15 bucket-list eats in New York City

Hungry for the latest and greatest restaurants that New York has to offer? Look no further. We spoke with New York restaurant reviewer and co-founder of The Infatuation, Andrew Steinthal for his most beloved NYC eateries.

Full reviews of all restaurants and cafes listed below can be found at theinfatuation.com

Breakfast:

Russ & Daughters Cafe

127 Orchard St.
212-475-4881

A new sit-down restaurant from these legendary smoked fish purveyors.

Eating something from Russ & Daughters is a must, and unlike the original store up the street, here you can eat at a table.

Must try: Hot smoke/cold smoke

The Smile

26 Bond St.
646-329-5836

The perfect place to lap up practical breakfast while people watching some of New York’s coolest looking folk.

Just don’t expect them to be up before 11am.

Must try: Egg sandwich

Lunch:

Burger Joint at Le Parker Meridien Hotel

119 W. 56th St.
212-708-7414

Behind a red velvet curtain in this high-end hotel lobby lies one of New York City’s best burgers.

It’s a big call, yes, but you have to eat one of these burgers before leaving Midtown.

Must try: Burger with everything, aka ‘The Works’ – don’t skip the fries either

Ippudo Westside

321 W. 51st St.
212-974-2500

The uptown location of our favorite Japanese restaurant import, here you can eat all the ramen you can possibly stand.

Must try: Akamura modern ramen

Cookshop

156 10th Ave.
212-924-4440

Cookshop does some of the best brunches and lunches in town, and it’s conveniently located next door to The Standard High Line hotel.

Must try: Anything that involves eggs

Danji

346 W. 52nd St.
212-586-2880

Modern Korean food. All you need to know is two words: bulgogi sliders.

Must try: Bulgogi sliders

Joe’s Pizza

7 Carmine St.
212-366-1182

If you leave without getting a slice from Joe’s, New York can’t allow you back. It’s in their city charter.

Must try: Plain slice

Luke’s Lobster

93 E. 7th St.
212-387-8487

The original East Village location of a fast-growing lobster roll empire.

Even if you happen to be visiting from Maine, you need to eat one of these bad boys.

Must try: Lobster roll

Dinner:

Il Buco

47 Bond St.
212-533-1932

When you return from your New York escapade, someone at home is going to ask you “Did you eat the best Italian food?", to which you will reply, “Yes, in a rustic antique shop."

You will be instantly more likable and respected by your friends and coworkers after wining and dining at Il Buco.

Must try: Beef carpaccio with fried chickpeas

L’Artusi

228 W. 10th St.
212-255-5757

Show up, sit at the bar, eat pasta, eat olive oil cake, repeat.

L’Artusi has excellent food and the best vibe ever. No wonder it’s a favourite among New York locals.

Must try: Olive oil cake

Vinegar Hill House

72 Hudson Ave.
718-522-1018

Here’s how the greatest day in Brooklyn works – you start on a Saturday at about 4pm, walk across the Brooklyn Bridge into Dumbo, continue on to Vinegar Hill House, eat delicious food, then send us a thank you email for planning the greatest day ever.

Done.

Must try: Country chop

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Paulie Gee’s

60 Greenpoint Ave.
347-987-3747

If ever you were going to venture over to Greenpoint, this is where we’d tell you to eat.

Paulie Gee’s has some of the best and most creative pizzas in the city, and Paulie himself will be walking around talking to customers.

At the very least you can tell your friends that you’ve heard of it. That’s pretty cool too.

Must try: Hellboy pizza

Late Night/Second Dinner:

Blue Ribbon Brasserie

97 Sullivan St.
212-274-0404

If we were going to tell you to have one meal on your first trip to New York City, this would be it.

We’d also tell you to have it at 2am. Blue Ribbon is open until 4.

Must try: Beef marrow and fried chicken

Momofuku Ssam Bar

207 2nd Ave.
212-254-3500

Another classic that we still have in heavy rotation, after all these years.

David Chang’s Korean food empire started here, and it’s still putting out amazing food.

It’s also open late, in case you’ve been out at the theatre…

Must try: Rice cakes and pork buns

The Spotted Pig

314 W. 11th St.
212-620-0393

Not only is this one of New York’s best restaurants, it’s one of the city’s best hangouts.

Put your name in with the host and head up to the bar on the second floor for some drinks and action until your table is ready.

Or maybe just skip eating altogether and see where the night takes you.

Must try: Chargrilled burger

Wellbeing means different things to different travellers. Here’s how to pick a hotel that gets it right for you.

The best wellness holidays aren’t necessarily spent wrapped in a spa robe. Sometimes they’re found around a dinner table in Cambodia, on a hiking trail in New Zealand or after finally beating jet lag on the other side of the world. The hotel you choose is what makes them happen.

1. Easy access to good food

meals from Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20 — Taste delicious meals at Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20.

One of the quickest ways to derail healthy habits on holiday is to spend half of it working out where to eat instead of digging into the culture around you. Thankfully, Novotel has done much of the hard work already, with chefs building menus that lean into the flavours, ingredients and traditions of each destination.

In Sihanoukville, Cambodia, Korkor soup – often dubbed ‘Cambodian ratatouille’ – sits alongside raw blue crab dressed with lime and chilli, best enjoyed with views across the Gulf of Thailand.

In the lovingly chaotic city of Bangkok, the presence of food cranks up the sociability. At Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20, you can settle in with mango sticky rice and stranger-turned-friends beside the pool at Sky on 20 rooftop bar, or bring them along to tackle river prawns and stir-fried crab with holy basil at the buzzing Crab Paradise Dinner Buffet.

Then Novotel Dubai Al Barsha welcomes you with a laidback twist on the level of indulgence the Middle Eastern city is best known for up on Deck Se7en. Looking towards Burj Al Arab, the rooftop lounge has everything from Mediterranean-style dishes like seabass ceviche to Italian prosecco sundowners.

At the other end of the scale, in the hills that surround the Novotel Bali Ubud Resort, calm comes from nature. At Siralada restaurant, Balinese traditions shape the menu while thunder rumbles over the surrounding jungle – proving the setting is as nourishing as the food itself.

While at Novotel Nha Trang, chef Kieu Thi My Hanh and her team showcase Vietnam’s knack for balancing freshness, texture and fragrant herbs. Pho remains a favourite, while seafood salad with pomelo and mango brings those flavours together in one bright dish.

It’s all an approach backed by partnerships with expert food creators such as Alfie Steiner, whose plant-forward recipes prove healthy food should never taste plain.

2. Better sleep options

Novotel Bali Ubud Resort room — Sleep deeply with Novotel.

There are few travel experiences more disappointing than arriving in a new country, determined to seize the day, only to fall asleep fully clothed by 3pm.

For Australian travellers, jet lag is often an unavoidable part of the journey. That’s one reason Novotel runs sleep-focused initiatives that help guests adjust quickly without compromising on health. We’re talking partnerships with Sydney-based sleep specialist Olivia Arezzolo, known for her advice on everything from better sleep habits to beating jet lag, alongside features like pillow menus, in-room yoga content and tailored sleep guidance.

The sooner you’re operating on local time, the sooner you can get back to more pressing matters – like deciding which spa treatment to book.

3. More ways to move

woman hiking around queenstown new zealand — Stay at Novotel Queenstown Lakeside and explore local hiking trails. (Credit: GettyI mages/ naruedom)

Every place in the world has its own way of getting you moving: whether that’s hiking up ice-bitten mountains before a sauna or gentle stretching by the pool before a facial. From fitness centres to spas, Novotel recognises that wellbeing rarely looks the same.

At Novotel Queenstown Lakeside, activity is inescapable. Here, hiking trails, ski fields, bungee jumps, and white-water rafting have made the region famous. The hotel’s location on the shores of Lake Wakatipu means less time spent organising yourself and more time out there experiencing them. To top it all off, you can book a private hot tub for the evening before heading back into the wilderness tomorrow.

Bali, of course, takes a softer approach. At Novotel Bali Ubud Resort or Novotel Bali Nusa Dua, movement is less about conquering a mountain and more about a dance class between the tropical gardens and lagoon pools. Afterwards, the spa takes over, with traditional treatments like a Lulur body scrub: a combination of rice, turmeric, sandalwood, ginger and jasmine that’ll soothe muscles already relaxed by the Balinese heat.

4. Better connections

Kids will love a stay at Novotel Sharm El Sheikh.

One of the best things about travel is that it gives your family stories you’ll be telling for years. Novotel helps create them with activities that bring everyone together, whether that’s trying something new, learning a local skill, or simply spending more time together.

Go for a distinctly Thai twist at Novotel Phuket Vintage Park, where many of the family activities draw on local culture. Kids can try everything from beginner Thai boxing and language lessons to umbrella painting and – a pastime beloved by children the world over – pool foam parties. Everyone is welcome to join in, whether that’s getting splashed, covered in paint, or simply watching their children discover a new side of Thailand during the dedicated Family & Kids Day.

A different adventure awaits at Novotel Sharm El Sheikh. Kids could be perfectly content with discos, drawing classes and new holiday friends, but the Red Sea has other ideas. Sitting on the edge of Naama Bay, days here might involve snorkelling colourful reefs, taking a boat trip to Ras Mohammed National Park or heading into the desert by quad bike or camel for a Bedouin-style dinner beneath the stars.

5. Location is everything

Surin Beach, Choeng Thale, Thalang District, Phuket, Thaiföld — Explore Phuket’s gorgeous beaches. (Credit: Bence Biczo)

Everyone’s idea of wellness looks a little different. With more than 600 hotels across 65 countries, Novotel gives guests the freedom to choose the destination that suits them best. Whether that’s a beachside escape in Phuket, an alpine expedition in Queenstown or a city break in Bangkok, there’s a good chance a Novotel isn’t far away.

All that’s left? Choosing your version of wellbeing.

Discover stays to inspire your everyday at novotel.accor.com.