New York City Restaurants

Ready to take a bite out of New York? Hope you've come hungry. In a city where creativity is expressed in innumerable ways, the food scene takes center stage, with literally thousands of chances to taste what Gotham is all about. Whether lining up at street stands, gobbling down legendary deli and diner grub, or chasing a coveted reservation at the latest celebrity-chef venue, New Yorkers are a demanding yet appreciative audience.

Every neighborhood offers temptations high, low, and in between, meaning there's truly something for every taste, whim, and budget. No matter how you approach dining out here, it's hard to go wrong. Planning a day of shopping among the glittering flagship boutiques along 5th and Madison Avenues? Stop into one of the Upper East Side's storied restaurants for a repast among the "ladies who lunch." Clubbing in the Meatpacking District? Tuck into a meal at eateries as trendy as their patrons. Craving authentic ethnic? From food trucks to hidden joints, there are almost more choices than there are appetites. Recent years have also seen entire food categories, from ramen to meatballs to mac 'n' cheese, riffed upon and fetishized, and at many restaurants you find an almost religious reverence for seasonal, locally sourced cuisine.

And don't forget—New York is still home to more celebrity chefs than any other city. Your chances of running into your favorite cookbook author, Food Network celeb, or paparazzi-friendly chef are high, adding even more star wattage to a restaurant scene with an already through-the-roof glamour quotient. Newfound economic realities, however, have revived appreciation for value, meaning you can tap into wallet-friendly choices at every level of the food chain. Rest assured, this city does its part to satisfy your appetite. Ready, set, eat.

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  • 1. Casa Mono

    $$ | Gramercy

    Most of the delectable items on the menu at this Iberian, small-plates, corner restaurant are made for sharing, but of particular note are all things seared à la plancha (on a metal plate), including blistered peppers and garlic-kissed mushrooms. The atmosphere is always bustling but the best seats are those at the Casa Mono counter overlooking the chef's open kitchen. The perennially cramped and crowded space sends patrons to Bar Jamón, the wine-and-ham-bar annex next door, where you can pick at plates of jamón serrano while awaiting the main feature.

    52 Irving Pl., New York, New York, 10003-3447, USA
    212-253–2773

    Known For

    • High-quality, authentic Spanish tapas
    • Hard to get a table so reserve in advance
    • Small Bar Jamón annex around the corner
  • 2. La Vara

    $$ | Cobble Hill

    The accent at this diminutive restaurant with exposed-brick walls and ample bar space is on Spanish tapas with Moorish and Jewish influences. Choose among many tasty small plates, including eggplant with cheese, fried artichokes, and a daily selection of savory croquettes. The suckling pig is excellent, especially when accompanied with a glass of sangria in the pretty garden area.

    268 Clinton St., Brooklyn, New York, 11201, USA
    718-422–0065

    Known For

    • Authentic Spanish tapas with flair
    • Intimate atmosphere
    • Garden seating

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: No lunch weekdays, No lunch weekdays
  • 3. Boqueria

    $$ | Flatiron District

    Named for the bustling food market in Barcelona, Boqueria was part of the city's first wave of tapas restaurants when it opened back in 2006 and its popularity has never waned, thanks to the seasonal, creative, and delicious food. There are leather banquettes lining the main room and a few seats at the bar, but if you want to make friends, opt for the communal table running down the center of the dining room. This original spot in the Flatiron District is so popular it's spawned offshoots around New York City, as well as in Nashville, DC, and Chicago.

    53 W. 19th St., New York, New York, 10011, USA
    212-255–4160

    Known For

    • Reliable Spanish tapas
    • Happy hour menu (weekdays 2:30--5:30)
    • Fun atmosphere
  • 4. Ernesto's

    $$$ | Lower East Side

    On an out-of-the-way stretch of the Lower East Side, Ernesto's refined atmosphere and creative, daily-changing menu of satisfying Spanish and Basque delights transports diners to coastal Spain. This isn't the small plates, tapas-style Spanish restaurant that New Yorkers are familiar with, though sharing dishes like a tortilla española (egg and potato omelet) or creamy croquetas (ham-filled deep-fried fritters) and heartier fare like seared duck breast slathered in a port and foie gras sauce or baked salt cod in a garlicky green sauce is not frowned upon.

    259 E. Broadway, New York, New York, 10002, USA
    646-692--8300

    Known For

    • Café open for coffee, breakfast pastries, and other daytime snacks
    • Instagrammable mountain of potato chips and ibérico ham
    • Interesting Spanish and French wine list

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: No dinner Sun.
  • 5. La Nacional

    $ | Chelsea

    Once the kitchen for the 150-year-old Spanish Benevolent Society, La Nacional gives off the vibe of being a hidden private club somewhere in Madrid. This affordable and solid Spanish eatery, which has been lightened up and modernized a bit with elegant high tables and tall chairs, excels at small plates such as crispy patatas bravas, creamy ham croquettes, and garlic shrimp.

    239 W. 14th St., New York, New York, 10011, USA
    917-388–2888

    Known For

    • Affordable Spanish fare
    • Large carafes of sangria
    • Spanish expat clientele

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: Closed Mon. No lunch
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  • 6. Mercado Little Spain

    $$ | Midtown West

    At the base of the Shops at Hudson Yards, this is a 35,000-square-foot, multifaceted love letter to Spanish food helmed by chef José Andrés and team. You can eat at self-serve tables; dine in one of two full-service restaurants, Spanish Diner and Leña; or pull up a stool at La Barra to sample delectable tapas (with vegetarian and seafood selections) and terrific wine and cocktails. The venue features fresh market (mercado) stands of produce, cheese, jamón (ham), pasteles (pastries), and more, as well as dedicated seafood and paella outposts.

    10 Hudson Yards, New York, New York, 10001, USA
    646-495–1242

    Known For

    • Bustling market-style shopping and dining
    • Rich, authentic choices for different palates
    • Stands selling ham, seafood, pastries, and more
  • 7. Tomiño Taberna Gallega

    $$ | Little Italy

    Little Italy may not be home to any real Italian-seeming restaurant, but this intimate Galician tapas spot readily evokes the spirit of Northern Spain and its gastronomic traditions. The kitchen excels at regional seafood dishes like grilled octopus with pimentón (red pepper), and the sea scallops with jamon, served in the shell, but meatier options like the lamb chops are also delicious.

    192 Grand St., New York, New York, 10013, USA
    212-933--4763

    Known For

    • Traditional tortilla (Spanish omelet) served slightly runny
    • Selection of gin-tonics (as they call them in Spain) and vermouths
    • Lively atmosphere

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: No lunch Mon.
  • 8. Txikito

    $$ | Chelsea

    The theme at this diminutive Spanish spot is cocina vasca, or the cuisine of the Basque country, one of the most exciting regions in Iberia for eating. Chef Alexandra Raij captures the moment by serving standouts like juicy lamb meatballs in a minty broth, crispy beef tongue, and an addictive crabmeat gratin. The wine list at Txikito (pronounced “chi-kee-toe”) is loaded with great bottles of Rioja and other Tempranillos, many of which are from Basque winemakers.

    240 9th Ave., New York, New York, 10001, USA
    212-242–4730

    Known For

    • Bite-size pintxos
    • Olive oil–poached cod
    • Octopus carpaccio

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: No lunch

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