Chez Nous
5 W 8th St (Manhattan)
Order: Cappuccino — $$; Walk-in friendly
Coffee
Stylish
Classy
Must Go
Balthazar
80 Spring St (Manhattan)
Order: Steak Frites — $$$; Res recommended
Brasserie
Very Popular
Must Go
Verde
85 10th Ave (Manhattan)
Order: Margherita Pizza — $$; Res recommended
Mediterranean Mixed
Upscale Dining
Upbeat
Must Go
From Lucie
263 E 10th St (Manhattan)
Order: Chocolate Chip Cookie — $$; Walk-in friendly
Bakery
The Best Chocolate Chip Cookies!
Must Go
Types & Places (Favorites)
Exploring New York City’s vibrant French dining scene is a breeze when you know exactly where to look. From buttery morning croissants and cozy neighborhood bistros to unforgettable steak frites and delicate macarons, this guide highlights the essential destinations to satisfy every french craving.
Top Breakfast Spots
Chez Nous
5 W 8th St (Manhattan)
Order: Cappuccino — $$; Walk-in friendly
Coffee
Stylish
Classy
The C Cafe & Wine
552 Hudson St (Manhattan)
Order: Cappuccino — $$; Walk-in friendly
Cafe
Cozy
Buvette
42 Grove St (Manhattan)
Order: Pain Perdu — $$; Walk-in friendly
Bistro
European Traditions
Papa d’Amour
64 University Pl (Manhattan)
Order: LNY Special — $$; Walk-in friendly
Bakery
Cafe
Le Crocodile
80 Wythe Ave (Brooklyn)
Order: French Toast with Strawberries — $$$; Res recommended
Classic
The Golden Swan
314 W 11th St (Manhattan)
Order: Truffle Omelette — $$$$; Res recommended
Upscale
Buddy Buddy
340 Bowery (Manhattan)
Order: Le Buddy With PB Milk — $$; Walk-in friendly
Belgian Mixed
Popular
Smiley Coffee
138 Ludlow St (Manhattan)
Order: Matcha — $$; Walk-in friendly
European Mixed
Lifestyle Cafe
Retail
Popular
Top Lunch Spots
Balthazar
80 Spring St (Manhattan)
Order: Steak Frites — $$$; Res recommended
Brasserie
Very Popular
Zimmi's
72 Bedford St (Manhattan)
Order: Pesto Pasta — $$$; Res recommended
Cozy
Lively
Juliette Restaurant
135 N 5th St (Brooklyn)
Order: Juliette Burger with Fries — $$; Res recommended
Bistro
Garden
Rooftop
Deux Luxe
384 Broome St (Manhattan)
Order: Smashburger with Cottage Fries — $$$; Res recommended
Fast Food
Hamburger
Claud
90 E 10th St Ground Floor (Manhattan)
Order: Chartreuse & Lemon — $$$; Res recommended
Cozy
Popular
Raf's
290 Elizabeth St (Manhattan)
Order: Cast Iron Sfincione — $$$; Res recommended
Upscale
Popular
Caviar Kaspia at The Mark
992 Madison Ave (Manhattan)
Order: Mini Potatoes with Caviar — $$$$; Res recommended
Caviar
Exclusive
Pastis
52 Gansevoort St (Manhattan)
Order: Filet Frites — $$$; Res recommended
Popular
Lively
Grand Salon at Baccarat Hotel
28 W 53rd St Fl 2 (Manhattan)
Order: Afternoon Tea Sandwiches — $$$$; Res recommended
Luxurious
Small Plates
Fine Dining
Crevette
10 Downing St (Manhattan)
Order: Crab Agnolotti — $$$; Res recommended
Warm Ambiance
Upscale
Top Dinner Spots
Verde
85 10th Ave (Manhattan)
Order: Margherita Pizza — $$; Res recommended
Mediterranean Mixed
Upscale Dining
Upbeat
Café Chelsea
218 W 23rd St (Manhattan)
Order: Ravioles du Dauphiné — $$$; Res recommended
Bistro
Brasserie
Raoul's
180 Prince St (Manhattan)
Order: Steak au Poivre with Frites — $$$; Res recommended
Classic Bistro
Boucherie
99 7th Ave S (Manhattan)
Order: Ravioli aux Champignons — $$$; Res recommended
Bistro
2 Floors
Very Popular
La Tête d'Or by Daniel
318 Park Ave S (Manhattan)
Order: Prime Rib — $$$$; Res recommended
Steakhouse
Bar & Grill
Fine Dining
Funny Bar
133 Essex St (Manhattan)
Order: Steak — $$; Walk-in friendly
Jazz
Upbeat
Cozy
Lucien
14 1st Ave (Manhattan)
Order: Steak au Poivre — $$$; Res recommended
Bistro
Rustic Decor
Parisian Ambiance
Le Veau d'Or
129 E 60th St (Manhattan)
Order: Hanger Steak Frites — $$$$; Res recommended
Historic
Parisian Ambiance
Old School
Café Mulberry
240 Mulberry St (Manhattan)
Order: Tuna Tartare — $$; Walk-in friendly
Cozy
Upscale
Top Dessert Spots
From Lucie
263 E 10th St (Manhattan)
Order: Chocolate Chip Cookie — $$; Walk-in friendly
Bakery
The Best Chocolate Chip Cookies!
La Mercerie
53 Howard St (Manhattan)
Order: Chocolate Chip Cookie — $$$; Res recommended
Best Chocolate Chip Cookies
Fine Dining
Modern
maman
3 W 18th St (Manhattan)
Order: Nutty Chocolate Chip Cookie — $$; Walk-in friendly
Bakery
Patisserie Vanessa
1340 Lexington Ave (Manhattan)
Order: La Charlotte — $$; Walk-in friendly
Bakery
Pastry
L’Appartement 4F
119 W 10th St (Manhattan)
Order: Cinnamon Roll — $$; Walk-in friendly
Bakery
Premier
Wayan
20 Spring St (Manhattan)
Order: Chocolate Chip Cookie — $$$; Res recommended
Stylish
Indonesian Mixed
Ladurée
398 W Broadway (Manhattan)
Order: Macarons — $$$; Walk-in friendly
Pastry
Parisian
Fancy
Birley Bakery
20 E 69th St (Manhattan)
Order: Croissant — $$; Walk-in friendly
Bakery
Upscale
Prince Tea House Ktown
324 5th Ave (Manhattan)
Order: Boba Mille-Feuille Cake — $$; Walk-in friendly
Asian Mixed
Fancy
SALSWEE
1407 Broadway (Manhattan)
Order: Matcha Almond Bun — $$; Walk-in friendly
Japanese Mixed
Popular
Areas
Experience the charm of French dining with these standout spots across Greenwich Village, the Upper East Side, and the East Village. Whether you’re stopping by a cozy bakery for a fresh morning pastry or settling in for an elegant evening at a refined brasserie, these local favorites bring the best of French cuisine to your neighborhood from sunrise to sunset.
Greenwich Village / West Village + NoHo
The Golden Swan
314 W 11th St (Manhattan)
Order: Pancakes — $$$$; Res recommended
Breakfast
Cozy
Lafayette Grand Café & Bakery
380 Lafayette St (Manhattan)
Order: Breakfast Sandwich with Egg — $$; Walk-in friendly
Breakfast
Brasserie
Pastry
Belle Epoque-Style
L’Appartement 4F
119 W 10th St (Manhattan)
Order: Pastries — $$; Walk-in friendly
Breakfast
Bakery
Michelin-Starred
Chez Nous
5 W 8th St (Manhattan)
Order: Cappuccino — $$; Walk-in friendly
Breakfast
Stylish
Crevette
10 Downing St (Manhattan)
Order: Sashimi — $$$; Res recommended
Lunch
Seafood
Cozy
Elegant
Buvette
42 Grove St (Manhattan)
Order: Fries — $$; Walk-in friendly
Lunch
Very Popular
Bonsignour
35 Jane St (Manhattan)
Order: Chicken Caesar Wrap — $; Walk-in friendly
Lunch
Sandwich
Takeout
BOBO
181 W 10th St (Manhattan)
Order: Burger with Fries — $$$; Res recommended
Lunch
Cozy
Raf's
290 Elizabeth St (Manhattan)
Order: Spaghetti — $$$; Res recommended
Dinner
Very Popular
Raoul's
180 Prince St (Manhattan)
Order: Steak au Poivre with Frites — $$$; Res recommended
Dinner
Bistro
Classic
Zimmi's
72 Bedford St (Manhattan)
Order: Pesto Pasta — $$$; Res recommended
Dinner
Cozy
Lively
Boucherie
99 7th Ave S (Manhattan)
Order: Steak Frites — $$$; Res recommended
Dessert
Sine 1970
Parisian Atmosphere
Very Popular
Papa d'Amour
64 University (Manhattan)
Order: LNY Special — $$; Walk-in friendly
Dessert
Bakery
L’Appartement 4F
119 W 10th St (Manhattan)
Order: Cinnamon Roll — $$; Walk-in friendly
Dessert
Bakery
Michelin-Starred
Upper East Side / Carnegie Hill / Yorkville / Lenox Hill
Birley Bakery
20 E 69th St (Manhattan)
Order: Croissant — $$; Walk-in friendly
Breakfast
Bakery
Upscale
Paris Baguette
1270 Lexington Ave (Manhattan)
Order: Matcha Latte — $; Walk-in friendly
Breakfast
Bakery
Café Boulud
100 E 63rd St (Manhattan)
Order: Beef Tartare — $$$$; Res recommended
Lunch
Upscale
Gluten-Free Options
Caviar Kaspia at The Mark
992 Madison Ave (Manhattan)
Order: Caviar — $$$$; Res recommended
Lunch
Caviar Central
Exclusive
Le Bilboquet
20 E 60th St (Manhattan)
Order: Steak Frites — $$$$; Res recommended
Lunch
Bar
Bistro
Upscale
Brasserie Cognac
963 Lexington Ave (Manhattan)
Order: Beef Bourguignon — $$$; Res recommended
Lunch
Caterer
Modern
Brasserie
Le Veau d'Or
129 E 60th St (Manhattan)
Order: Les Escargots Provencal — $$$$; Res recommended
Dinner
Upscale
Historic
Dowling's at the Carlyle
35 E 76th St (Manhattan)
Order: Linguine with Asparagus Pesto — $$$$; Res recommended
Dinner
American Mixed
Mordern Upscale
Patisserie Vanessa
1340 Lexington Ave (Manhattan)
Order: Macarons — $$; Walk-in friendly
Dessert
Bakery
Patisserie
Chez FiFi
140 E 74th St (Manhattan)
Order: Chocolate Ice Cream — $$$; Res recommended
Dessert
Cozy
Bistro
Ladurée
864 Madison Ave (Manhattan)
Order: Macarons — $$$; Walk-in friendly
Dessert
Refined Boutique
East Village / Alphabet City + Lower East Side
Petit Chou
229 1st Ave (Manhattan)
Order: Breakfast Croissandwich — $$; Walk-in friendly
Breakfast
Cafe
After Eden
162 Orchard St (Manhattan)
Order: Coffee — $$; Walk-in friendly
Breakfast
Vietnamese Mixed
Coffee
Le Fournil
115 2nd Ave (Manhattan)
Order: Croissant — $; Walk-in friendly
Breakfast
Bakery
Patisserie
Claud
90 E 10th St Ground Floor (Manhattan)
Order: Chicken Liver Agnolotti — $$$; Res recommended
Lunch
Popular
Bistrot Ha
137 Eldridge (Manhattan)
Order: Le Mont Wine — $$$; Res recommended
Lunch
Bistro
Lively
Wayan
20 Spring St (Manhattan)
Order: Vegetables Spring Rolls — $$$; Res recommended
Lunch
Indonesian Mixed
Funny Bar
133 Essex St (Manhattan)
Order: Steak — $$; Walk-in friendly
Dinner
Fun
Jazz
Lively
Lucien
14 1st Ave (Manhattan)
Order: Onion Soup — $$$; Res recommended
Dinner
Bistro
Intimate
From Lucie
263 E 10th St (Manhattan)
Order: Chocolate Chip Cookie — $$; Walk-in friendly
Dessert
The Best Cookies in NYC!
Claud
90 E 10th St Ground Floor (Manhattan)
Order: Devil’s Food Cake — $$$; Res recommended
Dessert
Popular
Petit Chou
29 Avenue B (Manhattan)
Order: Cinnamon Roll — $$; Walk-in friendly
Dessert
Bakery
Occasions
New York City’s dining landscape offers the perfect backdrop for any event you have in mind. From a high-energy evening out with friends to an intimate, candlelit anniversary dinner, or simply a beautiful space to match your current vibe, this has you covered. Dive into curated selections, thoughtfully broken down into social gatherings, romantic dates, and unique dining atmospheres.
Dates
Best Overall
La Mercerie
53 Howard St (Manhattan)
This exquisite French café seamlessly blends culinary artistry with stunning, luxurious design. From the beautiful tableware to the elevated Parisian classics, it sets an unbelievably romantic and intimate tone that goes out of its way to make any date feel special.
Date Night
First Date
Anniversary Dinner
Coffee Date
Dessert Date
Date Night
Balthazar
80 Spring St (Manhattan)
Claud
90 E 10th St (Manhattan)
First Date
Le Basque
15 Union Square W (Manhattan)
Grand Brasserie
Vanderbilt Hall, 89 E 42nd St (Manhattan)
Anniversary Dinner
Le Bernardin
155 W 51st St (Manhattan)
Eulalie
239 W Broadway (Manhattan)
Coffee Date
After Eden
162 Orchard St (Manhattan)
Le Crocodile
80 Wythe Ave (Brooklyn)
Dessert Date
Prince Tea House
324 5th Ave (Manhattan)
Le Café Louis Vuitton
6 E 57th St (Manhattan)
Mood
Best Overall
Balthazar
80 Spring St (Manhattan)
An iconic, bustling Soho brasserie that transports you straight to Paris. With its timeless vintage decor, vibrant energy, and classic French fare, it offers the ultimate atmospheric dining experience, making it a flawless choice for absolutely any mood.
Cozy Comfort
People Watching
Exotic
Cozy Comfort
Cafe Mulberry
240 Mulberry St (Manhattan)
Chez FiFi
140 E 74th St (Manhattan)
People Watching
Elvis
54 Great Jones St (Manhattan)
La Mercerie
53 Howard St (Manhattan)
Exotic
Grand Salon
28 W 53rd St (Manhattan)
Caviar Kaspia
992 Madison Ave (Manhattan)
Must Knows
Must-know basics so you’re not guessing on tipping, menu lingo, or how to book.
Reservations
Before you fall in love with the menu, make sure you’ve got the res
Decoding the menu
Apéritif / Apéro — pre-dinner drink time; cocktails, spritzes, champagne, pastis, light snacks.
Amuse-bouche — “chef’s little hello”; a tiny bite before the meal (sometimes included, sometimes charged).
Hors d’œuvres / Entrées — starters; soups, salads, pâtés, escargots, tartare, small plates.
Plats / Plats principaux — mains; the main plates (fish, steak, duck, pasta-style dishes).
Steak frites — the bistro staple; steak served with fries (often with peppercorn/au poivre sauce).
Moules frites — mussels + fries; usually in white wine/garlic/cream broth (ask for extra bread).
Charcuterie — cured meats board; pâté, rillettes, saucisson (great with wine).
Fromage — cheese course; often 2–5 cheeses with bread/jam (can be dessert-adjacent).
Baguette / Pain — bread service; sometimes free, sometimes a paid “bread + butter” add-on.
Desserts / Douceurs — sweets; crème brûlée, mousse, profiteroles, tarte, soufflé, etc.
Tips
Standard tip for sit-down restaurants
In NYC, 18–22% of the pre-tax bill is considered normal for good service. 15% is low; 25%+ is very generous.
Why tipping matters
Servers and bartenders are paid a lower base wage because tips are expected here, so the tip is a big part of their income.
Check for built-in gratuity
Some places (especially for large groups or trendy spots) add “gratuity” or “service charge” automatically. If you see that on the bill, you don’t need to add an additional tip unless you want to.
Social
Best Overall
Café Chelsea
218 W 23rd St (Manhattan)
A chic, revived Parisian-style bistro inside the iconic Hotel Chelsea that seamlessly balances buzzy, high-energy dining with timeless French classics. Whether you need a sophisticated dinner or a lively atmosphere to start the night, it’s the ultimate destination for any social gathering.
Women Night Out
Men Night Out
Birthday With Friends
Pre Club
Post Club
Women Night Out
Sirrah
1 Little West 12th St (Manhattan)
Boucherie
99 7th Ave S (Manhattan)
Men Night Out
Bistrot Ha
137 Eldridge St (Manhattan)
St Tropez
304 W 4th St (Manhattan)
Birthday With Friends
Funny Bar
133 Essex St (Manhattan)
La Tête d'Or
318 Park Ave S (Manhattan)
Pre Club
Café Carmellini
250 5th Ave (Manhattan)
Red Room Bar
1 Wall St (Manhattan)
Post Club
Deux Luxe
384 Broome St (Manhattan)
Casetta
61 Hester St (Manhattan)