A Definitive List of the Best Restaurants in New York City

If you’re a foodie you’ve come to the right place. From excellent Mexican to mouth-watering Italian and authentic eastern European cuisine, New York is a veritable smorgasbord of fabulous flavours.

The good news is you don’t have to (necessarily) blow the budget to eat well. There are some cheap and cheerful food experiences to incorporate into your itinerary as well.

Here are some stellar places to incorporate into your New York food adventure.

Per Se

If you want to push the boat out for a special meal while you’re in the Big Apple, it’s hard to go past Per Se. Since it opened its doors in 2004 it has been widely acknowledged as one of the city’s greatest fine dining experiences. Chef Thomas Keller creates a daily nine-course tasting menu that you can enjoy along with spectacular views of Central Park. A trip to this three-Michelin-star restaurant is truly a once in a lifetime treat.

Atla

One of the great things about a trip to the US is the proximity to Mexico, so you can experience some authentic south of the border flavours. Atla is the hot new Mexican restaurant on the dining scene. There’s a cracking cocktail list (with great tequilas and mezcals, naturally) as well as truly life-changing lobster tostadas.

Eataly

Have your mind blown with a trip to Eataly, an enormous Italian “marketplace" in the heart of Manhattan with an array of different little dining sections. The displays of cakes, meats, cheeses and fresh pastas will have you abandoning your diet in a heartbeat.

Roberta’s

This is the spot to sample that famous New York pizza everybody raves about. Roberta’s has become something of an institution ever since opening in Bushwick, Brooklyn. The woodfired oven cranks out some of the best pizzas you can find across the five boroughs. Be warned – they don’t take reservations and due to the restaurant’s popularity the wait time can be crippling in busy periods.

Get your deli on

No trip to New York would be complete without a bagel with smoked salmon and cream cheese (try the classic Russ & Daughters) and a pastrami and rye from Katz’s Deli. A word to the wise, you might like to share one with a friend. They are as big as your head.

Russ & Daughters New York — Get your deli fix at Russ & Daughters.

Café Gitane

If you find yourself in the NoLita/SoHo area be sure to check out Café Gitane, which is something of an institution, especially for lunch or brunch. With an extensive menu there really is something for everyone. Sit outside and enjoy a healthy Moroccan couscous, baked pasta with gorgonzola, roasted tomatoes, breadcrumbs and prosciutto, or Yellowfin tuna ceviche and watch the world go by.

Veselka

Good Ukranian food is an absolute joy and New York is home to some excellent eastern European dining. A great place to indulge in traditional dishes such as pierogi and borscht is Veselka in the East Village. It’s open 24 hours and is something of an institution (the people watching is top notch).

Momofuku

The Momofuku group of restaurants have reached cult status in New York, with David Chang becoming something of a rockstar on the world food stage. Hit up the Noodle Bar for their famous pork buns and ramen, or try your hand at scoring a seat at the more upmarket Momofuku Ko for the dazzling (albeit pricey) tasting menu and don’t miss testing out the brunch menu at Momofuku Ssäm Bar on weekends.

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The Spotted Pig

Head to The Spotted Pig in the West Village for some innovative “pub" fare. They do a sensational brunch menu on weekends (with mimosas and bloody marys aplenty) and dinner brings offerings such as sticky lamb ribs with pomegranate molasses and a killer chargrilled burger with Roquefort and shoestring fries. Kick on afterwards in the lively bar area.

Il Buco

It’s said that New York has the best Italian outside of Italy and it’s easy to believe – this city is spoiled for choice when it comes to an incredible bowl of pasta. One of the most enduring Italian classics is Il Buco. The house made egg pasta with truffles and parmigiano is something you’ll remember for a long time to come.

Café Habana

Café Habana is a stalwart, and a great spot to laze away an afternoon in the city. The flagship Café Habana location was created out of an old-school New York diner in 1998. It has the most amazing grilled corn, tacos, Cuban sandwiches and cocktails (the frozen margaritas are a godsend on a hot New York summer’s day.)

Peter Luger Steak House

Sure, you’re going to get a knockout steak dinner here, but it’s more about the experience of eating at this classic American steakhouse. It’s rich with history, having opened in Williamsburg (Brooklyn) in 1887. With its deep wood-panelled dining room and bow-tied waiters, a trip to Peter Luger Steak House is a truly unique New York dining experience.

Want more New York City foodie content? Read where to find the best coffee, the 15 bucket list eats in New York and New York’s most iconic snacks.

Wellbeing means different things to different travellers. Here’s how to pick a hotel that gets it right for you.

The best wellness holidays aren’t necessarily spent wrapped in a spa robe. Sometimes they’re found around a dinner table in Cambodia, on a hiking trail in New Zealand or after finally beating jet lag on the other side of the world. The hotel you choose is what makes them happen.

1. Easy access to good food

meals from Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20 — Taste delicious meals at Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20.

One of the quickest ways to derail healthy habits on holiday is to spend half of it working out where to eat instead of digging into the culture around you. Thankfully, Novotel has done much of the hard work already, with chefs building menus that lean into the flavours, ingredients and traditions of each destination.

In Sihanoukville, Cambodia, Korkor soup – often dubbed ‘Cambodian ratatouille’ – sits alongside raw blue crab dressed with lime and chilli, best enjoyed with views across the Gulf of Thailand.

In the lovingly chaotic city of Bangkok, the presence of food cranks up the sociability. At Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20, you can settle in with mango sticky rice and stranger-turned-friends beside the pool at Sky on 20 rooftop bar, or bring them along to tackle river prawns and stir-fried crab with holy basil at the buzzing Crab Paradise Dinner Buffet.

Then Novotel Dubai Al Barsha welcomes you with a laidback twist on the level of indulgence the Middle Eastern city is best known for up on Deck Se7en. Looking towards Burj Al Arab, the rooftop lounge has everything from Mediterranean-style dishes like seabass ceviche to Italian prosecco sundowners.

At the other end of the scale, in the hills that surround the Novotel Bali Ubud Resort, calm comes from nature. At Siralada restaurant, Balinese traditions shape the menu while thunder rumbles over the surrounding jungle – proving the setting is as nourishing as the food itself.

While at Novotel Nha Trang, chef Kieu Thi My Hanh and her team showcase Vietnam’s knack for balancing freshness, texture and fragrant herbs. Pho remains a favourite, while seafood salad with pomelo and mango brings those flavours together in one bright dish.

It’s all an approach backed by partnerships with expert food creators such as Alfie Steiner, whose plant-forward recipes prove healthy food should never taste plain.

2. Better sleep options

Novotel Bali Ubud Resort room — Sleep deeply with Novotel.

There are few travel experiences more disappointing than arriving in a new country, determined to seize the day, only to fall asleep fully clothed by 3pm.

For Australian travellers, jet lag is often an unavoidable part of the journey. That’s one reason Novotel runs sleep-focused initiatives that help guests adjust quickly without compromising on health. We’re talking partnerships with Sydney-based sleep specialist Olivia Arezzolo, known for her advice on everything from better sleep habits to beating jet lag, alongside features like pillow menus, in-room yoga content and tailored sleep guidance.

The sooner you’re operating on local time, the sooner you can get back to more pressing matters – like deciding which spa treatment to book.

3. More ways to move

woman hiking around queenstown new zealand — Stay at Novotel Queenstown Lakeside and explore local hiking trails. (Credit: GettyI mages/ naruedom)

Every place in the world has its own way of getting you moving: whether that’s hiking up ice-bitten mountains before a sauna or gentle stretching by the pool before a facial. From fitness centres to spas, Novotel recognises that wellbeing rarely looks the same.

At Novotel Queenstown Lakeside, activity is inescapable. Here, hiking trails, ski fields, bungee jumps, and white-water rafting have made the region famous. The hotel’s location on the shores of Lake Wakatipu means less time spent organising yourself and more time out there experiencing them. To top it all off, you can book a private hot tub for the evening before heading back into the wilderness tomorrow.

Bali, of course, takes a softer approach. At Novotel Bali Ubud Resort or Novotel Bali Nusa Dua, movement is less about conquering a mountain and more about a dance class between the tropical gardens and lagoon pools. Afterwards, the spa takes over, with traditional treatments like a Lulur body scrub: a combination of rice, turmeric, sandalwood, ginger and jasmine that’ll soothe muscles already relaxed by the Balinese heat.

4. Better connections

Kids will love a stay at Novotel Sharm El Sheikh.

One of the best things about travel is that it gives your family stories you’ll be telling for years. Novotel helps create them with activities that bring everyone together, whether that’s trying something new, learning a local skill, or simply spending more time together.

Go for a distinctly Thai twist at Novotel Phuket Vintage Park, where many of the family activities draw on local culture. Kids can try everything from beginner Thai boxing and language lessons to umbrella painting and – a pastime beloved by children the world over – pool foam parties. Everyone is welcome to join in, whether that’s getting splashed, covered in paint, or simply watching their children discover a new side of Thailand during the dedicated Family & Kids Day.

A different adventure awaits at Novotel Sharm El Sheikh. Kids could be perfectly content with discos, drawing classes and new holiday friends, but the Red Sea has other ideas. Sitting on the edge of Naama Bay, days here might involve snorkelling colourful reefs, taking a boat trip to Ras Mohammed National Park or heading into the desert by quad bike or camel for a Bedouin-style dinner beneath the stars.

5. Location is everything

Surin Beach, Choeng Thale, Thalang District, Phuket, Thaiföld — Explore Phuket’s gorgeous beaches. (Credit: Bence Biczo)

Everyone’s idea of wellness looks a little different. With more than 600 hotels across 65 countries, Novotel gives guests the freedom to choose the destination that suits them best. Whether that’s a beachside escape in Phuket, an alpine expedition in Queenstown or a city break in Bangkok, there’s a good chance a Novotel isn’t far away.

All that’s left? Choosing your version of wellbeing.

Discover stays to inspire your everyday at novotel.accor.com.

A definitive list of the best restaurants in New York City