The East Village Guide: Where to Eat, Drink and Go Out in 2026
Pierogi at 2am, theater in a basement, speakeasies behind phone booths and dive bars older than your grandparents. The East Village still does it best.
Neighborhood
East Village.
New Year's Eve in NYC 2026: Where to Celebrate That Is Not Times Square
Skip the barricades and the freezing crowds. Here is how to actually enjoy the last night of the year in New York.
Where to Throw a Bachelorette Party in NYC
Drag brunch, a private pole class, karaoke rooms that hold 30, burlesque on Orchard Street and rooftops with a view. The best bachelorette plans in New York, plus a night you can copy.
The Best Breakfast Spots in NYC
Sixteen places to eat a real weekday breakfast in New York, from a 1925 soda fountain and a 24-hour Williamsburg diner to Chinatown roast pork buns and mangú in Washington Heights.
The Best Cheesecake in NYC
Fourteen slices that define New York cheesecake, from Junior's and a Bronx bakery that supplies Peter Luger to Basque burnt tarts and an ube jiggly cake in Chinatown, plus how cream cheese made it all possible.
The Best Cookies in NYC
Twenty cookies worth crossing the city for, from Levain's six-ounce chocolate chip and Red Gate's toffee cookie to black and whites on the Upper East Side and pignoli by the pound in the Bronx.
The Best Happy Hours in NYC
Fifteen happy hours worth leaving work early for, from $1.50 oysters in the West Village to $10 negronis on MacDougal and half-price wings in Williamsburg, with the days and hours for each.
The Best Matcha in NYC
Where to drink matcha made properly in New York, from a Greenpoint tea counter and an East Village stone mill to single-cultivar shots in Nolita, plus what "ceremonial grade" actually means.
The Best Places to Write and Work Creatively in NYC
Find your muse at these quiet, inspiring nooks across the city, from stunning public library reading rooms to cozy cafes that actually tolerate laptops.
The Best Sustainable Fashion Boutiques in NYC
Shop ethically without compromising on style at these eco-conscious New York boutiques prioritizing upcycled materials and fair-trade production.
The Best Tailors and Alteration Shops in NYC
A good tailor is a New Yorker's best kept secret. Here is where to go for invisible denim repairs, bespoke suits, and emergency hems.
Birthday Ideas in NYC for Every Budget
Private karaoke rooms, family-style tables that seat 12, a drag dinner show, a free ferry at sunset. Where to spend a birthday in New York, sorted by what it costs.
Things to Do Alone in NYC
A bar seat at Via Carota, a 10 p.m. set at the Vanguard, free Friday nights at the Morgan. The best solo plans in New York, and how to do them well.
Things to Do in NYC in November 2026
From marathon pavement to Thanksgiving balloons, here is how to navigate the busiest and best month on the New York calendar.
The Best Arcade Bars in NYC
Combine craft cocktails with vintage pinball and classic cabinet games for the perfect nostalgic night out.
The Best Cooking Classes in New York City
Master the art of handmade pasta, perfect sushi rolls, or classic French pastry with these hands-on culinary workshops.
The Best Gluten-Free Restaurants and Bakeries in NYC
Dining out with celiac disease or a gluten sensitivity does not mean sacrificing flavor in New York City.
The Best Indian Restaurants in New York City
Savor the regional diversity of Indian cuisine in New York City, from fiery coastal seafood to modern tasting menus that require booking weeks in advance.
The Best Bar Trivia Nights in NYC
Gather your smartest friends and order a pitcher at these highly competitive, reliably fun pub quizzes across the city.
The Lottery Is Open for the NYC Bakery Run. Here Is How to Score a Spot.
The 13.1-mile route swaps water stations for cardamom buns and includes a seated pastry course inside Eleven Madison Park.
The Best Antique Stores in New York City
Hunt for historical treasures, unique artifacts, and enduring furniture at the city's premier antique shops.
The Best Cabaret Venues in New York City
Experience the intimate magic and theatricality of New York's enduring cabaret scene.
The Best French Restaurants in New York City
From classic brasseries to intimate natural wine bistros, New York's French food scene is thriving. Here is where to find the perfect steak frites.
The Best Home Decor Stores in NYC
Upgrade your apartment aesthetic with curated finds from the city's top home design boutiques, vintage furniture shops, and tableware havens.
The Best Magazine Shops and Newsstands in NYC
Support print media by browsing the incredible selections at these dedicated independent newsstands, bookstores, and specialty shops.
How to Join a Book Club in New York
From silent reading parties to bookstore groups and library meetups, here is where to find your people and talk about books in New York City.
The Best Burlesque Shows in New York City
Step into the glittering, subversive world of New York's modern burlesque scene, where these 16 venues offer spectacular, seductive performances every week.
The Best Cafes for Remote Work in NYC
Tired of working from your apartment? We found the best coffee shops, hotel lobbies, and public spaces to open your laptop.
The Best Comic Book Stores in New York City
From massive megastores to strictly independent zine shops, here is where to buy comics in the five boroughs right now.
The Best Concept Stores and Boutiques in New York
Beyond the big names, these are the design-led New York shops where fashion, art books, and beautiful objects share the same shelves.
The Best Date Ideas in New York City
From free ferry rides and gallery hops to late night jazz and cozy dinners, here is how to actually have a good date in New York.
The Best Dim Sum in NYC
Navigate the banquet halls of Manhattan, Flushing, and Sunset Park for the perfect shrimp dumplings and pork buns.
The Best Dog Parks and Runs in NYC
Let your furry friend off the leash at the city's top canine playgrounds. We rate the best dog runs based on space, cleanliness, and community vibes.
The Best Farmers Markets in New York City
Shop for fresh regional produce, artisanal cheeses, and baked goods directly from local purveyors at our favorite greenmarkets across the five boroughs, from Union Square to Grand Army Plaza.
The Best Ice Cream and Gelato in NYC
We rounded up the artisanal shops, classic parlors, and authentic gelaterias in New York that are actually worth standing in line for.
The Best Irish Pubs in New York City
Grab a proper pint of Guinness and settle in at these authentic, cozy taverns around the city.
The Best Italian Restaurants in New York City
From red-sauce joints that feel like a movie set to the new wave of pasta labs, this is where to eat Italian in New York right now.
The Best Independent Jewelry Stores in New York City
Beyond the big boxes, these are the city's best local designers and curators for everything from permanent bracelets to custom engagement rings.
The Best Jewish Delis in New York City
From mile-high pastrami on rye to perfect matzo ball soup, these classic delicatessens are true New York institutions.
The Best Barbershops and Hair Salons in New York City
From a quick fade in a classic barbershop to a transformative color treatment, these are the New York City spots we trust for great hair.
The Best Off-Broadway Theaters in NYC
Experience groundbreaking plays and intimate performances before they hit the big stage at these true beating hearts of NYC theater.
The Best Omakase Menus in New York City
Treat yourself to a masterclass in sushi at the city's finest tasting counters, from the $600 blowout to the $69 weeknight steal.
The Best Open Mic Nights in New York City
Whether you have five minutes of new stand-up, three chords and the truth, or a poem to get off your chest, these are the stages to find.
The Best Oysters and Raw Bars in New York City
Where to find the city's sharpest mignonettes, deepest raw bars, and oyster happy hours that actually justify leaving your apartment.
The Best Parks in New York City
Forget the tourist-clogged lawns of Central Park. This is your guide to the green spaces where New Yorkers actually live, relax, and play.
The Best Sandwiches in New York City
From the platonic ideal of a pastrami on rye to the bodega-born chopped cheese, these are the sandwiches that define New York.
The Best Speakeasy Bars in New York City
Secret phone booths, hidden doors and unmarked stairwells lead to the city's best cocktails, if you know where to look.
The Best Sports Bars in New York City
From massive mega-screens to cozy neighborhood pubs, these are the top spots to catch every game, fight, and match with passionate fans.
The Best Steakhouses in New York City
From expense-account classics to new-school grills, these are the rooms, the cuts, and the reservations that define New York steak.
The Best Sushi in NYC
From affordable neighborhood hand-roll counters to life-changing luxury omakase, New York has it all.
The Best Tattoo Shops in New York City
Looking to get inked by world-class artists? We highlight the most reputable, hygienic and stylistically diverse tattoo parlors across the city.
The Best Thai Restaurants in New York City
From fiery Isan duck larb in Elmhurst to upscale coastal curries in NoHo, here is where to eat Thai food in New York right now.
The Best Vegan Restaurants in New York City
Plant-based dining in New York has moved past the era of sad salads and dry veggie burgers.
The Best Views in New York City
More than just observation decks, this is our guide to seeing the skyline from every angle, from waterfront parks and bridges to rooftop bars.
The 19 Best Secret Gardens and Pocket Parks in New York City
Escape the relentless pavement by stepping into these tucked-away courtyards, community plots, and rooftop green spaces scattered across the five boroughs.
Literary New York: The Landmarks Worth Visiting
From the bar where Kerouac got kicked out to the library where generations of masterpieces were written, these are the places that tell the story of the city.
Where to Eat Thanksgiving Dinner in NYC
Skip the cooking and cleaning this November by booking a table at these exceptional New York restaurants.
The Best Bagels in New York City
Eighteen bagel shops worth the line, from century-old appetizing counters to sourdough upstarts, with exactly what to order at each one.
The Best Bakeries in New York City
Eighteen bakeries worth the line, the train ride and the sugar crash, from Greenpoint croissants and Bahraini morning buns to Bensonhurst cannoli and Bronx sfogliatelle.
The Best Brunch in New York City
Where to find the pancakes, eggs and morning cocktails that are actually worth getting out of bed for, from SoHo to Prospect Heights.
The Best Burgers in New York City
From the perfect, simple smash burger to a dry-aged steak on a bun that costs more than your Con Ed bill, here is where to find the best burgers in NYC right now.
Great Meals in New York for Under $20
Twenty-one places across four boroughs where a twenty still buys a real meal, from birria at midnight to roti in Bed-Stuy and a $6 patty in the Bronx.
The Best Cocktail Bars in New York City
Twenty bars pouring the best drinks in New York right now, plus a straight answer on whether the hidden-door speakeasy is still worth the hunt.
The Best Coffee Shops in New York City
From single-origin pour-overs to laptop-friendly spaces with strong wifi and even stronger espresso, here is where to get your coffee fix in NYC.
The Best Comedy Clubs in New York City
From legendary Greenwich Village basements to indie stages in Brooklyn and Queens, this is your guide to the best stand-up, improv, and alternative comedy in New York.
The Best Date Night Restaurants in New York City
Eighteen rooms for every stage of the thing, from the first drink to the anniversary, with what to order, where to sit and how to get in.
The Best Dive Bars in New York City
Twenty-one bars across Manhattan and Brooklyn where the beer is cheap, the jukebox has opinions and nobody has redecorated since the last recession.
The Best Drag Shows and Brunches in New York City
Where to find the nightly password, which brunch is worth the bottomless price, and why you should always bring cash for the queens.
The Best Gay Bars in New York City
From West Village landmarks where history was made to the Bushwick warehouses where it's being made tonight, these are the rooms that define queer New York now.
Where to Hear Hip-Hop Live in New York
From open mics in Harlem to DJ sets in Bushwick, these are the rooms and recurring nights that keep the city's essential art form moving.
The Best Independent Bookstores in New York City
Twenty-five shops across four boroughs where the staff picks are sharp, the readings are free and nobody minds if you browse for an hour and buy one paperback.
The Best Karaoke Bars in New York City
Where to sing in New York, from $1-a-song Chinatown stages and live piano rooms to Koreatown private suites that stay open until the trains get weird.
The Best Literary Bars in New York City
From historic taverns where Dylan Thomas drank to modern bookstore bars hosting the city's sharpest reading series, here is where to drink with writers.
The Best Movie Theaters in New York City
Beyond the multiplexes, New York's independent and repertory cinemas are where the city's real film culture lives, from downtown palaces to outer-borough originals.
The Best Natural Wine Bars in New York City
Seventeen places to drink skin contact, pét-nat and funky Jura in New York right now, from twelve-stool counters to backyard hangs with a pool table.
The Best Ramen in New York City
From rich, porky tonkotsu to delicate shio, here is where to find the most satisfying bowls of ramen in the city, and how to get a seat.
The Best Record Stores in New York City
Eighteen shops worth the subway ride, from Rockefeller Center's two-level Rough Trade to a Ridgewood crate-digger's haven and a jazz specialist tucked into an eighth-floor office.
The Best Small Music Venues in New York City
24 rooms under 500 capacity where you can still stand ten feet from the band, pay less than a movie ticket and see someone before the rest of the city catches on.
The Best Tacos in New York City
The taquerias, trucks and bodega counters you need to know, from Sunset Park to Jackson Heights.
The Best Thrift Stores in New York City
Charity shops with Upper East Side closets, a Bushwick warehouse priced for students, and the buy-sell-trade counters that turn your old clothes into new ones.
The Best Used and Rare Bookstores in New York
These are the city's essential shops for secondhand paperbacks, rare first editions, and unexpected finds, from towering institutions to neighborhood specialists.
The Best Vintage Stores in New York City
From Orchard Street designer racks to a Bushwick warehouse where the denim never ends, these are the vintage shops worth your Saturday and your rent money.
Is This Still It? The rooms that made New York rock again, and the ones you can still walk into
Between 1999 and 2005 a few hundred people in a handful of small clubs changed what guitar music sounded like. Most of the rooms are gone. Some are not.
Free Live Music in New York City, All Year
The big summer stages, the no-cover bars that run every night of the year, and the in-stores and atriums where rising artists play for nothing. Your wallet can stay home.
Where to Eat After Midnight in New York
Pastrami at 3am, pierogi at 4, empanadas whenever: the New York kitchens that stay open after the bars close, checked and confirmed for 2026.
Every Major New York Concert Venue, Ranked by How It Feels to See a Show There
Sound, sightlines, lines at the bar and the walk home. We ranked 25 New York concert venues from the 575-capacity perfect room to the arenas by the only measure that matters: the night itself.
Where to Hear Writers Read in New York: The Reading Series Worth Your Night
A red room above an East Village bar, a poetry church turning sixty, a Crown Heights bar that books future prize winners. The best readings in the city, most of them free.
Public Art in New York: Where to See It for Free
From massive waterfront sculptures in Queens to ever-changing installations on the High Line, the entire city is a museum, and admission is free.
Things to Do in New York in October 2026
Film festival premieres, 300 buildings unlocked for a weekend, a dog costume parade, Diwali in Times Square and the best night of the year on Sixth Avenue.
