The 14 Most Iconic New York City Bars and Restaurants
One of the best things about New York is how it's ever-evolving—not just keeping up with the times, but defining the curve as it goes. And yet, once you've watched the last mom-and-pop left on your block be replaced by yet another big box store, there's some comfort to be taken in the old standbys where time has stood still since the day they first opened. These 14 New York establishments have committed to keeping every detail intact, to the point where sitting down at a table can feel like stepping into a time machine (where the prices match current-day inflation, that is). We picked the best places in town where you can get a taste of classic New York.
Photo by Lisa Kereszi1/14Keens Steakhouse, Midtown
There are a lot of steakhouses in New York, but there is, quite simply, no place like Keens. Founded in 1885, it is the epitome of old-school, from the white tablecloths to the legendary "mutton chop" to the veteran servers. There is no bad place to sit, but there are many options: the bro-y bar, the family-friendly pub area, the more formal main-floor dining room, the cozy upstairs "pipe room," and probably a few more enclaves we don't even know about. The bar and pub offer a more casual menu, but it's worth shelling out for the real deal. Here's the order: iceberg wedge with bacon, shrimp cocktail, a gorgeous T-bone or Porterhouse, classic sides of creamed spinach and your favorite iteration of potato, and a hot-fudge sundae for dessert. —Julia Kramer, senior projects editor
Photo by Yana Paskova/The New York Times/Redux2/14Bemelmans Bar at the Carlyle, Upper East Side
The piano player, the painted murals on the wall, the little bar snacks, the preposterously priced cocktails: It’s a cocktail bar as a cocktail bar should be. It’s also as Upper East Side as the Upper East Side gets—when you go uptown and feel like you’re in another city. Just don't forget your Gold Card. —Adam Rapoport, editor in chief
Photo By An Rong Xu3/14Don Peppe, Ozone Park
Sometimes I hope my family’s flight out of JFK is massively delayed. Crazy? You’d only think that if you had never been to Don Peppe in Ozone Park, Queens, an easy 10-minute Uber from the airport. Restaurants like this—honest, no-frills, red sauce Italian—might have existed on every corner at some point. These days, they are endangered species that need to be celebrated. The doctor’s office-level lighting is mildly annoying, as is the cash-only policy and the limited wine list (two bottles, white and red). But, in the end, it’s all part of the throwback charm. This place is a legend for its perfect OG Italian classics served family style. Here is what you are ordering: Salad Don Peppe, baked clams, linguine with white clam sauce, shrimp Luciano, and steak pizzaiola. If you end up missing your flight, it will have been worth it. —Andrew Knowlton, deputy editor
Photo by Alex Lau4/14Balthazar, SoHo
What happens when the City of Light is transplanted in the City That Never Sleeps? Well, if this classic spot is any indication, it makes every meal feel like a celebration. It's the kind of place where you'll want to order champagne just 'cause; you'll feel beautiful in the warm, golden light no matter what you're wearing; and you'll feel inclined to splurge on an otherwise ordinary Monday night. The no-frills menu commits to classic French fare, from moules frites to steak frites (basically, just don't miss out on the frites). You will be surrounded by models, and you will be surrounded by Europeans. You may be surrounded by European models. But as they poke at their salads with dressing on the side, you won't envy them in the slightest. —Julia Black, associate web editor
Photo by Baldomero Fernandez5/14Katz's Deli, Lower East Side
I don’t think I’ve ever been to Katz’s before 1 a.m., and that’s the way I prefer it. I walk in a few vodka-sodas deep, and always order a pastrami sandwich (free pickles!), a small matzo ball soup, and a side of latkes (they aren’t my favorite in the world but, hey, tradition is tradition). Everyone who works there is nice in that not-nice New York way. Well, unless you lose your ticket. Then they're not-nice in that not-nice New York way. —Rachel Karten, senior social media manager
Photo by Danny Kim6/14J.G. Melon, Upper East Side
There are burger joints, and then there’s J.G. Melon’s. I’m not sure exactly what the secret formula is for this place. Is it the decades-old seasoning seared onto the griddle, the fur-clad old ladies milling around, or perhaps the fact that you know exactly what you’re getting the minute you see those green, checkered tablecloths? Whatever it is, eating a cheeseburger at J.G. Melon’s on a weeknight is one of the most New York things you can do. The only indicator that you’re not rooted firmly in 1979 is what people (old ladies aside) are wearing. Whether you’re crammed into a corner in the back room or sipping a martini at the weathered bar, time doesn’t matter inside J.G. Melon’s. The only thing that matters is that you’re in New York. —Alex Delany, assistant web editor
Photo by Emma Fishman7/14McSorley's Old Ale House, East Village
The Irish pub’s slogan emblazoned on the window outside says it all: “We were here before you were born.” Sip $3 beers (your choice of light or dark house ale) in the same sawdust-littered room that entertained Abraham Lincoln, John Lennon, and Babe Ruth. This isn't Cheers and it doesn't pretend to be. The city’s oldest saloon is covered in memorabilia from the last century and beyond: there are portraits of dead presidents, tanned leather baseballs, and a kooky collection of wishbones predating World War I. It's like stepping into a history book—with cheap beer. —Ashley Mason, editorial assistant
Photo by Steve Hill8/14Blue Ribbon Brasserie, SoHo
I have just four words for you: fried chicken and champagne. That's the signature move at the original late-night industry hangout, where you can also get a burger, escargot, or a mile-high tower of seafood right up until 4:00 a.m. any day of the week. Stepping into the intimate SoHo space is as good a way as any to time-travel back to the lavish New York '90s, with velvet booths, dim lighting, and smooth jazz soundtrack complete the mood. You'll feel like you're in an episode of Sex and the City in the absolute best way. —Julia Black, associate web editor
Photo by Alex Delany9/14Neil’s Coffee Shop, Upper East Side
Here are some things you should know about my favorite diner in NYC: The red neon sign, hanging on the corner of 70th and Lexington, is a beautiful lie. It labels a diner as a coffee shop. The layout is like a freshman year architecture student’s last-minute midterm project. The sausage is amazing: crispy skin and soft, well-seasoned interior. And then there are the people. The same exact waitstaff has been there across the decades serving neighborhood veterans, kids fresh off the Little League fields at Central Park, construction workers, and confused French tourists. If New York was a restaurant, it would be Neil’s. —Alex Delany, assistant web editor
Photo courtesy of Old Town Bar10/14Old Town Bar, Gramercy
You travel back in time when you walk in. Wander in at five on a Sunday afternoon and realize that there’s no other place on the planet you need to be. God, I love that place. Inconsistent fries, but consistent atmosphere—and cold beer. I hear the urinals are nice, too… but I’ll never know for sure. —Alex Beggs, senior web editor
Photo by Emma Fishman11/14Peter Luger Steakhouse, Williamsburg
I've lost track of the number of Big Life Events I’ve celebrated at Peter Luger’s. It’s where my family goes for birthdays, graduations, and all the other momentous occasions worth toasting over steak. We go for the meat, of course, with crispy brown edges seared in who-knows-how-much butter; the fat French fries meant for dunking in beef fat; the silky creamed spinach; and the mound of schlag (that’s whipped cream, to the uninitiated) served with dessert, which is great in coffee or, frankly, eaten by the spoonful. And then there’s the vibe—the worn wooden tables and dark wooden walls, the no-nonsense waiters who aren’t nearly as gruff as their reputation suggests. We go because it never seems to change. Yes, we’re getting older with each birthday, but at Peter Luger’s it really feels like time is standing still. —Meryl Rothstein, senior editor
Photo courtesy of Veselka12/14Veselka, East Village
Is Veselka good? I can’t really remember, but that’s not the point. Whenever I find myself in the East Village without a reservation or two hours to wait, Veselka is there for me, just as it’s there for the totally random assortment of party kids, Eastern European grandpas, and tourists. Get the short rib pierogis, duh, but don’t forget a bowl of borscht. It’s true healthyish comfort food, especially splooshed with a dollop of sour cream. —Amanda Shapiro, Healthyish editor
Photo courtesy of The Odeon13/14The Odeon, Tribeca
On a recent lunch shift, a friend who works at the Odeon spotted Kara Walker scribbling on her paper tablecloth and managed to intercept the precious doodle before it hit the trash. That's just the kind of thing that happens at the Odeon, where celebrities, art world stars, and ex-club kids go for a taste of classic TriBeCa (Lena Dunham has the iconic orange sign tattooed onto her hip). After establishing its reputation as the preeminent late-night hangout for the Bright Lights, Big City set in the ‘80s, the Odeon retains its aura of cool 37 years later after opening. The menu is classic French brasserie, so stick with standbys like the Croque Monsieur or the steak tartare. Hang around for a few hours and you’re more likely than not to spot a famous New Yorker munching on a frisee salad. —Julia Black, associate web editor
Photo by James Pomerantz14/14Russ & Daughters Shop, Lower East Side
When you come to New York, you have to eat a bagel. It's a rule—and man, do you have options. The City That Never Sleeps is also the City of a Million Bagel Shops, many of them good, but there is one place that's stood out for over a century: Russ & Daughters. The Lower East Side "appetizing shop" is a true institution, doling out so-thin-they're-translucent slices of smoked salmon, dainty tins of caviar, and a nonstop parade of bagel sandwiches. Come in for whitefish on a bialy, leave with a pound of rugelach, a briny carton of half-sour pickles, and some black and whites for good measure. The morning rush can be deadly, and the bagel sandwiches are some of the most expensive in the city, but the ingredients are unparalleled. Eating a Russ & Daughters bagel isn't just a good idea—it's a bonafide New York City tradition. —Aliza Abarbanel, Healthyish editorial assistant
