Traditional Russian banya focused on a vigorous cycle of steam rooms, saunas, and icy plunge pools. An attached restaurant serves borscht and dumplings to guests relaxing between thermal rounds.
Glamorous, burlesque-themed steakhouse defined by siren-red walls and vintage portraits of 1930s showgirls. The menu is pure classics – charred New York strips, shareable sides, and a towering 24-layer chocolate cake for dessert.
Sophisticated dining room modeled on a post-colonial Indian social club, serving elevated regional dishes like Alleppey shrimp curry. Reservations are among the city's toughest to secure; try for a walk-in spot at the bar.
Northern Mexican steakhouse grilling prime cuts and regional specialties over a live charcoal fire. The sprawling, hacienda-style room is built for celebrations – expect a Tomahawk steak carved tableside.
Two-room cocktail spot with the feel of a lively house party, complete with vintage couches and a loud soundtrack. The highly technical, culinary-driven drinks are the main draw – expect combinations like strawberry with parmesan or fennel
Sprawling Hudson Yards dining room mixing raw concrete columns with polished, low-lit glamour. Modern Mexican plates lean into theatrics, with carts rolling through for tableside queso and large-format steaks.
Intimate dining room with burnt-orange banquettes and Murano glass chandeliers, serving a dinner-only menu. Shareable plates fuse Caribbean soul and European technique – from salt cod fritters to oxtail gratin.
Dimly lit sports tavern where locals watch the game from booths in the back. The kitchen serves smashed burgers and a BEC donut; the bar pours creative cocktails like the Irish Buck.
Handsome, Imperial-style dining room with a menu that spans China's diverse culinary regions. The kitchen sends out everything from Peking duck and soup dumplings to fiery Mapo tofu.
Vibrant East Village dining room serving the regional classics of northern India. The newsprint-lined space is always packed, with groups sharing large pots of goat biryani and rich butter chicken.
Neon-lit Dongbei BBQ spot packed with low stools and automatic rotating grills. Raw skewers come from a wall of self-serve fridges to cook hands-free at the table, and the bill is just a count of the empty sticks.
Intimate hotel bar with wood-paneled walls covered in portraits and a carved stone fireplace. Cocktails are globally inspired – think sesame-washed scotch and Martinis made with aguardiente.
Modern homage to Punjabi dining culture, built around family-style plates of kebabs and tandoor-fired breads. The bar pours classic Indian punches for a crowd that fills the room nightly – book ahead.
Sophisticated Village spot where creative Italian dishes emerge from a bustling open kitchen. Expect inventive plates like a foie gras PB&J bombolone alongside perfectly executed house-made pastas.
Stripped-down wine bar with a Brooklyn feel, pouring natural wines to an upbeat R&B soundtrack. The menu is creative small plates – the seared Arroz a la Plancha and whipped banana pudding are essential.
Lively NoHo dining room serving family-style Thai seafood with serious heat. Tables are packed tight with groups sharing whole steamed fish and curries that don't hold back on spice.
Mexican brasserie tucked beneath a corner taqueria, accessed through a discreet door and the kitchen. The low-lit, cavernous dining room is loud and energetic, fueled by strong margaritas and shared plates of grilled corn and tacos.
Narrow East Village dining room serving modern Hawaiian cooking alongside a serious wine list. The kitchen refines island staples with precision, plating upscale musubi and mochiko chicken in a tight, intimate space.
Bi-level Gramercy dining room channels 1970s Bombay with walls of tiffin boxes. Groups share truffle cheese kulchas and rich butter chicken under a massive chandelier.
Chinatown restaurant from childhood friends reinterpreting the Cantonese food they grew up on. The menu is built for sharing – expect modern takes like salt and pepper chicken served with scallion biscuits.
Midtown Irish pub and rugby stronghold opening as early as 6 a.m. for international matches. Dark oak paneling fills two floors busy with shepherd's pie and pints of Guinness.
Modern Garment District dining room serving authentic Shanghainese comfort food. Trays of crisp-bottomed shengjianbao and steamers of soup dumplings crowd the tables alongside braised pork belly and sautéed eel.
Polished Southeast Asian dining room on the border of SoHo and Chinatown. Tropical cocktails and chili crab fried rice crowd the tables in the dark, plant-filled room.
Modern Chinese dining inside a bi-level former opera house with raw, stripped-down walls. The menu is built for sharing – crispy duck, fried eggplant, and inventive cocktails are staples.
Outdoor hydrotherapy circuit built into a private backyard with a cedar sauna, hot tub, and cold plunge. The intimate space is centered around a fire pit; massages are offered under a covered pergola.
Sleek Chinatown restaurant inside a former movie palace, with a glowing marquee over the entrance. The menu elevates Cantonese banquet food – think inventive salt and pepper cuttlefish and lobster sticky rice meant for sharing.
Fiery, inventive Sichuan pop-up with a serious cult following. The tasting menu is a go-to for groups, built around signatures like Chongqing chicken wings and thrice-cooked bacon.
Sprawling day spa in restored army barracks, a ferry ride from Manhattan. The heated outdoor pools have skyline views; inside is a maze of saunas, steam baths, and relaxation rooms.
Sleek Chinatown cocktail bar pouring surprising drinks and strong martinis. Most people come for the spacious backyard patio – the fried taro cake is the essential order.
Cash-only Nepalese spot dishing up family-recipe momos and traditional khaja sets. The cozy dining room is often full, but a quiet garden in the back offers more space.
Neighborhood trattoria serving the home-style cooking of Bologna, with a clear focus on handmade pasta. The rustic room is anchored by a large, wood-paneled bar – a remnant from a film set – that gives the space a timeless, lived-in feel.
Lively Ridgewood corner spot with sage green walls and a prominent taxidermy jaguar. The kitchen turns out creative Mexican-American plates for sharing – think fried Oaxacan cheese and dry-spice pork ribs al pastor.
