Top Rated Restaurants & Cafes in New York

In 1986, sibling owners Maguy and Gilbert Le Coze opened Le Bernardin in New York after finding phenomenal success with their flagship restaurant in Paris, established in 1972. The duo won numerous accolades at the helm of this culinary destination, and it has continued to thrive under Chef Éric Ripert, named executive chef in 1994. Seafood has been the inspiration behind the menu at Le Bernardin since its conception. The tasting menu takes diners through courses filled with delicacies like Osetra caviar, Dungeness crab, Lobster Tail, and Black Bass. Patrons can also enjoy delectable small plates and handcrafted cocktails from the lounge if they wish to do so.

Chic and supremely popular, Gramercy Tavern is known among the Manhattan elite for its excellent service, superb food, plush interiors, and extensive wine list. The restaurant boasts two distinct dining options: you can enjoy a cozy, à la carte meal in the Tavern or indulge in the prix fixe experience in the Dining Room. Chef Michael Anthony proudly sources ingredients from local vendors, creating sensational dishes that change with the seasons. Whether you're snacking on treats like Wagyu pastrami and fluke tartare in the Tavern or reveling in courses like pork belly with peaches and strawberry brown butter cake for dessert in the Dining Room, you're sure to be amazed by Gramercy Tavern.

The Dead Rabbit has been lauded for many things: being the "Best Bar in North America," the "World's Best Bar," and offering the "World's Best Cocktail Menu" among them. This sophisticated Irish pub meets classy cocktail lounge has something for everyone, be it the stellar selection of craft beers in the taproom, more than 70 vintage cocktails in the upstairs parlor, or festive bands and DJs featured weekly. Hungry crowds can choose between elevated bar snacks like cheese and charcuterie plates or heartier dishes like the rabbit burger. There's even a gourmet grocery attached where foodies can stock up on artisan goods. Experience the flow of conversation among fashionable guests on the first and second floors of The Dead Rabbit or book the top floor for a private event.

Croxley Ales certainly offers plenty of selection, with nearly 60 lagers and ales on draught in each of their three New York locations. Friendly servers offer up lunch, dinner, late night, and Sunday brunch menus... plus a Monday to Friday happy hour from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. and 10¢ wings on Mondays and Wednesdays! Special beer promotions and weekly line-ups, with the kitchen open until 1 a.m., keep Croxley lively until late into the night. See website for further details.

Located by New Jersey's waterfront, Son Cubano offers its guests a great dining experience by the sparkling waters of the Hudson. At Son Cubano, guests can relish the delectable Cuban fare as they gaze at New York city's spectacular skyline. Weekends is the best time to visit this place; you can unwind at the bar and sway to the gentle beats of the music. You can also drop in on a Sunday to devour on a typical Cuban brunch. Do try out the Mojito: a Cuban classic cocktail. If you are planning to dine in this sophisticated space, remember to leave your sneakers and t-shirts at home.

Experience what it is like being in an Austro-Hungarian beer garden right at the heart of Hoboken, New Jersey. This charming gem of a beer garden is known for its brewery-like ambiance accentuated with large wooden tables, high ceiling hall and small but a vibrant, smoker-friendly garden space. Needless to say, its bar menu has a collection of German beers with as many as 20 draft beers that are directly imported from Germany. It also has a selection of 50 American as well as European beers, much to the delight of even the most discerning beer-lover. If you are in mood for cocktails then the Kolo Klub loft lounge and private event space inside the Pilsener Haus is just the right place to sip on the tasty mixes churned out by the bartenders. As for the food, Pilsener Haus serves traditional European delicacies like grilled sausages, smoked Polish kielbasa and beef burgers, prepared under the guidance of the expert chef Thomas Ferlesch. Its vibrant ambiance is further upheld with the live music events and movie screenings. Be ready to sip on your favorite beer and listen to Gypsy Jazz music in company of your friends. A perfect place for an after-work hangout, walk in here and live the German pub-life.