9 Best New York City Restaurants To Visit This Summer.
Cropped view of a Black man, with selective focus on his hands, as he pays for a meal with a credit card after dining outdoors with his partner at an upscale restaurant.
getty
here are two kinds of summer dining in New York City. The first involves waiting in a line that wraps around the block for a reservation you booked weeks ago, only to spend dinner shoulder-to-shoulder with neighboring tables. The second is knowing where to go.
Lately, I’ve found myself gravitating toward restaurants that feel luxurious without trying too hard. The lighting is flattering, the cocktails are thoughtfully crafted, the service is polished and the food is memorable—but the atmosphere still leaves room for conversation. They’re the kinds of places where you can actually enjoy your company instead of competing with the music.
Whether you’re planning a girls’ night, celebrating a milestone, entertaining clients or simply looking for your next great meal, these are the New York City restaurants that have earned a permanent place on my summer dining list.
New York has no shortage of steakhouses, but Andrew Steak Society feels refreshingly intimate. Rather than leaning into old-school grandeur, the East Village restaurant offers a more modern interpretation of the classic steakhouse, complete with warm interiors, attentive service and an impressive dry-aged program.
Andrew Steak Society – East Village
Andrew Steak Society
The steaks are, unsurprisingly, the main attraction, but don’t overlook the seafood starters or thoughtfully curated wine list. It’s the kind of restaurant that feels equally appropriate for a business dinner as it does for a special occasion.
The atmosphere feels refined rather than stuffy, making it equally suited for business dinners, date nights or celebrating life’s bigger moments.
Order: The dry-aged ribeye, Blue Iceberg salad, and jumbo lump crab cake..
Bad Roman
Bad Roman continues to be one of the city’s most talked-about restaurants, but beyond the social media buzz is genuinely creative Italian-American cooking.
The dining room is playful, colorful and energetic without feeling chaotic, making it an ideal choice for groups looking to celebrate. Every dish arrives with just enough theatrical flair while still delivering on flavor.
Bad Roman – Columbus Circle
Bad Roman
While the dining room stays lively, weekday reservations offer a more relaxed experience that lets both the food and design shine.
The whipped ricotta remains one of New York’s most addictive starters, while the garlic babka has developed something of a cult following for good reason.
Order: Whipped ricotta, garlic babka, spicy lobster pasta and the lemon cheesecake.
Cathedrale
Walking into Cathedrale never gets old.
Hidden beneath the Moxy East Village, Cathedrale feels like one of New York’s grandest dining rooms. While the striking architecture and Mediterranean menu are reason enough to visit, its weekday happy hour has quietly become one of my favorites for expertly crafted cocktails, shareable bites and an upscale atmosphere that never feels rushed.
Cathedrale – East Village
Cathedrale
It’s one of those restaurants that reminds you why New York continues to be one of the world’s great dining cities.
Order: King Prawns á la Plancha, black truffle fettuccine, and the oysters du jour.
Ci Siamo
Ci Siamo continues to be one of Manhattan’s most elegant Italian restaurants. Chef Hilary Sterling’s menu centers around live-fire cooking, handmade pasta and impeccably sourced seasonal ingredients, all served inside a light-filled dining room that feels especially beautiful during the summer months.
Ci Siamo Hudson Yards
Ci Siamo
It’s polished without feeling pretentious—a combination that’s becoming harder to find.
Order: The caramelized onion torta, tagliatelle, and braised lamb.
For those looking for dinner with a bit more energy, Dejavu delivers an experience that effortlessly transitions from refined dining into a lively evening out.
Earlier reservations offer a more intimate dining experience with elevated cocktails and refined cuisine, while later in the evening the space transforms with live burlesque performances and an unmistakable downtown energy. It’s one of those rare venues that successfully blends fine dining with entertainment.
Dejavu West Village Restaurant & Supper Club
Dejavu West Village
The intimate setting, elevated cocktails and polished interiors make it an excellent choice for date nights or celebratory dinners before the music gradually takes over later in the evening.
Order: Caviar service, Aquarelle Branzino, squid ink linguini alongside of the Dejavu cocktail.
Do Not Disturb
Hidden away in the West Village, Do Not Disturb feels exactly like the name suggests—a place where the outside world fades away for a few hours.
Do Not Disturb West Village
Do Not Disturb
The seafood-driven menu pairs beautifully with an excellent cocktail program, making it a place where dinner naturally turns into another round of drinks. The lighting, music and overall atmosphere create the perfect backdrop for lingering well after dessert.
It’s one of those places you’ll almost hesitate to recommend because you’d rather keep it to yourself.
Order: East coast oysters, kale caesar salad, and the lamb chop barbacoa,
Kokomo Restaurant & Lounge
Williamsburg has become one of New York’s most exciting dining neighborhoods, and Kokomo remains one of its standout destinations.
The Caribbean-inspired menu delivers vibrant flavors while the tropical design transports diners far beyond Brooklyn. During the summer months, the indoor-outdoor atmosphere makes it especially appealing for brunches that effortlessly stretch into late afternoon cocktails.
It’s lively without becoming overwhelming, striking the perfect balance between celebration and sophistication.
Order: Whole red snapper, crab fried rice and the golden walnut spiced rum cake.
Tatiana by Kwame Onwuachi
If there is one reservation that continues to define New York dining, it’s Tatiana.
NEW YORK, NY – OCTOBER 28: Chef Kwame Onwuachi’s new restaurant Tatiana in David Geffen Hall in New York, New York on October 28, 2022. (Photo by Chris Sorensen for The Washington Post via Getty Images)
The Washington Post via Getty Images
Chef Kwame Onwuachi has created one of New York’s most celebrated dining experiences by blending Afro-Caribbean flavors with fine dining technique and deeply personal storytelling. Nestled at Lincoln Center, every dish reflects both cultural heritage and contemporary New York, making each reservation feel meaningful rather than merely fashionable.
Yes, getting a table still requires planning, but it’s one of the few restaurants that genuinely lives up to the anticipation.
Order: Curried goat patties, braised oxtail and the green caesar.
Zou Zou’s
Located inside of Hudson Yards, Zou Zou’s continues to be one of my favorite places for long lunches that turn into dinner or dinners that somehow last all evening.
The Eastern Mediterranean menu is designed for sharing, while the soaring dining room, open kitchen and polished cocktail program make it feel effortlessly sophisticated. It’s lively without becoming overwhelming, striking the perfect balance between energy and elegance.
Zou Zou’s – Hudson Yards
Zou Zou’s
One of Zou Zou’s best-kept secrets is what awaits upstairs. Chez Zou, the restaurant’s intimate cocktail lounge, feels like a hidden escape with beautifully crafted cocktails, plush interiors and a stellar music selection to go with it. Between the soundtrack, the atmosphere and the terrace overlooking Manhattan West, don’t be surprised if dinner downstairs turns into an all-night affair.
Order: Whipped Ricotta dip, yellowtail and the Mediterranean branzino.
This article was originally published on Forbes.com