“A cafe on Crosby Street started by a couple of Greek brothers who treat everybody like family. The coffee is amazing, but the people watching is even better; forget apps, this is the spot for downtown NYC cuties.”

“We throw around words like ‘community’ a little too often, but that’s exactly what you’ll find at this café and bakery on the south side of Tompkins Square Park. Honorable mentions go to the croissants, the chicken-and-avocado sandwiches, and bear hugs administered by Ali, the shop’s owner.”

“It’s like stepping into a different era of heat and darkness and elderly men’s unsolicited opinions about how long is too long to spend in a 200-degree sauna. There’s a Kazakh guy who gives massages and deep cleans who scrubbed me down when I first went 20 years ago. They serve borscht for lunch. It smells crazy in there. What’s not to love?”

“A superchic, super-rustic, supercool hangout serving clothing, coffee, and books.”

“I discovered a lot of my favorite smaller men’s brands perusing the racks at C’H’C’M’ over the past 12 years. The owner, Sweetu, is a fantastic conversationalist, and his taste is impeccable. I lived down the block when I first arrived and he was one of my first friends.”

“I heard recently that the power lunch is dead, but long live the power dinner. Strip House is meaty and old-school and serves steak followed by a 12-layer chocolate cake for dessert. The patrons are tycoons of a different era; I once saw a guy buy a $40,000 gold AP off another guy’s wrist right at the table. With my own two eyes!!”

“The undisputed heavyweight pizza king of NYC.”

“My favorite Thai food in the entire city. My opinion probably doesn’t carry much weight, but my best friend Yada Villaret is Thai and she says it’s the best, so that’s that. We order the duck larb, pad see ew, pork skewers, and papaya salad, and I die from the insane spice level but it’s worth it.”

“One of the most beautifully curated art and rare-book stores I’ve ever been in. I cannot walk in without buying something. Don’t take it personally if the staff don’t smile at you, they don’t smile at me either.”

“Locals-only coffee for East Villagers made by East Villagers. Without a doubt the best Americano I’ve had in New York City, and I come from New Zealand so I’m a huge coffee snob.”

“As a DJ, this is hands down my favorite club to play at, and if you’re into hip-hop and bottle service and wildly attractive people, you’ll love it too.”

“This is the NYC nightlife industry’s pregame spot. It’s not the easiest to get into, but if you make it up those stairs, you’ll be surrounded by every personality you’ve ever read about in Page Six.”

“Italian food is my favorite food, but I’m allergic to onion and garlic, and Cipriani barely uses onion or garlic in their cooking. It’s the best.”

“As a New Zealander, I love a big breakfast, and Ruby’s is Australian and as close to a taste of home as I can get in NYC. They’re famous for their burgers, but my go-to order is the Big Breakfast with extra baked beans. So good.”

“An institution for collectors of vinyl.”

“A one-stop shop for succulents, palo santos, terra-cotta pots, and advice on keeping your houseplants alive.”

“I don’t drink, so I’m not in bars too often, but when I go, I go to The Nines. It’s dark and sexy and has a live piano player singing the hits, and I hear the cocktails are quite good too.”

“To me, this is the best people watching in Lower Manhattan. The food is great, the staff are a dream, but the people watching is unbelievable.”

“Seven floors of shopping nirvana offering everything from $30 skate brand T-shirts to $10,000 leather trench coats by Prada, and if you get hungry, there’s even a café serving quiche and cake on the ground floor. Delightful.”

“My favorite dinner date spot in the entire city.”

“Everyone raves about its more famous neighbor up the street on Lafayette, but as far as I’m concerned, Funny Face makes the best chocolate chip cookie in New York City.”

“It’s a spin class hosted by the hottest instructors you’ve ever seen with a cultlike following and viral TikTok videos. I try to go a couple of times a week; some of the attendees do 20 classes a week. This is not a drill.”

“A tiny little hole-in-the-wall Italian restaurant serving my favorite ragù in New York City. I’d happily eat it every day, and sometimes I do.”

“My go-to spot for a haircut, and I’m told the most famous blonde singer in America is also a client. When you meet the right stylist, it’s a love story, baby, just say yes.”

“Whenever I want something healthy and warm to eat, I go to Divya’s Kitchen. It’s an Ayurvedic vegetarian spot that doesn’t use a single ingredient that causes bloating or inflammation. My order is the vegetable curry and the hot ginger tea and it is DELIGHTFUL.”

“Hands down the best new East Village restaurant opened in 2023. The food is great (beef tartare!!!) and the vibes are even better and if you ask nicely they’ll take you downstairs for a tour of the soon-to-be-opened secret spot.”

"I’d heard a lot about the Turkey sandwich — that’s what got me in the door. But then I tried the house-made granola and the combination of sweet and salty was impossible to put down. Impossible!!!"