I lived in New York for 8 years. These are my favourite places to eat and drink in the city.

Three large pizza slices with different toppings served on paper plates from Diamond Slice

New York is undoubtedly one of the greatest food cities in the world. Few others rival the depth, diversity and innovation of its dining scene. Before moving to London this year, I spent eight years happily eating my way across the city. Many of these restaurants have never made any “best of” lists but quietly serve some of NYC’s most memorable dishes. This guide is less a set of carefully curated recommendations and more a personal collection — something I’d send to a friend from my cluttered notes app. It focuses on the restaurants I kept returning to across Manhattan and Brooklyn – the hidden gems, old-school stalwarts and neighbourhood favourites that have shaped my fondest food memories.

For more local city guides, check out our picks for the best restaurants in Nice, best restaurants in Rome or the best restaurants in Athens.

Best places to eat and drink in New York

Grab a coffee and pastry at Frenchette Bakery

Frenchette has some of the best coffee in town. It is also home to my favourite sourdough loaf in the city. They have a location within the Whitney Museum for visitors who want a quick bite on the way out, but I go to the one on Church Street. Nestled in the lobby of an old Tribeca building, Frenchette is easy to miss but surely a reward for those seeking it out. This is where I go to grab something buttery and disappear back into the city. frenchettebakery.com

Golden-brown laminated pastry filled with baked egg, melted cheese and dark leafy greens, served on a white plate with a green rim.

Try a pie at Diamond Slice

Located near Nassau Avenue on a corner in Greenpoint, Diamond Slice is the neighbourhood's best kept secret and the first place I sprinted to after my seven-hour flight from London. With bright red booths, a handful of outdoor seating and nostalgic red and white floor titles, it serves up thin, crispy, 72-hour fermented NY-style pizzas that go all-in on flavour. My go-to is the white mushroom slice topped with black truffle crema, but the seasonal Sicilian-style elote slice I tried on my recent visit transported me back to Mexico – pillowy, creamy and lifted by a zesty Tajin kick. @diamondslice_

Three large pizza slices with different toppings served on paper plates

Turn up the heat at Malii Gramercy

Malii is home to my favourite Thai food in the city. And in New York where authentic Thai restaurants are found in abundance (largely thanks to Thailand's government-backed gastrodiplomacy initiatives in the early 2000s), that’s a highly competitive spot. Malii may be small in size but it is mighty in flavour offerings. Inspired by the streets of Bangkok, the food is spicy (and I mean it), aromatic and deeply comforting. My favourites include the fiery red curry and crispy pork belly with basil but don’t let me stop you from trying the entire menu. maliigramercy.com

Bowl of red curry topped with crispy roasted duck, sliced duck breast, basil leaves, red chilli slices and lychees

Rethink vegetarian food at Superiority Burger

Superiority Burger is an East Village institution. Located across the street from Tompkins Square Park, this beloved diner is known for its vegetarian burgers and other plant-based inventions. Grungy, playful and characterised by its snug booths, low lighting and bright pink menus, Superiority Burger is the perfect restaurant for a fun Friday night out with friends. If it’s your first time visiting, you may be tempted to order its namesake but that’s the least interesting thing on the menu, so skip it and get the tangy house salad instead. The best things they serve are undoubtedly the slow-braised collard greens sandwich (with bold Cooper Sharp American cheese on a crusty sesame focaccia) and the creamy, ice cold date shake. superiorityburger.com

Table spread featuring two burgers, a plate of fries, a large green salad and a sesame-topped baked pastry, with smaller salad plates and drinks.

Order pastrami at the city’s most iconic deli: Katz’s Delicatessen

New York's oldest delicatessen, Katz's on the Lower East Side isn’t just a restaurant, it’s part of the city’s cultural fabric. Before moving to New York, Katz's was always a must-visit for me on holiday; but make no mistake, it isn’t just for tourists. Known for its legendary pastrami sandwiches (which only consists of meat, mustard and rye bread), dining at Katz's involves partaking in time-honoured rituals: long lines, paper tickets and counter service with one of the brusque meat cutters. People flock to Katz not just for its towering sandwiches but also to experience the loud hustle and bustle that has become synonymous with the city. katzsdelicatessen.com

Busy counter-service restaurant interior, with staff serving customers along a long counter beneath neon signs and warm wood-panelled walls.

Linger over pasta at Via Carota

Via Carota needs no introduction. The cherished neighbourhood trattoria by chefs Jody Williams and Rita Sodi has been serving traditional Italian plates in its rustic West Village corner since 2014. You’ve probably come across its famous insalata verde – it may be the most famous salad in the entire city. In a city peppered with Italian restaurants, Via Carota’s simple cooking has stood the test of time for good reason. Its signature dishes are the cacio e pepe and wild boar ragu (which are both great) but my pasta pick is the buttery parmigiano tagliatelle with savoury prosciutto and delicate sweet peas. For any funghi fans, the grilled mushrooms with smoked scamorza are damn near perfect: meaty, smoky and drowned in an earthy porcini vinaigrette. viacarota.com

Plate of creamy ribbon pasta topped with thin slices of cured ham, grated hard cheese and green peas

Get a taste of classic Chinatown at Wo Hop and Hop Kee

Widely recognised as the second oldest restaurant in Chinatown, Wo Hop has been serving the best Chinese-American food since 1938. Tucked below street level in a basement dining room, it has low ceilings, tight seating, and walls plastered with decades worth of photos and press clippings – a time capsule of old Chinatown. The salt and pepper chicken wings, sweet and sour pork, and beef chow fun are among my favourites. Expect a wait on weekends but the turnover is fast (they’re no frills, walk-in and cash only). wohop17.com

If Wo Hop has a line, don’t fret, Hop Kee next door is no consolidation prize. A pinnacle of Cantonese comfort food, Hop Kee has been serving some of the city’s best seafood since 1968. My go-to dishes are the pan-fried flounder, jumbo shrimp with walnuts and stir-fried watercress, but the menu is large so ask for whatever is fresh (they’ll tell you). @hop_kee_nyc

Family-style Chinese restaurant meal on a table, featuring a whole fried fish with scallions, fried oysters with lemon, shrimp and broccoli in a creamy sauce, stir-fried greens, seafood with vegetables, bowls of white rice, and condiments shared among diners.

Escape Manhattan for a romantic evening at Confidant

Previously buried in Industry City’s out-of-the-way complex by Sunset Park, Confidant recently found a new home on Atlantic Avenue on the border of Brooklyn Heights and Cobble Hill. Featuring a seasonally rotating menu, Confidant strikes the balance between comfort and upscale dining. The made-to-order signature prawn pot pie is a showstopper, while the tender Hudson Valley duck breast with white asparagus, confit shallot and rich date jus is another highlight. The restaurant also makes excellent vegetable dishes, including a sweet caraflex cabbage smothered in a creamy leek sauce and offset by a sharp horseradish soubise. With exposed brick walls, soft candle lighting and an open kitchen, Confidant’s the perfect place to slip away for date night. confidantnyc.com

Restaurant table with steak, duck breast and a pastry-topped dish, served with red wine.

Order a cocktail at Musaek

New York is sprawling with cocktail and wine bars that promise world-class pours, impeccable ambience and the possibility of a very good night. Located on the edge of Koreatown, Musaek (translating to “colourless” in Korean) is one newcomer you should have on your radar for modern NYC mixology. A clever nod to its name, all of Musaek’s cocktails are clarified and a celebration of classic Korean ingredients. My favourite is the sweet Korean pear and gochujang cocktail with tequila, grand marnier, bergamot and guava, but the menu consists of helpful flavour charts to help you determine what best suits your palate. Outside of drinks, Musaek also boasts a terrific food menu inspired by the tastes of the Korean sea. Think crispy shrimp heads, fresh mussels and tender fluke hwe (thinly sliced raw seafood) imported from the island of Jeju. musaek.nyc