NIGHT FEVER
THE VNYL HITS JUST THE RIGHT BALANCE BETWEEN RESTAURANT AND CLUB TO MAKE ITS 1970S-INSPIRED DIGS THE PLACE TO BE.
Stepping into The VNYL, or Vintage New York Lifestyle, is like taking a step back in time. The ’70s-inspired clubstaurant, featuring high ceilings and huge homages to rockers and actors on the walls, has a laid-back and groovy vibe (think wood paneling, gold railings, Midcentury Modern furniture, and retro lighting) without oversaturating the experience with kitsch. On the main floor, the restaurant serves up shareable bites, such as bacon quinoa sushi, and perfectly light drinks, like the Diddy Levine, a vodka cocktail with cucumber purée and mint. Take a drink to the upstairs lounge overlooking the dining area, or steal into one of several alcoves for a more intimate moment. 100 Third Ave., 917-675-7725; thevnyl.com
DINING AUGUSTINE
From his first spot, Odeon, Keith Mcnally’s hotter-than-hot French restaurants have become New York landmarks with near-impossible-toscore reservations, so it makes sense that his latest—which has opened at the Beekman Hotel—is the boîte-tobe-at for French classics and an incredibly impressive wine list. 5 Beekman St., 212-375-0010; augustineny.com
THE BEATRICE INN
Angie Mar’s reimagined version of this West Village eatery has developed an almost sommelier-like approach to the cuts of meat it offers. Taking the reins from Graydon Carter and maintaining an impossibly cool crowd have been a breeze for Mar, who has kept the often-hard-to-find spot packed night after night. 285 W. 12th St., 212-675-2808; thebeatriceinn.com
CAFÉ MEDI
A dose of Mediterranean cuisine was deeply needed in the city, and Café Medi serves it up with both small and large plates in a space with Aegeaninspired murals and a cavernous skylight, giving this Lower East Side restaurant a truly coastal vibe. 107 Rivington St.; cafemedinyc.com
CHEF’S CLUB NYC
The organizing principle behind this resto keeps it in a constant state of buzz: Celebrity chefs submit dishes to a menu that changes seasonally, so diners can taste Bryce Shuman’s radicchio tardivo, Curtis Stone’s charred octopus, and Eric Ripert’s croque monsieur in one sitting. The industrial-chic setting was designed by Rockwell Group, with a massive, eye-catching rock of salt suspended from the ceiling. 275 Mulberry St., 212-941-1100; chefsclubnyc.com
CUT NEW YORK CITY
Wolfgang Puck is off to a stellar start with his first restaurant in New York City, housed inside the hot new Robert A.M. Stern-designed Four Seasons Downtown. Each cut of meat is presented tableside, from porterhouse to Wagyu, and you’ll find guest after guest snapping the presentation for Instagram. INSIDER TIP: It’s worth arriving early to take a look at the hotel’s gilded chandeliers and photo-worthy staircase. 99 Church St., 646-880-1995; wolfgangpuck.com
EATALY DOWNTOWN
The second iteration of the Flatiron market and dining establishment, the Fidi location offers plenty of authentic and delicious examples of Italian cuisine, from fresh pasta to oysters on the half shell—perfect for midday power lunches and after-work glasses of wine. 101 Liberty St., 212-8972895; eataly.com
FLORA BAR
Located inside the Met Breuer, this seafood-focused restaurant from the team behind Estela is as hot as the art on the walls. Its subterranean feel makes for the perfect modern meal after a tour of one of the premier modern art collections in New York. 945 Madison Ave., 646-558-5383; florabarnyc.com
FOWLER & WELLS
Tucked into the Beekman Hotel, Tom Colicchio’s latest restaurant features a breathtaking stained-glass wall and an American-leaning menu. INSIDER TIP: Spend the night at the hotel upstairs and have your meal delivered right to your room! 5 Beekman St., 212-658-1848; fowlerandwells.com
IMPERO CAFFÈ
Trending in New York right now are stylish restaurants inside hotels. This Italian eatery in the hotel Innside New York offers pastas and pastries in perfect harmony from a menu built by world-renowned chef Scott Conant. The ragù is so good—and so in-demand—that it’s on the brunch menu, too. 132 W. 27th St., 917-4095171; imperorestaurants.com
KING
This bright and airy downtown eatery is new, hot, and hard to get into! The brainchild of two alums of London’s famed River Café, the restaurant attracts a super-cool crowd with a seafood-based menu that changes daily and features rustic dishes. 18 King St., 917-825-1618; kingrestaurant.nyc
LA SIRENA
The Batali & Bastianich team continues to drive the possibilities of Italian cuisine in new directions. This Michelin-starred spot checks a lot of boxes: a myriad of pastas, a superstar wine program, a lasting chocolate coppetta, and the most gorgeous balcony overlooking Mepa. 88 Ninth Ave., 212-977-6096; lasirena-nyc.com
LE COUCOU
Coming off multiple rave reviews, Le Coucou has become the hottest ticket in town. Refined French cuisine has never been more in vogue than at this Little Italy outpost from Stephen Starr and Daniel Rose. INSIDER TIP: If you can score a post-dinner table at the adjacent club, The Blond, then kudos to you! 138 Lafayette St., 212-2714252; lecoucou.com
LE TURTLE
This chic French restaurant on the Lower East Side has become a haven for celebrities and socialites. Taavo Somer of Freemans and Carlos Quirarte of The Smile combined forces for the first time, and only accolades have followed. INSIDER TIP: Although healthy and veg-centric options dot the menu, stay tuned for the swine-and-wine dinners, which promise to be rowdy and rich! 177 Chrystie St., 646-918-7189; leturtle.fr
LORING PLACE
The reigning king of farm-to-table dining, Dan Kluger has finally opened his new restaurant, featuring a veg-forward menu and custom aprons by friend Todd Snyder. Kluger’s love and appreciation for organic local fare comes from his days as executive chef at ABC Kitchen and ABC Cocina. 21 W. Eighth St., 212-3881831; loringplacenyc.com
MIMI
This sexy French boîte may be minuscule, but the closely packed tables let you shop your fellow diners’ plates (there is lots of oohing and aahing), and the stylish staff is happy to walk you through the decadent and innovative bistro menu. The lobster with escargot butter is everything. INSIDER TIP: In order to give the kitchen time to prepare the soufflé—which is excellent, Btw—you have to order it at the start of the meal. 185 Sullivan St., 212-418-1260; miminyc.com
NIX
This Indian-inspired, veggie-heavy spot was the sleeper hit of 2016, with creative dishes like avocado, mint, and curry dip and ribbons of jicama with Fresno chili and blood oranges. It’s no surprise that the crowd is super chic given that the restaurant’s primary investor is Condé Nast alum James Truman. 72 University Pl., 212-498-9393; nixny.com
NIGHTLIFE AVENUE
A prominent stop on the nightlife circuit, Avenue attracts celebs and scenesters with a sexy setting that combines over-the-top glamour (think tufted black-leather banquettes and electric candelabras) with masculine wood wainscoting. 116 10th Ave., 212-337-0054; avenuenewyork.com
BEMELMANS BAR
This swanky Upper East Side spot within the Carlyle Hotel features jazz bands and singers throughout the week (including Woody Allen on the clarinet!), classic cocktails mixed with pro polish, and original Madeline wallpaper illustrations by the bar’s namesake. 35 E. 76th St., 212-7441600; rosewoodhotels.com
THE BLOND
With subtle gold and bronze accents that glint alluringly in the low light, this glamorous spot in Aby Rosen’s 11 Howard hotel quickly emerged last year as the choice for private events by the likes of Jimmy Choo and the Cinema Society. 11 Howard St., 212-235-1111; 11howard.com
CHUMLEY’S
This West Village speakeasy was polished up before reopening, and the new gastro-chic surroundings get a menu to match from chef Victoria Blamey. Did New York City need another $25 burger? Ordinarily, we’d say no, but after trying Blamey’s masterpiece (topped with bone marrow and served with a side of twice-blanched French fries), the answer is a resounding yes. 86 Bedford St.; chumleysnewyork.com
THE CLOCKTOWER
Housed inside the Edition Hotel, the 24k-gold-leaf bar on the second floor sets the stage for a perfectly curated craft-cocktail menu. The cut-crystal barware glimmers alongside a superchic Flatiron crowd. INSIDER TIP: Make a reservation before or after cocktails at chef Jason Atherton’s British restaurant inside the hotel and take in the photography-covered mahogany walls. 5 Madison Ave., 212413-4300; theclocktowernyc.com
DEATH & CO.
Turning the corner on its 10th birthday, this quiet, darkly lit lounge has graduated from cool newcomer to standard-bearer of the New York cocktail renaissance. The expert bartenders serve up some of the most exquisitely crafted drinks in the city, and there are just enough delicious snacks on the menu to keep you lingering all night long. INSIDER TIP: Let the barkeeps suggest a tipple from the extensive menu based on your preferences—they won’t steer you wrong. 433 E. Sixth St., 212-3880882; deathandcompany.com
KING COLE BAR
A legend of New York’s high-society kingpins, the King Cole Bar, within the St. Regis hotel, offers guests luxury dining and cocktails. We recommend the Bloody Mary, or “Red Snapper”— after all, the bar invented this brunch mainstay in the 1930s. 2 E. 55th St., 212-339-6857; stregisnewyork.com
SQUARES
Just east of Madison Square Park, far away from the din of the nightlife district, Squares takes a cheeky approach to the idea of old society clubs. Traditional décor, such as stag heads and trophies, are flattened and pixelated like a throwback Nintendo game, and even the cocktail bites have been cut into, well, squares. 360 Park Ave. South, 212-481-0187; squaresny.com
THE STANDARD HOTEL
This Meatpacking District gamechanger has not one but two nightlife destinations, both with semi-haughty gatekeepers at the door. Le Bain is the rooftop bar and club, and the Top of the Standard (formerly the Boom Boom Room) is the gold-dusted lounge that specializes in beautifully balanced retro and modern cocktails in a setting that likes its glam with a side of glitz. INSIDER TIP: The Top of the Standard closes to the public at 9 PM each night (or midnight from Sunday through Tuesday), but even early-evening revelers should book in advance to get a table with views of Lower Manhattan and One World Trade Center. 848 Washington St., 212-645-7600; standardhotels.com
VANDAL
This trendy downtown restaurant pairs street art with street food in an elevated setting. The tapas-style menu keeps the place buzzy and fun; diners snack on New York hot pretzel steak tartare, banh mi sliders, and chicken katsu and waffles while taking in eye-popping murals by street artists Hush, Shepard Fairey, and Tristan Eaton. Diners can get into mischief of their own in the downstairs lounge. 199 Bowery, 212-400-0199; vandalnewyork.com