eating + drinking

Some of our favorite restaurants for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and drinks in Gramercy / lower Manhattan. Obviously, this is just the start—there a zillion other options and other neighborhoods—and we tends towards smaller, more casual places where you can drop in without a reservation. If you’re looking to explore a new area, we recommend Eater's maps.

* = walking distance from the GPH or Freehand
R = reservations recommended
W = no reservations, but worth the wait

Breakfast + Coffee

Daily Provisions* • amazing crullers, breakfast sandwiches, coffee; take away

71 Irving* • killer coffee, pastries, a good lox on a bagel, plus wifi

Breads Bakery* • baked goods and light egg dishes; the chocolate babka is essential

The Smile To-Go* (at the Freehand) • light eggy and bready breakfasts

Maialino* (at the GPH) • proper Italian breakfast—think: cacio e pepe eggs

Studio* (at the Freehand) • lots of options and good cocktails, too

Prune • tiny and inexplicably delicious (W)

Cheeky Sandwiches • fried chicken on a biscuit w gravy what

Tompkins Square Bagels • perfect New York bagels, any way you like them

DRINKS

The Broken Shaker* • killer libations and small plates on the roof of the Freehand (W)

Vini e Friti* • Roman café with excellent spritzes, negronis + small plates

Pete's Tavern* • classic NY watering hole, one of Winfield's favorites

Maialino* • posh and always excellent

Eataly* • beer bar on the roof, wine bars inside (plus a lot of other restaurant options)

Dear Irving* • speakeasy situation on Irving

12th Street Ale House • No-frills bar where we have closed out many-a good night over the years

Corner Bistro • divey neighborhood bar in the West Village with really good late-night burgers

Doc Holliday's • Amanda's favorite bar; divey with a lot of great country on the juke box

Lafayette • Saddle up to the bar in this fancy brasserie

Lunch + Brunch

Studio* (at the Freehand) • varied, solid menu

Bedford Cheese Shop* • great take-away sandwiches and cheeses, meats, obscure condiments, etc.

Friend of a Farmer* • fresh brunchy fare, often a line, but secret: the bar is first-come! (W)

Num Pang* • no-frills Cambodian sandwich shop for a quick lunch

Her Name is Han* • excellent, light Korean fare

Café Gitane • like you're in Europe (get the avocado toast)

Café Mogador • amazing Middle Eastern with a great brunch menu

Buvette • Cutie patootie French café with small plates (W)

Veselka • Ukrainian institution that’s open 24 hours; to-die-for borscht, matzo ball soup, etc.

Dinner

Rolf's* • cozy German restaurant known for its outlandish holiday decor (W)

Union Square Café* • one of NYC's best, recently re-opened (R)

Maialino* (at the GPH) • some of the best Italian food in a pretty relaxed setting (R)

Gramercy Tavern • classic New York white tablecloth (R)

Yama Sushi* • cozy underground restaurant with top-notch sushi (W)

Marta* • upscale pizza made by our friend Joe (R)

Lafayette • Big, fancy French bistro (R)

Minca • no-frills, cheap, amazing Ramen in a tiny restaurant (W)

Il Buco / Il Buco Alimentari • wonderful rustic Italian (we had Thanksgiving dinner here once!) (R)

Freeman's • cozy, wonderful little eatery down a twinkle-light alleyway

Prune • tiny and inexplicably delicious

Mini Cheng's • very good, casual organic dumpling spot