Looking for the best restaurants on the Upper East Side? The neighborhood, which stretches from 59th to 96th Streets, has long been a pillar of fine dining in New York...
Looking for the best restaurants on the Upper East Side? The neighborhood, which stretches from 59th to 96th Streets, has long been a pillar of fine dining in New York City, known for its white tablecloth restaurants that have served patrons for decades—and in some cases, for well over half a century.
Although the Upper East Side culinary scene today caters to more diverse palates than those of Capote’s swans: restaurants include critically acclaimed French bistros, yes, but also two Michelin-starred sushi restaurants and buzzy restaurants for people-watching that some might even deign to call “hip.”
Le Veau d’Or—the city’s oldest French bistro, dating back to 1937—has long been a preferred Upper East Side haunt. Yet in the past year and a half, it has become even more spectacular: In summer 2024, Riad Nasr and Lee Hanson (of the critically acclaimed Frenchette) re-opened the restaurant after a five-year renovation with a $125 prix-fixe menu. Their 15 tables are now some of the hardest to get in New York. The escargot and frog legs are classics, as is their duck with cherries.
Le Veau d’Or—the city’s oldest French bistro, dating back to 1937—has long been a preferred Upper East Side haunt. Yet in the past year and a half, it has become even more spectacular: In summer 2024, Riad Nasr and Lee Hanson (of the critically acclaimed Frenchette) re-opened the restaurant after a five-year renovation with a $125 prix-fixe menu. Their 15 tables are now some of the hardest to get in New York. The escargot and frog legs are classics, as is their duck with cherries.
Elio’s
Every neighborhood needs its beloved old school red sauce joint. On the Upper East Side, that’s Elio’s. Around since the early 1980s, regulars have included Joan Didion, Martha Stewart, Nancy Reagan, and Andy Warhol over the decades. (Actor Tom Selleck once ate at Elio’s 26 nights in a row.) We could tell you what to order—the chicken parm is a classic—but the reality is, you need to listen to the extensive daily specials before committing to any one dish.
Casa Tua
For a more social dinner, get dressed up and go to Casa Tua, the hotspot at The Surrey Hotel that makes for excellent people watching while eating lobster pasta and veal scallopini. Although dinner isn’t your only option: there’s also a lounge which is the perfect place to order an afternoon coffee (or a glass of wine) after visiting a museum exhibition or taking a walk in Central Park.
La Goulue
La Goulue is a quintessential French bistro that’s been open since 1972. Expect classic French fare—steak au poivre and escargot are on the menu—and then some: they also have an assortment of sushi rolls.
Casa Cruz
Casa Cruz is spread out over several floors in a townhouse on 61st Street—each of them more glamorous than the next, thanks to its interiors of green velvet, gilded metals, and curved Brazilian cherry woods, as well as a multi-million dollar art collection that includes Warhols, Harings, and Boteros, exudes the fashionable elegance that the Upper East Side has long been known for.
Restaurant Daniel
If it’s fine dining you’re seeking, head straight to Restaurant Daniel, chef Daniel Boulud’s Michelin-starred flagship restaurant on the Upper East Side. It offers a more formal experience–Daniel offers prix-fixe and tasting menus rather than a la carte—but for a special occasion meal in the neighborhood, there’s no better choice.
Sushi Noz
The two Michelin-starred Sushi Noz, overseen by Chef Nozomu Abe, is one of the top Japanese restaurants in a city brimming with excellent options. Its interiors resemble a Kyoto temple and the food is prepared with remarkable precision: Sushi Noz’s tasting menu begins with five to six small plates and then goes into 12 to 14 sushi courses. There’s also miso soup—and, if you have room for it, dessert.
Chez Fifi
Since opening in 2024, Chez Fifi—run by the same hospitality team behind Sushi Noz—has not only become the hottest restaurant on the Upper East Side, but one of the hottest in New York itself. Securing a reservation requires serious dedication to refreshing OpenTable… or finding someone with the culinary connections to get you in. The French bistro boasts an impressive art collection—think Calders and Mirós—and an equally impressive menu, serving everything from deviled crab filet mignon au poivre to a blue cheese martini.
Hoexters
Hoexters (the “o” is silent) first opened on the Upper East Side back in the 1970s. In 2024, it received an interior revamp by Sasha Bikoff complete with custom red plaid Thibault wallpaper and leather banquettes. Since then, it has attracted a whole new generation. Although its decor is far from the only draw: nostalgic menu items include gorgonzola garlic bread, cheeseburgers, and a roasted half chicken.
Café Carlyle
Fancy dinner and a show? Look no further than Café Carlyle, the cabaret restaurant inside the storied Carlyle Hotel. Dine on everything from pate en croute to Faroe Island salmon while taking in a performance from a wide-range of legendary performers: this spring alone sees acts from Glee’s Matthew Morrison to Jeff Goldblum. Before or after, get a drink at the hotel’s legendary Bemelemans Bar.
Café Sabarsky
Tucked away inside the Neue Galerie—a museum dedicated to early 20th-century German and Austrian art—Café Sabarsky is an all-day restaurant that feels more like a Mitteleuropean cafe. Its interiors feature collector’s objects from the Vienna Secession movement, like lamps by Josef Hoffmann and furniture by Adolf Loos. Come for the coffee, and stay for the desserts, which include caramelized crepe soufflé and cheese strudel with vanilla sauce.
JG Melon
When JG Melon—the 53 year old, cash-only restaurant on 3rd Avenue—announced in 2022 that they would no longer serve their signature cottage fries, it made the news. They've been reinstated (thank god), but such a hubbub over a menu item should tell you how beloved J.G. Melon is as an Upper East Side institution. There's really only one thing you should order here—the cheeseburger—although the chili is pretty great too; save room for the aforementioned cottage fries and a slice of chocolate cake. Eat it all on their signature green-and-white checkered tablecloths.