With New York Fashion Week upon us once again, the city is full of editors, influencers, designers and models from around the world. While we’ll save our comprehensive guide to our favorite spots in New York City for another day (we have so many), we’ve curated a selection of restaurants and bars in Manhattan to take a (necessary) mid-day NYFW break throughout the next week. Here’s a roundup of our some of our top choices to eat and drink while you’re in town.
For Breakfast & Brunch:
Russ & Daughters
For a famous New York breakfast, Russ & Daughters in the Lower East Side is perfect. With various types of smoked fish, bagels and spreads, it’s the ideal Jewish comfort food. They also have a collaboration with a popular ice cream shop called Morgenstern’s, which includes a sesame bagel ice cream sandwich, a halva ice cream bar and a chocolate babka ice cream pop.
Pop-Up Bagels
For a grab-and-go option, Pop-Up Bagels has our favorite bagels in the city – made fresh, and always warm on the inside. They have rotating smear specials too, such as a previous one made with caviar and our current favorite – sweet basil cream cheese. While they don’t have much seating at their storefront, you can pick it up and eat it a short walk away at Washington Square Park. The perfect grab-and-go breakfast for your NYFW needs.
For A NYFW Lunch & Dinner:
Balthazar
We saw Sabrina Carpenter and Adam Sandler (separately) in the same day while walking around Soho earlier this summer. Located in the heart of the area of quintessential star sightings, Balthazar is a classic favorite. While some might see it as basic, it’s undeniably a timeless institution. Their seafood towers are always fun, and our perfect order is a french martini, oysters, mussels, steak au poivre with fries and chocolate lava cake.
Lucien
Some might know of Lucien from when Kanye West threw Julia Fox a birthday dinner there for her 32nd, but Lucien is a New York mainstay transcending that. Located in the Lower East Side, expect crowds and French fare.
The Corner Store
The restaurateurs behind celebrity hotspot Catch have just opened a new Soho eatery on Houston Street and West Broadway called The Corner Store. Aspiring to emulate the way you can rely on a corner store to have anything you might need, their menu pays homage to an upscale take on essential dishes from New York City. For example, the wagyu pastrami reuben and dirty martini oysters. We’re also partial to their steak frites – one of the best in the city.
Cervo’s
In the pocket on Canal Street off the East Broadway stop, Cervo’s serves incredible Iberian Peninsula seafood dishes. You can sit in inside, or they have seating that floods into the street, which is filled with outdoor eating and drinking from all the establishments in the area. It’s a great place to people watch. We go for the spicy mussels escabeche, salt cod croquetas, manila clams with with vino verde and grass-fed lamb burger (add the anchovies).
Pastis
Another iconic McNally restaurant. While you can order pretty much the same dishes as Balthazar, Pastis is a bit more quaint and removed from the crowds of Soho.
Veselka
Beloved restaurant Veselka has locations in the East Village, Grand Central and Williamsburg. With a menu full of unique Ukrainian dishes, we can’t wait to try their short rib pierogis.
Thai Diner
A personal all-time favorite, Thai Diner checks all the boxes. It’s fairly priced, serving amazing food with a pleasant ambiance and kitschy aesthetic. It doesn’t feel like it’s trying too hard, but always impresses us. The star of the show might be the Thai tea babka french toast. Their spicy basil cheesesteak is another favorite (it’s truly so good), and we’re looking forward to trying their spicy green curry with clams and bucatini.
The Odeon
Adding to the roster of institutions, The Odeon is undoubtedly a NYFW go-to. Here’s some guidance for your order: half a dozen oysters, Niçoise salad, strip steak or burger, moules frites and french fries. You can’t go wrong with any of their desserts as well. We once heard someone fondly describe them as “Tribeca McDonald’s.”
Revelie Luncheonette
If you can get a reservation at Raoul’s (likely difficult during NYFW, as their steak is considered by many to be the best in the city), you should take it, but if you’re struggling to find an open table try their sister restaurant across the street: Revile Lunchonette.
Dim Sum Go Go
Dim Sum Go Go is a quick, casual and affordable staple for dim sum and Chinese dishes on East Broadway between two bridges. Perfect for grabbing a quick bite as you dash from NYFW show to show.
For NYFW Drinks:
Lobby Bar at Hotel Chelsea
Hotel Chelsea is easily one of the best hotels in the city. Their French–American bistro Café Chelsea is lovely, as well as their Lobby Bar for drinks.
Roxy Bar
Their jazz bar Django gets quite crowded and there’s a cover fee with a drink minimum, but Roxy Bar is usually more relaxed. You can get a photo strip in the photo booth as well.
TIME AGAIN
The collaborative food pop-ups at TIME AGAIN are always amazing. They’ve had Ziggy’s cheesesteaks, Shy’s smash burgers, DILA’s BBQ plates, Delz hot dogs and Loser’s grilling. It’s typically busy, with tons of people hanging out on stools in the street.
Swan Room at Nine Orchard
For a chic cocktail, go to Swan Room at downtown hotel Nine Orchard. Their website says, “Swan Room is an elegant space. Dress for a night out.”
The Lobby Lounge at The Ludlow Hotel
While many NYFW attendees will opt to stay at the PUBLIC Hotel (we love their rooms), the nearby Ludlow Hotel is also extremely loved and a bit calmer. Their lobby bar is a great place to grab a drink.
Russian Samovar
Russian Samovar might only be more of a known thing to people who live in New York, but if you find yourself uptown we recommend it. They have Russian food and drinks in casual (and kind of chaotic) setting. Some nights you’ll find a live pianist playing Russian music with regulars singing along and asking you to dance with them, or a party going on upstairs. We recommend trying a horseradish shot or borscht martini.
