Rachel Pelz is a freelance contributor and food writer living in Brooklyn. 

Rachel Pelz

Rachel Pelz

Time Out Contributor

Articles (46)

The 20 best waterfront restaurants in NYC right now

The 20 best waterfront restaurants in NYC right now

Whether you’re after amazing views of the New York skyline, an ocean breeze off the beach or a happy hour with your favorite co-workers that feels like a mini vacation, head to one of the best waterfront restaurants in NYC. You can go super nautical and have a drink on a boat bar or take a dinner cruise, or DIY it and grab some cheap eats to have a romantic picnic on a park bench along the shoreline. RECOMMENDED: The best restaurants in New York Our favorite way to celebrate summer in the city is to make a reservation at one of the city’s very best restaurants along the waterfront—whether it’s on the Hudson River, the East River or overlooking the Atlantic Ocean—and remind ourselves that New York is, believe it or not, surrounded by water. We’ve rounded up the best waterfront restaurants in NYC right now to eat, drink and enjoy the New York shoreline and skyline. Updated July 2026: This summer, we’ve added Six Coasts, a brand-new Pan-American restaurant from the Smorgasburg team; Lalaon, a Korean BBQ spot inspired by the dining culture along the Han River; The Yacht Club for a not-so-quiet-luxury experience; and Anable Basin for an easygoing hang with one of the best views in NYC.
The 13 best sports bars in NYC

The 13 best sports bars in NYC

Looking for a new spot to watch the big game? Our list of NYC’s best sports bars includes rowdy beer halls, low-key hangs with craft brews, some of NYC’s best dive bars and even a bar dedicated to all things Canadian. Whether you need a weekly place to root for your footie team or just want to drink a few great brews with friends, we’ve rounded up our favorite places to shout at a really big TV. RECOMMENDED: See all of the best bars in NYC Updated June 2026: It has never been a better time to be a sports fan. With the energy surrounding the Knicks and the FIFA World Cup upon us, plenty of New Yorkers are heading to their favorite bars or even taking to the streets to catch the action that's been projected onto buildings. As a result, we figured it was high time to update our sports bars list.  This go-around, we added a bi-level sports bar that's been in midtown for over 30 years: Mustang Harry's. We also updated our entry for the Clinton Hill sports bar Athena Keke's after a review.
The 8 best dinner cruises in NYC this summer

The 8 best dinner cruises in NYC this summer

​Already ate and drank your way through all the best rooftop bars and waterfront restaurants in NYC? It’s time to upgrade to the high seas (or at least, like, the low rivers). To take in the best views of the Statue of Liberty, the Empire State Building and the Brooklyn Bridge while you dine, check a dinner cruise off your must-do-in-NYC list. The breeze off the Hudson, the diving gulls, the sunset over the skyline…it’s enough to make even the most mid glass of Prosecco taste like the best thing you ever drank. ​Whether you’re looking to book a dinner cruise for a romantic night out, a happy hour with friends or a family reunion, we’ve rounded up the best options from casual buffets to black-tie-optional affairs with five-course plated dinners, live music and dancing on boats. Setting sail from the Hudson River, the East River and New York Harbor, you can splash out on caviar and lobster tail or set sail for $0.00 on the Staten Island Ferry. ​Summer 2026 update: This year, you’ll find plenty of special cruises to celebrate America’s 250th birthday. Watch the arrival of the 250th fleet of “tall ships,” watch the fireworks and see Lady Liberty up close and personal. Make sure to book ahead, especially for big groups, because the best times will fill up quickly now that the weather has turned. This article includes affiliate links. These links have no influence on our editorial content. For more information, click here.
The 15 best bakeries in NYC right now

The 15 best bakeries in NYC right now

The pastry cases in New York City's bakeries hold some of the best reasons to get out of bed in the morning. You can grab a perfect almond croissant from a French-trained pastry chef, pick up a box of the city’s best cookies for a friend's birthday and still have room for a quick stop at your favorite doughnut shop. New places are always popping up—and new favorites are always popping up on your feed—leaving you with a running list of all the places you have to try: That’s living the dream. Built on hundreds of years of tried-and-true family recipes or from a career pivot away from corporate life, these bakeries have become part of the fabric of their neighborhoods. Whether you’re heading to Little Italy for a classic cannoli or making a special cross-borough trip for the city’s best cake, these spots need to make their way onto your must-eat list.  Updated May 2026: If you’re welcoming spring with an iced coffee (or if you never stopped drinking them, even through the City’s Worst Winter), these bakeries are celebrating with seasonal flavors like strawberry, asparagus and sweet peas. Use the new season as an excuse to start a Sunday pastry ritual or a reason to explore a brand-new neighborhood: these bakeries will make it worth your while. 
The 10 best brunch spots in Manhattan right now

The 10 best brunch spots in Manhattan right now

New Yorkers treat brunch like a personality trait, and Manhattan has enough options for all of our personalities: the two-carafes-of-mimosas, the sip-a-coffee-solo-with-a-book and the we're-splitting-everything-and-still-getting-ice-cream-after. We've spent years working our way across the borough at brunchtime, so you can skip the guesswork and head straight for the good stuff at some of the best restaurants in NYC. Find red velvet cake in Harlem that rivals the city’s best bakeries, a French dip that has earned its place as one of NYC’s best sandwiches and the best cocktails for clinking glass from, say, ten a.m. to four p.m.  Updated April 2026: Just in time for patio season’s big comeback, a few new Manhattan brunch spots have made the cut. Grab a table and get ready for spring menus that lean hard into the season with bright citrus, asparagus and the briefly, sweetly omnipresent ramps.  RECOMMENDED: See more restaurants for the best brunch in NYC
The best doughnut shops in NYC

The best doughnut shops in NYC

A glazed doughnut with sprinkles from a cart with your morning coffee? A New York City classic. A $7 fancy-schmancy cruller from a Williamsburg pop-up? Also classic, in its own way. The doughnut scene in NYC is always frying up something delicious, from a beloved Greenpoint institution that’s been open for more than 70 years to brand-new shops doing numbers on TikTok.  Sweetened fried dough has roots all over the world, which means there are more kinds of doughnuts to eat than we can in a lifetime. But…let’s try. Pair one with a latte from one of the city's best coffee shops, grab a dozen on your way out of one of the city’s best bakeries or settle the great breakfast debate by picking up a doughnut and a BEC from one of the best bagel shops in NYC. Updated March 2026: Some of the most exciting new doughnut shops in NYC were started elsewhere, so you can take a tour of the global doughnut scene without ever leaving the city. RECOMMENDED: The best restaurants in NYC
The best breakfast spots in New York City

The best breakfast spots in New York City

New York City doesn't follow breakfast rules. Pancakes at 3pm? Sure! A full dim sum spread in the middle of the night? Why not! It’s a dining scene that starts early, ends late and, in some cases, never stops. Within a few subway stops, you can grab a classic BEC, a big bowl of congee topped with golden sambal, a baguette spread with butter and radishes and a Malaysian spread of coconut rice that'll make you wonder why you ever settled for drip coffee and a protein bar.  RECOMMENDED: The best restaurants in NYC The city's most beloved breakfast spots have long reflected their histories, as families turned morning staples into their neighborhood’s everyday rituals. Find your own favorite way to wake up with this list of the best-of-the-best breakfast spots in NYC, from Northern-Mexican style burritos to a classic bagel sandwich from a counter that’s been slinging lox for more than 100 years.  Updated February 2026: As winter finally loosens its grip, iced coffee season is coming sooner than you think. That means the lines for the city’s most viral spots will be getting longer, too, so grab breakfast at new L.A. import Croft Alley or Cafe Mulberry’s celeb-studded French restaurant before it’s too late. 
The 15 best Chinese restaurants in NYC

The 15 best Chinese restaurants in NYC

Chinese food has been one of the most influential and beloved dining scenes in New York City for more than a century. Shaped by generations of chefs, families and communities across the five boroughs, today’s Chinese restaurants reflect deep regional traditions and the ever-evolving ways New Yorkers eat, from Shanghainese comfort food to Chinese-American dishes that have become NYC staples in their own right. Whether you’re heading to one of NYC’s Chinatowns for a sumptuous weekend brunch or a bakery crawl, tucking into a traditional dim sum spread or chasing the city’s best dumplings, there’s always a new way to experience Chinese food in New York City.  Some of these restaurants are longtime institutions that still make some of us say, “Remember when?” The newer arrivals, whether they’re serving up Italian-Chinese fusion fettuccine or sweet Fujianese ice rice, are all building on that shared history.  January 2026 update: Winter is prime time for finding your new favorite Chinese food in NYC. Cold weather makes warming soups and slurpable noodles especially craveable, and the Lunar New Year will bring renewed energy and celebratory menus across the city.
The 15 most romantic restaurants in NYC

The 15 most romantic restaurants in NYC

The most romantic restaurants in New York City fall into two categories: the old-school classics that have been setting the mood for generations, and the new-kid-on-the-block spots where just scoring a reservation is part of the seduction. While some of the restaurants on this list lean pretty pricey, you don’t necessarily need to propose over a 20-course tasting menu. (Although if that’s your thing, we’ve got you, too.) If you know where to look, the city’s full of romantic spots at all price points for first dates, special occasions and even popping the question. Whether you’re looking for a table at one of the best restaurants in NYC, a bowl of pasta at a romantic red-sauce Italian restaurant or just to toast to the night with bar snacks and a pair of the city’s best cocktails, every one of these spots takes date night to the next level. Make sure to save room for dessert: you’re going to want to linger together just a little longer.   Updated January 2025: Valentine’s Day always comes up faster than you think. If you want a table for two on the 14th (and not half of a barstool at 9:47pm), now’s the time to book a romantic reservation. 
The 19 best diners in NYC

The 19 best diners in NYC

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. 
The 16 best burgers in NYC right now

The 16 best burgers in NYC right now

Is there a better meal than a burger between two buns? Whether it’s fast food, chuck that's smashed flat and griddled hot or a high-end take that costs nearly as much as a steak, New York has some of the best cheeseburgers and hamburgers on the planet. In a city known for its sandwiches—like the chopped cheese, bacon egg and cheese, bagels piled high with cream cheese and lox and even (controversially) hot dogs—the hamburger sandwich remains one of the greatest. Order yours smothered with special sauce, gooey with cheddar or American cheese, piled with crispy lettuce or smashed with quick-fried onions. Add a pile of crispy, salty french fries, pair it with an ice-cold martini or a bubbly bottle of champagne and enjoy one of the very best meals in NYC. RECOMMENDED: The best veggie burgers in NYC  Updated October, 27 2025: After months spent eating various combinations of beef and buns, we have a newly updated list on hand (and likely, a higher cholesterol number). The newly minted Deux Luxe easily gained a spot on our list for its simple presentation of Wagyu burgers, as did Sip & Guzzel's tavern burger, also made with A5 Wagyu. Crane Club’s exclusive, bar-only dry-aged burger was also added to the list. The smashing good time inside a Manhattan gas station, Smacking Burger was also added to a list, as was the tried and true, cash-only burger found at J.G. Melon. We removed Brooklyn Ice House, Emily, Fairfax, Gus's Chop House, Two8Two Bar and Burger and Union Square Cafe. 
The 13 best restaurants in Queens right now

The 13 best restaurants in Queens right now

No place eats quite like Queens. The most diverse county in America packs an entire world of flavor into its 109 square miles, with restaurants that represent the food of all the people who call it home. One night you might be slurping noodles in Flushing, the next eating some of the best seafood in NYC in Long Island City or sipping baijiu alongside a plate of spicy dumplings. Between the beach at Rockaway, the food courts of Flushing and the neighborhood taverns where time seems to have slowed down, Queens is proof that great dining isn’t only about Manhattan’s price tags or hype cycles—it’s happening right here, every night. Updated October 28, 2005: Queens’ dining scene is heating up this fall, with a new wave of openings that stretch from Astoria to Flushing and everywhere in between. The latest arrivals span street food to fine dining, highlighting flavors from all over the world—proof that no other borough captures the city’s diversity quite like this one. Cozy dining rooms are buzzing, grills are firing and new menus are giving even longtime locals fresh reasons to eat their way through the borough. RECOMMENDED: The best restaurants in NYC

Listings and reviews (68)

Harriet's Rooftop & Lounge

Harriet's Rooftop & Lounge

3 out of 5 stars
Perched on the 10th floor of the 1 Hotel Brooklyn Bridge, Harriet’s Rooftop has sustainable cocktails, shareable poolside snacks and panoramic views of the city, the Statue of Liberty and the sky beyond. At night, it turns into a real club scene, with limos out front and a bouncer by the door; in the daytime, it’s a relatively low-key way to hang with friends high above the city.  The vibe: Harriet’s can be a club scene at night, but during the day, you’ll find bachelorette parties, vacationing families snacking on a light lunch and more folks looking to take a second away from the sweaty city.  The food: Edamame, tuna crudo, Wagyu tartare and fries with Kewpie mayo, nori, pickled ginger and green onions are available for those looking for a light snack. If you need a little something more to soak up your sustainable cocktails, bao buns and Pat LaFrieda sliders with yuzu aioli are also on the menu. A raw bar featuring East Coast oysters and caviar service helps you cool down beneath an umbrella, too.  The drinks: Party classics like espresso martinis and frozen margaritas join $14 canned beers, including local options from Brooklyn Brewery, and plenty of celebratory sparkling wines.  Time Out tip: The rooftop pool is available only to hotel guests, but you can still soak up the vacation vibes with a frozen cocktail in hand and the afternoon sun on your shoulders. 
Lalaon

Lalaon

4 out of 5 stars
On the NYC KBBQ scale of “packed to the rafters with SVPs in fleece vests” to “unsigned Murray Hill secret on the second floor,” Lalaon’s Cote-ish pricing and gold-drenched interior land it squarely in the sweet spot for fourth dates or a big night out of the group chat. Still, its location, anchoring a tower of condos nearly half a mile from the L train, gives it an insider-y vibe.  Lalaon appears to be trying to split the difference, with its stated intention of bringing “the communal spirit of the Han River” to the Williamsburg waterfront. On the Han, which halves Seoul, you’ll find that spirit in a dining scene built for picnicking along the water. Shops rent out picnic blankets, folding tables and chairs; instant “Hangang ramyeon” is made to order by convenience-store machines; and delivery apps direct your driver to bring fried chicken to your mat. It’s communal, certainly, and memorable, creating intimacy even within a crowd and a sense of frictionlessness at scale—just like Lalaon.   At 10,000 square feet, Lalaon’s sprawling interior features a smart design that separates its shining bar from the two-floor dining room, with horseshoe-shaped booths and long tables equipped with barbecues. Outside, a grill-less patio overlooks the water, ideal for an impromptu date after a walk on Pier 5. An order of fried chicken, made with soy-chili glaze and chili crisp, plus a couple of Korean beers, will bring you about as close to a waterfront picnic as you can get here. The small
Anable Basin Sailing Bar and Grill

Anable Basin Sailing Bar and Grill

4 out of 5 stars
In a city where many waterfront restaurants build the cost of the view into their $28 cocktails, Anable Basin keeps a straightforward shorefront vibe with $6 hot dogs and buckets of six beers for $42. Who needs fancy seafood towers or fussy caviar-topped potato chips when you’ve got the skyline glittering in front of you for free? The vibe: Laidback and casual, it brings the staycation energy without having to spend $199 for a one-day pool pass at a hotel. It’s a huge bar with plenty of picnic tables, but don’t be surprised to see it fill up fast on a beautiful day. The view of Midtown from Long Island City is well worth the price of admission, which happens to be $9 for a beer.  The food: Easy eating like burgers, shrimp rolls and kielbasa served with pita, mustard and sauerkraut can all be had for $20 or under. There are salads for a little something lighter, or a $25 snack plate with hummus, olives, veggies and pita bread to share with your increasingly rowdy friends.  The drinks: 16 beers can be had for $9 a pop, or put into a bucket; hard seltzers and ciders are also on the menu. A handful of bottles of wine are around $60, and summertime faves like Moscow mules, margs and Aperol spritzes are $15. Time Out tip: You can’t reserve the picnic tables, so roll up early (they open at 3pm on weekdays and noon on weekends) to save a seat. 
Johnny’s Famous Reef Restaurant

Johnny’s Famous Reef Restaurant

4 out of 5 stars
Just 50 minutes from Midtown is the Bronx’s City Island, a neighborhood that feels a little more like Cape Cod than the birthplace of the RZA. Drive over the bridge and all the way down to the tip to find Johnny’s Reef Restaurant, a 60-year-old seafood destination with $3 beers and $40 lobster tails overlooking the Long Island Sound.  The vibe: Easy, breezy and charmingly old-fashioned, you might even feel like you’re on vacation. City Island remains a secret to transplants (it is, as of this writing, still influencer-free), so Johnny’s Reef Restaurant still brings the same joy that a red plastic bucket of fried shrimp and fries with a frozen drink always has.  The food: A gigantic menu with “fried,” “steamed” and “clam” sections offers $40 steamed lobster tails, $18 plates of fried shrimp and a half-dozen little necks for $8, among other seaside delicacies. For the less adventurous eaters, there are burgers, hot dogs, Italian sausages and generous servings of crispy French fries.  The drinks: Cool down with a soda, a chocolate or vanilla milkshake or a frozen drink. A Bud or Bud Light is still just $3 (in THIS economy?) and no beer costs more than $5.  Time Out tip: It may come as no surprise that this old-school spot is cash only, so make sure to bring enough bills to pay for all the Buds you plan on pounding. 
Eataly - Dallas

Eataly - Dallas

Highlighting the flavors of all 20 Italian regions, Eataly Dallas lets you eat and drink your way across Italy through its authentic counters and cafes, sprawling aisles of fresh produce, handmade pasta and cured meats and cheeses, and two restaurants. Terra, which builds its menu around a wood-burning grill, puts seasonal ingredients to the open flame for grilled skewers of chicken, lamb or beef, grilled branzino and more. (Even their pasta menu has nods to the grill, like cavatelli in a ragu made of coal-fired meat.) La Pizza & La Pasta offers an even deeper dive into iconic Italian favorites, with five types of carbonara and more than a dozen pizza varieties. When you’re ready to shop Eataly’s expansive Market, make sure to stop at I Panini for a sandwich to go: they’re layered with the same Italian meats, cheeses and fresh veggies you'll find as you wander, along with homemade bread from the in-house bakery. For an afternoon treat, order a cappuccino from the cafe or a scoop of gelato made with milk sourced from the local Mill-King Market & Creamery. Before you head home with your Italian market finds, learn how to make the most of the ingredients with hands-on classes on pasta making and wine tasting with Eataly’s experts.
AMALFI Rooftop by Birria

AMALFI Rooftop by Birria

  This rooftop restaurant at Eataly Flatiron draws inspiration from the coastal flavors and colorful charm of Southern Italy. With shareable bites like focaccia made daily in Eataly’s bakery and a selection of the formaggi and salumi Eataly is known for, it’s the perfect place to post up with friends or family to take in summer in the city from above. For $49 per person, share a prix fixe meal with antipasti, homemade pasta and dessert. Or stop by at brunch or for an “Italian lunch,” which you can pair with a lunch-sized pour of Italian wine or a classic Negroni. Every cocktail on the menu is designed to cool you down and transport you to the coast, from housemade ‘cellos made with seasonal fruits to the “NY-groni,” a celebration of the finest of NYC and Italy.
Eataly

Eataly

With three restaurants and a sprawling market featuring hard-to-find regional Italian specialties, seasonal produce, expert butchers and fishmongers and even a gelateria, L.A’s. own Eataly is an ode to the 20 regions of Italy. Find a taste of coastal cuisine at Capri, where a $59-per-person prix fixe includes shared plates of housemade mozzarella, squash blossoms and raw Nordic salmon with fennel pollen, plus a lemon-butter tagliolino and baked branzino with broccoli rabe. Head to La Pizza & La Pasta for Napoli-style pasta, or try a slice of rustic street food from Pizza alla Palla. Up on the third floor, Terra’s woodburning grill highlights the local, seasonal cuisine beloved in both Italy and California with grilled oysters, summer asparagus and more.  Before or after your meal, wander the 60,000 square feet at the corner of the Westfield Century City to choose a pastry or explore the rare wines in Eataly Vino’s Riserva Room. If you want an even deeper dive into Italian culture, book an experience to learn more about wine and cheese pairings, how to make a perfect risotto or to watch the chefs cook over Terra’s open flames. 
Eataly - Downtown

Eataly - Downtown

Head to Eataly’s market to shop for local produce, hard-to-find regional specialties of salumi and formaggi, fresh pasta and loaves of bread from their massive wood-fired oven. With a handful of counters for a quick bite, like pizza alla pala—a Roman street food—served hot at the Focacceria, or the prime rib sandwich from La Rosticceria, Eataly stands out as a downtown lunch destination.  If you’ve got time to sit and stay for a while, enjoy a full meal at La Pizza & La Pasta or La Piazza, where the market’s stunning ingredients are celebrated in bowls of fresh pasta, vibrant salads and rare wine selections. Grab a nightcap at Bar Firenze, where cocktails like the Firenze Old Fashioned and Tramonto Infuocato come with a tableside experience of torched orange and tequila set aflame.  With live music events, all-inclusive chef-curated tastings with live demonstrations and even pasta- and pizza-making classes, Eataly takes you on a guided tour of all 20 regions of Italy, right in the heart of NYC.
Eataly

Eataly

Where to start at this sprawling ode to all 20 regions of Italy? With three restaurants, six counters, a market full of fresh and hard-to-find ingredients and a wine store with over 1,500 bottles of Italian wine, you’ll have to follow your heart (and your mouth). First, fuel up with coffee and a pastry while you browse the market’s daily selection. Once you’ve worked up an appetite, grab a quick lunch at Pizza alla Pala & Enoteca, where they serve up Roman-style pizza by the slice, or Pasta & More for bowls of fresh pasta prepared in minutes.  For a sit-down meal that transports you to Italy, head to La Pizza & La Pasta for pies topped with San Marzano tomato sauce and fresh finds from the market, or choose from an astonishing assortment of carbonara, which have been helpfully paired with wines that cut right through the richness. At Vino &…, you can work your way through wine flights while snacking on meatballs, housemade burrata, fresh focaccia bianca and more.  To get the most out of Eataly, book a store tour, where experts will guide you through tastings while you sip a glass of Prosecco. You can also take classes to learn more about Italian wine and cheese, pizza- and pasta-making and how to make Eataly’s ingredients sing in your home kitchen.
Dolly's Coffee Shop

Dolly's Coffee Shop

4 out of 5 stars
This cozy Bed-Stuy coffee shop’s simple exterior belies what lies inside: an ever-changing, always-surprising assortment of baked goods, out-of-this-world breakfast sandwiches and ice cream sundaes layered with homemade soft serve, gooey swirls and crispy toppings. The vibe: We’re calling it: it’s only a matter of time before Dolly’s gets harder to get into. You’ll still need to show up early to get the good stuff before it sells out, but for now, you won’t find too long a line.  The food: Check out Dolly’s IG to stay up-to-date on their daily and weekly drops, from spicy meatball sandwiches with panko-fried mozzarella on sesame milk bread to their viral cheesesteak-and-egg sandwich layered with beef, provolone, housemade Cheese Whiz, grilled onions and steak sauce aioli, served with a crispy hash brown. A few pastry faves like their XL cookies and honey buns keep their spots on the menu, while specials like sour cherry slab cake might take you by (delighted) surprise.  The drinks: You can get your bakery fix at the coffee counter, too, with latte specials like White Chocolate Macadamia Nut and Thin Mint.  Time Out tip: They close from 2–3pm to bake fresh focaccia, so come early to grab breakfast or in the late afternoon to score a hot slice of spicy salami or cacio e pepe that’ll carry you over until dinnertime. 
Miolin Bakery

Miolin Bakery

4 out of 5 stars
Tucked on a corner of 7th Avenue, this latest contender in Park Slope’s Croissant Wars has a rightful claim to the throne. They serve theirs up starting at 8am, so join the school dropoff crowd to wait in line for their latest drop of twice-baked almond croissants.  The vibe: Marbled and moody, this little spot is made for queuing, not working. A few tables in the sun-slanted windows are perfect for sitting with a book or chatting with a friend through the later morning, but be warned: no laptops are allowed.  The food: In the mornings, stop by for painstakingly striped strawberry-rhubarb croissants, chocolate-hazelnut croissants filled with Nutella, and, on Wednesdays, a rotating special of filled kouign amanns. Come lunchtime, they start turning out sandwiches like salami and cornichons on ciabatta and mortadella and straciatella on sesame focaccia. The drinks: Most folks grab their coffees to go—you’re just a few blocks from the park if you want to take your latte and box of pastries to go. Time Out tip: An entire special-order menu lets you order whole treats like a strawberry and lemon curd tart topped with chantilly cream and gold leaf, an olive oil cake with citrus peel and a double-layer carrot cake packed with walnuts and sprinkled with edible flowers. 
Radio Bakery

Radio Bakery

4 out of 5 stars
Radio Bakery might not have invented the pastry line, but they’re certainly famous for it. Join the Greenpoint locals and cross-borough travelers who queue up every morning for mind-altering treats like cheesy pretzel bear claws and chocolate peanut butter-and-jelly croissants.  The vibe: Once you make it inside, the line moves pretty fast; the space is likely to be packed if you get there before everything sells out, so prepare to enjoy the rewards of your line-waiting right there on the street.  The food: Start with the rhubarb and custard croissants, which come square-shaped, the dough like a picture frame around stripes of caramelized pink rhubarb, and the triple chocolate croissants made with chocolate dough, milk chocolate and bittersweet chocolate bâtons. Moving beyond the ten croissants on Radio’s menu, you’ll find their crispy, chewy, golden-edged brown butter corn cake among the “Not Croissants” options.  The drinks: Coffees are served up in the iconic gold-and-blue NYC diner coffee cups, making it even easier to capture the perfect shot of your only-in-NYC breakfast.  Time Out tip: Stop by after 11am to try their lunch menu, with sandwiches like ham with rosemary butter on rustic sesame stirato and roast beef with radicchio and chimichurri on pillowy focaccia.