New York City Map
The Big Apple. The city that never sleeps. In its eight-mile radius, New York houses over 26,000 thousand restaurants. It’s one of the most international cities in the world, and it has always set a high bar for cuisine. It’s a melting pot, famous for its pizza, its bagels, its cheesecake, and, of course, its fine dining. It’s one of our favorite cities in the world.
Together we have compiled all our New York favorites in this foodie map. You’ll find lots of pizza, natural wine bars, high-end restaurants, and, of course, the best bagels in town. Navigate the map easily either by scrolling through the list on the right or by clicking the points on the map. Places are listed in geographical order.
Categories 🍽️
Opening Hours 🕒
Absolute Bagels
Maybe it’s something in the water, maybe it’s magic. Whatever it is, it’s undeniable that New York is home to the world’s best bagels. And since Absolute Bagels is the best bagel shop in New York City, it therefore must be the best in the world. These are just facts, folks. Kaitlin’s go-to order is simple: an everything bagel with plain cream cheese. Anders tried a few different variations, and also recommends getting an everything bagel, but he likes his with lox (smoked salmon) and dill and chives cream cheese. If you time it right in the morning, you can snag a fresh, hot one. (A bagel this fresh does not need toasting.) Note: Absolute Bagels is cash only.
Mama's Too
Upper West Side pizza joint Mama’s Too stole our hearts with their incredible square pizza slices. The toppings change seasonally - most recently we were obsessed with the elote pizza, but our other two favorites are the cacio e pepe and the vodka slice. These squares are almost like focaccia (doughy, crispy, with a caramelized crust) and everything is made fresh and served till it runs out. You don’t wanna miss this spot – it’s our favorite pizza slice in NYC!
Levain Bakery
You’ve probably seen them on Instagram: the enormous chocolate chip cookies, crispy on the outside with a gooey cookie dough center. They might be Insta-famous, but Levain Bakery is so much more than a social media fad – these gigantic sweet treats are really the best cookies in the world. The chocolate chip walnut cookie is the most popular, but don’t sleep on the dark chocolate peanut butter or the oatmeal raisin. The original location is on the Upper West Side on 74th street, but Levain has several locations around NYC now.
Luke’s Lobster
If you’re craving a lobster roll, look no further than Luke’s Lobster. Although now it’s a pretty sizable chain, it started as a small business by a lobsterman from Maine, and it’s still family-owned today. Luke’s is one of the highest quality chains in the game – consistently delicious, thanks to locally and sustainably sourced seafood. Lobster comes at a cost – a roll here will put you out 24 bucks, but it’s well worth the price tag. The classic comes in a toasted, buttered brioche bun with mayo, lemon butter, and their secret seasoning, but the white truffle butter lobster roll is a must-try when in season. Also on the menu: lobster grilled cheese and lobster mac and cheese. Rich and delicious!
Atomix
One of the toughest tables to snag in New York is the Korean fine dining concept Atomix, from chef Junghyun Park and restaurant manager Ellia Park. The husband and wife duo put so much heart into their restaurant, proudly introducing their culture to America in a way we’ve never seen it before. Gone are the days when Korean food is constrained to KBBQ joints or strip malls – this is thoughtful, refined cooking on a very high level. In 2019, Atomix was awarded two Michelin stars, and is no. 8 on The World’s 50 Best Restaurants 2023. We’re excited to watch them climb the list in the years to come – this is one of our favorite restaurants in NYC!
Cote
High-end Korean barbecue restaurant Cote is the place to go if you’re craving some Michelin-starred meat. Every table has its own grill, where the meat is expertly cooked in front of your eyes. All cuts of beef served at Cote are top-quality: USDA Prime and Japanese A5 wagyu. We recommend opting for the Butcher’s Feast, a selection of meats and Korean accompaniments, but you’re also going to want to try some of the à la carte dishes on the menu. The “Steak & Eggs” is a playful serving of filet mignon tartare and caviar, and the Korean “bacon” (thick strips of crispy pork belly) is not to be missed. Venture down into the basement and you will discover Undercote, one of our favorite cocktail bars in New York.
Cosme
How cool is it that one of the world’s best restaurants (no. 73 on The World’s 50 Best list 2023) can have such a fun, chill vibe without losing anything in terms of quality and hospitality? Cosme has won many awards for the positive environment the chefs cultivate in the kitchen, and the good vibes are definitely tangible. The team’s happy energy bleeds into the dining room, and into the food. Signature dishes include the Pujol mole, the duck carnitas, and the corn husk meringue with corn mousse, a one-of-a-kind dessert with a nice sweet and savory balance.
Lysée
After working for years as the pastry chef of Jungsik, Eunji Lee branched out to open her own pastry-focused “confection gallery.” Here, dessert is not an afterthought, but the main event. Lee serves extremely unique flavor combinations that resemble works of art. The signature Lysée cake is a can’t-miss item, with Korean toasted brown rice mousse, pecans, and caramel. The Corn cake (which resembles corn on the cob) filled with crunchy sablé, mousse, and grilled corn cream is another must-try from the patisserie section. To drink, we recommend the signature milk steeped with vanilla and brown rice, and the herbed calamansi juice, with lemongrass, Thai basil, and lime. Reservations are required if you want to dine-in, but if you want to buy take-away pastries, we recommend going early before things sell out.
Daily Provisions
For the best donuts in New York, head to restaurateur Danny Meyer’s all-day café, which now has a handful of locations around the city. Here you’ll find donuts of the cruller variety – an eggy donut similar to Yorkshire pudding in consistency, with a signature swirly shape. Our favorite flavor is the cinnamon sugar cruller, which reminds us a lot of a churro: crunchy on the outside with a soft center. Go before 10am – they will sell out!
Caffé Panna
One of New York’s newest ice cream shops is from restaurateur Danny Meyer’s daughter, Hallie Meyer. Her love of Italy inspired her to open a gelato shop, serving creative and constantly rotating flavors, such as pistachio and brown butter fig. Don’t forget to add “panna” (whipped cream) on top!
Milk Bar
If you’ve watched the Chef’s Table Pastry series, you’re probably familiar with pastry chef Christina Tosi. She’s famous for creating the cereal milk soft serve (served with a cornflake crunch), the layered funfetti cakes (without icing on the side), the Compost Cookie, and the buttery Milk Bar pie. Tosi’s dessert empire has now expanded beyond its original New York outpost to include locations across the U.S and in Canada.
Claud
Claud is a wine bar and restaurant from Joshua Pinsky and Chase Sinzer, who met while working together at Momofuku Ko. They created a restaurant that they would want to visit themselves: a relaxed eatery with great food and a serious wine list. The open kitchen makes you feel like you’re dining in someone’s home, and the food is decadent yet informal comfort food – what buttery dreams are made of. The chicken liver agnolotti is a mainstay on the frequently rotating menu (with good reason), and we also loved the peekytoe crab bread and the cheesy mushroom mille feuille.
Ruffian
East Village's tiniest (and coolest) wine bar, is about the size of a hallway. Grab a seat at the bar if you can (there's really no space for standing room) and try a glass of something orange – Ruffian has the largest list of skin contact wines in NYC! They also serve some delicious small plates here.
Nowon
Nowon might be famous for their burger, but that’s just one of the many must-order dishes at this playful Korean American hotspot. Their dry-aged, thick patty cheeseburger is easily one of the best in New York. The delicious meat is perfectly cooked, and served with a tangy Korean kimchi sauce, American cheese, pickles, and onions. But don’t stop there! Our favorite dish on the menu is actually the honey butter tater tots. These are insanely addicting – a sweet and salty heaven. Nowon’s gochujang fried chicken is up there with the best Korean fried chicken we’ve had; it’s spicy and tangy, with a great crunch. The chopped cheese rice cakes (tteokbokki) are also ridiculously good, with all the flavors of a burger served on spongey rice cakes.
Katz's Delicatessen
I’ll have what she’s having! Katz’s Deli’s legendary reuben with pastrami (made famous by the movie “When Harry Met Sally”) is so good you’ll moan. Stacks of heavenly, delicious, freshly-cooked pastrami slices, sauerkraut, and melted cheese are served on rye bread. Although Katz’s is extremely popular with visitors, it’s so much more than a tourist spot – it’s actually the best pastrami in town. Of course, we sat where Harry met Sally.
Una Pizza Napoletana
Pizzaiolo Anthony Mangieri started his pizza career with a shop in the East Village, relocated it to San Francisco, and then moved it back home to New York City. There’s no mistaking that it’s some of the best Neapolitan pizza you can find in the world, and that’s simply the result of an extremely dedicated chef. Tony himself has committed to making every pie, until the dough runs out each day. The co-owners of Contra and Wildair invested in the latest version of the restaurant, and added some small plates, desserts, and a killer natural wine list.
Wildair
For a cool Lower East Side hangout, check out Wildair, the more casual younger sibling of Michelin-starred Contra (located next door). Wildair has a fantastic natural wine list and really tasty small plates, but it’s the desserts that are on another level here. The chocolate hazelnut tart is one of the most memorable desserts we've tried: a velvety soft mousse with a sprinkle of sea salt to balance the sweetness. But don’t skip the panna cotta with grape granita, or the almond mille feuille – order all the desserts!
Attaboy
One of the best bars in the world (no. 22 on the World's 50 Best Bars 2022 list) is located in Manhattan’s Lower East Side. This speakeasy has no menu – instead, you simply describe what kind of drink you’re in the mood for to your bartender, and they whip up a riff on a classic cocktail, made especially for you. Kaitlin asked for something fresh and sour and received a bright yellow drink called “The Sunflower,” a cocktail with citrus, rum, and a touch of saffron. We also enjoyed variations of the classic cocktails The Silver Fox, The Jalisco Lion, and the Isle of Martinique.
Shu Jiao Fu Zhou
You don’t need a lot of money to live like a king in New York. For three dollars you can ride the subway. For three dollars you can get the city’s best everything bagel with cream cheese. Or for three dollars you can get the famous peanut butter noodles from Shu Jiao Fu Zhou. These long, stretchy noodles are tossed in a rich and creamy sauce of soy and peanut butter. Who said money can’t buy happiness?
Joe’s Shanghai
Kaitlin’s first time ever trying xiaolongbao (steamed soup dumplings) was at Joe’s Shanghai, one of the city’s most popular Chinese restaurants. The dumplings here are legendary, drawing long lines of tourists and locals alike, and with good reason – they’re easily some of the best dumplings in New York. Note: Joe's Shanghai is cash only!
Mei Lai Wah
This street food stall in Chinatown is famous for their pork buns. The signature items are the baked roast pork buns, where a fluffy milk bun is filled with chopped pieces of roasted pork (including bits of fat!) in a rich, sweet sauce. The pineapple bun with roast pork is another must-order. This bun combines two popular Cantonese bakery items: the pork bun and the pineapple bun. (There is no pineapple in the bun – this treat gets its name because its yellow color and pattern resemble a pineapple.) It’s the same fluffy milk bun, with a sugary, crispy exterior. It cracks and crumbles as you bite into it, and has the same delicious pork filling. The buns are about $2 each, and you can use credit cards at the kiosk outside, or order ahead online (a great way to skip the line!).
Thai Diner
The beloved Uncle Boon’s is now Thai Diner, serving lots of the same signature dishes in Nolita. Brunch is served until 5pm – and the must-order dish is the Thai Diner egg sandwich. Scrambled eggs, sai oua (herbal sausage), American cheese, and Thai basil are wrapped together in a homemade roti and served with roasted chili nam jim. It's the perfect blend of modern Thai and American cuisines. We also love the disco fries (crinkle cut fries topped with massaman curry, red onion, peanuts, and coconut cream) and the phat thai (rice noodles with peanuts, radish, and crispy dried shrimp in a tamarind sauce). Although it’s usually difficult to book a table online, there are typically seats available for walk-in. They have a small wine list, but it’s chock-full of our favorite natural producers.
Prince St. Pizza
If you see a line down the street in Soho, you’re in the right place. The shop is located, you guessed it, on Prince Street, and is home to maybe the most famous pepperoni slice in the world. The walls are proudly plastered with pictures of celebrities – even the rich and famous can’t get enough of this pie. Prince St. serves a lot of different pizzas, but you’re here for their signature Sicilian-style slice: a thick, chewy square, baked in an oiled-pan which gives the airy crust its signature crispiness around the edge. The cheese is melted directly onto the dough, with the sauce poured on top to prevent the dough from getting soggy. Last come the ‘roni cups, delicious little grease traps filled with olive oil.
Estela
A lot of people assume you have to be a fine dining, tasting menu restaurant to make it onto The World’s 50 Best list. While a lot of the best chefs in the world do choose to showcase their creativity in a formal setting, some flaunt their culinary skills at simple wine bars. Chef Ignacio Mattos of Estela choose the latter option. Although you probably should still make a reservation at Estela, you don’t need to set your alarm months in advance to snag a seat here. (Dare I say, you could even walk in and sit at the bar?) Estela has really simple dishes with punchy flavors – our favorites were the burrata, salsa verde and charred bread; the endive salad; and the ricotta dumplings with mushrooms and pecorino. Of course, with a glass or two of natural wine.
Morgenstern’s Finest Ice Creams
The finest ice cream in New York can be found at Morgenstern’s. All of their ice creams are made in extremely small-batches, and stored in small, individual tubs. The texture is perfectly creamy, and the toppings are mixed in after you order. Morgenstern’s has really creative yet focused flavors, simple combinations that are unique without being over-the-top or gimmicky. Try the burnt sage, lavender agave vanilla, banana curry, or chocolate oat.
Shake Shack
We’ve been long-time fans of Shake Shack, but one of our best. burger experiences was when we got to visit the Innovation Kitchen. Here, Shake Shack's executive chef and culinary director test new burger ideas and seasonal specials. We got to try the Seattle-exclusive “Montlake Double Cut,” a double cheeseburger with jack cheese, caramelized onions, and mustard mayo, and some new shakes still in the testing phase. If you visit the Innovation Kitchen location, you just might be the first to taste some new menu items, but if you want to visit the original Shake Shack location, head to the string light-illuminated stand inside Madison Square Park.
Frenchette
This Tribeca French bistro is so much more than a wine bar, it’s a full-fledged restaurant, and yet, their completely natural wine list is so good that we’ve actually only come here for a bottle at the bar! While we can’t attest to the greatness of Frenchette’s food (we’ve heard good things!), we can highly recommend their wine program. Their insane list includes the largest selection of Gabrio Bini we’ve seen outside of Pantelleria (they even have the pet nat!), Christian Tschida, Escoda-Sanahuja, No Control, and pretty much every bottle Matassa has ever made.
Overstory
Set 64 floors up in New York’s Financial District is Overstory, a cocktail bar with one of the best views of the NYC skyline. The venue is stunning and intimate, with only eight seats at the bar, and a smattering of small tables around the perimeter of the room. But if the weather allows, you’ll want to enjoy your drinks on the outdoor terrace, which has heated benches, blankets, and a 360-degree view of Manhattan. Our favorite drinks here are the Mad Graff (strawberry, lime, rum, curry leaf soda, and egg white) and the Easy Money (vodka, yuzu, coconut, lime leaf, and soda). You might be familiar with the address, 70 Pine. This building also houses the Michelin-starred restaurant Crown Shy and the tasting menu restaurant, SAGA, from the same team as Overstory. Note: reservations are recommended, walk-ins are limited.
June
June is a natural wine bar in Cobble Hill, Brooklyn with a cozy interior and a charming patio. Their expansive wine list includes many of our favorite winemakers, like Gut Oggau, L’Octavin, Oriol Artigas, and Fred Cossard. But you’re not only here for the wine – the food here is a perfect sidekick to the fun things in your glass. June serves mostly small, seasonal plates like whipped ricotta with kiwi and zucchini, or salmon cheeks with serrano beans and guanciale. But they also serve some bigger plates that are staples on the menu, like the duck breast glazed with cardamom, allspice, and lots of warm and yummy spices. This is one of the best ducks we’ve had! Save room for the uber rich and very addicting miso brownie with sea salt.
Olmsted
Olmsted is the neighborhood restaurant you wish was in your neck of the woods. This cozy Brooklyn spot serves really creative fare like rutabaga “tagliatelle” with truffles and brown butter, fried squash donut rings, uni + sweet potato pierogies, and carrot crepes. Every dish is super tasty, while still feeling healthy and light. We ended our evening with lavender frozen yogurt and homemade s’mores by the fire pit in the backyard.
Emily
Our favorite burger in the world is found at a pizza restaurant in Brooklyn. What makes it so perfect? The Emmy Burger is made with extremely high quality meat (dry-aged and perfectly cooked medium rare) in one big, juicy patty; a healthy amount of melted cheddar cheese; sweet, caramelized onions; a fluffy yet sturdy bun that tastes like a brioche and pretzel bun hybrid; and a slightly spicy sauce that brings all the flavors together. It’s sweet, it’s salty, it’s an umami bomb exploding in your mouth. It’s not a cheap burger (it costs $31 USD), but it’s worth every penny. Emily has become a nationwide chain and expanded with another concept called Emmy Squared, but only the original Emily in Clinton Hill serves this EXACT version of the Emmy Burger.
Francie
Feeling fancy? Go to Francie! This buzzy Williamsburg restaurant has an easygoing brasserie feel, with a nice blend of American and French cuisines.The duck might be the hyped main course, but the prime côte de boeuf is the absolute necessity on your table. Perfectly cooked meat, with melt-in-your-mouth marbling – this was one of the best steaks we’ve had in our entire life. It’s a steep $200 for this dish, but we would argue that it’s worth every penny. The steak is served with a light-as-air, fluffy maple hollandaise, a sweet and salty magical sauce that elevated this dish to world-class. The triple-cooked fries didn’t hurt, either. Other menu highlights: the handmade pasta, and the seasonal bombolini (doughnuts) – ours were filled with honeynut squash, and topped with parmesan fonduta, pancetta, chives, and truffle shavings.
Aska
We can’t stay away from Scandinavian cooking, even when we’re in the U.S.! Swedish chef Fredrik Berselius’ tasting menu showcases innovative twists on Nordic classics, such as langoustine with violets, potato pancake with pommes soufflé and a roe emulsion, and their signature mushroom fudge-filled æbleskiver with woodruff syrup. There’s so much “hygge” at this cozy Brooklyn restaurant, as well as a focus on sustainability and great natural wines. Aska has had two Michelin stars since 2016.
Misi
Chef Missy Robbins' latest pasta endeavors are happening on the trendy Williamsburg waterfront. Misi serves some of the best pasta we’ve had, and it’s one of our favorite restaurants in NYC. Our two favorite pastas were the occhi, cute little pillows of perfection filled with ricotta and topped with bottarga and lemon, and the brown butter tortelli filled with spinach and mascarpone. Don’t leave without ordering the whipped ricotta crostini and the slow roasted tomatoes topped with hot honey. We washed down our pasta with a bottle of “Orange” – one of our favorite natural wines, from Pantelleria, Italy.
Sunday in Brooklyn
Sunday in Brooklyn is one of the best brunch spots in New York and the home of the malted pancakes with hazelnut praline and brown butter. When given the option to order 1, 2, or 3 pancakes, we obviously went for the triple stack. But don’t leave without ordering the maple cheddar biscuit – it’s sweet, salty, and our favorite thing on the menu.
Devoción
If you’re looking for a great cup of coffee in a stunning setting, Devoción is the place for you. A living plant wall is the backdrop of this gorgeous Williamsburg café, and antique furniture and rugs line the spacious, warehouse-like room. Devoción is home to some of the best coffee in New York, with a focus on Colombian beans. They do everything themselves – their team is on site in Colombia to harvest and export the beans before finally roasting them in Brooklyn. While Williamsburg houses the original café and roastery, Devoción has added shops in Downtown Brooklyn, NoMad, and the Flatiron District.
Leo
For comforting Italian dishes and natural wine, visit Leo, an easygoing neighborhood in Williamsburg. The vibe at the restaurant is relaxed, the service friendly, and the wine list overflowing with the likes of Momento Mori, Julie Balagny, and Le Coste. The menu sports Italian staples like focaccia with whipped ricotta, hearty meatballs in tomato sauce, pastas like mafaldine with short rib ragu, and, of course, sourdough pizza – one of their specialties. For dessert, Leo offers a seasonal soft serve swirl. On our visit, the ice cream flavors were kabocha squash and salted caramel.
The Four Horsemen
A trendy Williamsburg natural wine bar with a Michelin star? Trust us, we were just as skeptical as you, but the food here absolutely blew us away. We ordered practically every dish on chef Nick Curtola's concise à la carte menu, and each bite was so good that we were very close to ordering them all again. From the braised leek toast with whipped ricotta and Cantabrian anchovies, to the crispy potato cubes with crème fraîche, chives and Japanese curry, to the fried chicken with black maitake mushrooms, cipollini onions, and marsala, every bite was a banger, and left us craving more. The Four Horsemen served us our very best meal of our most recent NYC trip, and we can't wait to go back.
Chez Ma Tante
Pancakes are an item we rarely order at restaurants. We make a mean buttermilk pancake at home, so when we go out to eat we usually opt for other menu items. The opposite is true in this scenario – Instagram photos of these buttery hotcakes led us to book a reservation at Chez Ma Tante. And, excuse our French, but holy sh*t – these are the best restaurant pancakes we’ve ever had. They are thick and fluffy, absolutely soaked in butter (and maybe maple syrup, too), with a crispy ring around the edge. These pancakes lived up to the hype and then some – this is breakfast food for the gods.
Rule of Thirds
Japanese-style sandos have been all over menus the last few years, but Rule of Thirds’ tamago sando is perhaps the best we’ve had outside of Japan. A fluffy Japanese omelette is served on toasted milk bread, with miso mayo, and yuzu cucumbers. Creamy and fresh, with wonderful textures – this was a breakfast dream come true. Other must-order dishes here include the karaage (fried chicken with ginger, soy, and tartar sauce) and the hottokeki (a Japanese souffle pancake with honey maple butter, sesame, and soft serve). This is the perfect place for a sunny Sunday brunch in Brooklyn.
Frankel’s Delicatessen
When in New York, trying a classic BEC (bacon, egg, and cheese) is essential. Although you can find these iconic breakfast sandwiches on the menu at every corner bodega, Frankel’s Deli in Greenpoint serves one of the city’s best. They also have a variation with pastrami in place of the bacon, if you’re looking for a smokier, heartier protein. All sandwiches are served on a challah roll or a bagel of your choice.
Bonnie's
Bonnie's is a Cantonese American restaurant in Williamsburg from chef Calvin Eng (formerly of Win Son). The legendary char siu "McRib" is delicious, with an extremely juicy pork rib served on a fluffy milk bun with Chinese hot mustard. But our favorite dishes were the dao gok (Chinese long beans), the hup to ha (shrimp, candied walnuts, honey, and mayonnaise), and the jiew yeem yao yu (salt and pepper squid). Save room for the chow nai sundae with malted fried milk, ovaltine hot fudge, vanilla ice cream, buttered peanuts, and optional pork floss.
Edith's Sandwich Counter
The Brooklyn breakfast game is strong. Edith’s is a must-try breakfast sandwich hotspot, taking Jewish deli classics and modernizing them. Their BEC (bacon, egg, and cheese) has a latke (potato pancake) inside the bagel sandwich, which adds a really nice crispy texture to the soft eggs and cheese. Our favorite item here was the Sephardi Breakfast Wrap, which stuffs a malawach (a flaky layered bread) with chicken sausage, cheesy scrambled eggs, pickled Fresno peppers, herbs, and harissa mayo. We also loved the Middle Eastern breakfast sandwich, which combines an omelette-style egg with house-made tomato jam, Israeli farmers cheese, aleppo, and herbs, served on a bagel. Don’t miss the coffee slushie, made with oat milk and tahini.
Win Son Bakery
One of our favorite bites in NYC is the scallion pancake egg sandwich at Win Son Bakery. It reminds us of a cheesy quesadilla on a flour tortilla, but with the wonderful addition of scallion. (Big fans of alliums here!) This dish was so good that we ordered seconds immediately after finishing our first sandwich. On the side is their signature Ginger Deluxe sauce (a blend of kewpie mayo, ginger, scallion, apple cider vinegar, soy sauce, garlic), which was so delicious we bought a bottle to bring home with us. We also adore the Fan Tuan (the rice roll with the fried dough and pork floss inside) and the mochi donut.
Ichiran
Even after a trip to Japan, we can honestly say that some of the best tonkotsu-style ramen we’ve had is from Ichiran, a Japanese chain with several locations in New York. The space is designed for solo diners – guests sit at counter seats isolated from other guests and even from the waiters. This setup, which is very common in Japan, allows you to focus only on the flavors and to eat your ramen without distraction. You place your order by filling out a form specifying how you want your noodles cooked, your desired spice level, and if you want to add any additional toppings. You slide the order form under the roll-up curtain in front of your seat, and your customized ramen bowl appears in its place minutes later. Ichiran’s signature broth is incredibly rich and creamy, balance with just the right amount of heat. The noodles are extremely thin and incredibly slurp-able.
Roberta’s
This iconic Bushwick pizzeria looks like a grungy dive bar on the outside – the entrance is wallpapered with stickers and graffiti, and the building itself feels like an abandoned warehouse, with shipping containers as makeshift walls. But the space has charm, in a rock and roll sort of way, and, despite the no-frills venue, Roberta’s can still draw a long line for their pizza. (To avoid the wait, we recommend going during lunch on a weekday!) Once you snag a seat, you’re going to want to order the signature “Bee Sting” pizza, topped with mozzarella, large slices of soppressata, and a drizzle of hot honey. In the summer, the big backyard with communal tables and a bar is a super fun spot to hang outside with a glass of natural wine.
Sey Coffee
Founded in 2013, Sey is a Brooklyn-based coffee roaster with a café in Bushwick. Sey believes that a good cup of coffee starts at the source, so they exclusively partner with small farmers who are as dedicated as they are to sustainability and transparency. They roast in the Nordic style, light and delicate, to highlight the natural flavors and acidity of the beans. You might pay an above average price for a cup here (on our last visit the pour-overs ranged from $9-18), but you can be sure that this coffee is worth every penny.
Ops
There’s no shortage of pizza and natural wine joints in Brooklyn, but Ops Pizza happens to make our favorite pie in New York. The pizza here leans Neapolitan, with a very fluffy sourdough base and modern, creative toppings. The potato, ricotta, and broccoli rabe pie stood out as a favorite, and we also loved one with oyster mushrooms, guanciale, gouda, and Brussels sprouts. Ops’ insane wine list includes bottles from Partida Creus, Lammidia, Christian Tschida, Matassa, Le Coste, Escoda-Sanahuja, and Anders Fredrik Steen.