Where to Eat and Drink in New York City

The city is a melting pot of flavors with distinct cultural hubs and districts brimming with culinary fusions. To cover the basics, tap water is definitely drinkable but probably not the tastiest. Most people either filter it or hydrate with a bottle of Essentia (the city’s unofficial water of choice).

There are plenty of cafes to charge up at, some offering up a little history with your latte. Caffé Reggio in Greenwich Village, a small, festive shop serving a range of sweet pastries and rich drinks just so happens to have the oldest espresso machine in New York City. It’s also credited for serving the first cappuccino in the United States back in 1927.

Another cafe worth stopping by is Fiat Cafe in Nolita, an intimate Italian eatery with French flair offering breakfast, dinner and lunch. Here you can pair your Rigatoni with a crisp glass of Aperol Spritz while getting prime people-watching views.

For drinks, pay Dr. Clark a visit. This little hideout in Chinatown doesn’t just create Hokkaido-style eats that are the talk of the city, they also make delicious cocktails – fans of drinks on the sweeter side with berry notes should add their Negroni Derivado to their list – while also offering a range of shochu shots alongside wines and beer. This place also makes for a great start to an evening out, which usually don’t kick off until around 10pm.

Looking for a cheap and quick meal? Tasty Dumplings in Chinatown offers five juicy dumplings for $2 cash (heads up: if you’re going to check out the incredibly rich and flavorful food in Chinatown, prepare to pay cash as most places don’t accept cards). For delicious noodles under $10, check out Midtown’s Udon St. Marks’ spicy cumin lamb noodles, Xian Famous Foods (there’s a few locations spotted across the city but the one on Bayard always delivers). Or maybe an aromatic plate of Chicken Tikka Masala is a priority? Bombay Chowk on the Upper East Side is a must.

If you’re craving asaro and fried beef in a tongue-zapping locust bean sauce, head to Brooklyn’s Buka. And for the special occasion, treat yourself to a culinary experience at Wayan, Soho’s trendy Indo-French restaurant that serves a mean steamed bass and fruit custard that will keep you smiling to the last mouthful.

The takeaway is that you don’t need to spend a lot to get a delicious meal in NYC.

If you're planning to visit New York City, check out our local guides to discover the best places to go.