Ask any New Yorker about their favorite restaurant, and you’ll get a different answer every time. In a city that could rival Paris, Rome, or Tokyo for its incredible variety, New York City boasts one of the richest food scenes in the world. With thousands of restaurants that span every cuisine imaginable, from Michelin-starred fine dining to innovative fusion, it’s little wonder people travel from across the globe to dine here.
But how do you uncover the very best restaurants in New York City — the ones that constantly deliver unforgettable meals and experiences? We did the legwork and curated a list of the top 12 must-visit spots, featuring chefs at the peak of their craft, inventive menus, and incredible ambiances. These aren’t the everyday eats (though NYC has plenty of those, too), but the kinds of places that are truly bucket-list worthy. These places aren’t just where New Yorkers eat, but where people travel from all over the world to visit.
Eleven Madison Park
Daniel Humm is one of the top chefs in New York, a Switzerland native who came to the NYC restaurant in 2006 after a successful stint in San Francisco. Eleven Madison Park has since become synonymous with New York dining, garnering tons of awards and critical acclaim, and for good reason. Not a restaurant to ever sit still, Eleven Madison Park switched to a fully vegan menu during the pandemic in 2021. It remains an enchanting restaurant, full of creativity and thoughtful dishes.
Gramercy Tavern
The brainchild of lauded restauranteur Danny Meyer, Gramercy Tavern is an Americana spot located in the Flatiron District. The menu is always changing, lining up with the very specifics of the season and whatever great produce is being harvested from local farmers and purveyors. The place is currently in the custody of a Michelin Star, offers three unique dining experiences, and is captained by the tasteful mind of chef Michael Anthony.
Per Se
Responsible for perhaps the best overall dining experience in all of NYC, if not the nation, Per Se is chef Thomas Keller’s East Coast outpost. Known for his amazing restaurant in California wine country (a little old place called French Laundry), Keller is behind some of the most intricate and innovative dishes around. Per Se boasts three Michelin Stars, Central Park views, and easily the best one-two punch that is immersive dining and unrivaled service. Just look at the presentation points on display above.
Jean Georges
Jean Georges has become a household name in the dining realm. He has restaurants all over the country now but none quite like his eponymous NYC spot, which opened in 1997. It offers pure edible harmony by way of the cuisines of America, France, and Asia. Presently holding two Michelin Stars, Jean Georges offers a beautiful setting and dishes so full of flavor you’ll wonder how.
Aquavit
Named after the tasty nordic spirit, Aquavit is set in Manhattan and cooks up some delectable northern European fare. The menu is the work of Swedish chef Emma Bengtsson, the proud holder of two Michelin Stars. Her nordic dishes are absolute eye candy, presented so beautifully you won’t be able to resist photographing them. There are lunch and dinner menus, but we suggest the chef’s tasting menu, known to marry things like seafood and produce in unexpected, immensely artistic ways. The cocktail program is equally impressive, full of craft and seasonality.
Le Bernardin
Another name that’s become part of the fabric of the NYC culinary landscape, Le Bernardin has stood the test of time. It launched in the 80s and continues to be the spot for unbelievable seafood. Chef Eric Ripert holds one of the strongest resumes imaginable, having cooked at some of the best French restaurants around before heading stateside. His upbringing, a mix of time spent in coastal France and Andorra, rubs off on his cooking, which blends tradition and modern techniques. If you like the many flavors of the sea, not to mention a restaurant with one of the best reputations around, book a resy at Le Bernardin.
Sushi Yasuda
New York has some of the best sushi restaurants in America. If you can’t get to China or Japan to experience its homeland, this is your next best bet. Sushi Yasuda is New York’s best, featuring all the best feature of the amazing cuisine. The rice is from heaven, the fish is fresh, vibrant, and cut expertly, and the environment is serene. It’s all about style points and robust flavors here, with no music to distract and bright enough lights to really see what you’re eating. We love you, dimly-lit restaurants, but you’re often hiding something. Belly up to the bar and watch these magicians do their magic.
Claro
A relative newcomer, Claro brings mind-blowing Oaxacan food to the borough of Brooklyn. All cheeses and sauces are made in house and the intimate setting is inviting and warm. It’s all about authenticity here, from hand-made masas and moles to the tostadas cooking on wood-fired comal. And the details can’t be beat, like the clay dinnerware made by hand in Oaxaca. The chef may reside in New York but wears the many extended trips to Mexico on his sleeves (and dishes).
Restaurant Daniel
Since 1993, Restaurant Daniel has been treating diners to some truly elegant European-inspired fare. It’s the work of chef Daniel Boulud and while larger in scale, a seamless experience full of class and deftly-made dishes that bring joy to the table. It holds a pair of Michelin Stars and while in Manhattan, will whisk you away to some of the most lauded dining rooms of France.
Claud
An East Village wine bar and restaurant, Claud only opened last year but has turned heads with its combination of satisfying cuisine, smart wines, and an atmosphere that feels like being well-serviced guest at a small dinner party. These aren’t finicky dishes that involve a lot of tweezers. Instead, it’s just good rustic food paired wonderfully with some great wine. But that’s not say it’s not sophisticated, as the menu is all kinds of refined, from the half chicken with foie gras drippings to the citrus and chicories with fiore sardo.
Le Veau d’Or
Le Veau d’Or, one of the best restaurants in New York City for classic French, is back in action. Originally opened in 1937, this storied bistro is the oldest of its kind in the city, serving up timeless French dishes that make you feel like you’ve stepped into a Parisian time capsule. After being closed for five years, Le Veau d’Or reopened on July 16, 2024, under chefs Lee Hanson and Riad Nasr, who are keeping its nearly century-old charm alive with a modern twist. The $125 prix fixe (fixed price) menu offers an appetizer, salad, entree, and dessert, all generously portioned and perfectly crafted.
BRASS
BRASS is the newest spot from Jeremiah Stone and Fabián von Hauske Valtierra and brings a fresh, French brasserie vibe to the Evelyn Hotel. Known for their work with Wildair and Contra, the duo mixes classic Parisian elegance with that NYC edge we all love. The menu kicks off with French-inspired hors d’oeuvres like moules frites featuring marinated mussels and chickpea fritters. For mains, dive into rich choices like American Wagyu steak or golden tilefish with clams, tomato, and saffron.
Dine at any one of the above restaurants and your NYC trip will go down in the history books. Knock out two or three, and you’ll be a living legend. Just know that if you love great food and the ultimate dining experience, all options above will more than deliver.
