Food & Dining

September 22, 2021

New members-only bar in Flatiron is located inside a 19th-century church

New York City's latest hot spot is in a church. Opening this week, Chapel Bar is a members-only bar located inside a stunning 19th-century chapel in the Flatiron District that has been transformed into a dreamy cocktail spot, decked out with jewel tones and velvet. Tucked away inside the lobby of the Swedish photography museum Fotografiska, the watering hole is only open to members of the museum or NeueHouse, a company that provides workspaces for creatives.
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September 21, 2021

Famed London steakhouse Hawksmoor opens in Gramercy’s historic United Charities Building

"Our job was easy – restore the building to its former glory and use reclaimed building materials and antique lighting to create a restaurant and bar that feel like they really belong in the space," says Huw Gott, co-owner of the NYC outpost of London's popular steakhouse Hawksmoor, referring to its location in Gramercy's historic United Charities Building. The restaurant is located in the landmarked building's grand Assembly Hall, under the original 30-foot vaulted ceiling. It's the perfect place to enjoy one of Hawksmoor's famous dry-aged steaks that are cooked over live charcoal. Ahead, see more of the stunning space and hear about the project firsthand from Gott.
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September 17, 2021

12 best spots for beers and brats in NYC this Oktoberfest

While the world's largest folk festival in Germany has been canceled for the second year in a row because of the coronavirus, New Yorkers can still commemorate Oktoberfest. Starting this weekend, breweries, beer gardens, and bars across New York City are celebrating Bavarian culture with big brews, German-inspired grub, live music, and fun contests. Ahead, find 11 spots that recreate the magic of Munich during Oktoberfest. And remember, if you're dining and drinking inside, you'll have to show proof of vaccination.
Full list ahead
September 3, 2021

America’s original hot dog company Feltman’s of Coney Island brings back 9/11 fundraiser

Several years back, 6sqft told the story of the original Coney Island hot dog. Started in 1867 by German immigrant Charles Feltman, who's considered the inventor of the hot dog on a bun, the Coney Island eatery and amusement park Feltman's eventually closed in 1954. But brothers Michael and Joe Quinn brought the brand back in 2015, in part because they themselves love Coney Island red hots but more so to honor the legacy of their late brother Jimmy, who died in the 9/11 World Trade Center attacks at just 23. This year, they'll continue to honor Jimmy with a special fundraiser for the 3 Brothers Foundation, which supports veterans and service members, to which they'll donate 100 percent of proceeds from the new Jimmy Quinn 2021 Memorial T-Shirt.
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August 30, 2021

The best places in New York City to get challah bread

If you're planning your Rosh Hashanah meal, you'll definitely need challah bread on the table, and luckily for New Yorkers, there are plenty of places baking the braided bread. When eaten traditionally on Shabbat, the eggy bread is in its standard loaf form, but on the Jewish New Year, challah is often made round to symbolize continuity. Ahead, we've rounded up the best spots in New York City for challah, whether you're celebrating the High Holidays or just want some delicious bread.
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August 25, 2021

Crown Shy team opens new restaurant SAGA on the 63rd floor of Art Deco landmark 70 Pine

Most dinners don't begin with a welcome drink on a terrace 63 stories above Manhattan, but that's exactly the case at SAGA, a new fine dining restaurant and cocktail bar from James Kent and Jeff Katz, the Michelin-star team behind Crown Shy. Both restaurants are located in the Art Deco landmark 70 Pine, Crown Shy at ground level and SAGA nearly 800 feet in the sky. The new restaurant opens today and 6sqft got an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at the beautiful spaces and three outdoor terraces.
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August 24, 2021

The Grand Central Oyster Bar will reopen after 17-month closure

The subterranean, century-old oyster bar in Grand Central Terminal will finally reopen next month after nearly a year and a half. The historic Grand Central Oyster Bar announced it will open its doors on September 7 at 100 percent capacity, as Gothamist first reported. After a temporary Covid-related closure last March, the Midtown East restaurant and bar resumed indoor dining that September, only to close again less than two weeks later.
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August 23, 2021

Manhattan’s first legal whiskey distillery since Prohibition is now open

Manhattan's first legal whiskey distillery in over 100 years is now open. Great Jones Distilling Company officially opened on Saturday at a stunning four-level space at 686 Broadway in Noho, overcoming city regulations and construction issues to build the first legitimate whiskey distillery in the city since the Prohibition era. At the space, visitors can enjoy tours and tastings, as well as an underground speakeasy, a private event space, and a restaurant helmed by Chef Adam Raksin, all set to open in the coming weeks.
See inside
August 16, 2021

All the places in NYC requiring proof of vaccination

Starting Tuesday, New Yorkers aged 12 and older must be vaccinated against the coronavirus to partake in indoor dining, fitness, and entertainment. The Key to NYC initiative, which applies to bars, fitness centers, movie theaters, museums, and other indoor venues, requires visitors to show proof of at least one dose of the vaccine. The policy will go into effect on August 17 with enforcement beginning the week of September 13.
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August 9, 2021

Here are the ‘Alfresco Award’ winners for NYC’s best open streets and outdoor dining spots

Over 11,500 restaurants across New York City currently participate in the city's outdoor dining program, which launched last summer to help businesses stay afloat during the coronavirus pandemic. On Monday, seven of them were recognized for being the best examples of outdoor dining setups across the boroughs as part of the first-ever Alfresco Awards. The program, created by a group of local nonprofits, also acknowledged the city's best Open Streets, an initiative that closes streets to cars for pedestrian use.
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August 9, 2021

First-ever Oreo cookie cafe opens at NJ’s American Dream mall

A sweets shop at New Jersey's American Dream mall just got even sweeter. The first-ever Oreo cafe opened last week on the top floor of the candy department store IT'SUGAR, a candy and gift shop that measures 22,000 square feet across three levels. The store features a menu of Oreo-inspired desserts, including do-it-your-self customizable treats, and limited-edition cookie merchandise.
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August 6, 2021

The best international grocery stores in NYC

Not only can you eat nearly every type of cuisine in New York City, but you can also cook it. Thanks to the many specialty grocery stores across the five boroughs, no fare is off the table. Whether you hit popular stores like Kalustyan's selling Middle Eastern and Indian spices in Murray Hill or check out the more obscure shops, like Sri Lankan-supermarket Lanka Grocery on Staten Island, there are endless options when planning an international menu.
Get cooking
July 29, 2021

Danny Meyer’s Union Square Hospitality Group will require proof of vaccination at all restaurants

Union Square Hospitality Group CEO Danny Meyer announced that he will require proof of vaccination from staff and dine-in customers at all of his NYC and Washington D.C. full-service restaurants, which include Union Square Cafe, Blue Smoke, and Gramercy Tavern. "I’m not a scientist, but I know how to read data, and what I see is that this is a crisis of people who have not been vaccinated, and I feel strong responsibility, on our part as business leaders, to take care of our team and our guests, and that’s what we’re doing," said Meyer in an interview this morning on CNBC’s "Squawk Box."
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July 16, 2021

18 coolest ice cream shops in New York City

Summer is here! Whether you're soaking up the sun at a local beach, taking a dip in the city's pools, or staying inside with air conditioning on full blast, you deserve ice cream. With so many great places in the city, it's almost impossible to actually pick one. But we're here to help. Ahead, find some of our favorite scoop shops in New York City, from the iconic (The Original Chinatown Ice Cream Factory, Big Gay Ice Cream) to the inventive (Malai, La Newyorkina).
Get the scoop here
July 15, 2021

Outdoor beer garden Smorgasbar is now open on the Jersey City waterfront

A massive new beer garden is now open along the Jersey City waterfront. Earlier this summer, open-air market Smorgasburg opened its first-ever New Jersey location at the Harborside campus. This month, the founders of the popular food market opened "Smorgasbar," a 300-seat outdoor venue with incredible Hudson River and Manhattan skyline views.
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July 12, 2021

NYC Restaurant Week returns with indoor dining, 530 restaurants, and five weeks of specials

Since 1992, New York City Restaurant Week has given New Yorkers the chance to dine at their dream restaurants with discounted, pre-fixe menus. The event usually happens once in the summer and once in the winter, but in 2020, it only returned in January, reborn as NYC Restaurant Week To Go, which offered the deal for takeout, delivery, or outdoor dining only. Now it's back for indoor dining, too, and is extending the fun for five weeks, with nearly 530 restaurants participating. From July 19 through August 22, enjoy $21 or $39 lunches or dinners, as well as $125 signature meals at select restaurants.
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July 7, 2021

Iconic frozen hot chocolate spot Serendipity3 reopens this week with new fantasy-filled interiors

Iconic Upper East Side restaurant and general store Serendipity3 opened its doors in 1954, attracting the likes of Marilyn Monroe, Andy Warhol, and even Jackie O, who is said to have tried to get the recipe for the famous Frrrozen Hot Chocolate. It was also famously featured in the movie Serendipity, along with One Fine Day and Trust The Man. The decadent dessert spot at 225 East 60th Street has been closed for the past year, but this Friday, July 9, it will reopen to the public after a renovation that created a fantastical, pastel dreamscape, complete with hanging antique Tiffany lamps and a funky neon Pegasus.
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July 6, 2021

Dating app Bumble is opening a restaurant in Nolita for in-person meet-ups

Dating app Bumble is opening its own restaurant in Nolita this month, helping New York City singles shift to in-person meet-ups after months of direct messaging and video chats. Bumble Brew, originally scheduled to launch in 2019, will open its doors at 98 Kenmare Street on July 24. The all-day cafe and wine bar won't just be for a romantic rendezvous, but also as a way to make new friends or potential business connections after more than a year apart.
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June 30, 2021

The Bungalow is a new Montauk-style hangout on the Lower Manhattan waterfront

This Friday, the waterfront Upper Plaza at Brookfield Place will be transformed into The Bungalow, a "relaxing urban oasis inspired by the beachside retreats of Montauk." Guests can take in views of the Hudson River and New York Harbor while enjoying specialty cocktails and small bites. They'll also be able to enjoy live music and DJs, bocce courts, and weekly events and arts programming. The best part? It's free to enter.
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June 24, 2021

New York City ends to-go and delivery cocktails for restaurants

Governor Cuomo announced that as of today, the Covid-19 State of Emergency he put in place for New York on March 7, 2020, would end, given the success in vaccinations and declining hospitalization and positivity rates. This comes after the governor lifted almost all Covid-related restrictions last week. So although restaurants can now operate as they did pre-pandemic, they will also have to go back to not being allowed to offer to-go or delivery alcoholic beverages. The State Liquor Authority, who authorized the temporary pandemic-related privileges under the State of Emergency, made the announcement yesterday.
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June 23, 2021

See inside Manhattanville Market, the new food hall at Columbia’s West Harlem campus

It's been nearly three years since Columbia University was joined by architect Renzo PIano as he unveiled his third and final building at the school's Manhattanville campus. And now, Piano's Jerome L. Greene Science Center will welcome a new ground-floor tenant that's sure to be popular among both students and local residents. Opening Friday, Manhattanville Market is a new food hall from chef Franklin Becker of fast-casual chain the Little Beet.
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June 10, 2021

Lower East Side bialy bakery Kossar’s will open a second location in Hudson Yards

Since 1936, Kossar's Bagels & Bialys has served Jewish specialty foods on the Lower East Side. For the first time, the iconic shop, considered the oldest bialy bakery in the United States, will open a second location in New York City. The bakery has signed a 1,200-square-foot lease on the ground floor of Ohm, a mixed-income rental building at 312 11th Avenue in Hudson Yards developed by Douglaston Development.
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June 8, 2021

Dine al fresco at the historic Broad Exchange Building’s massive penthouse balcony

When outdoor dining took on a new life last summer, many restaurant and hospitality companies had to get creative. But Resident, a startup that hosts dinners on balconies and rooftops of luxury apartments, was already ahead of the game. This past fall, they launched a socially distant supper club on the balcony of the Financial District's landmarked Broad Exchange Building, including a rotating chef residency with newcomers who have experience at Michelin-starred restaurants. The supper club is now back, featuring a Venezuelan-inspired tasting menu from Chef Luis Herrera, redefined soul food from Chef Sakari Smithwick, a Filipino-inspired meal from Chef Harold Villarosa, and much more.
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