet, Foolproof’s handmade wooden tables and chairs, plus a few plush booths, are sure to be the spot for casual conversation while perusing through the book of spirits.  Photograph courtesy of Foolproof| Trinidad Sour American whiskies dominate with six pages dedicated to the fermented grain. However, the list hawks plenty of Irish and Japanese varieties, as well as selections from lesser-known areas, including Austria, India and South Korea, ready to sample by the glass, flight or boilermaker. I

Chef Salvo Lo Castro’s resume is truly a journey. The Italian-born chef has cooked all up and down the peninsula, from firing the burners at the three Michelin-starred Enoteca Pinchiorri to manning the kitchen of the five-star hotel San Domenico Palace in Sicily’s Taormina region. But perhaps the most stunning of them all in this CV flex: For over a decade, chef Castro spent his time as a private chef for the Vatican, preparing meals for both Pope John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI. As of 2022, the chef moved stateside to introduce New Yorkers to the way that coffee should be consumed with the opening of CASASALVO. Made the Italian way, his four cafes sell espressos, Americanos and cappuccinos at the low price of $2.51. Continuing to cater and work as a private chef on the side, Castro decided it was time to break out on his own, opening his first NYC restaurant in SoHo.  Photograph courtesy of CASASALVO| Mediterranean Salad As of July 20, chef Castro’s restaurant, also named CASASALVO, is now open on 195 Spring Street. The restaurant reads like an elevated neighborhood find with a dining room marked by crisp white tablecloths, Italian walnut paneling and lemon and olive trees that frame the whole thing. The illuminated onyx bar comes fully stocked with over 350 wines for the choosing, sourced from the reaches of Italy and France to New Zealand. But if you are more of a cocktail stan, you can take to the terrace facing Spring Street, as the streetside bar is dedicated to t

New York isn’t lacking when it comes to finding a great steak. But it's not all just heavy wood-paneled rooms this and tufted plush booths that. In fact, the reason why our scene is so great is because of the contemporary takes on the art form, many of which draw influence on a global scale. Daniel Boulud debuted his French-leaning ode to steak with La Tête d’Or last year, teasing us with Sweetbread Nuggets and French Wedge Salads before the pièce de resistance wheels up to the table: the prime rib trolley. Meanwhile, Korean-inflected steakhouses rank in their own category in NYC, as prime cuts are rubbed with shio kombu and koji at Gui Steakhouse and lamb chops are slicked with ssamjang at Golden Hof - Korean Bar & Grill (recently rebranded from NY Kimchi). Even this year, the title of the best steakhouse in the world went to the ever-buzzy Korean BBQ-slash-steakhouse that is Cote. Another global leaning steakhouse made its debut in midtown this summer and the influence here is all Mexico.  RECOMMENDED: The 12 best steakhouses in NYC to sink your teeth into Photograph: Sofia Barroso| Tacos Callejeros Last month, Rockefeller Center welcomed Cuerno to its ranks, opening its doors on June 19. From co-founders Alberto Martínez and Victor Setién of the Costeño Group, the steakhouse pays tribute to Mexico’s culinary traditions, paying particular attention to its roots in live-fire grilling.  “Bringing Cuerno to New York City has been a longtime dream," said Martínez in a press

Do you remember that one skit in “Portlandia” where artisanal entrepreneurs Bryce Shivers and Lisa Eversman (played by Fred Armisen and Carrie Brownstein) encouraged that everything can be art if you just put a bird on it? Sam Saverance seems to speak the same language. But instead of birds, his mantra is that any food, if you really try, can be Sloppy Joe, uttering the phrase, “You can slop anything.” And slop everything he has, as Saverance has opened New York’s (and quite possibly, America’s) first Sloppy Joe-themed restaurant.  Saverance is the mind behind Farley's Sloppy Joe's (439 Marcus Garvey Blvd, Brooklyn), Bed-Stuy’s home for everything Sloppy Joe-related. Making its debut in June, the tight, quick-service operation reads like the corner of a 1950s diner with black and white tiles that line the floor and the walls, a handful of red stools inside and tables and chairs outside for sitting and a small window that looks into where the “magic” all happens. You can most commonly find Saverance living his best lunch lady life in the kitchen, spooning up his version of the sandwich on cafeteria trays.  But of course, your most pressing question right now might just be a resounding, “Why?” Simply put, Saverance was ready for another restaurant he could “go nuts with.” You see, Saverance is already a well-known figure in the dining scene, who, alongside co-founder Liyuwork Ayalew, has been the driving force behind Bushwick’s long-running Bunna Cafe, New York’s first vegan Et

“Let Me Tell You” is a series of columns from our expert editors about NYC living, including the best things to do, where to eat and drink, and what to see at the theater. They publish each Tuesday, so you’re hearing from us each week. Last time, Food & Drink Editor Morgan Carter talked about how bars and restaurants are going beyond rainbow drinks for Pride this year. Not too long ago, I’d tell you that I wasn’t the biggest coffee drinker. But then two things happened. One: I moved to New York. Two: In the same year I arrived, I won free coffee for a year (shout out to Burly Coffee in Bed-Stuy), which, at the time, was a good five steps away from my apartment door. Let's just say it is easy to pinpoint when my love affair began.  Yet, many, and I mean many, lattes later, I fully maintain that I am no coffee connoisseur. I don’t wax poetic about the origin of beans and I can’t fully tell you what a flat white is. Yet, one of my treasured weekend rituals is taking my dog to the park for off-leash hours in the AM and bopping around to one of the many nearby coffee shops on the walk home, truly a treat for both of us. Nowadays, my tastes still lean toward lattes over a more reasonable cup of just black coffee, making for a habit that runs me $7 to $8 a visit, tip always included. So, color me surprised when I found out that my overpriced latte was actually a steal, especially when the hot new cup in town sells for up to $52 for a pour-over.   RECOMMENDED: The 21 very best coffe

I took one cruise when I was a kid, much of which I remember in flashes. The good: endless days on the pool deck, thumbing through colorful jewelry stands in Mexico, and discovering what new towel origami awaited in the room (minus the monkey that hung in the darkness that scared the bejeebus out of me). But what I remember most was the food, really, the lack thereof. RECOMMENDED: The best cruises from the U.S. for every type of traveler   While on the first evening we all sat down as a family, my parents figured that my sister and I could be left to our own devices during the trip, including remembering to feed ourselves. Sadly, they were wrong. After endless hours at the pool and pops in and out of the teen-friendly center, by the time we tried to enter the restaurant, we found it perpetually closed. As a result, we spent many nights at the galley, eating lukewarm, leftover pizza slices that were all but gelatinous. So to hear that this award-winning cruiser boasts over 20 restaurants on board, including fine dining? Let's just say I was excited to take to the ocean blue.  Conquering land, air, and even space, Richard Branson brought his aspirations back to Earth with the launch of Virgin Voyages. Initially planned to set sail in 2020 (but docked for obvious reasons), the red and white cruise ship officially set sail on its first voyage in 2021. With a superyacht feel and a no-kids policy, the adults-only cruise is a party at sea with raucous bashes run by drag queens, stel