Food & Dining

NYC Council will bring back year-round outdoor dining

King, a restaurant in the Village. Photo by GuardianKC, CC BY-SA 4.0

February 5, 2026

NYC Council will bring back year-round outdoor dining

The New York City Council will make outdoor dining year-round again. During a speech at A Better New York's (ABNY) Power Breakfast on Wednesday, City Council Speaker Julie Menin said she plans to advance legislation introduced last year that would bring back the pandemic-era program, allowing for roadway dining in winter and reducing the cost to businesses.
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Nathan’s Famous, home of the hot dog eating contest, sells for $450M

Credit: Jeremy Thompson on Flickr

January 22, 2026

Nathan’s Famous, home of the hot dog eating contest, sells for $450M

By Aaron Ginsburg

Nathan’s Famous, the century-old Coney Island hot dog institution that grew from a single stand into a global brand, has been sold for $450 million. On Wednesday, Smithfield Foods said it would pay $102 per share to acquire the iconic brand. Smithfield, a Chinese-owned food processor based in Virginia, has held the rights to produce and sell Nathan’s products in the U.S. and Canada since 2014, which were scheduled to expire in 2032. For fans worried about the future of the famed Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest, fear not—Smithfield said it plans to continue hosting the event, according to The Hill.
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December 5, 2025

NYC’s most festive holiday bars and restaurants

By Aaron Ginsburg

Nowhere is as picturesque as New York City during the holidays, with iconic attractions like the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree, Bryant Park's Winter Village, the Dyker Heights Christmas lights, and festive decorations brightening every street corner. Whether you're looking for a cozy spot to sip on seasonal cocktails or somewhere to enjoy over-the-top holiday-themed decor, the city offers many options to revel in holiday cheer. Ahead, find a list of festive bars and restaurants across NYC that will help you get into the holiday spirit (and spirits) this season.
Find out where the festivities are

Eataly to open new grab-and-go cafe on the Upper East Side

Credit: Eataly

December 2, 2025

Eataly to open new grab-and-go cafe on the Upper East Side

By Aaron Ginsburg

Eataly’s expansion across Manhattan continues, with the beloved Italian marketplace set to open a new outpost on the Upper East Side. On December 10, the brand will debut a 43-seat Eataly Caffè, its newest culinary concept featuring a coffee bar, quick-service offerings, and other grab-and-go options. Located at 1122 Lexington Avenue, the new cafe will be the third of its kind in the five boroughs and Eataly’s fifth location in the city, following the opening of a cafe in Hudson Yards in June.
get the details

Food & Dining

The 7 absolute best pastrami spots in NYC—and the stories behind them

A pastrami sandwich at Katz’s Deli. Photo by City Foodsters on Flickr

November 18, 2025

The 7 absolute best pastrami spots in NYC—and the stories behind them

By Dana Schulz

Other than the $1 slice of pizza, a bagel with lox, or a street cart hot dog, is there any food more synonymous with New York City than a pastrami sandwich on rye bread? The classic deli staple has been featured on Seinfeld, Saturday Night Live, and, of course, who can forget that famous scene in Katz’s from When Harry Met Sally? But pastrami’s legacy in the Big Apple began long before these pop culture moments.
order up!

November 14, 2025

The 20 best heated and indoor rooftops to enjoy in NYC this winter

By Aaron Ginsburg

Peak rooftop season might be on pause until next summer, but panoramic skyline views can still be enjoyed from indoor and heated rooftop spots across New York City. Cozy restaurants and bars across the five boroughs offer the perfect way to scratch that skyline itch without braving the chill of the fall and winter weather. From heated terraces to glass-enclosed lounges, here are some of the best rooftops to sip a cocktail and take in the view.
where to go

Salt & Straw opening at new luxury condo tower on the Upper East Side

Photo by Salt & Straw

November 5, 2025

Salt & Straw opening at new luxury condo tower on the Upper East Side

By Aaron Ginsburg

The Upper East Side is getting a sweet addition. Portland's cult-favorite ice cream shop Salt & Straw will open at Naftali Group's new luxury condo tower at 255 East 77th Street. Anticipated to open in spring 2027, the shop will occupy 1,650 square feet on the ground floor of the 500-foot-tall residential building. The beloved ice cream brand opened its first NYC location on the Upper West Side in September 2024, debuting signature Big Apple–inspired flavors, followed by a second spot in the West Village shortly after.
get the scoop

Food & Dining

New legislation would make NYC outdoor dining year-round again

Credit: Eden, Janine and Jim on Flickr

October 10, 2025

New legislation would make NYC outdoor dining year-round again

By Aaron Ginsburg

New legislation aims to restore New York City’s outdoor dining program to its pandemic-era scale by eliminating seasonal restrictions. Council Member Lincoln Restler on Thursday introduced Intro. 1421 to restore year-round outdoor dining, which ended following new rules and restrictions approved by the Council last year. The legislation would also allow grocery stores to apply for sidewalk cafe licenses, eliminate seasonal limits on roadway cafes, and permit certain cafes to expand their frontage with approval. The proposal seeks to scale back aspects of Dining Out NYC, the city’s current outdoor dining program. According to Restler, the seasonal schedule and stricter rules have made it difficult for many businesses to participate.
details here

Time Out Market Union Square. Credit: Noah Fecks

September 29, 2025

Time Out Market opens in Union Square

By Devin Gannon

New York City's newest food hall debuted in Union Square last week. Time Out Market opened on the ground floor of 124 East 14th Street, an office building and tech hub known as Zero Irving. Smaller than Time Out Market's Dumbo location, the 10,000-square-foot Manhattan market features seven kitchens, a full-service bar, an outdoor terrace, a stage for performances, and an impressive vendor line-up, including Patty Palace by James Beard Award-winning chef Kwame Onwuachi, Kebabwala by Unapologtic Foods, pastries from Chef Daniel Boulud’s Épicerie Boulud, and more.
details here

NYC’s first curbside restaurant week celebrates outdoor dining

Photos courtesy of Angel Mendoza/Open Plans

September 4, 2025

NYC’s first curbside restaurant week celebrates outdoor dining

By Aaron Ginsburg

A weeklong celebration of outdoor dining in NYC kicks off Friday, offering discounts and specials at participating restaurants while also renewing calls for reforms to New York City’s al fresco dining program. Running from September 5 to 12, Curbside Dining Restaurant Week features deals at more than 35 restaurants across the five boroughs. The event aims to support local businesses while also pushing for changes to Dining Out NYC, the city’s outdoor dining program, like making the program year-round.
time to dine

Tracks Bar opens in Grand Central Madison

By Aaron Ginsburg

Penn Station's popular Tracks Raw Bar & Grill has found a new home in Grand Central Terminal. The Metropolitan Transportation Authority announced on Tuesday that the eatery opened on the concourse level of Grand Central Madison, Long Island Rail Road's new east side terminal, becoming its first restaurant. Tracks will keep its current West 31st Street location and is also preparing to open a new location inside Penn Station.
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Erewhon is coming to NYC, but you’ll need $36K to get in

Credit: KITH

September 2, 2025

Erewhon is coming to NYC, but you’ll need $36K to get in

By Aaron Ginsburg

Erewhon, the cult-favorite upscale Los Angeles grocery chain, is coming to New York City. But the market, known for celebrity-endorsed smoothies and $30 ice cubes, will be harder to access than the West Coast locations. As first spotted by Emily Sundberg's Feed Me newsletter, Erewhon will open within a private padel club being developed in the West Village by Kith founder Ronnie Fieg. On Monday, Fieg shared an Instagram post showing a blueprint for the club, dubbed Kith Ivy, on the 9th floor of 120 Leroy Street, revealing plans for padel courts, a restaurant, spa amenities, and a mini Erewhon. Access to the shop will be limited to members of the club; membership will cost $36,000 in initiation fees and $7,000 in annual dues, according to Feed Me.
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July 30, 2025

Millennial nostalgia culminates in a Kel Mitchell burger fest in NYC

By Lidia Ryan

It’s no secret millennials love a throwback. From “I Know What You Did Last Summer” to “Freakier Friday” and “Devil Wears Prada 2,” movie reboots of late ‘90s and early aughts classics abound. But those who miss the 1997 Nickelodeon slapstick comedy “Good Burger” can go a step further than just hoping for a remake — they can share a burger with Kel Mitchell. Kel’s Burger Fest, hosted by Bucketlisters, is coming to Williamsburg on August 30.
can I take your order?

New nautical-themed restaurant brings yacht vibes to the Starrett-Lehigh rooftop

Photos courtesy of Marcus Lloyd

July 14, 2025

New nautical-themed restaurant brings yacht vibes to the Starrett-Lehigh rooftop

By Aaron Ginsburg

A new nautical-themed restaurant will open this week atop Chelsea’s landmarked Starrett-Lehigh Building. Operated by Crew, the team behind popular boat bars Grand Banks and Pilot, the Yacht Club opens this Thursday, taking up a sprawling 20,000 square feet across two floors at the former 1930s freight terminal. The 125-seat restaurant will offer top-tier seafood, indoor and outdoor dining, and panoramic views from its sunny roof deck. The Yacht Club is part of the building’s new Level Ten complex, a full-floor suite of cutting-edge amenities, many of which are open to the public.
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Food & Dining

Photos courtesy of Gloria Kilbourne

June 24, 2025

A retro diner opens under the High Line

By Devin Gannon

The Standard, High Line has turned its plaza into an open-air retro diner for the summer. As the latest seasonal pop-up at the Meatpacking District hotel, The Soda Shop will serve up a nostalgic experience, with an Americana-inspired design and a menu that includes diner classics, like flapjacks, tuna melts, and soda floats, as well as fun cocktails, like a frozen dirty Shirley and pickle martini.
more here

Food & Dining

Eataly opens new grab-and-go market and cafe in Hudson Yards

All photos courtesy of Eataly

June 11, 2025

Eataly opens new grab-and-go market and cafe in Hudson Yards

By Aaron Ginsburg

The Hudson Yards outpost of Italian marketplace Eataly has officially opened its doors. Located on the fourth level of the Shops & Restaurants at 20 Hudson Yards, Eataly Caffè marks the brand’s fourth New York City location and introduces a new concept featuring a coffee counter, grab-and-go options, and quick-service items ranging from pastries and sandwiches to gelato. The 5,500-square-foot, 82-seat space also includes a location-exclusive wine bar offering a variety of Italian wines, cocktails, and shareable plates.
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Food & Dining

The Frick Collection opens its first cafe

All photos of Westmoreland, the new cafe at the Frick Collection, courtesy of William Jess Laird, unless otherwise noted.

June 5, 2025

The Frick Collection opens its first cafe

By Lidia Ryan

Spending an afternoon at a museum is one of the most "New York" things you can do. And while MoMa, the Met and the Guggenheim are flocked to, the Frick Collection is a quieter Upper East Side gem. Now, the newly renovated museum housed in the 1914 residence of Henry Clay Frick serves up Rembrandt and El Greco masterpieces with a cocktail and a bite.
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It’s time to nosh: Jewish food festival coming to Governors Island

All photos courtesy of The Great Knosh

May 8, 2025

It’s time to nosh: Jewish food festival coming to Governors Island

By Aaron Ginsburg

New York City’s top restaurants are heading to Governors Island this summer for a one-day-only Jewish food and culture festival. Taking place Sunday, June 22 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., The Great Nosh is a picnic-style party with collaborations between some of the city's most iconic restaurants, including Katz’s Deli, Russ & Daughters, Apollo Bagels, and Morgenstern’s.
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Chinatown Restaurant Week to feature 18 eateries with off-menu specials and prix-fixe deals

Photo by Saul Macias on Unsplash

May 8, 2025

Chinatown Restaurant Week to feature 18 eateries with off-menu specials and prix-fixe deals

By Aaron Ginsburg

A week-long culinary festival in New York City will highlight the unique flavors and stories behind some of Chinatown’s best restaurants. Hosted by Welcome to Chinatown from May 19 through May 24, Chinatown Restaurant Week includes 18 neighborhood restaurants, from long-standing favorites like Hop Kee and Jing Fong to newer innovative additions shaping the future of Chinatown's food scene. Each will offer prix-fixe menus and special dishes available exclusively during the event.
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First look at the food hall opening at NYC’s Lord & Taylor building

Renderings courtesy of ICRAVE

April 28, 2025

First look at the food hall opening at NYC’s Lord & Taylor building

By Aaron Ginsburg

New York City's landmarked Lord & Taylor building will be publicly accessible for the first time since the flagship department store closed in 2019. A 35,000-square-foot food hall, dubbed Shaver Hall, will open later this year on the ground floor of the historic Fifth Avenue building. Amazon bought the property in 2020 and converted the space into offices in 2023. Newly released renderings are showing off the food hall's 11 curated stalls, wine and cheese bar, and "modern bodega."
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Food & Dining

Upscale sushi restaurant to open inside the Wegmans on Astor Place

All photos courtesy of Nico Schinco unless otherwise noted

April 17, 2025

Upscale sushi restaurant to open inside the Wegmans on Astor Place

By Devin Gannon

An upscale sushi restaurant is opening inside the East Village Wegmans. On April 30, the supermarket will debut Next Door, a restaurant with a "fresh take on contemporary Japanese cuisine" inside the Astor Place store. Designed in a warm and inviting Art Deco-inspired style, Next Door will offer a main dining room, a champagne bar, and a sushi counter, where diners can enjoy fish sourced by Wegmans directly from Tokyo, an extensive raw bar, and small plates and entrees from the robata grill.
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Food & Dining

April 10, 2025

Easter and Passover 2025: Where to order takeout in NYC

By Aaron Ginsburg

Springtime in New York City brings longer days, blossoming flowers, and festive meals shared with friends and family. This year, April also ushers in the holidays of Easter and Passover, along with the often daunting task of hosting loved ones. Fortunately, plenty of restaurants and culinary spots across the five boroughs offer full, festive meal packages to take the pressure off. Ahead, we've rounded up some of the top places in NYC providing Easter and Passover meal packages so you can enjoy the holidays without the hassle of cooking or cleanup.
our picks, here

23 best flea and food markets in NYC to visit this spring

Photo by Caroline Culler on Wikimedia

April 4, 2025

23 best flea and food markets in NYC to visit this spring

By Aaron Ginsburg

It's officially spring in New York City, even if it may not feel like it yet. New Yorkers will shake off their winter blues and get ready for the months of outdoor fun that lie ahead. One of the best ways to get out and enjoy the nice weather is by heading to an outdoor market to browse troves of unique treasures or try a tasty treat. We've rounded up some of our favorite outdoor spring and summer markets, whether you're looking for fresh, locally grown produce at the city's Greenmarkets or one-of-a-kind vintage finds at flea markets in Brooklyn and Queens.
Great shopping, ahead

New York to issue liquor licenses to outdoor dining restaurants amid delays

Credit: Billie Grace Ward on Flickr

April 3, 2025

New York to issue liquor licenses to outdoor dining restaurants amid delays

By Aaron Ginsburg

New Yorkers no longer have to dread a boozeless outdoor dining experience this season. Gov. Kathy Hochul on Thursday announced that the State Liquor Authority (SLA) will now accept conditional approvals issued by the Department of Transportation (DOT) to restaurants participating in the city's Dining Out NYC program, allowing them to serve alcohol in their outdoor dining areas while their applications are being reviewed. The processing of liquor license applications has been significantly delayed, with only seven out of roughly 3,000 applicants receiving approval as of Saturday.
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Credit: Eden, Janine and Jim on Flickr

April 1, 2025

NYC’s outdoor dining season kicks off

By Aaron Ginsburg

The sun is finally out, and the tables are, too—outdoor dining is officially back in New York City. Mayor Eric Adams on Tuesday announced the start of Dining Out NYC, a program allowing certain restaurants to offer outdoor seating on streets and sidewalks across the five boroughs from April 1 through November 29. At the program's peak during the pandemic, more than 12,500 restaurants participated. As of Tuesday, just 2,450 outdoor dining setups, including 600 on the street, have been approved by the city, although more are expected to open in the coming weeks.
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Food & Dining

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Your Daily Doseof NYC Life!

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