Guidebook for New York
Food Scene
Lavagna
545 E 5th StGreat Italian food, very classy restaurant
Luzzo's La Pizza Napoletana
15 1st Ave.Real Italian pizza, very nice atmosphere
Delicious Indian food in little India. There are many more indian restaurants on this block but we especially like this one.
Gandhi Indian Restaurant
345 E 6th StDelicious Indian food in little India. There are many more indian restaurants on this block but we especially like this one.
Very nice cuban place for weekend brunch, and not expensive. Always busy, but somehow we always manage to sit down without waiting too much.
123 locals recommend
Esperanto
145 Loisaida AveVery nice cuban place for weekend brunch, and not expensive. Always busy, but somehow we always manage to sit down without waiting too much.
The original Lower East Side delicatessen. Take the pastrami sandwitch on rye bread. Pricey for what it is, but not to be missed in my opinion.
690 locals recommend
Katz's Delicatessen
205 E Houston StThe original Lower East Side delicatessen. Take the pastrami sandwitch on rye bread. Pricey for what it is, but not to be missed in my opinion.
If you’re feeling adventurous, try this dumpling shop. 1$ for 5 dumplings. I’d give about −1 star for decor, but it’s oozing Chinatown authenticity. They even got featured in the NY Times!
6 locals recommend
Fried Dumpling
106 Mosco StIf you’re feeling adventurous, try this dumpling shop. 1$ for 5 dumplings. I’d give about −1 star for decor, but it’s oozing Chinatown authenticity. They even got featured in the NY Times!
Minca
536 E 5th StAuthentic (tiny) ramen restaurant very close to home.
Black Iron Burger
540 E 5th StThe best beers & burgers happen to be nearby!
Excelent brunch place, if you have the patience to wait in line.
365 locals recommend
Clinton St. Baking Company
4 Clinton StExcelent brunch place, if you have the patience to wait in line.
This place is the opposite of hip or trendy, but it’s a remnant of the pre-gentrification lower east side, and as such, it’s worth a visit. That, and the cuban sandwich is great.
7 locals recommend
Cibao
72 Clinton StThis place is the opposite of hip or trendy, but it’s a remnant of the pre-gentrification lower east side, and as such, it’s worth a visit. That, and the cuban sandwich is great.
Schiller's Liquor Bar
Eat a burger with the hipsters in this cool joint!
Fancy — but pretty good — pizza in a nice setting. Definitely trendy.
53 locals recommend
Cherche Midi
282 BoweryFancy — but pretty good — pizza in a nice setting. Definitely trendy.
An entrepreneurial take on the traditional Chinatown dumpling house. Worth a visit if you’re into those sort of things.
288 locals recommend
Vanessa's Dumpling House
118A Eldridge StAn entrepreneurial take on the traditional Chinatown dumpling house. Worth a visit if you’re into those sort of things.
A sprawling chinese restaurant on many levels, Congee Village has everything that your average chinese doesn’t have. Best for at least 6 person groups.
62 locals recommend
Congee Village
100 Allen StA sprawling chinese restaurant on many levels, Congee Village has everything that your average chinese doesn’t have. Best for at least 6 person groups.
Fantastic atmosphere and delicious food in this hard to stumble upon northern italian restaurant. Reservations recommended.
115 locals recommend
Bacaro
136 Division StFantastic atmosphere and delicious food in this hard to stumble upon northern italian restaurant. Reservations recommended.
Southern food in a nice and informal setting. They don’t serve at tables but you can bring your own booze.
6 locals recommend
Mama's Food Shop
200 E 3rd StSouthern food in a nice and informal setting. They don’t serve at tables but you can bring your own booze.
Meskel
Simple and delicious. And just around the corner.
Great italian restaurant literally across the street. They’re more about pasta than pizza.
13 locals recommend
Max
134 W BroadwayGreat italian restaurant literally across the street. They’re more about pasta than pizza.
Fantastic, innovative northern italian cuisine in this slightly upscale restaurant.
6 locals recommend
Perbacco
234 E 4th StFantastic, innovative northern italian cuisine in this slightly upscale restaurant.
If you like mexican food, this is the best place for happy hour. Mexican beers on tap, great decor and fantastic food for little $$ make this place a must.
173 locals recommend
Fonda
434 7th AveIf you like mexican food, this is the best place for happy hour. Mexican beers on tap, great decor and fantastic food for little $$ make this place a must.
This is a bit out of our way but we're including it because we consider it bar none the best upscale place to eat in New York City. Tiny and intimate, we suggest you make a reservation.
72 locals recommend
The River Café
1 Water StreetThis is a bit out of our way but we're including it because we consider it bar none the best upscale place to eat in New York City. Tiny and intimate, we suggest you make a reservation.
Essentials
Key Food Supermarkets
492 Myrtle AveThe nearest supermarket, conveniently open 24h.
Whole Foods Market
95 E Houston StThe closest Whole Foods.
The closest Trader Joe’s around. “The line’s tiny compared to the savings” as the saying goes.
1296 locals recommend
Trader Joe's
130 Court StThe closest Trader Joe’s around. “The line’s tiny compared to the savings” as the saying goes.
Arts & Culture
Blue Note
131 West 3rd StreetJazz every night. Price depends on show.
Another emblematic jazz place. Again, every night there is a show, and the price varies.
95 locals recommend
The Village Vanguard
178 7th Ave SAnother emblematic jazz place. Again, every night there is a show, and the price varies.
This is the best blues bar in New York City. Blues every night. Price depends on show, sometimes there’s no cover. We used to live on the top floor of that building! Ah, when we were young…
34 locals recommend
Terra Blues
149 Bleecker StThis is the best blues bar in New York City. Blues every night. Price depends on show, sometimes there’s no cover. We used to live on the top floor of that building! Ah, when we were young…
If interested in the history of the Lower East Side, you should definitely visit this museum. They organize multilingual tours everyday.
603 locals recommend
Tenement Museum
103 Orchard StIf interested in the history of the Lower East Side, you should definitely visit this museum. They organize multilingual tours everyday.
Drinks & Nightlife
Historical Irish pub active since 1854. It doesn’t look like they’ve changed anything at all since then. Anyway, a classic not to be missed.
142 locals recommend
McSorley's Old Ale House
15 E 7th StHistorical Irish pub active since 1854. It doesn’t look like they’ve changed anything at all since then. Anyway, a classic not to be missed.
The Ten Bells
247 Broome StGreat wine and tapas bar in the heart of the lower east side.
Great bar to have a cocktail before / after eating at The Grocery.
82 locals recommend
Brooklyn Social
335 Smith StGreat bar to have a cocktail before / after eating at The Grocery.
Shopping
Duane Reade
110 Newark AveConvenient, open 24 hours
Century21 Stores
32 Church St
Brand clothes at discounted prices!
Everything Else
Landmark Bicycles
376 Bedford AveIf you want to rent a bike for the day, you can do it here.