Amanda’s guidebook
Amanda's Favorite Restaurants & Bars
This adorable spot is New York City's original Dim Sum parlor, and it's stood the test of time. It's diner-y, vintage, cute, cheap, and the have the BEST dim sum! Definitely try the shrimp siu mai and the soup dumplings. Fair warning: they only take cash and American Express.
153 residents recomanen
Nom Wah Tea Parlor
13 Doyers StThis adorable spot is New York City's original Dim Sum parlor, and it's stood the test of time. It's diner-y, vintage, cute, cheap, and the have the BEST dim sum! Definitely try the shrimp siu mai and the soup dumplings. Fair warning: they only take cash and American Express.
This is possibly the coolest new-ish restaurant in this neighborhood. Behind an unassuming store front on Mulberry St, this spot is actually 3 different restaurants - the top floor is an omakase sushi bar, the middle level is an izakaya style Japanese tapas restaurant, and the basement level is a swanky cocktail bar with Japanese-inspired craft cocktails. Definitely try the omakase cocktail experience!
Juku
32 Mulberry StThis is possibly the coolest new-ish restaurant in this neighborhood. Behind an unassuming store front on Mulberry St, this spot is actually 3 different restaurants - the top floor is an omakase sushi bar, the middle level is an izakaya style Japanese tapas restaurant, and the basement level is a swanky cocktail bar with Japanese-inspired craft cocktails. Definitely try the omakase cocktail experience!
Hub Thai
50 Avenue ASeriously amazing Thai food - no lengthy explanation required!
This place is so cool, and is nestled right in the middle of Little Italy. They hand-make all their pasta right in front of you, and they have an unbelievable selection of noodles, sauces, and wine pairings. The restaurant is super cute too!
9 residents recomanen
Aunt Jake's
133 Mulberry StThis place is so cool, and is nestled right in the middle of Little Italy. They hand-make all their pasta right in front of you, and they have an unbelievable selection of noodles, sauces, and wine pairings. The restaurant is super cute too!
Gelso & Grand
186 Grand StAnother amazing Little Italy staple!
This is a terribly adorable Austrian restaurant with awesome, authentic food
89 residents recomanen
Cafe Katja
79 Orchard StThis is a terribly adorable Austrian restaurant with awesome, authentic food
A cash-only German Biergarten with the best German beer and food in the whole city (at least we think so), we seriously spend an embarrassing amount of time here. The staff is really friendly and entertaining too!
128 residents recomanen
Zum Schneider NYC
107 Loisaida AveA cash-only German Biergarten with the best German beer and food in the whole city (at least we think so), we seriously spend an embarrassing amount of time here. The staff is really friendly and entertaining too!
BoCaphe
222 Lafayette StAmazing Vietnamese food in a casual setting
Probably one of the very best cocktail bars in the whole city and one of the original speakeasies, you will not be disappointed with a visit here. Also look for the logo tattooed on all the bartenders' wrists (yes, they take it that seriously).
256 residents recomanen
Employees Only
510 Hudson StProbably one of the very best cocktail bars in the whole city and one of the original speakeasies, you will not be disappointed with a visit here. Also look for the logo tattooed on all the bartenders' wrists (yes, they take it that seriously).
VERY close to our apartment, this place is super easy to walk by but always worth a stop. Like an odd mix of swanky cocktail bar and dive bar, the crowd is always a highlight.
93 residents recomanen
Mr. Fong's
40 Market StVERY close to our apartment, this place is super easy to walk by but always worth a stop. Like an odd mix of swanky cocktail bar and dive bar, the crowd is always a highlight.
Another spot in Chinatown with an unassuming store front (what a surprise), Kiki's has GREAT, authentic Greek food - and, admittedly, some of the best cheesecake around.
320 residents recomanen
Kiki's
130 Division StreetAnother spot in Chinatown with an unassuming store front (what a surprise), Kiki's has GREAT, authentic Greek food - and, admittedly, some of the best cheesecake around.
Classic New York City neighborhood bar with lots of interesting, funky decor, this place is super close to the apartment as well, and is usually playing some movie on mute that you forgot about for 15 years.
181 residents recomanen
Forgtmenot
138 Division StClassic New York City neighborhood bar with lots of interesting, funky decor, this place is super close to the apartment as well, and is usually playing some movie on mute that you forgot about for 15 years.
Another class NYC speakeasy, this place looks like a pharmacy from the 1890s. Amazing live jazz on Tuesdays, burlesque shows on Wednesdays, and tons of expertly crafted cocktails served by bartenders in old doctors' coats, this is a place you'll never forget.
212 residents recomanen
Apotheke
9 Doyers StAnother class NYC speakeasy, this place looks like a pharmacy from the 1890s. Amazing live jazz on Tuesdays, burlesque shows on Wednesdays, and tons of expertly crafted cocktails served by bartenders in old doctors' coats, this is a place you'll never forget.
Really cosy, huge, tremendously decorated spot (with an outdoor patio) in the Lower East Side, I rarely pass up an opportunity to grab a cocktail here!
9 residents recomanen
The Ludlow Hotel New York
188 Ludlow StReally cosy, huge, tremendously decorated spot (with an outdoor patio) in the Lower East Side, I rarely pass up an opportunity to grab a cocktail here!
One of the best rooftop bars in the Lower East Side, and they have an awesome rooftop pool also!
136 residents recomanen
Mr. Purple
180 Orchard StOne of the best rooftop bars in the Lower East Side, and they have an awesome rooftop pool also!
You have to trust us on this one... walk into the Five Guys, walk to the back of the restaurant, and the bouncer will lead you up a secret stair well into an amazing cocktail lounge. The best part is that you can bring your burger and fries up with you!
50 residents recomanen
The Garret
296 Bleecker StYou have to trust us on this one... walk into the Five Guys, walk to the back of the restaurant, and the bouncer will lead you up a secret stair well into an amazing cocktail lounge. The best part is that you can bring your burger and fries up with you!
GREAT basement cocktail bar. They have a pretty impressive selection of mocktails too, making Nitecap the perfect place for a group of drinkers and non drinkers alike to have a... well, Nitecap.
45 residents recomanen
Nitecap
151 Rivington StGREAT basement cocktail bar. They have a pretty impressive selection of mocktails too, making Nitecap the perfect place for a group of drinkers and non drinkers alike to have a... well, Nitecap.
One of the World's 50 Best Bars, this is a Burmese gin bar with comfy leather arm chairs and outrageously delicious cocktails (and appetizers).
69 residents recomanen
Pegu Club
One of the World's 50 Best Bars, this is a Burmese gin bar with comfy leather arm chairs and outrageously delicious cocktails (and appetizers).
The Back Room is one of only two speakeasies that opened in NYC during prohibition - and you'll get the authentic experience trying to find this place! Once you do, however, you'll find the place probably hasn't changed much in the last century, and they even serve their delicious cocktails in teacups.
127 residents recomanen
The Back Room
102 Norfolk StThe Back Room is one of only two speakeasies that opened in NYC during prohibition - and you'll get the authentic experience trying to find this place! Once you do, however, you'll find the place probably hasn't changed much in the last century, and they even serve their delicious cocktails in teacups.
This tiny bar is credited with inventing the Penicillin cocktail, but they make everything perfectly. I highly recommend making a reservation if you're going on the weekend since there are only a few seats and they do not allow standing room.
102 residents recomanen
Attaboy
134 Eldridge StThis tiny bar is credited with inventing the Penicillin cocktail, but they make everything perfectly. I highly recommend making a reservation if you're going on the weekend since there are only a few seats and they do not allow standing room.
Basement
45 Mott StBeer pong tables, great music, and a secret entrance - you really can't go wrong
Cuban cocktail bar at Pier A overlooking the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, and Staten Island, I usually end up here for special events (but it's worth the visit all the time)
7 residents recomanen
BlackTail
Cuban cocktail bar at Pier A overlooking the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, and Staten Island, I usually end up here for special events (but it's worth the visit all the time)
One time we tried to go to Employees Only and there was a wait, and the bouncer sent us to Katana Kitten across the street. This place is a cutesy Asian cocktail bar with great food - they make the BEST egg salad in the world. Ever since then I can't make a trip to Employees Only without dropping by Katana Kitten for an egg salad (seriously that good).
10 residents recomanen
Katana Kitten
531 Hudson StOne time we tried to go to Employees Only and there was a wait, and the bouncer sent us to Katana Kitten across the street. This place is a cutesy Asian cocktail bar with great food - they make the BEST egg salad in the world. Ever since then I can't make a trip to Employees Only without dropping by Katana Kitten for an egg salad (seriously that good).
I'm a gin nerd, I admit it. This place is heaven. They have "gin club" every Tuesday and for $30 you get an intro to a new gin from a distiller or distributor, a welcome cocktail, 2 cocktails you make yourself with step by step instructions from the staff, and enough delicious appetizers to fill you for days. This is, hands down, one of my favorite, off-the-beaten-path NYC events ever!
12 residents recomanen
The Winslow Gin House and Eatery
243 E 14th StI'm a gin nerd, I admit it. This place is heaven. They have "gin club" every Tuesday and for $30 you get an intro to a new gin from a distiller or distributor, a welcome cocktail, 2 cocktails you make yourself with step by step instructions from the staff, and enough delicious appetizers to fill you for days. This is, hands down, one of my favorite, off-the-beaten-path NYC events ever!
Absolutely delicious Serbian restaurant in the East Village! Definitely try their Spinach Pie!
30 residents recomanen
Kafana
116 Loisaida AveAbsolutely delicious Serbian restaurant in the East Village! Definitely try their Spinach Pie!
A close friend of mine is Salvadoran and has decreed this place the best, most authentic Salvadoran restaurant in all of the 5 boroughs. If you're a sucker for fried plantains and cheese-stuffed pupusas (like me), definitely check this place out!
26 residents recomanen
Bahia
690 Grand StA close friend of mine is Salvadoran and has decreed this place the best, most authentic Salvadoran restaurant in all of the 5 boroughs. If you're a sucker for fried plantains and cheese-stuffed pupusas (like me), definitely check this place out!
Things to Do
If you're ready for a seriously unique experience, look no further than this lodge-y axe throwing bar in Gowanus!
24 residents recomanen
Kick Axe Throwing BROOKLYN
622 Degraw StIf you're ready for a seriously unique experience, look no further than this lodge-y axe throwing bar in Gowanus!
This nail salon is so quiet and so pretty, it's the perfect place to unwind with a pedicure and an iced coffee after a long day of walking around
tenoverten SoHo
132 W Houston StThis nail salon is so quiet and so pretty, it's the perfect place to unwind with a pedicure and an iced coffee after a long day of walking around