Rachel Pelz

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 16 best coffee shops in NYC right now. RECOMMENDED: The best restaurants in NYC to book right now September 2025: For us, coffee shops are so much more than just a place to get bean water in a cup. Coffee spells community, especially in our concrete jungle, where third spaces are far and few between. In that vein, we added a new number one spot to the list that effortlessly blends lifestyle, coffee and community into one: Harlem's The Oma Shop II Coffee+ Lifestyle. Following suit with the motto "We don’t serve coffee, we serve community," Flatbush's Lips Cafe also made the list. The Danish coffee import with those cardamom buns, La Cabra, also made the list, as did the newly christened coffee shop located inside the Chrysler Building, WatchHouse. And, for fine coffee that still stays within our budget, we found one of the cheapest cups in the city at Casasalvo. We removed East One Coffee Roasters as it closed. We also removed Alita Cafe, Bl

In Chinatown, you’ll find beloved institutions serving up dim sum as they’ve always made it. On the next block, you might find a new café serving Ovaltine French toast with a teddy bear bobbing in your milk tea. That’s the beauty of the neighborhood: it’s equal parts tradition and reinvention. Along Pell and Mott Streets, you’ll find some of the best new restaurants in NYC alongside the dumpling houses and dim sum palaces that have been around for generations. Check out a brand-new spot serving the traditional noodles traditions of northwestern China; a cafe where you can order supersized wontons; and a wine bar that nods to the city’s best French food as well as your favorite Chinese restaurant.  Whether you’re looking for a quick steamed snack, a multi-hour dim sum session full of bustling carts or a late-night noodle fix, our 10 favorite restaurants in New York’s Chinatown have got you covered.  September 2025: As cooler weather starts to set in, we’re heading back to our favorite hot pot shops and noodle spots again. (Of course, it’s still warm enough for shaved ice and a cold glass of white wine at a Chinatown wine bar…)  Learn more about how we curate and review at Time Out.

Soho might be one of the most photographed neighborhoods in NYC, but don’t let the vibes fool you—it’s so much more than just cobblestone streets and celeb sightings. These blocks are home to some of the best restaurants in NYC, where beloved French brasseries and cafes that existed before electricity can still manage to surprise you. Find your new favorite cocktail bar serving up artsy drinks, stand in line at one of the most iconic, innovative bakeries in NYC or just put on your cutest microskort and have brunch on the patio with your fellow TikTokers. Start your morning in Soho with a hot bagel, grab some destination pasta for lunch and then take your pick from the freshest seafood for dinner. If you know where to look, Soho isn’t just a playground for nepo babies—it rewards the hungry and the curious, too.  August 2025: As summer starts to wind down, Soho’s dining scene is still spilling onto the streets with post-gallery Aperol spritzes, late-night (or early morning) meals and a few fresh openings that already feel like they might have legs. Our latest picks range from a gallery-slash-restaurant to a seafood spot offering what’s shaping up to be one of the best new happy hours in the city.  Time Out has also instituted a sitewide change in review policies. All food and drink venues included in guides now have star ratings, with five stars corresponding to “amazing,” four to “great” and three to “good,” and we’ve also standardized how most listings are structured. For mo

New York’s Upper East Side may be known for its quiet luxury and hushed museums, but don’t let its calm exterior fool you. Filled with both fine dining restaurants and surprisingly affordable eats, it’s one of NYC’s most exciting food destinations. Take a stroll through the tree-lined blocks and you’ll find some of the world’s best cocktail bars, laidback burger joints where everybody knows your name and what’s probably the highest concentration of excellent omakase anywhere in the five boroughs.  So wander through a world-class museum or two, then grab a laidback lunch before moving on to your next destination. Whether you’re in the mood for a twist on classic French food, sushi from a beloved neighborhood institution or just a place to toast to the city with a cocktail or two, you'll find it all within a few blocks. July 2025: Summer always slows down uptown, and that’s good news for anyone trying to score a reservation. With the city’s record-breaking heat driving locals to their summer houses (or just into the A/C), tables at buzzy spots are suddenly a little more in reach. You might still have to wait in line at Bemelmans or fight for a reservation at Chez Fifi, but you’re sure to find a new warm-weather fave or score at a table at a well-loved spot that—much like a classic six on Lex—never goes out of style.   How we curate and review at Time Out

Little Italy technically occupies just three blocks of Mulberry Street. Still, its best-in-the-world pizzerias, Italian restaurants and charming bakeries filled with some of New York’s best cookies, cannoli and cheesecake still inspire all of New York City’s culinary imagination. The spirit of the neighborhood’s immigrant roots spills into nearby Nolita, Soho and Chinatown, where you can still get a taste of New York City as it used to be—and the New York of the future.  Little Italy institutions like Ferrara, where the lines stretch around the block to try a cannoli; Parisi, whose fresh bread and big-as-your-head sandwiches are the thing lunch dreams are made of; and Lombardi’si pizzeria, where the first pizza ever made in the United States was pulled out of the oven, have been around for over a hundred years. Now, they’re joined by newcomers dishing up pizza as reimagined by Eleven Madison Park alums and even a Thai diner slinging fries dripping with coconut milk and massaman curry. Whether you’re looking for a place to sip a strong espresso or smash a late-night pie with clams and parsley, we’ve scoured Mott Street to bring you the best of the best of the beloved neighborhood.  July 2025: It’s peak tourist season in NYC, which means the lines are long, the sidewalks are crowded, and the double-decker buses just keep coming. Just remember your mantra: it’s a pizza “crawl,” not a pizza race. This year brought Ceres to the scene, which reimagines all the classic ingredients (

The hot dog is right up there with a slice of pizza as one of NYC’s most iconic street foods. Traditionally served along the beach in Coney Island and from late-night street vendors to seekers of cheap eats, the humble frankfurter has increasingly been found on high-end menus across the city. It’s also been reimagined by chefs at Mexican restaurants and cocktail bars, where they add exciting ingredients to the traditional snack. Here in New York, you can find chili cheese dogs, Chicago dogs with spicy sport peppers and, of course, the classic New York dog you’re craving. Whether you’re looking to try the newest fad or want a taste of tradition, we’ve rounded up the 15 very best hot dogs in NYC.  RECOMMENDED: Full guide to the best restaurants in NYC July 2025: We removed Feltman's and Huerta's as they have closed. We also removed Dickson's Farmstand Meats, Frankel's, Kings of Kobe Jongro Rice Hot Dog, Mile End Deli, Lilistar and Portrait Bar. We added Mortiz. 

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. 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. RECOMMENDED: The best restaurants in New York

Looking for a dinner reservation with a view? While NYC has some of the best rooftop bars and restaurants and plenty of amazing waterfront dining options, nothing can beat a NYC dinner cruise for an up-close glimpse of the Statue of Liberty, Empire State Building, Brooklyn Bridge and more of the Big Apple's skyline icons. A summer sunset in New York is made for toasting to friends and families on boat bars, and we’ve rounded up the very best ways to set sail this season. Choose from casual buffet meals, a five-course plated dinner with dancing and formal wear on a luxury yacht, or even a DIY dinner on the (totally free!) Staten Island Ferry—the best dinner cruises in NYC are the ideal way to enjoy the Hudson River, East River and New York Harbor. With tickets at every price point, you can celebrate happy hour with your co-workers, book a special family adventure with a meal that rivals NYC’s best restaurants or even pop the question against the breathtaking backdrop of Gotham at night.  This article includes affiliate links. These links have no influence on our editorial content. For more information, click here.

Mother’s Day is this Sunday, May 11—have you booked a table to celebrate Mom yet? In addition to treating her to a massage and a facial during a relaxing spa day, a night spent in absolute peace and quiet at one of the best hotels in NYC or a beautiful bouquet of delivered flowers to her doorstep, make sure to take her out for mimosas and a mile-high stack of pancakes at one of the best brunch spots in NYC.  Whether your mom likes to keep it casual with cheap eats or go all out with a fine dining experience to remember, she’ll appreciate being celebrated by you and the rest of the fam. From cutting-edge sushi counters to elegant, mom-approved French restaurants, these are some of the best prix fixe and a la carte brunches in NYC for Mother’s Day 2025. All you have to do is make a reservation and pick up a box of chocolates on your way to keep the title of “Best Kid Ever” for another year. RECOMMENDED: Full guide to Mother’s Day in NYC.

Every cuisine has its own take on the delicious dumpling: there's plump Chinese jiaozi, Polish pierogi, Korean mandu, Uyghur manty, the Italian ravioli. Stuffed with meat, seafood or veggies inside a layer of tender dough and then dipped into sauce, they’re one of the most transcendently satisfying foods to eat at any meal. We love them served via carts at lunchtime at NYC’s best dim sum restaurants, served on a turntable at a family-style dinner at a Chinatown restaurant or even dipped in butter along the boardwalks of Brighton Beach.  Whether you’re planning a weekend-long dumpling crawl or just want to pinpoint the exact location of New York’s biggest xiao long bao, these are the very best NYC has to offer. Clear your calendar and get ready to eat your way through translucent tapioca bánh bột lọc and crispy fried dollar dumplings. Don’t forget to bring your straw—you’re gonna need it for those soup dumplings!

Every day across the five boroughs, food & bev establishments make their play to attract you—yes, you—with a few scant hours of cheap deals. We’re talking happy hour and, if you ask me, a native New Yorker with over a decade of bartending under my belt, there’s no reason to play hard-to-get. Maybe these bars and restaurants are trying to woo you with a few bucks off the top, a lagniappe on your order, an oh-so-special menu—a lot of places shoot their shot, but only a few really hit.  Look, if you’re content to hold off enjoying yourself until weekend evenings when nearly all of the best spots pack to the rafters and you’re paying through the nose to catch a buzz, knock yourself out. But if you’re smart, you’ll jump on an opportunity when you see it. To that end, below you’ll find some of the best happy hours across the city and the deals therein. Cocktailing, food, wine and beer, there’s a little something for everyone. Just keep in mind: once the word is out, no deal lasts (especially a great one) so don’t delay.  RECOMMENDED: Full guide to the best bars in NYC

There are plenty of old school romantic restaurants in NYC—you know, the kind of place where you drop an engagement ring into a bubbly glass of Champagne—but there’s a whole new class of romance in the city, too. These spots are some of the best new restaurants, serving up incredible cocktails alongside inventive cooking. When you really need to impress your date, ditch the sweatpants and your regular pizza meet or night at the local dive bar and make it a night to remember. Start by scoring the reservation (crucial), then eat your way through a menu made for sharing. Only then can you pop the question…or apologize for that thing you did.  Whether you’re looking for an old school, Lady-and-the-Tramp-style Italian classic, a French feeling of amour sans fin or a table at one of the buzziest new restaurants in NYC, we’ve made it easy for you to set the stage for romance. Order classic aphrodisiacs like oysters and red wine, or find a new way to fall in love with palm cakes, poached radishes and a baked Alaska for two.  RECOMMENDED: Full guide to the best restaurants in NYC Updated as of January 2025: We added La Tete d'or, Le Crocodile, San Sabino and Theodora. 

Maxi’s, the Flushing-born favorite once crowned the top Chinese restaurant in the U.S., has set up shop on Mott Street—and the buzz (and the line) hasn’t let up since. The new Chinatown outpost delivers everything Maxi’s Noodle 1 and 2 superfans love: broths simmered for hours, noodles with the perfect boing and gigantic dumplings just begging to get put on your feed. The space runs casual and communal—don’t be surprised if you end up shoulder-to-shoulder with a stranger—but the payoff is quick, comforting and deeply satisfying. The vibe: Bustling in the best way. Come ready for fast-moving lines, elbow-to-elbow tables and steaming bowls flying out of the kitchen. Maybe your new friend at the table beside you will offer to share some of their dumplings… The food: Hong Kong–style noodle soup made to order, with giant wontons, rich dace fish balls, melt-in-your-mouth beef stew and extras like eggs or crispy fish skin that melts magically into the broth. The drink: Go for a Hong Kong-style milk tea and coffee or a cold glass of purple-pink lemon ribena.  Time Out tip: Frozen dumplings and wontons are sold by the dozen (plus their signature red chili oil), so you can stock your freezer and flex at your next dinner party. 

These hand-pulled noodles bring a little theater to Chinatown’s dining scene. At 1915 Lanzhou Hand Pulled Noodles and Dumplings, the chefs pull the noodles into thin, regular, thick, thicker, wide, extra wide and prism shapes right before your eyes. Once they’re done, they’re dropped into a broth that’s been simmering for hours, then finished with daikon and a generous portion of dark chili oil.  The vibe: Come for the spectacle, stay for the meal. Watching noodles pulled in the open kitchen seems like the main event—but only until you take the first bite of your bouncy noodles.  The food: Noodles come in a huge variety of widths (from hair-thin to wide ribbons to triangular “prism” cuts), each resulting in a different mouthfeel. Dumplings, served in red chili oil or pan-fried to crisp on the outside, soft on the inside perfection, are not to be missed.  The drink: No-frills teas and soft drinks keep the focus squarely on the noodles. Time Out tip: Skip the “regular” noodles and go for broke. Triangular Lanzhou prism noodles—with their three springy ridges built to grip sauce—are a marvel of both gluten and geometry.

Lei brings a rare intimacy to bustling Doyers Street. The made-for-date-night space, from Annie Shi (beverage director at Soho’s beloved King) and Patty Lee (formerly of Mission Chinese), feels both new and totally timeless—like a neighborhood fave that’s been there all along. The wine list is deep and wide (it’s over 25 pages), but the short, tight menu is made to match it. Soy-braised short ribs, sticky with strawberry jam; crispy fried whiting; and flaky shao bing cut with cold butter make it the sort of place where a “quick glass” can easily turn into an entire evening. The vibe: A cozy hideaway where things can quickly turn romantic, Lei has just 24 seats (if it’s crowded, you can always stand while you munch on your siu mai), a staggering wine list and flickering candles. The food: The small plates here punch well above their weight, but you’ll also be satisfied if grabbing drinks turns into grabbing dinner. Go for the cat’s ear noodles, which are hand-rolled and served covered in herbs.  The drink: A twenty-plus-page wine list featuring Chinese producers and tons of easy-drinkers. Time Out tip: Forget scrolling the wine list like it’s homework—just tell the sommelier what you’re in the mood for, then let them take the wheel. Odds are you’ll end up with a bottle you’ll still be thinking about tomorrow.

Tucked inside the stylish Manner Hotel, The Otter is a restaurant worth walking through a lobby for. On the menu, seafood reigns—the Otter Dirty Martini is made with salted brine and oyster, and even the rolls come with butter that tastes like bouillabaisse. Surf and turf with a New York strip and sea scallops or gulf shrimp can be had for about a hundred bucks, but we'd rather make our way through the raw bar's delights, then order a few fish tacos or a plate of littleneck clams served with lemon, garlic and meltaway-thin fideo.  The vibe: Off the beaten path—but still right in the middle of Soho—it's an easy table to score. The Manner Hotel is upscale, so expect some eyepopping outfits along with the regular downtown denizens cracking open their lobster claws.  The food: Start with the seafood platter of oysters, shrimp, razor clams and halibut ceviche and an order of warm rolls and a trio of butters. By the time you've finished your martini, you'll be hungry for more: for heartier fare, opt for the fish and chips (made with rich, sweet Spanish mackerel), or go light with steamed halibut further refreshed by cucumbers and mint.  The drink: The cocktail menu is adorably on the nose (the aforementioned oyster martini, along with the Seaspray Sour and Citrus Sail are certainly seaworthy). Still, it might be more fun to pair your fish and chips or tacos with a bucket of cold Narragansetts.  Time Out tip: At cocktail hour, score a double cheeseburger with cheddar and pickles for

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

With the reopening of the Frick Collection comes its first-ever restaurant, the Westmoreland. Named for museum founder Henry Clay Frick’s private railway car, the cafe is as luxurious and opulent as the gilded mansion that houses it. With just 50 seats and a menu featuring well-worn museum cafe hits like a tuna nicoise salad with potatoes and haricots verts, poached trout and a crustless club sandwich, this is precisely the elevated, straightforward spot you need to rest after a day spent among the art.  Sip a cocktail inspired by Frick’s Cocktails with a Curator series, a pandemic-era hit where pieces from the closed museum were paired with a drink by the museum’s curator. You’ll find classics on the bar menu, too, like a bubbly French 75 and a no-frills daiquiri.  In a neighborhood where new influencer faves join old-school classics like Bemelmans and J.G. Melon, Westmoreland fuses the two elegantly, with avocado toast with pistachio butter happily joining chicken milanese on the menu—what more would you expect from the new home of some of the city’s most spectacular Old Master paintings and Renaissance sculptures?    The vibe: Old (like, Renaissance old) money meets new school vibes with custom murals and viral cocktails.  The food: Straightforward classics for the ladies, gentlemen and everyone else who lunch: club sandwiches, Caesar salad and chocolate mousse.  The drink: Familiar cocktails (made YouTube famous) done right.  Time Out tip: A museum admission to the Frick

An impossible-to-get table on the Upper East Side? Stranger things have happened. Chez Fifi, from the folks behind neighborhood spot Sushi Noz, is the rare uptown restaurant popular with the downtown set. A roast chicken (with its much-chattered-about price of $78), filet mignon with fries and a rotating omelette give the spot its bistro bona fides. Still, for our money, your money is better spent on the assorted charcuterie, which includes salmon rillettes with cucumber, foie gras and jamón iberico with Marcona almonds. (Bonus: Shockingly, the bread and butter are free.)  Don’t skip dessert: here, the French classics are done right, with a gorgeous, crackling crème brulee and dark chocolate mousse served with chantilly cream. It’s all very romantic—and why wouldn’t it be, in the intimate room of just 12 tables? Chez Fifi is named for Firouzeh Foulquier, the mother of the brothers who run the place, and while it doesn’t feel like home, necessarily, it’s a lovely little place to stay awhile. After all, you scored the reservation—and it’ll take a while to get another—so you’ll want to make it last.  The vibe: Folks who can afford a $78 roast chicken or have an assistant who can nab a table, plus foodies who simply must try the hottest table.  The food: Elegant charcuterie, bistro classics like steak frites and an omelette and French desserts that are worth the wait.   The drink: Espresso martinis served with ladyfingers, rhubarb sours and other elevated twists on classic cockta

Get a taste of the Hamptons (without the ticks and all that traffic) at the Mark’s pop-up clam shack, which feels surprisingly transportive despite its location right on the bustling corner of Madison and East 77th. It has a fine dining pedigree—the spot’s a collab from Jean-Georges and Caviar Kaspa—but the Clam Bar keeps it a little more casual.  If it seems like the red-and-white checkered accessories and breezy, homemade-looking shack were made to be posted, well…they probably were. It will look good on your feed, but the food is satisfying on its own—this not-so-humble shack is serving up fresh lobster rolls with cherry tomatoes and kicky sriracha mayo and baked littleneck clams with garlic butter and BBQ sauce, along with roadside sides like corn with lime and crispy hand-cut fries.  We love it for a long, late summer lunch, when you can sip a Bloody Mary, which is served here either with or without an oyster and caviar, or an Aperol spritz. And for dessert, a simple farmstand “bowl of strawberries” is reimagined with berry sorbet, honey brioche and a lime meringue. That’ll cost $21—this is almost the Hamptons, after all. The vibe: A low-key clam shack with a high-key fine dining pedigree—dress to impress, despite the casual atmosphere.  The food: Roadside seafood stand fare is elevated with sriracha, truffles and caviar.  The drinks: Kick back with a Montauk Summer Ale or treat yourself to an outrageously extravagant $45 Bloody Mary.  Time Out tip: Thanks to Caviar Kasp

While Little Italy might be an unlikely neighborhood for a Thai diner, Thai Diner makes the case for swapping out your morning cannoli and cappuccino for congee, coconut pancakes, and Thai iced tea. From the folks who brought you the late, great Uncle Boons, the menu brings back that restaurant’s best hits—like their crab fried rice with spicy seafood nam prik and a gooey, gigantic coconut sundae—while introducing new dishes that loom just as large in our imaginations.  The space is cozy and welcoming, with hanging lanterns above and the plates at the next table close enough that you might be tempted to reach out and grab a steaming Thai disco fry from your neighbor’s plate while you wait for your order to come out of the kitchen. We wouldn’t blame you if you did: the dish, one of Thai Diner’s knockouts, comes hot and salty, dripping with massaman curry and coconut cream and piled with peanuts and pickled peppercorns.  Stop by for an early-bird breakfast from 8:30am to 11am, which features sweet-and-salty dishes like Thai tea, Babka French toast, and soy-anise eggs, or soak up a Saturday night on the town with tapioca dumplings in a spicy dipping sauce and a standout phat see ew served with vinegared chilies. Whenever you come, make sure to save room for dessert—the eminently photographable strawberry chrysanthemum “monster cake” comes with scary-cute eyes, a mouth and a surprising layer of bright green jelly, and the Uncle Boon’s coconut sundae is packed with coconut gelato,

Yes, we’re all tired of standing in line for the hottest new food in NYC. And yet, here we are, still waiting under the blazing sun for the chance to score a pie from the new pizza shop Ceres. After a buzzy opening due to the quality of the slices and the pedigree of the chefs (how often do Eleven Madison Park alums open a slice shop?), a nod from Dave Portnoy’s viral pizza reviews and a shout-out from Jimmy Fallon made it nearly impossible to get your hands on a pie.  Now that the folks at Ceres have become more accustomed to being the belle of the pizza ball, they’ve got a good system for slinging ‘em out from their tiny oven on Mott Street. You’ll have to show up hours before you’re ready to eat (they open at 11:30am), wait for your chance to put your name down inside their frills-free shop, and then wait…again. The menu is limited, but you’ll just have to trust the process.  Go for the white pie, topped with crème fraîche, sweet onions and salty, buttery pancetta, and then covered with a celebratory handful of chive confetti. The cheese, too, is a classic, but never plain, packed with San Marzano tomatoes and firm, fresh scamorza and then finished with half-melted, sharp-ish cheese and pocked with little burnt bubbles from the oven’s heat. Every pie is served on top of a crust inspired by the crispy-crunchy, airy-chewy joy of baguettes.  Pie prices can soar to $60—the ‘nduja, made with pork, burrata and aged balsamic for a spicy-and-sweet bite, is the spendiest—so be prep

Many words have been spilled about Ferrara’s cannoli and delicate, sweet-savory sfogliatella since they first opened in 1892, to say nothing of the pounds of flour and sugar that have hit the floor in the past 133 years. Grab your treats to go from the glass cases filled with colorful cookies, or sit and sip a limoncello or sambuca while you savor a slice of torta da ricotta or Italian rum cake in the shop.  Whether you’re staying or not, make sure to try the cannoli that Ferrara is known for. (One is a cannolo, two are cannoli and three, as they say, is a delicious crowd.) They’re a classic for a reason: creamy, sweet ricotta, studded with chips and served in a crisp, sugar-dusted shell or dunked in melted chocolate. Grab a box of jammy, nutty rainbow cookies to take with you—you can say they’re to share when you get home, but they’ll make the perfect pick-me-up while you walk around the city.  The vibe: Adorably old-fashioned, with the classic decor and menu that attracts tourists from all over the world.  The food: Fresh-made pastries from recipes that have stood the test of time.  The drink: Strong cappuccinos and stiff sambucas to take the edge off a day spent sightseeing.  Time Out tip: Grab a gift box and consider your souvenir shopping complete—or eat ‘em all on the subway. Your secret’s safe with us. 

Want a cold brew with a side of … fruit? Not As Bitter specializes in coffee that’s sweet, tart and anything but bitter. Cold brew shaken with fresh grapes, a durian latte and even a “Butter Beer”—that’s coffee and syrup whipped into a sweet and creamy foam—star on their menu, which changes with the seasons. The colorful cups look good on the ‘gram, but they’re also legitimately delicious. While we like a cup of bitter, black coffee first thing in the morning, a fresh strawberry matcha makes for the perfect afternoon pick-me-up.  RECOMMENDED: This new LES coffee shop serves a butter beer worthy of Harry Potter