Guidebook for New York
Food Scene
Upscale American cuisine & brunch in a polished, modern dining room with a lounge & piano bar.
125 abantu bendawo batusa
The Cecil Steakhouse
210 West 118th StreetUpscale American cuisine & brunch in a polished, modern dining room with a lounge & piano bar.
Fanciest food and drink in the neighborhood, downtown feel. Owned by the famous Marcus Samuelsson.
1044 abantu bendawo batusa
Red Rooster
310 Lenox AveFanciest food and drink in the neighborhood, downtown feel. Owned by the famous Marcus Samuelsson.
Definitely in my top 5restaurants in the neighborhood, excellent food, wine, and ambiance.
169 abantu bendawo batusa
VINATERÍA
2211 Frederick Douglass BlvdDefinitely in my top 5restaurants in the neighborhood, excellent food, wine, and ambiance.
"Really cozy place the Italian owners and staff are super friendly."
63 abantu bendawo batusa
Sottocasa Pizzeria
227 Malcolm X Blvd"Really cozy place the Italian owners and staff are super friendly."
Lido Harlem Restaurant
2168 Frederick Douglass BlvdGood Italian food
Corner tavern/beer garden with extensive food & drink menus in a spacious indoor/outdoor setting.
428 abantu bendawo batusa
Harlem Tavern
2153 Frederick Douglass BlvdCorner tavern/beer garden with extensive food & drink menus in a spacious indoor/outdoor setting.
Probably the closest place in the neighborhood to a place with a "downtown" feel - great ambiance, high energy, excellent food.
166 abantu bendawo batusa
Barawine Harlem
200 Malcolm X BlvdProbably the closest place in the neighborhood to a place with a "downtown" feel - great ambiance, high energy, excellent food.
Stylish, relaxed Italian neighborhood cafe, known for its desserts.
86 abantu bendawo batusa
SETTEPANI
196 Malcolm X BlvdStylish, relaxed Italian neighborhood cafe, known for its desserts.
BEST almond and chocolate croissants in the city, absolutely cannot miss this.
85 abantu bendawo batusa
Les Ambassades
2200 Frederick Douglass BlvdBEST almond and chocolate croissants in the city, absolutely cannot miss this.
Harlem landmark serving generous helpings of Southern comfort food since 1962.
405 abantu bendawo batusa
Sylvia's Restaurant
328 Malcolm X BlvdHarlem landmark serving generous helpings of Southern comfort food since 1962.
Casual spot for burgers, shakes & more in a modern, dinerlike setting with retro Harlem photos.
212 abantu bendawo batusa
Harlem Shake
100 W 124th StCasual spot for burgers, shakes & more in a modern, dinerlike setting with retro Harlem photos.
Intimate eatery featuring upscale Mexican cuisine & agave-focused, craft cocktails in a chic venue.
31 abantu bendawo batusa
La Diagonal Agaveria
185 St Nicholas AveIntimate eatery featuring upscale Mexican cuisine & agave-focused, craft cocktails in a chic venue.
Great little cafe for breakfast or lunch...good atmosphere, good food, and lots of baked goods and coffee.
163 abantu bendawo batusa
Il Cafe Latte 1
189 Malcolm X BlvdGreat little cafe for breakfast or lunch...good atmosphere, good food, and lots of baked goods and coffee.
Wonderful Place to grab a bite to eat and a drink - Great addition to the neighbourhood
19 abantu bendawo batusa
Archer & Goat
187 Malcolm X BlvdWonderful Place to grab a bite to eat and a drink - Great addition to the neighbourhood
Shake Shack is an American fast casual restaurant chain based in New York City. It started out as a hot dog cart inside Madison Square Park in 2001, and its popularity steadily grew.
993 abantu bendawo batusa
Shake Shack
Madison AvenueShake Shack is an American fast casual restaurant chain based in New York City. It started out as a hot dog cart inside Madison Square Park in 2001, and its popularity steadily grew.
Famous for fried chicken and waffles - sounds crazy but actually amazing! good any time morning or night
241 abantu bendawo batusa
Amy Ruth's
113 W 116th StFamous for fried chicken and waffles - sounds crazy but actually amazing! good any time morning or night
Just a short walk along Saint Nicholas Avenue by Central Park is the small restaurant that offers some soul food staples, sans meat. Chef Brenda Beener started the restaurant with her son to create purportedly healthier alternatives to the foods she grew up on, like a soy “chicken” parmesan sandwich topped with dairy-free mozzarella and marina sauce, barbecue “riblets” made of lotus root and soy, and even a vegan-friendly version of a Harlem chopped cheese burger.
69 abantu bendawo batusa
Seasoned Vegan
128 St Nicholas AveJust a short walk along Saint Nicholas Avenue by Central Park is the small restaurant that offers some soul food staples, sans meat. Chef Brenda Beener started the restaurant with her son to create purportedly healthier alternatives to the foods she grew up on, like a soy “chicken” parmesan sandwich topped with dairy-free mozzarella and marina sauce, barbecue “riblets” made of lotus root and soy, and even a vegan-friendly version of a Harlem chopped cheese burger.
JJ Johnson gave rice a stage in Harlem this past summer when he opened FieldTrip, whose menu is centered on bowls made with different strains of the grain. It’s a fast-casual spot that pairs braised beef with Texas brown rice and spicy black beans; salmon with Chinese black rice, pineapple, and piri piri sauce; and crispy barbecue chicken with Carolina gold rice. All the rice is non-enriched, non-bleached, and sourced directly from farmers who mill the grain themselves. Despite the laborious process, bowls are kept under $12.
FIELDTRIP
109 Malcolm X BlvdJJ Johnson gave rice a stage in Harlem this past summer when he opened FieldTrip, whose menu is centered on bowls made with different strains of the grain. It’s a fast-casual spot that pairs braised beef with Texas brown rice and spicy black beans; salmon with Chinese black rice, pineapple, and piri piri sauce; and crispy barbecue chicken with Carolina gold rice. All the rice is non-enriched, non-bleached, and sourced directly from farmers who mill the grain themselves. Despite the laborious process, bowls are kept under $12.
With over 1,000 pieces of rugelach sold per weekend, Lee Lee’s has been lauded as making the city’s best of the form. The Jewish baked good — buttery, flaky pastry filled with ingredients like chocolate or apricot jam and walnuts — is not a part of owner Alvin “Lee Lee” Smalls’ heritage, but after falling in love with the baked good, he settled on his own recipe that uses sour cream in place of the traditional cream cheese and has people flocking.
14 abantu bendawo batusa
Safari
55 W 116th StWith over 1,000 pieces of rugelach sold per weekend, Lee Lee’s has been lauded as making the city’s best of the form. The Jewish baked good — buttery, flaky pastry filled with ingredients like chocolate or apricot jam and walnuts — is not a part of owner Alvin “Lee Lee” Smalls’ heritage, but after falling in love with the baked good, he settled on his own recipe that uses sour cream in place of the traditional cream cheese and has people flocking.
Chef Melba Wilson practically comes from Harlem royalty; her aunt, Sylvia Woods, is the namesake of the neighborhood’s most iconic soul food restaurant. Melba’s serves American comfort food, and no trip is complete with an order of the chicken and eggnog waffles served with strawberry butter and maple syrup, which Wilson used to defeat Bobby Flay on his TV show Throwdown! in 2008.
138 abantu bendawo batusa
Melba's
300 W 114th StChef Melba Wilson practically comes from Harlem royalty; her aunt, Sylvia Woods, is the namesake of the neighborhood’s most iconic soul food restaurant. Melba’s serves American comfort food, and no trip is complete with an order of the chicken and eggnog waffles served with strawberry butter and maple syrup, which Wilson used to defeat Bobby Flay on his TV show Throwdown! in 2008.
What was once a jazz club is now a small, stylish bistro with dishes such as grass-fed steak tartare and short rib ragu. It’s an ambitious neighborhood restaurant, one that takes extra care in sourcing, from its meats to its mainly natural wines.
39 abantu bendawo batusa
Clay
553 Manhattan AveWhat was once a jazz club is now a small, stylish bistro with dishes such as grass-fed steak tartare and short rib ragu. It’s an ambitious neighborhood restaurant, one that takes extra care in sourcing, from its meats to its mainly natural wines.
A wood-burning brick oven is the calling card at this Italian restaurant with Neapolitan-style pizza, whole roasted fish, and pasta. Brick walls, dark wood furniture, warm service, and a full bar make it an ideal date spot in the neighborhood.
105 abantu bendawo batusa
Babbalucci
331 Malcolm X BlvdA wood-burning brick oven is the calling card at this Italian restaurant with Neapolitan-style pizza, whole roasted fish, and pasta. Brick walls, dark wood furniture, warm service, and a full bar make it an ideal date spot in the neighborhood.
Small Harlem Health Food shop. Multiple vegan/vegetarian options, but also has meat options, hot food (rice/quinoa base), salads, wraps, and fruit smoothies. Excellent, delicious flavour/spices. Overall this is an excellent place, especially for vegan food.
Juke Box Juice & Salads
1943 Adam Clayton Powell Jr BlvdSmall Harlem Health Food shop. Multiple vegan/vegetarian options, but also has meat options, hot food (rice/quinoa base), salads, wraps, and fruit smoothies. Excellent, delicious flavour/spices. Overall this is an excellent place, especially for vegan food.
Entertainment & Activities
Lasker Rink
110 Lenox Ave
West 125th Street
West 125th Street
AMC Magic Johnson Harlem 9
2309 Frederick Douglass BlvdArts & Culture
I-Apollo Theater
253 W 125th St
The Studio Museum in Harlem
144 West 125th StreetIMusem we-Art we-Metropolitan
1000 5th Ave
The Museum of Modern Art
11 West 53rd Street
I-Guggenheim Museum kaSolomon R.
1071 5th AveBethel Gospel Assembly
2-26 E 120th StThe Hayden Planetarium
200 Central Park West
The National Jazz Museum in Harlem
58 W 129th StShopping
Gap Factory
264 W 125th St
Banana Republic Factory Store
261 W 125th St
Old Navy
300 W 125th StMAC Cosmetics
202 W 125th StDSW Designer Shoe Warehouse
301 W 125th StBed Bath & Beyond
1932 BroadwayH&M
150 East 86th Street
Victoria's Secret
640 5th AveBath & Body Works
112118 W 125th St
MAC Cosmetics
202 W 125th StDrinks & Nightlife
"Great jazz and quality food from steaks to oysters to pasta."
138 abantu bendawo batusa
Minton's Playhouse
206 W 118th St"Great jazz and quality food from steaks to oysters to pasta."
Updated soul food & craft cocktails plus live music in the basement of Red Rooster.
117 abantu bendawo batusa
Ginny's Supper Club
310 Malcolm X BlvdUpdated soul food & craft cocktails plus live music in the basement of Red Rooster.
This hip cafe & bar offers Middle Eastern eats such as shawarma & falafel, plus live music.
197 abantu bendawo batusa
Silvana
300 W 116th StThis hip cafe & bar offers Middle Eastern eats such as shawarma & falafel, plus live music.
Cozy bar pouring craft beer, bourbon & original cocktails in a narrow space with a back patio.
84 abantu bendawo batusa
Mess Hall
2194 Frederick Douglass BlvdCozy bar pouring craft beer, bourbon & original cocktails in a narrow space with a back patio.
Harlem restaurant/bar with upscale pub menu, craft beers, outdoor seating & special DJ nights.
345 abantu bendawo batusa
The Corner Social
321 Malcolm X BlvdHarlem restaurant/bar with upscale pub menu, craft beers, outdoor seating & special DJ nights.
Cocktail lounge with a chill vibe presenting creative concoctions in an art-filled atmosphere.
11 abantu bendawo batusa
Sugar Monk
2292 Frederick Douglass BlvdCocktail lounge with a chill vibe presenting creative concoctions in an art-filled atmosphere.
Parks & Nature
Ulwazi lwase-Conservatory
1233 5th Ave
Friends of Morningside Park
14 Morningside Ave
Marcus Garvey Park
Mount Morris Park West
High Line Park
Sightseeing
Columbia University
116th and BroadwayTimes Square
4 World Trade Center
150 Greenwich St