Guidebook for New York
Food Scene
El Rey
Excellent and inventive salads, small plates, and coffee too.
Tinys Giant Sandwich Shop
Local coffee/sandwich shop
Mission Cantina
Danny Bowien's Mexican inspired restaurant.
Tuome
536 E 5th StOne of the top new restaurants in NYC.
Delicatessen de Katz
205 E Houston StFamous for pastrami and other smoked meat sandwiches.
Recently opened cafe serving up bagels, salmon, and egg creams in a nostalgic setting
181 residents recomanen
Russ & Daughters Cafe
127 Orchard StRecently opened cafe serving up bagels, salmon, and egg creams in a nostalgic setting
Ivan Ramen
25 Clinton StOne of the best ramen shops in the city.
Great, cheap, spicy noodles from Western China. There are a couple locations around the city, but this is the closest. In the summer, get the cold noodle dish -- A1!
107 residents recomanen
Xi'an Famous Foods
88 E BroadwayGreat, cheap, spicy noodles from Western China. There are a couple locations around the city, but this is the closest. In the summer, get the cold noodle dish -- A1!
Cheap, delicious, quick chinese food. The dumplings are great but the Sesame pancakes (with roast duck!) are very good, as are the spicy wontons!
288 residents recomanen
Vanessa's Dumpling House
118A Eldridge StCheap, delicious, quick chinese food. The dumplings are great but the Sesame pancakes (with roast duck!) are very good, as are the spicy wontons!
Very trendy, very delicious restaurant focused on food that's health-aware.
212 residents recomanen
Dimes
49 Canal StVery trendy, very delicious restaurant focused on food that's health-aware.
Very good Issan style Thai food. Get the larbs and the papaya salads. Spicy!
51 residents recomanen
Somtum Der
85 Avenue AVery good Issan style Thai food. Get the larbs and the papaya salads. Spicy!
Uncle Boons
186 Mott StExcellent Thai food. Elevated take on some classics.
EXCELLENT (but quirky) Italian cafe with delicious sandwiches, homemade bread, and daily pasta specials. Might be the best sandwich around.
57 residents recomanen
Gaia Italian Cafè
226 East 3rd StreetEXCELLENT (but quirky) Italian cafe with delicious sandwiches, homemade bread, and daily pasta specials. Might be the best sandwich around.
Small French brasserie around the corner that's been a cool place to have a quiet (or not so quiet) dinner for years.
101 residents recomanen
Lucien
14 1st Ave.Small French brasserie around the corner that's been a cool place to have a quiet (or not so quiet) dinner for years.
Ramen. Very good ramen in a tiny shop. One of the best ramen shops in the city.
103 residents recomanen
Minca
536 E 5th StRamen. Very good ramen in a tiny shop. One of the best ramen shops in the city.
Great spot for delicious fusion South Asian paratha tacos. Inventive, light, and flavorful fillings.
16 residents recomanen
goa taco
79 Delancey StreetGreat spot for delicious fusion South Asian paratha tacos. Inventive, light, and flavorful fillings.
Doughnut Plant
379 Grand StAmazing doughnuts (the best) and good coffee, too!
Good spot for coffee. Perhaps the best in the neighborhood?
104 residents recomanen
Café Grumpy - Lower East Side
13 Essex StGood spot for coffee. Perhaps the best in the neighborhood?
Shopping
Maryam Nassir Zadeh
123 Norfolk StVery trendy fashion boutique
A great second-hand bookstore for hard-to-find art books and first editions. Great place to browse!
30 residents recomanen
Mast Books
72 Avenue AA great second-hand bookstore for hard-to-find art books and first editions. Great place to browse!
Super cool spot for design and art objects, curated with an expert and knowing eye.
32 residents recomanen
Coming Soon
53 Canal StSuper cool spot for design and art objects, curated with an expert and knowing eye.
Essentials
Great indoor marketplace with many different vendors -- from bodegas to fancy produce
341 residents recomanen
Mercat d'Essex
88 Essex StGreat indoor marketplace with many different vendors -- from bodegas to fancy produce
Union Market
240 E Houston StGreat grocery store with an emphasis on organic and local
Whole Foods Market
95 E Houston StNothing beats Whole Foods.
Traditional Jewish Deli -- best smoke salmon in NYC, since 1917
251 residents recomanen
Russ & Daughters
179 E Houston StTraditional Jewish Deli -- best smoke salmon in NYC, since 1917
Arts & Culture
Sunshine Cinema
Great arthouse cinema
Rachel Uffner
170 Suffolk StGreat gallery one block over from the apt.
Great building, great museum focused on contemporary art.
629 residents recomanen
Nou Museu d'Art Contemporani
235 BoweryGreat building, great museum focused on contemporary art.
Sightseeing
Fantastic museum about life in the Lower East Side 100 years ago. They also organize walking tours of the neighborhood.
603 residents recomanen
Tenement Museum
103 Orchard StFantastic museum about life in the Lower East Side 100 years ago. They also organize walking tours of the neighborhood.
Drinks & Nightlife
Small sake bar that knows how to serve sake. Huge range, with beautiful presentation. They also have pretty good food!
15 residents recomanen
Azasu
49 Clinton StreetSmall sake bar that knows how to serve sake. Huge range, with beautiful presentation. They also have pretty good food!
Great spot for checking out the downtown views, and only a block or so from my apt.
136 residents recomanen
Mr. Purple
180 Orchard StGreat spot for checking out the downtown views, and only a block or so from my apt.
Mr. Fong's
40 Market StHip spot that's got some great drinks and a pretty lively scene.
Sel Rrose
1 Delancey StGreat spot for fancy cocktails.
An iconic music venue for indie bands coming to town. Been a mainstay of the downtown scene for a while...
135 residents recomanen
The Bowery Ballroom
6 Delancey StAn iconic music venue for indie bands coming to town. Been a mainstay of the downtown scene for a while...
Like the Bowery Ballroom in that it's been a mainstay of the downtown indie scene for a while. However, the Mercury Lounge is a little smaller and skews toward local bands.
95 residents recomanen
Mercury Lounge
217 E Houston StLike the Bowery Ballroom in that it's been a mainstay of the downtown indie scene for a while. However, the Mercury Lounge is a little smaller and skews toward local bands.
Entertainment & Activities
Best downtown yoga spot! Beautiful space with light-filled studio and great instructors.
10 residents recomanen
SKY TING YOGA - Chinatown
17 Allen StBest downtown yoga spot! Beautiful space with light-filled studio and great instructors.
Great movie theater that just opened with old and independent films in a beautiful building. Also, cool restaurant and lounge attached.
131 residents recomanen
Metrograph
7 Ludlow StGreat movie theater that just opened with old and independent films in a beautiful building. Also, cool restaurant and lounge attached.