While the days of sun-drenched rooftops and dining al fresco are coming to an end, New York has no shortage of fresh restaurants that make it feel right to be inside. Whether you’re looking for sky-high glamour during Fashion Week or immersive underground appeal for date night, these are the most stylish destinations to experience this fall.
Downtown Manhattan
Katana Kitten
The West Village has no shortage of chic bars and restaurants, but in July, a unique addition was added to the mix: Katana Kitten, a Japanese-American bar that fuses modern izakaya with the liveliness of a New Yorker’s regular. It’s helmed by former Saxon + Parole mixologist Masahiro Urushido, and Cocktail Kingdom’s James Tune and Greg Boehm, who was intrigued by the idea of fusing American bar classics with Japanese street food. “I’ve been to Tokyo multiple times and, over the years, visited more than 70 bars in the city and took 2,000 photos along the way,” Boehm says. Elements from his travels are echoed throughout the space, which features vintage movie posters from Japan’s jazz age. It’s like stepping into an underground bar in Shibuya, where ingredients like yuzu, shiso, and Sapporo are mixed into creative cocktails. Conveniently, it’s located within walking distance of neighborhood fixtures like L’Artusi, Employees Only, and Bar Sardine.
Manhatta
If you want a cinematic view of New York’s skyline without shuffling up the Empire State Building, venture downtown where you can observe iconic landmarks from the city’s glitziest new restaurant, Manhatta. “We saw an opportunity to add something fresh to the dialogue when it comes to New York City’s sky-high dining,” says Danny Meyer, the man behind the restaurant and renowned New York institutions including Maialino and Untitled at The Whitney. Here you will find excellent cocktails and modern French fare on a prix-fixe menu. If there are no dietary restrictions to consider, the recommended route is foie gras mousse followed by the wagyu bavette, and the vanilla soufflé.
Juku / Straylight
Previously occupied by the nightclub Le Baron, this three-level space comprises an omakase bar, an izakaya, and a subterranean cocktail bar accessed through a neon-lit stairwell. It’s owned by gallerist Max Levai, and his artistic roots are on show with Gaudi-like mosaics, stained-glass ceilings, and abstract pieces from contemporary artists. Levai recruited Justin Lowe and Jonah Freeman to style Straylight’s entrance in a way that would remove guests from reality. On arrival, that intent is clear; the duo have created a kaleidoscopic wonderland with video installations and fictitious pharmaceutical products. Upstairs at Juku, the ambience is more pared back, and you can leave it to chef Kazuo Yashida to provide a fresh, 12-piece course of sushi.
St Tropez
The joie de vivre of the Cote d’Azur is brought to life at this charming West Village establishment, which offers an impressive all-French wine list and provençal cuisine. Some of the star dishes include the grilled octopus, the braised beef stew, and the truffle macaroni—perfect comfort food for the cooler weather ahead. And, of course, the wine list is extensive: there are elegant blends from Bordeaux, fruity rosés, and champagnes from LVMH’s portfolio. A second St Tropez location is slated to open this fall in Soho, close to Carbone (so it will be one to mark as an alternative when the latter only has vacancy at 11:00 p.m.).
Primo’s
Midnight pasta should be a staple on any late-night menu, especially when there is dancing and drinking involved. Aisa Shelley (a partner in Mr Fong’s), describes Primo’s as a hybrid concept: “Not a restaurant, not a bar, not a club, but something that has the exciting anything-can-happen feeling.” The Art Deco space is located in the new Frederick Hotel in Tribeca; an area that hasn’t really been known for its nightlife since the hedonism of The Odeon in the ’80s. The cocktails are old school (martinis, sazeracs, negronis), and there are small plates to share. The real star here, though, is the midnight pasta, which is flecked with guanciale and doused in grana padano, chili, and basil.
The Usual
Nolita’s contingent of restaurants typically involves satisfying food that appeals to most palettes, and The Usual offers just that. Alvin Cailan, who is behind L.A.’s hit Eggslut, opened the casual space on Kenmare Street in July, and as the name suggests, his intention was to make it a regular for locals. The restaurant describes its menu as “American comfort food by immigrants,” and there’s Louisiana-style fried chicken, a juicy burger, creamy pastas, and a banana sundae.
Uptown Manhattan
Eléa
The ABT and The Metropolitan Opera are reason to venture to the Upper West Side; the restaurants, generally, are not. But next month, a stylish new Greek restaurant will be opening its doors on 85th and Broadway. Eléa is from the team behind Kyma (which launched in Flatiron in June), and similarly, it will be decorated with authentic Greek sculptures and Santorini-bright shades. “We hope to transport our guests to a place where they can relax, enjoy simple yet satisfying food, and feel right at home,” says owner, Reno Christou. If Kyma is any indication, Eléa will be a game-changer for the area.
The Lobster Club
Would you like a Picasso with your lobster? You can (almost) have it at The Lobster Club, which has original works in the private dining room and related designs featured throughout. You can also have sashimi flown in from Tokyo's prestigious Tsukiji market, courtesy of Michelin-starred chef Tasuku Murakami’s connections. This chic Upper East Side restaurant serves modern Japanese that is as impressive as its interiors designed by acclaimed architect Peter Marino, who counts Chanel, Dior, and Louis Vuitton among his clients. It’s located within the iconic Seagram Building on Park Avenue, also home to The Grill and The Pool.
The Four Seasons Restaurant
For a dose of New York power dining, look no further than the new Four Seasons restaurant. Everything is glossy and fabulous, and the new location translates its legendary past into a modern era of glamor. Executive chef Diego Garcia (formerly at Le Bernadin) serves updated versions of signature dishes, including the steak tartare, Maryland crab cakes, and the farmhouse duck. The desserts are created by former White House executive pastry chef, Bill Yosse, who uses seasonal American ingredients and traditional techniques. Yosse has curated a comprehensive list of longstanding classics, including the Four Seasons cotton candy and the Bar Room chocolate cake.
The Polynesian
Voluntarily dining in midtown is often ill-advised, but The Polynesian provides a good reward for braving the crowds. The Tiki-themed bar is ideal for pre-theater dining and impressing out-of-towners who want a close-up of Times Square. The interiors are decorated in jewel-hued velvets with tropical references not typically found in the center of Manhattan. In keeping with tiki style, there are frozen pina coladas topped with umbrellas and flamingos, and exotic punch bowls for groups. The food is inspired by the South Pacific; opt for the crab rangoon and the spicy cucumber.
Ada’s Place and Legacy Records
The first clues of Midtown West’s transformation can be found at Ada’s Place, a chic cocktail bar located above Legacy Records on 38th Street (part of Hudson Yards’ evolving development). Jeff Bell of Please Don’t Tell fame has curated a refined cocktail menu that is complemented by elevated bar food from Chef Ryan Hardy. Downstairs at Legacy Records, the menu is slightly more formal, featuring grilled branzino, crudo tasting platters, and honey-lacquered duck for two. Both spaces are exquisitely furnished, providing an optimistic vision of the area’s new identity.
Brooklyn
Bar Beau
Bar Beau is a café by day, cocktail bar by night located in the center of Williamsburg. Before sundown, you’ll find coffee and pastries being dished out at the counter up front, and during the evening, guests are escorted back to the bar, which serves fabulous cocktails and food with an East-meets-West influence. It’s owned by Claire Chan, also behind the popular Café Elk in the West Village. Chan worked as a buyer for Bergdorf Goodman for many years before trading fashion for food, and her discerning eye is evident throughout the stylish space, which blends sleek marble with white-painted brick.
Di An Di
This Vietnamese locale based in Greenpoint has some of the best Pho in town, along with a bright, plant-filled interior. The crew from the Lower East Side’s An Choi eatery are behind the space, which has already attracted a loyal following since its opening in May. Try the crispy pig tails with caramel fish sauce, or the Vietnamese pizza, made with a rice base.
Sugarcane
Positioned underneath Dumbo House in a large brick warehouse is Sugarcane, a raw bar and grill that captures the stunning views of the Brooklyn Bridge and Manhattan skyline. The menu is helmed by Timon Balloo (who also oversees the Miami flagship) involves a fresh mix of specialty sushi rolls, crudos, and seasonal staples charred on an open-fire grill.
The Hidden Pearl
Nestled behind a ramen shop in Greenpoint is The Hidden Pearl, one of New York’s most stylish new speakeasies, accented with navy blue, tan leather, and brassy gold fixtures. Like many of the city’s best new openings, the menu is Japanese, and the cocktails are creative, topped with fresh flowers and citrus. The intimate, 20-seat space has provided Brooklynites with an ideal new date destination.
Queens
Bellwether
Putting in time at Manhattan hotspots Barbuto and Freemans provided a solid foundation for chef Preston Madson to take the helm at this Long Island City restaurant owned by Matthew McCormick. Sustainably sourced ingredients are the focus of the menu, which offers dishes that fall under the flexible New American genre. There’s grilled halloumi, watermelon salads, chicken a la plancha, and a mix of healthy and not-so-healthy staples. “The vision for Bellwether was to help shape the culinary landscape in Long Island City and bring a new concept that I felt reflected the direction, design, and lifestyle of the fast-growing city,” says McCormick. The space is fresh, with one moss wall and glimmers of the Empire State building in the background.
Beebe’s
Beebe’s, an all-day restaurant serving thin-crust pizzas and modern American-Italian fare, is located on the ground floor of the Boro Hotel in Long Island City. There are negronis and local beers on tap, and cocktails conceptualized by bartenders Miguel Govea and Maximilian Caraballo, formerly of Apotheke NYC. The space is filled with natural light and exudes a modern vibe, with geometric wood panels, and custom banquettes.
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