New York City dinner hotspots

Where do we eat tonight? Where do I take her for dinner? New York has so many, many good restaurants! I think New York is one of my best dinner experiences because of the great food and the wonderful atmospheres. A dinner date in New York is like a night out. Everybody is dressed up and after dinner you continue the night somewhere else. But with hot new restaurants opening each week, it’s hard being continuously updated about the best restaurants in the city. But one thing is for sure; the many restaurant options will satisfy every traveller. This is my list of recommendations about hot and trendy hotspots in the city, where you can expect great food, impressive ambiances and beautiful crowd.

#1 Tao downtown
Tao downtown is one of my favorites restaurants in New York City. The ambiance is amazing and the food is so good. When you walk into the restaurant you just feel ‘lifted’. It’s one of the most hip, hot and trendy restaurants in the city. I prefer to have a table at the cocktail bar, unless you are with a large group. The sushi is the best of the best and especially the crispy rise tuna. My god, so delicious. The cocktail menu is super good and the service is amazing. It can be hard to get a table so when you know you are visiting the city make sure you make a reservation.

#2 Catch
Also restaurant Catch is one of my favorite places for a lovely dinner. I’m just addicted to the Asian fusion cuisine. It’s a hidden place in the middle of the meatpacking area. You go up with the elevator and you enter one of the best restaurants. It’s a place to see and to be seen, so it has something of a night out and a dinner night. Visiting Catch on Monday is a good idea, because after dinner there is a party at the rooftop with cool music and a great atmosphere. Put on you high heals and make yourself ready for a unforgettable evening.

#3 Avra
To taste the real and pure Greek cuisine you have to visit Avra. It’s a magnificent place in New York with food to die for. First of all the ambiance is great and the service is amazing. Everybody is so kind, helpful and professional. It really impressed me.. Avra is well-known because of the tasty, healthy and pure dishes. At one side of the restaurant there is a fish bar where you can see what kind of fresh fish they have. And after picking one, the waiter fillets the fish at the table and finishes it with a touch of lemon. It’s sounds so easy but I can’t imitate them. Another special thing is the way they make Greek coffee. I wont tell you too much about it, but making the coffee in hot sand is something different.

#4 Nobu fifty seven
I love Nobu! It’s a great place you can enjoy delicious Asian dishes. Downstairs you will find the bar where you can enjoy drinks and nice cocktails. Going upstairs brings you to the restaurant area. At Nobu it was the first time I ate crispy rice with tuna tartar and hearts of palm salad. I cannot even describe how delicious this was. It’s a beautiful place with beautiful crowd.

#5 ABC Kitchen – Jean George
This restaurant is also one of my favorites. It’s a very modern place with a beautiful ambiance. They serve farm fresh food and they try to get the freshest organic and local ingredients possible. The crab toast is one of my favorites. But try as many as you can because they change the menu every season. Every time I’m visiting New York I visit ABC Kitchen for dinner or for lunch. You must dine here ☺. You need a reservation because sometimes it’s hard to get a table.

#6 Gemma at the Bowery Hotel
This is a great place to go if you want to enjoy the Italian cuisine. It’s a place I love to have dinner. There is a great vibe, which I can describe as New York casual. That means in New York terms classy/casual ;-). The tables are always packed and the pastas are really good. The ambiance of the Bowery Hotel is amazing so I just love this place. When the weather is good you can also sit outside and enjoy one of the delicious cocktails.

#7 Serafina – Meatpacking
Serafina is one of my favorite places for pizzas. It’s located in the meatpacking district where I love being. At Serafinas I had the best pizza in my life.. the Tartufo Nero. It’s a very trendy place with a great atmosphere. Serafina is also a great spot for lunch while sitting outside on the terrace.

#8 Pearl and Ash – 220 Bowery
I love this place! When you are IN for a good glass of wine (I’m a big fan of Riesling wine) and delicious tapas plates than this is a great place to go. You only have to take care of good company 😉 Pearl and Ash is like a casual wine bar, which is well known in New York. It’s a stylish place with a great menu and it’s definitely not over priced.

#9 Bodega Negra – Dream Hotel
First of all I’m a big fan of the Dream Hotel. You can stay at the hotel for having a drink, dinner or going wild on a party at the rooftop. So in other words, when you are in New York you can choose to just spend all the time in this hotel (joking). Bodega Negra is an amazing Mexican restaurant. It has a great menu that is designed for sharing. Small dishes like tacos, ceviches and salads. Besides that they have a great selection of handcrafted mescal and tequila, love that! A great place to go!

#10 Gyu Kaku – East Village I had so much fun at this Japanese BBQ place. I think it’s a great spot to go with a group of friends. There is a personal grill installed in every table so it’s definitely a chefs table 😉 The staff is super friendly and the will give you helpful suggestions.

#11 Sushi Seki – Upper East Sushi Seki is a small place where you can enjoy delicious fresh sushi. Most of the nights it’s fully packed with sushi lovers! You can order traditional sushi, but Sushi Seki‘s speciality is the modern style of sushi. It’s one of my favorite sushi places to go with friends