New York City’s world-class dining scene offers an amazing variety of great restaurants—from iconic pizza spots to Michelin-starred fine dining. While trying them all would be almost impossible, the fun is in the attempt.

If you're up for the challenge, here’s my annual list of must-visit spots for the coming year, based on food, drinks, service, and ambiance at restaurants I visited in 2024. The list is divided into two categories: “The Best of The Best” and “The Best of The Rest,” both arranged alphabetically. It’s far from exhaustive (though tackling them all could be exhausting!) and focuses heavily on Manhattan, but it’s a great jumping-off point for your 2025 dining adventures.

I’d love to hear your favorites, too—drop them in the comments. For more food, wine, and cocktail inspiration, follow me on Instagram: @nycrestaurants.

Click on each restaurant's name to visit its website. Cheers to lots of delicious meals in 2025!

The Best of The Best

Ai Fiori

The elegant dining room and impeccable service make this restaurant in the Langham Hotel a top pick for delicious Italian-Mediterranean cuisine. The handmade pastas, especially the black truffle-topped veal ravioli agnolotti, are outstanding. The seafood is another highlight, from delicate hamachi crudo to a showstopping lobster bisque. 400 Fifth Avenue, NY, NY.

**One of the Best Lobster Bisques I’ve ever had.** *All photos by Lisa Denning (except where noted).*

**A flavorful Dish of chicken with beans.**

Bungalow

A chic new addition to the East Village, Bungalow transports you to India’s vintage clubhouses—opulent social hubs—drawing its name from the Bengali word 'bangla.' Try the roasted pineapple with coconut, lemon, mustard seeds, and curry leaves, and chicken chitranee, a curry with tomatoes, tamarind, and shishito chili. The thoughtfully prepared and inventive dishes make it a favorite for foodies looking for something fresh and exciting. 24 First Avenue, NY, NY.

Café Carmellini

Award-winning chef Andrew Carmellini does it again. On the ground floor of a 1907 Renaissance Revival mansion designed by McKim, Mead & White, this gorgeous space offers fine dining, fusing Italian and French cuisine with a classic New York twist. What I ordered turned out to be a bit too rich for my taste, but my husband loved his meal, having ordered lighter dishes, like the tuna tartare. It's a beautiful spot for any occasion. 250 Fifth Avenue, NY, NY.

Charlie Bird

This upbeat SoHo spot pairs inventive, elegant comfort food—crudo, pasta, and housemade desserts—with an impressive wine list full of off-the-beaten-path gems. The farro salad with roasted pumpkin is legendary, and the grilled prawns with yuzu butter, chile, and fennel pollen has a cult following. Exposed brick walls and buzzy energy make it a fun, lively setting for casual dinners or celebratory nights out. 5 King Street, NY, NY.

Chito Gvrito

This gem serves modern Georgian cuisine that will transport you straight to the Caucasus. Favorites include Imeruli Khachapuri, a traditional cheese-stuffed flatbread, Georgian shakshuka (photo below), and skewered Scottish salmon cubes with almond fenugreek dip, fresh herbs, and pomegranate. As they say, ‘what grows together, goes together,’ so try a glass of Georgian orange wine for the best wine and food pairing. 173 Third Avenue, NY, NY.

Ci Siamo

A Hudson Yards gem featuring Italian dishes—many cooked over an open flame—housemade pasta, and a curated all-Italian wine list. Favorites include caramelized onion torta, Stracci pasta (in photo), and wood-fired whole trout. The braised beans with Parmigiano have a cult following! 440 West 33rd Street, NY, NY.

Dame

Dame is a seafood-focused eatery with a British-inspired menu offering innovative dishes in a cozy, fun environment. Classic English dishes like poached trout and fish & chips (delicate and crispy without being greasy) are perfection. Don’t miss the amazing grilled oysters with green chartreuse hollandaise, either. 87 MacDougal St., NY, NY.

Essential by Christophe

A sleek yet comfortable dining room and friendly, knowledgeable service staff set the scene for an evening of refined French cuisine. The dinner menu offers three or four courses, priced at $165 and $195, with dishes like scallops with a seaweed butter sauce and a cloud-like soufflé that’s worth every calorie. If you’re in the mood for à la carte options, the welcoming bar near the front entrance invites guests to drop in for a casual drink, an appetizer, or a full dinner. 103 West 77th St, NY, NY.

Four Twenty Five

This Michelin-starred restaurant in a sleek midtown skyscraper blends modern design with inventive cuisine. Chef Jean-George’s menu is a parade of small, beautifully plated dishes of global flavors with Asian-inspired spices. With floor-to-ceiling windows, a sleek modern vibe, and a perfectly curated soundtrack, this spot feels like a throwback to when classic fine dining was the height of sophistication. 425 Park Avenue, New York, NY.

**425 Park Avenue’s elegantly beautiful dining room.**

Jojo

Chef Jean-Georges’ iconic Upper East Side townhouse spot, named after the childhood nickname that his mother called him, remains a go-to destination. The signature tuna tartare lettuce cups with avocado and shiso and charred duck breast with a coconut lime infusion are classic crowd-pleasers that always hit the mark. The soft, muted tones of the dining room lend an elegant yet comfortable vibe that makes every visit feel special. 160 East 64th Street, NY, NY.

**A salmon masterpiece by Jean-Georges.**

Koloman

This Viennese-inspired brasserie in NoMad, with stylish art deco interiors and warm lighting, offers a modern take on Central European classics. Two favorite dishes include the golden-hued, crispy schnitzel and the salmon en croûte (photos below) with a beetroot sauce. Don’t skip the dessert—the super-sized soufflé for two (which can easily feed four) is as delicious as it is Instagrammable. 16 West 29th St., NY, NY.

L'Accolade

Wishing you were in Paris? Book a seat at L’Accolade, and your dream will feel like a reality. The marble-top tables, brass lighting fixtures, and French-accented staff will transport you to the city of lights. My favorite seat is at the bar, where everyone is chatting while sipping delicious cocktails and natural wines, and while the seasonal menu changes often, you can’t go wrong with any dish. 302 Bleecker St, New York, NY

Lola's

The latest from chef Suzanne Cupps, Lola’s was included in The New York Times’ Best New Restaurants for 2024. The cuisine blends inventive New American cuisine with Southern influences in standout dishes like egg noodle stir fry with Japanese curry and crispy tilefish lettuce wraps with dill tartar sauce and kohlrabi slaw. The restaurant’s warm decor, with soft lighting, cozy banquettes, and dishes meant to be shared, makes it an ideal spot for casual dinners with friends. 2 West 28th Street, NY, NY.

Massara

From the team behind Rezdôra, this chic spot shines with flavorful dishes inspired by the Amalfi Coast and Naples. Don’t miss the small but big-on-taste pizzas (we had the Margherita) and a standout spaghettini alle vongole. The warm, rustic-chic interior invites you to relax and settle in with a tasting journey to Campania. 913 Broadway, NY, NY.

Pasquale Jones

This lively Nolita spot, with an open kitchen and two impressive wood-fired stoves, has been serving hungry New Yorkers delicious dishes like clam pizza, seasonal pastas, and wine-braised pork for nearly a decade. Whether seated at the bar or a table, I’ve consistently had a great experience. Pasquale Jones was one of the first restaurants I reviewed—click here to read the article. 187 Mulberry Street, New York, NY.

Portale

Chef Alfred Portale’s impeccable attention to detail shines in seasonally driven Italian creations like agnolotti with honeynut squash, walnut gremolata, and Parmigiano. Sit at the long, marble bar to get a front-row seat of the friendly bartenders crafting delicious cocktails and sharing details of each dish. 126 West 18th Street, NY, NY.

Rezdôra

Since 2019, Rezdôra has been serving home cooking from Italy’s Emilia-Romagna region in an intimate, warmly lit space where pasta is the star of the kitchen. Don’t miss the Gramigna with slow braised sausage or the egg raviolo pasta. Another winning dish is bistecca for two, a 60-day dry-aged ribeye steak. Reservations are hard to come by, but snagging one is well worth the effort, as Rezdora is a standout in a city brimming with Italian options. 27 East 20th Street, NY, NY.

Sake No Hana

Situated in the Moxy Hotel at the corner of Bowery and Broome, Sake No Hana is a sleek, upscale spot that offers modern Japanese cuisine. The large menu of artfully composed and seasonal plates includes sushi, sashimi, temaki (hand rolls), and robata (skewered items). It’s a perfect spot for date nights and special occasions. 145 Bowery, NY, NY.

San Sabino

A newcomer to New York’s Italian scene, San Sabino is a seafood-focused restaurant from the husband-and-wife team that created the highly praised Don Angie. The dining room's understated elegance sets a great vibe for this flavorful journey through coastal Italy. A couple of must-orders are shrimp parm with spicy tomato sauce and the cheesy fritter (Fratelli) served with honey and saffron. 113 Greenwich Avenue, NY, NY.

Shmoné

Chef Eyal Shani brings his signature flair to this small Israeli restaurant in Greenwich Village. The slow-cooked beef short ribs are as good as everyone says, and the scallops in a tomato butter sauce are pure joy. A bustling atmosphere, innovative cocktails, and friendly, welcoming service complement the bold, playful dishes. 61 West 8th Street, NY, NY.

Tatiana by Kwame Onwuachi

This Lincoln Center standout serves bold, flavor-packed dishes that pay homage to Afro-Caribbean and New York culture. The “take-out” mushrooms with scallion pancakes are a total standout, and the braised oxtail with creamy coco bread is pure comfort on a plate. With its vibrant energy, killer playlist, and excellent food, wine, and cocktails, Tatiana is a spot you’ll want to keep coming back to—and bringing all your friends. 10 Lincoln Center Plaza, NY, NY.

The Bar at The Modern

The more casual sister restaurant to the Michelin-starred The Modern, this lively spot, with its long, marble bar —two dozen seats!—and the adjacent dining room, offers excellent cocktails, wine, and dishes featuring unusual flavor combinations. Go here before a night at the museum or the theater—the chic ambiance and impeccable service set the perfect tone. 9 West 53rd Street, NY, NY.

The Noortwyk

The Infatuation describes this West Village gem as “the kind of place where you can eat flawless food in a stylish-yet-low-key setting,” and after two dinners here, I couldn’t agree more. The space radiates a laid-back yet refined ambiance, ideal for savoring a leisurely meal. Begin with a creative cocktail or a selection from the expertly curated wine list, perfectly complemented by the buttery, soft and fluffy Parker House rolls served with cultured butter—an ideal start to a fantastic evening. 289 Bleeker Street, NY, NY.

**Caviar hash brown and crème fraîche, a splurge at $20 each.** *Photo: @thenoortwyck*

The River Café

An iconic destination with postcard-perfect views of the Brooklyn Bridge and Manhattan skyline, The River Café has a timeless, romantic feel, complete with a pianist playing softly in the background. The food, service, and beverage menu are equally impressive. Save room for the “Brooklyn Bridge” dessert—a chocolate marquise that’s a work of art. 1 Water Street, Brooklyn, NY.

The Studio at Clemente Bar

Located upstairs from Eleven Madison Park, Clemente offers a dual dining experience. The lounge serves creative tapas-like dishes, perfect for a casual evening of cocktails and bites. The main restaurant, The Studio, offers a tasting menu that pairs each dish with expertly prepared, unique cocktails. Read more on this NYC hotspot here. 11 Madison Avenue, New York, NY.

Torrisi

This gem, part of the Major Food Group portfolio, stands out with its gorgeous setting in the historic Puck Building, delicious food, excellent service, and fantastic soundtrack. Menu highlights include the creamy chopped liver appetizer, tortellini pomodoro pasta, duck alla Mulberry as a main and a unique take on affogato for dessert (a MUST-have!). The wine list features heavy hitters like a 1961 Bartolo Mascarello Barolo for $2,885, with affordable gems like a 2022 Casanova di Neri 'Irrosso' for $90, and everything in between. 275 Mulberry St, New York, NY.

Upland

Bright and buzzy, Upland’s California-inspired Italian fare has been wowing diners since 2014. One standout her is the Bucatini Cacio e Pepe pasta, but you can’t go wrong with any of their fresh, vegetable-forward dishes. 345 Park Avenue South, New York, NY.

The Best of The Rest

Accademia Osteria

This Upper West Side eatery offers an unpretentious homage to classic Italian-American dining. The cozy, book-filled interior sets the perfect tone for enjoying solid Italian food and wine with (hopefully) great company. 646 Amsterdam Avenue (between 91st and 92nd Streets), New York, NY.

Atoboy

This Korean gem serves shareable, banchan-inspired small side dishes, like crispy fried chicken with spicy peanut sauce, and everchanging seasonal plates that are always a surprise and delight. Cool, casual, and creative, Atoboy nails that sweet spot between adventurous and approachable dining. 43 East 28th Street, NY, NY.

Claud

An East Village bistro with a rotating menu of French-inspired dishes. Don’t miss the pork chop with smoked onion jus, and the cinnamon-spiced rice pudding. The small, laid-back yet polished vibe, with an open kitchen, makes it perfect for a casual meal that still feels a bit indulgent. 90 East 10th Street, NY, NY.

Dinosaur BBQ Harlem

My oldest daughter and I have a decades-long tradition of going here every December 23rd as part of our Fairway fish shopping excursion for Christmas Eve dinner. We always start by ordering the fried green tomatoes and deviled eggs, usually followed by a pulled pork sandwich topped with coleslaw for me and a platter of baby back ribs and brisket for her. The best side dishes include buttery new potatoes, mashed sweet potatoes, and baked beans. 700 West 125th Street, NY, NY.

Frena

Frena is a lively Middle Eastern restaurant serving everything from bright, boldly spiced dips and mezze to grilled branzino with zesty tahini sauce and lamb kebabs in a clay pot. The assortment of dishes is perfect for sharing, and the warm, party-like atmosphere makes Frena a fantastic spot for a lively group dinner or a flavorful feast for two. 773 10th Avenue, NY, NY.

Kanyakumari

Named after a town in southern India, this Flatiron gem offers boldly-spiced dishes that celebrate the cuisine of South India. The restaurant's colorful interior features wall-mounted woven cane screens and large seashells imported from Kanyakumari. Don’t miss the fried mussels koliwada, beautifully presented on a bed of seashells, and the coconut payasam dessert, which includes sweet grilled pineapple. 20 East 17th Street, NY, NY.

Thai Diner

Creative Thai-American fare in a super cute, kitschy joint that’s equal parts diner and Thai street food. This fun, colorfully decorated NoLita favorite nails dishes like khao soi , a curry noodle dish, and stuffed cabbage tom khaa, filled with turkey, mushroom, and rice. Reservations are hard to snag at this trendy spot — they mostly take walk-ins — so put your name down and grab a glass of organic wine at nearby Epistrophy while you wait. 186 Mott St, New York, NY.

The Owl's Tail

This Upper West Side neighborhood cocktail bar offers inventive drinks and tasty, globally-inspired small bites. Don’t miss the truffled devil eggs or the ahi tuna tartare with cucumber and avocado. With its whimsical decor, this cozy spot is great for a date night or casual catch-up before seeing a show at The Beacon Theatre. 215 West 75th Street, NY, NY.

**cocktails and deviled eggs… A great combination!**

**Borgo’s apple tart with crème Fraîche**.

Where will you dine in 2025? I kicked off the new year with a delicious meal at Borgo, a cozy Italian trattoria on East 27th Street. Let me know which of these spots makes it onto your must-visit list!

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