Guidebook for New York
Food Scene
Tiny Latin American 'cevicheria' with $1 oysters on Sundays and Mondays - a single bar, no tables, and incredible seafood.
56 abantu bendawo batusa
Desnuda
221 S 1st StTiny Latin American 'cevicheria' with $1 oysters on Sundays and Mondays - a single bar, no tables, and incredible seafood.
No seating, just standing room. Voted one of the best coffee shops in the country. Perfect for a grab-and-go.
127 abantu bendawo batusa
Abraço
81 E 7th StNo seating, just standing room. Voted one of the best coffee shops in the country. Perfect for a grab-and-go.
More on the upscale, this Greek restaurant has won more awards than it probably knows what to do with.
93 abantu bendawo batusa
Pylos
128 E 7th StMore on the upscale, this Greek restaurant has won more awards than it probably knows what to do with.
Popular Moroccan restaurant with a fantastic brunch and great outdoor seating.
856 abantu bendawo batusa
Cafe Mogador
133 Wythe AvePopular Moroccan restaurant with a fantastic brunch and great outdoor seating.
The original spot of the gaining-fame cafe; perfect to camp out at with a laptop and coffee.
236 abantu bendawo batusa
Ninth Street Espresso
700 E 9th StThe original spot of the gaining-fame cafe; perfect to camp out at with a laptop and coffee.
Venezuelan arepas. Hugely popular, so put your name in and then hang out in the apartment upstairs.
355 abantu bendawo batusa
Caracas Arepa Bar
291 Grand StVenezuelan arepas. Hugely popular, so put your name in and then hang out in the apartment upstairs.
Lil Charlie's NYC
19 Kenmare StWonderful, warm and very filling Italian spot.
Rai Rai Ken
218 E 10th StSmall ramen bar with huge noodle bowls.
Porto Rico Importing Co
40 St Marks PlRows of burlap bags spilling with coffee.
This is a simple but excellent Italian restaurant. The charismatic chef is often the server, full of great stories about his dishes. Make sure to get a table in the garden if the weather is nice!
10 abantu bendawo batusa
Giano
126 E 7th StThis is a simple but excellent Italian restaurant. The charismatic chef is often the server, full of great stories about his dishes. Make sure to get a table in the garden if the weather is nice!
Sister-restaurant to Lil' Frankie's, serves great Italian fare with a fantastic side-walk vibe.
78 abantu bendawo batusa
Frank
88 2nd AveSister-restaurant to Lil' Frankie's, serves great Italian fare with a fantastic side-walk vibe.
One of our all-time favorites, they serve Filipino Tapas in this cozy, tucked-away spot.
26 abantu bendawo batusa
Kuma Inn
113 Ludlow StOne of our all-time favorites, they serve Filipino Tapas in this cozy, tucked-away spot.
Excellent Southern-style gourmet at this trendy restaurant. The cocktails are fantastic too!
81 abantu bendawo batusa
Root & Bone
200 E 3rd StExcellent Southern-style gourmet at this trendy restaurant. The cocktails are fantastic too!
This spot serves the best bagels in NYC. This is a controversial opinion, as everyone in NYC has their favorite spot. Perhaps it's my favorite because it's near my apartment? Either way, the bagels are baked on-site fresh everyday and you won't be disappointed. Also check out their second location on 2nd avenue for the same experience, in case you're heading in that direction.
202 abantu bendawo batusa
Tompkins Square Bagels
165 Avenue AThis spot serves the best bagels in NYC. This is a controversial opinion, as everyone in NYC has their favorite spot. Perhaps it's my favorite because it's near my apartment? Either way, the bagels are baked on-site fresh everyday and you won't be disappointed. Also check out their second location on 2nd avenue for the same experience, in case you're heading in that direction.
This is a fabulous and lively restaurant, and the caipirinhas are strong!
82 abantu bendawo batusa
Yuca Bar
111 Avenue AThis is a fabulous and lively restaurant, and the caipirinhas are strong!
One of my favorite sushi spots around. The food is great and it couldn't be closer (unless it was Kyo Ya - look for that in the guidebook!)
94 abantu bendawo batusa
Takahachi
85 Avenue AOne of my favorite sushi spots around. The food is great and it couldn't be closer (unless it was Kyo Ya - look for that in the guidebook!)
This is a special one... Kyo Ya is a delightfully charming and cozy spot directly across the street from us. It serves some of the best Japanese food in the city - if the almost entirely Japanese clientele doesn't give that away, the Michelin star might. Careful you don't miss it, the exterior is unassuming. You may need a reservation so call ahead!
14 abantu bendawo batusa
Kyo Ya
94 E 7th StThis is a special one... Kyo Ya is a delightfully charming and cozy spot directly across the street from us. It serves some of the best Japanese food in the city - if the almost entirely Japanese clientele doesn't give that away, the Michelin star might. Careful you don't miss it, the exterior is unassuming. You may need a reservation so call ahead!
Everything Else
Formerly a food truck, this dessert shop serves unexpected ice cream (think: coconut/curry/vanilla combinations) with lots of flamboyant flare.
148 abantu bendawo batusa
Big Gay Ice Cream Shop
125 E 7th StFormerly a food truck, this dessert shop serves unexpected ice cream (think: coconut/curry/vanilla combinations) with lots of flamboyant flare.
Drinks & Nightlife
This Belgian bar has dozens of top-notch beers on tap, with a quiet, dark atmosphere. (In fact, the bartenders will actually shush you if you get too loud.)
12 abantu bendawo batusa
Burp Castle
41 E 7th StThis Belgian bar has dozens of top-notch beers on tap, with a quiet, dark atmosphere. (In fact, the bartenders will actually shush you if you get too loud.)
The Immigrants
341 East 9th StreetSmall, cozy bar with a great happy hour.
We love this place: they serve great cocktails at reasonable prices. Stop in before 8pm everyday for half-price happy hour.
46 abantu bendawo batusa
Lovers of Today
132 1/2 E 7th StWe love this place: they serve great cocktails at reasonable prices. Stop in before 8pm everyday for half-price happy hour.
With hundreds of different bitters behind the bar, Amor y Amargo takes a new twist on some old cocktail-classics. Ask for the bartender's choice!
73 abantu bendawo batusa
Amor y Amargo
95 E 6th StWith hundreds of different bitters behind the bar, Amor y Amargo takes a new twist on some old cocktail-classics. Ask for the bartender's choice!
Ruffian is an ultra-chic little wine bar on my block which serves some delicious food at the bar too. Definitely worth checking out.
9 abantu bendawo batusa
Ruffian
125 E 7th StRuffian is an ultra-chic little wine bar on my block which serves some delicious food at the bar too. Definitely worth checking out.
Mace is a hot new cocktail bar in the neighborhood. It's further East than most things, but that's what makes it trendy these days.
40 abantu bendawo batusa
Mace
35 West 8th StreetMace is a hot new cocktail bar in the neighborhood. It's further East than most things, but that's what makes it trendy these days.
Shopping
Best craft beer shop in the city. Hundreds and hundreds of brands, with some dirt-cheap steals.
36 abantu bendawo batusa
Good Beer
422 E 9th StBest craft beer shop in the city. Hundreds and hundreds of brands, with some dirt-cheap steals.
Arts & Culture
Free live music (if you go into the left door, not the right!) with the best up-and-coming.
226 abantu bendawo batusa
Rockwood Music Hall
196 Allen StFree live music (if you go into the left door, not the right!) with the best up-and-coming.