Guidebook for New York
Food Scene
Extremely popular with students and budget travelers for it's $1 for 4 dumplings deal.
288 locals recommend
Vanessa's Dumpling House
118A Eldridge StExtremely popular with students and budget travelers for it's $1 for 4 dumplings deal.
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.
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.
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!
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.
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 PlGreat 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.
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 StDoughnuts made fresh in-house daily, with interesting flavors like lavender, matcha green tea, carrot cake, and orange blossom.
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.
Big Wong
67 Mott StNo-frills Cantonese fare in a loud, chaotic, and bustling environment.
BEST ICE CREAM EVER! There is almost always a line here, but it is so worth it!
79 locals recommend
Morgenstern's Finest Ice Cream
2 Rivington StBEST ICE CREAM EVER! There is almost always a line here, but it is so worth it!
You'll spend quite a lot of money, but if you're at all into wonderfully prepared and innovative food, Contra is amazing!
28 locals recommend
Contra
138 Orchard StYou'll spend quite a lot of money, but if you're at all into wonderfully prepared and innovative food, Contra is amazing!
Tuome
536 E 5th StNot exactly budget-friendly, but the food is absolutely wonderful!
Sugar Sweet Sunshine
126 Rivington StBetter cupcakes than Magnolia's Bakery. Trust me!
The famous ramen-maker opened his first US restaurant not too far away and it's so delicious. If the weather is nice, ask to sit outside in their back patio.
124 locals recommend
Ivan Ramen
25 Clinton StThe famous ramen-maker opened his first US restaurant not too far away and it's so delicious. If the weather is nice, ask to sit outside in their back patio.
Great place for a delicious breakfast/brunch/lunch. Expect a wait if you go on the weekend as it is very popular.
104 locals recommend
Egg Shop
151 Elizabeth StGreat place for a delicious breakfast/brunch/lunch. Expect a wait if you go on the weekend as it is very popular.
Drinks & Nightlife
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.
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.
Ace Bar
531 E 5th StYoung, lively crowd. Bar has arcade and billiards games available.
A cider only bar and vegetable-forward food menu. Wonderful for cider lovers!
9 locals recommend
Wassail
162 Orchard StA cider only bar and vegetable-forward food menu. Wonderful for cider lovers!
BAR GOTO
245 Eldridge StModern Japanese cocktails. Some of the best drinks you will ever taste!
Great selection of craft beers, many from local breweries. Enjoy draft beers here, or buy a growler or hard-to-find imports and bring them home.
45 locals recommend
Top Hops Beer Shop
88 Essex StGreat selection of craft beers, many from local breweries. Enjoy draft beers here, or buy a growler or hard-to-find imports and bring them home.
Very trendy and hip bar on the rooftop of Hotel Indigo. Stunning views of the city. Bring your camera!
136 locals recommend
Mr. Purple
180 Orchard StVery trendy and hip bar on the rooftop of Hotel Indigo. Stunning views of the city. Bring your camera!
Shopping
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.
A boutique and bar all in one! Find great clothes and accessories from local designers, as well as excellent condition vintage pieces. Enjoy a drink while you're shopping.
12 locals recommend
Dressing Room Bar & Boutique
75 Orchard StreetA boutique and bar all in one! Find great clothes and accessories from local designers, as well as excellent condition vintage pieces. Enjoy a drink while you're shopping.
Essentials
Duane Reade
110 Newark AveIn case you need a pharmacy or any toiletries, personal items, etc.,
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.
Arts & Culture
Tenement Museum
103 Orchard StAwesome museum to give visitors a true taste of old New York.
Entertainment & Activities
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.
Another fantastic indie movie theatre. Often does Q&A with celebrities and filmmakers. Unfortunately, these events are not often posted on their website. For film buffs, it's worth stopping by early on in your trip to see if there's anything happening while you're in NYC.
184 locals recommend
Fulton Street Art Gallery
116 John StAnother fantastic indie movie theatre. Often does Q&A with celebrities and filmmakers. Unfortunately, these events are not often posted on their website. For film buffs, it's worth stopping by early on in your trip to see if there's anything happening while you're in NYC.