The best bars to eat at in New York

Pull up a stool. Our favorite New York bars for a real meal, walk-ins welcome at most. Checked November 2026.

12 places in New York City · by Chef Amazing · updated November 10, 2026 · Read the article
Photo: themodernnyc.com

1. 1

   Bar Room at The Modern

   French American · 9 W 53rd St, next to MoMA. No museum ticket needed.

   Get: Tarte flambée, oysters, the burger

   A long marble bar that takes walk-ins for lunch and dinner, with Modern-level cooking à la carte.

   Critics: Read Eater New York (via OpenTable feature) 2024, Time Out New York.

   The crowd: 4.6 of 5 on Tripadvisor (2,208 ratings).

   Also on the list: The best bars to eat at.

   9 West 53rd Street, 10019, New York · Map · Add to Chef Amazing
2. 2

   Rubirosa

   Italian-American pizza · 235 Mulberry St

   Get: Italian wedding soup and the Rubirosa salad

   Our standing weekday lunch for years. The bar is the best seat in a packed room.

   Critics: 78% liked it, from 8 reviews (2021 to 2026). Slipping: the recent write-ups are worse than the old ones. Read Michelin Guide (via Resy) 2022, Michelin Guide 2022, MICHELIN Guide 2021, Time Out New York 2026.

   The crowd: 4.4 of 5 on OpenTable (384 ratings).

   Also on these lists: B/J New York List, The best bars to eat at, Where locals eat in New York.

   235 Mulberry Street, 10012, New York · Map · Add to Chef Amazing
3. 3

   Gramercy Tavern

   42 E 20th St, the front Tavern room

   Get: The Tavern menu, wood-fired and seasonal

   The front bar is first come, first served, so you can walk into one of New York's great restaurants.

   42 E 20th St, New York, NY 10003 · Map · Add to Chef Amazing
4. 4

   Via Carota

   Italian · 51 Grove St

   Get: Cacio e pepe, the big green salad, a negroni

   No reservations. A bar seat is the fastest way in.

   Critics: 82% liked it, from 4 reviews (2025). Read World's 50 Best (North America's 50 Best Restaurants 2025) 2025, Michelin Guide, The Infatuation 2025, Time Out New York.

   The crowd: 4.3 of 5 on TripAdvisor (458 ratings).

   Also on these lists: Where locals eat in New York, Where the famous eat in New York.

   51 Grove St · Map · Add to Chef Amazing
5. 5

   Balthazar

   French brasserie · 80 Spring St, the zinc bar

   Get: Steak frites, the raw bar, a croque at lunch

   The zinc bar is the most New York seat in the house, from breakfast to late.

   Also on these lists: B/J New York List, Breakfast and sandwiches in New York, Where the famous eat in New York.

   80 Spring St · Map · Add to Chef Amazing
6. 6

   Grand Central Oyster Bar

   Lower level of Grand Central Terminal, the lunch counter

   Get: Oyster pan roast, a dozen on ice

   The counter has fed commuters since 1913. Order the pan roast and watch it made.

   Map · Add to Chef Amazing
7. 7

   Minetta Tavern

   113 MacDougal St

   Get: The Black Label burger

   The bar is where you get the famous burger without a reservation.

   Map · Add to Chef Amazing
8. 8

   Raoul's

   French bistro · 180 Prince St

   Get: The au poivre burger, served in limited numbers

   A SoHo bistro since 1975. Bar regulars get the burger before it sells out.

   Critics: 76% liked it, from 4 reviews (2023). Read Michelin Guide, The Infatuation 2023, Time Out New York, Gayot.

   The crowd: 4.4 of 5 on TripAdvisor (446 ratings).

   Also on the list: Where locals eat in New York.

   180 Prince St., New York, NY 10012 · Map · Add to Chef Amazing
9. 9

   Le Bernardin

   Seafood · 155 W 51st St, the lounge

   Get: The lounge menu of small seafood plates

   Eric Ripert's fish, without the tasting menu or the booking.

   Critics: 87% liked it, from 7 reviews (2012 to 2025). Read Michelin Guide 2025, World's 50 Best Restaurants 2024, Time Out New York (La Liste 2026) 2025, Resy / Resy Blog 2024.

   155 W 51st St, New York, NY 10019 · Map · Add to Chef Amazing
10. 10

    Claud

    90 E 10th St

    Get: Whatever is on the short menu, plus the wine list

    The bar takes walk-ins at one of the city's most talked-about wine restaurants.

    Map · Add to Chef Amazing
11. 11

    The Four Horsemen

    295 Grand St, Brooklyn

    Get: Small plates and natural wine

    Ten bar seats held for walk-ins every night.

    Critics: 89% liked it, from 4 reviews (2025). Read North America's 50 Best Restaurants 2025, Michelin Guide 2025, The Infatuation 2025, Time Out New York.

    The crowd: 4.4 of 5 on Yelp (via Apple Maps) (462 ratings).

    Map · Add to Chef Amazing
12. 12

    I Sodi

    105 Christopher St

    Get: Lasagna and a negroni

    The narrow bar is where Rita Sodi's Tuscan cooking feels most like home.

    Map · Add to Chef Amazing