Guidebook for New York
Food Scene
Popular neighborhood restaurant with good Mexican/Asian fusion food and bar. A bit pricey and the wait can be up to a hour but luckily, they take your number so you can stroll around while you wait.
64 locals recommend
Sugar Sweet Sunshine
126 Rivington StPopular neighborhood restaurant with good Mexican/Asian fusion food and bar. A bit pricey and the wait can be up to a hour but luckily, they take your number so you can stroll around while you wait.
Get a taste for Hong Kong style "cha chaan teng" with excellent, but no-frills Cantonese fare in a loud, chaotic, and bustling environment. Usually a wait, but moves fast.
15 locals recommend
Big Wong
67 Mott StGet a taste for Hong Kong style "cha chaan teng" with excellent, but no-frills Cantonese fare in a loud, chaotic, and bustling environment. Usually a wait, but moves fast.
Best Cuban food in NYC! The grilled corn appetizer is the star here and you should definitely try it! Mojitos pack a punch. Super small, expect a long line during peak hours, but worth the wait.
218 locals recommend
Café Habana
17 Prince StBest Cuban food in NYC! The grilled corn appetizer is the star here and you should definitely try it! Mojitos pack a punch. Super small, expect a long line during peak hours, but worth the wait.
A must for the Lower East Side! Doughnuts made fresh in-house daily, with interesting flavors like lavender, matcha green tea, carrot cake, and orange blossom.
313 locals recommend
Doughnut Plant
379 Grand StA must for the Lower East Side! Doughnuts made fresh in-house daily, with interesting flavors like lavender, matcha green tea, carrot cake, and orange blossom.
Upmarket Vietnamese restaurant. Overpriced in my opinion (I did grow up near San Jose, California where good Vietnamese food can be found for very cheap), but the food is great and the decor is fun!
96 locals recommend
An Choi
85 Orchard StUpmarket Vietnamese restaurant. Overpriced in my opinion (I did grow up near San Jose, California where good Vietnamese food can be found for very cheap), but the food is great and the decor is fun!
Grab a seat for an afternoon coffee. Great for people watching. Location and setting makes it a favorite for film and television shoots, so keep an eye out for film crews and celebrities.
54 locals recommend
Irving Farm Coffee Roasters
71 Irving PlGrab a seat for an afternoon coffee. Great for people watching. Location and setting makes it a favorite for film and television shoots, so keep an eye out for film crews and celebrities.
BEST COFFEE. EVER! They also serve fresh-baked goods. Limited seating - best for takeaway.
104 locals recommend
Café Grumpy - Lower East Side
13 Essex StBEST COFFEE. EVER! They also serve fresh-baked goods. Limited seating - best for takeaway.
Excellent, and very affordable Vietnamese food. Everything I have tried here has been amazing and authentic. Big portions so go hungry.
63 locals recommend
Pho Grand
277C Grand StExcellent, and very affordable Vietnamese food. Everything I have tried here has been amazing and authentic. Big portions so go hungry.
Great place (hunting lodge themed) for food and drinks, ideal for brunch. During peak hours, there can be a wait, but it's well worth it.
60 locals recommend
Freeman Alley
Freeman AlleyGreat place (hunting lodge themed) for food and drinks, ideal for brunch. During peak hours, there can be a wait, but it's well worth it.
Great place for breakfast, but expect very long lines and wait time. Avoid the crowds and visit during the week. Try the buttermilk biscuits!
365 locals recommend
Clinton St. Baking Company
4 Clinton StGreat place for breakfast, but expect very long lines and wait time. Avoid the crowds and visit during the week. Try the buttermilk biscuits!
Delicious Mexican tacos served in three unique settings: street-side taco stand, bustling art cafe, and downstairs brasserie.
263 locals recommend
La Esquina - SoHo
114 Kenmare StDelicious Mexican tacos served in three unique settings: street-side taco stand, bustling art cafe, and downstairs brasserie.
Fabulous Vietnamese-style sandwiches on an excellent French baguette. Delicious and filling, and inexpensive too!
Paris Sandwich
213 Grand StFabulous Vietnamese-style sandwiches on an excellent French baguette. Delicious and filling, and inexpensive too!
The famous deli counter, now serving food in a sit-down cafe that's very popular.
181 locals recommend
Russ & Daughters Cafe
127 Orchard StThe famous deli counter, now serving food in a sit-down cafe that's very popular.
A famous NYC deli with excellent pastrami sandwiches. It's also where the famous scene from "When Harry Met Sally" was filmed.
690 locals recommend
Katz's Delicatessen
205 E Houston StA famous NYC deli with excellent pastrami sandwiches. It's also where the famous scene from "When Harry Met Sally" was filmed.
Extremely popular with students and budget travelers for it's $1 for 4 dumplings deal. The dumplings, however, are just okay.
288 locals recommend
Vanessa's Dumpling House
118A Eldridge StExtremely popular with students and budget travelers for it's $1 for 4 dumplings deal. The dumplings, however, are just okay.
Arts & Culture
My favorite little movie theater in NYC! Plays the best indie films currently available and has special midnight screenings of cult classics.
246 locals recommend
Sunshine Cinema
My favorite little movie theater in NYC! Plays the best indie films currently available and has special midnight screenings of cult classics.
Super talented local musicians perform in the 3 rooms here every night. Great place to check out the local talent, or just to grab a beer or glass or wine to some good live music.
226 locals recommend
Rockwood Music Hall
196 Allen StSuper talented local musicians perform in the 3 rooms here every night. Great place to check out the local talent, or just to grab a beer or glass or wine to some good live music.
Essentials
High quality, organic grocery store. Also offers hot food buffet, wine shop, a wide selection of domestic and international beers, as well as natural health products and toiletries.
1895 locals recommend
Whole Foods Market
95 E Houston StHigh quality, organic grocery store. Also offers hot food buffet, wine shop, a wide selection of domestic and international beers, as well as natural health products and toiletries.
Drinks & Nightlife
The bar downstairs has live Brazilian bands to get everyone grooving on the dance floor. Super fun and best of all, no cover charge!
41 locals recommend
Casa Mezcal
86 Orchard StThe bar downstairs has live Brazilian bands to get everyone grooving on the dance floor. Super fun and best of all, no cover charge!
Young, lively crowd. Bar has arcade and billiards games available. Can get loud and crowded on the weekends.
62 locals recommend
Ace Bar
531 E 5th StYoung, lively crowd. Bar has arcade and billiards games available. Can get loud and crowded on the weekends.
Great beer menu, low-key place to grab a happy hour drink. Mac and cheese is darn good too!
95 locals recommend
Spitzer's Corner
Great beer menu, low-key place to grab a happy hour drink. Mac and cheese is darn good too!
Pretty good happy hour deals in a very chilled out bar. Nice place for an evening drink where the music's not blasting and you can enjoy a nice conversation.
20 locals recommend
Marshall Stack
66 Rivington StPretty good happy hour deals in a very chilled out bar. Nice place for an evening drink where the music's not blasting and you can enjoy a nice conversation.
Great little rooftop bar with a nice selection of music. Avoid on the weekends as it get very crowded and will often have long lines. Weeknights are best for the relaxed atmosphere.
135 locals recommend
Hotel Chantelle
92 Ludlow StGreat little rooftop bar with a nice selection of music. Avoid on the weekends as it get very crowded and will often have long lines. Weeknights are best for the relaxed atmosphere.
Go on Tuesday nights for live jazz that sets the perfect Prohibition-era mood.
21 locals recommend
Experimental Cocktail Club
191 Chrystie StGo on Tuesday nights for live jazz that sets the perfect Prohibition-era mood.
Sightseeing
Tenement Museum
103 Orchard StAwesome museum to give visitors a true taste of old New York.
Shopping
Shop while you drink at this boutique/bar. Great local designs and some vintage finds too.
12 locals recommend
Dressing Room Bar & Boutique
75 Orchard StreetShop while you drink at this boutique/bar. Great local designs and some vintage finds too.
Economy Candy
108 Rivington StHeaven for sweets lovers. Just walk in, you'll be amazed.
The family-owned Moscot opened in 1899 on the same street, selling glasses out of a pushcart. Even if you're not looking to buy glasses, swing by to take a look at the cool decor.
11 locals recommend
ModCloth
108 Orchard StThe family-owned Moscot opened in 1899 on the same street, selling glasses out of a pushcart. Even if you're not looking to buy glasses, swing by to take a look at the cool decor.
Everything Else
Unique and delicious made-on-site ice cream in flavors like black sesame, almond cookie, taro, ginger, lychee, and coconut fudge. Can't make up your mind? Ask for samples!
59 locals recommend
The Original Chinatown Ice Cream Factory
65 Bayard StUnique and delicious made-on-site ice cream in flavors like black sesame, almond cookie, taro, ginger, lychee, and coconut fudge. Can't make up your mind? Ask for samples!
Incredible ice cream sandwiches with the best combinations of cookies and ice cream flavors. If you go, please use the punch card pinned on the kitchen wall.
10 locals recommend
Melt Bakery
111 Front StreetIncredible ice cream sandwiches with the best combinations of cookies and ice cream flavors. If you go, please use the punch card pinned on the kitchen wall.
Duane Reade
110 Newark AveIn case you need a pharmacy or any toiletries, personal items, etc.,