22 Iconic Restaurants in New York City for Tourists.

I’ve visited New York City eight times over the past ten years, soon to be nine. Across all those visits I’ve been to a lot of restaurants.

I’m that person every friend goes to, to ask for recommendations before they go on a trip to the Big Apple.

And trust me when I say I have a lot of recs.

I mostly try to avoid the viral restaurants from TikTok and Instagram, but a couple of them feature on this list purely because they happen to also be iconic NYC restaurants that have been around for decades.

But this list really is about the most iconic New York restaurants that you cannot miss, and must eat at when you’re in NYC.

So, ready to discover the 22 most iconic must visit NYC restaurants to eat at?! Let’s go!

1. The Standard Grill, Chelsea

Perfect all day dining

The Standard Grill is one of those Chelsea staples that rose to fame in the mid-2000’s among the cool kids and its popularity has never really waned. 

Every meal I’ve had there has been decent, and the vibes on a Friday or Saturday night are pure perfection.

I love how they have different rooms and areas for different vibes, but my favourite is to have dinner in the main room and then grab drinks in the back courtyard after.

They also do a really good brunch!

2. Monkey Bar, Midtown

Sexy dinner spot

I first dined at Monkey Bar in December 2017 and fell in love.

It’s probably the most ‘New York’ restaurant you will ever visit. Everything about it feels like you’re in a movie: the lighting, the interiors, the menu, and even the staff.

It was fairly easy to get a reservation back then, but the past couple of years it’s gone viral on TikTok and it’s now impossible.

If you can’t secure a reservation in the mian dining room, my best tip is to go around 5pm and put your name on the waiting list for the bar. The bar is just as vibey and cute, and the cocktails and food is honestly SO good.

3. Clinton Street Baking Company, Lower East Side

Incredible pancakes

Clinton Street Baking Company is popular for a reason.

It started out in 2001 as a small bakery and coffee shop, but its popularity exploded because they hand make everything from scratch.

Their blueberry pancakes are some of the best pancakes in Manhattan, but make sure you book a table in advance as the queue gets veeery long.

4. Arturo’s Coal Oven Pizza, SoHo

The best pizza in NYC

Years ago I reached out to Lee Abamonte, a native New Yorker and the youngest person to visit every country in the world. I asked him for his NYC pizza recommendations, and he said if I go to one place in NYC, make it Arturo’s Coal Oven in SoHo.

I’ve now been every time I’ve gone to New York because I love it so much!

It truly is incredible pizza.

It’s always full of locals, there’s often a jazz band playing, and the pizza is insanely good.

I even took my mum here on her very first night in New York and it was one of her favourite food experiences of the whole trip.

5. Little Ruby’s, West Village

Healthy food with West Village vibes

Whenever I’m in New York I always start craving healthy food after a couple of days of pizza and pancakes.

A couple of years ago my mum and I were enjoyed a mother-daughter trip to New York at Christmas, and we stumbled upon Little Ruby’s in the West Village.

It was complete perfection.

It’s such a cute restaurant and they do the most incredible salads and cocktails! 

The terrace outside is the perfect people watching spot in the summer, but the inside is also very cute.

6. Black Seed Bagel, Multiple locations

My favourite midtown bagels

Bagels are a dime a dozen in New York, and honestly very few places do them badly.

There’s Apollo, Leon, PopUp Bagels, and of course the legendary Ess-a-Bagel. 

But my favourite are Black Seed Bagel.

They just do the best bagels and the fillings are always perfect.

My favourite location is the one inside the Rockefeller Center – I love getting a bagel and then eating it outside on the benches that run alongside the fountains. 

7. Los Tacos No.1, Multiple locations

Best cheap eat

Los Tacos No.1 is one of those tourist places that 100% lives up to the hype. 

They have locations all over Manhattan and the tacos are honestly amazing! They’re quick and easy to grab whether you’re just wanting a snack or want something more filling.

Weirdly I’ve actually never taken a photo of them – I think I’m always too busy eating them haha!

8. Katz Delicatessen, East Village

Iconic pastrami sandwich for a reason

When my mum and I were in New York, we were down in lower Manhattan and were getting a bit peckish. I asked her what she fancied and she instantly said, “A pastrami sandwich!” 

I said, “I know just the place…”

We arrived at 11:45am to find there was no queue (unheard of!) so went inside and grabbed a table at the very back where it’s waiter service. 

I watched my mum fall in love when the pastrami sandwich arrived haha. We actually shared one as they’re so huge, and it was perfect!

Katz’s is one of those places that is 1000% worth visiting – just make sure you get there before 12 to avoid the queue that forms later. When we left around 12:30 the queue was stretching down and round the block.

9. Lexington Candy Shop, Upper East Side

Iconic 100 year old diner

I’d been wanting to visit Lexington Candy Shop for yeeeears, and I finally made it in August 2022! 

I love it so so much.

It’s a true American diner, open since 1925, and still has a lot of the original features.

They’re also one of the few places to hand-mix their Coca-Cola (and their Coke Floats are *chefs kiss*). They also have the original milkshake machines which make the most unbelievable and thick shakes!!!

10. Pershing Square Diner, Midtown

Iconic Midtown Diner

A diner further down in Midtown is Pershing Square diner. It’s right opposite Grand Central Station so easy to pop in while you’re visiting the station.

It’s much larger than Lexington Candy Shop so it’s easier to get a table, and a handy location for exploring the main touristy sites.

11. Luke’s Lobster, Multiple locations

Great Lobster Rolls

I loveeee Luke’s Lobster! They do the *best* Lobster Rolls in New York City IMO.

Obviously they’re not gonna be as good as the one’s up in Maine, but if you’re looking for a classic lobster roll in Manhattan, you can’t go wrong with Luke’s.

12. The Butcher’s Daughter, Nolita

Solid & reliable veggie/vegan brunch

If you’re looking for a great brunch in Nolita, you can’t go wrong with The Butcher’s Daughter.

Bright and airy, it has an exceptional veggie and vegan menu and a solid selection of juices.

13. P.J. Clarke’s

Reliable steak and cocktails

P.J. Clarke’s was established in 1884 and is one of the oldest continuously operating restaurants in New York, and when you walk in, you can really feel it.

It just feels like New York.

It has a tin ceiling, an old wooden bar, and higgledy-piggledy rooms with tables with red-and-white checkered tablecloths.

The menu is classic American – steak, burgers, sandwiches, fish, and more. And their pumpkin pie is delicious!

Just make sure you go to the original one on Third Avenue.

14. Fraunces Tavern, Lower Manhattan

The Oldest Restaurant in NYC

The Fraunces Tavern is probably the most fascinating restaurant in NYC. It’s actually older than the United States itself as it was built in 1762 – the United States didn’t exist until the revolution in 1776.

Make sure to stop by for a drink or food, and explore all the different rooms in the large building!

15. Gail’s Broadway Rose, Midtown

Best spot for theatre lovers

I LOVE Gail’s Broadway Rose! It’s the perfect place for theatre lovers as the staff all sing while you eat.

You have to book far in advance, and be warned that it’s *very* cramped and you only get 90-minutes at the table, but I promise it’s worth it.

The food was also surprisingly good and the entertainment was just incredible!

Apologies but this was the only photo I took because I was having such a great time haha

16. Jack’s Wife Freda, Multiple locations

Healthy breakfast choices with a twist

Ugh I love Jack’s Wife Freda so much.

I went there on my very first trip to New York in February 2016, and I’ve been on almost every visit since then.

It’s just reliable with healthy, fresh options, and they have multiple locations across the city.

I don’t think I’ve ever had a bad meal there.

17. Bubby’s, Tribeca

Incredible pancakes and Tribeca vibes

If you’re looking for the best pancakes in New York City, you need to go to Bubby’s.

They are truly unbelievable.

It’s one of the most iconic brunch spots in NYC and food good reason. I love their Pancake Flight which is three James Beard pancakes, with caramelized banana & toasted walnuts, blueberry compote, nutella, mixed berry compote & whipped cream.

They also do really great seasonal pancake stacks (check out the peach & blackberry ones I had below!).

Just make sure to book a table in advance as the queue gets huge if you don’t!

Read my full review of Bubby’s NYC here.

18. Hotel Chantelle, Lower East Side

Epic Bottomless weekend brunch

If you’re visiting New York in the summer and in search of a bottomless weekend brunch, head to the rooftop of Hotel Chantelle.

Located in the Lower East Side, their brunch is legendary for good reason. 

The food is genuinely very good, and the bottomless drinks options are great value and a lot of fun!

19. Sardi’s, Midtown

Iconic for Broadway and theatre lovers

Sardi’s is one of those iconic New York restaurants that’s unmissable if you’re a Broadway and theatre lover.

It’s known for its walls plastered with over 1,000 celebrity caricatures, and for being the birthplace of both the opening night party and the Tony Awards. 

It’s also the filming location of Blue Moon (well, they built a replica of it in a studio), one of the most saddest movies I’ve ever seen.

20. Bus Stop Cafe, West Village

One of the best ‘typical’ NYC experiences

The irony of the ‘city that never sleeps’ is that a lot of shops, cafes and restaurants in New York don’t actually open until 10am, and when you’re jetlagged and have woken up at 6am starving hungry, it’s handy to have a small list of places that open early.

One of those for me is Bus Stop Cafe in the West Village.

It’s an iconic New York cafe that very much gives me 90s/early 2000s movie vibes. It’s so cute, the staff are really lovely, it’s reasonably priced, and the food is good.

What more could you want!?

And yes, there is a bus stop right outside 😉

21. The Flatiron Room, Chelsea

Jazz music and Japanese food with a speakeasy vibe

I visited The Flatiron Room for the first time on my February visit to NYC, and completely fell in love.

I was travelling solo and they sat me right at the front by the stage, which made me very happy. 

The live jazz music was incredible, I loved the intimate speakeasy vibe, and the sushi and Japanese menu was exceptionally good.

Make sure you book in advance for this one!

22. Soho Diner, SoHo

Trendy diner with old school vibes and good food

I actually stumbled across Soho diner by accident.

It was my last day in New York a couple of years ago and I was wandering in SoHo looking for somewhere to eat. 

I came across Soho diner and was super impressed.

It’s essentially a contemporary, polished diner but in the style/design of a traditional one, and the food was really, really good. I loved the burger and fries!

Some restaurants are iconic and popular for a reason

Like tourist sites, I truly believe that some places are iconic and popular for a reason – and that includes restaurants.

These iconic NYC restaurants are the ones I really believe are worth visiting. They’ll make your visit to New York feel like New York and give you the full experience of eating out in this beautiful city!

Enjoy!!