One of the major attractions of New York as a vacation destination is its unrivaled selection of cuisine from all over the world combined with the signature delis, hot dogs, New York-style thin crust pizza, and the bagel. Eateries come in all shapes, sizes, styles, and price levels, with tens of thousands of venues scattered all over the city. Good food is a passion with New Yorkers, and eating out most nights is a tradition. Hot dining scenes can be found in Chelsea Market and the Meatpacking district, and there’s a vast variety of bars and swanky clubs.

Bars and Pubbing in New York

The best way to find the hottest nightlife venue is to ask a local as new places seem to be popping up every week. Greenwich Village, the city’s Latin Quarter, is a good place to start, and Chelsea also has a great selection of clubs. Williamsburg’s Bedford Avenue hosts smaller music bars, and touristy Times Square boasts the Rooftop Bar (Hotel Metro, 5th Avenue, New York), famous for great views.

Brooklyn’s Bay Ridge neighborhood bars offer an Irish/Italian vibe, a change from the usual hipster/yuppie scene. The Kettle Black pub (8622, 3rd Avenue, New York) offers an unbeatable happy hour deal, fantastic burgers and football on flat screens. For a complete contrast, Madame X (W.Houston Street, Greenwich Village, New York) has a bordello-style atmosphere and outdoor heaters for winter drinkers.

Vintage Art Deco vibes and amazing cocktails greet drinkers at Chelsea’s Flatiron Lounge (37 W 19th Street, New York), while the artists’ hub of B.E.S. (559 W 22nd Street, New York), has designer cocktails and good food in a gellery setting. Video game geeks will love Williamsburg’s Barcade (388, Union Avenue, New York) for its 30 vintage games and 25 varieties of beer, while the Turkey’s Nest (94, Bedford Ave, New York), is a trip back in time to a grittier period. Pubs and bars in New York can stay open as late as 4:00 a.m. for serious night owls

Dining and Cuisine in New York

From street food to pizza joints, delis and bodegas up to the best Michelin-starred restaurants anywhere, New York is foodie heaven at all levels of preference and price. For a tasty chunk of steak, Ben Benson’s Steakhouse (Times Square, New York), delivers what it promises, while Barbetta (321 W 46th Street, New York) is a landmark of Italian cuisine and the oldest restaurant in the city.

For lovers of authentic Chinese, Szechuan Gourmet (21 W 39th Street, New York) serves spicy regional dishes with flair, while the Oyster Bar (Grand Central Station, New York) is an unmissable treat. Food courts are the latest fad here, with FoodParc (Eventi Hotel, New York) the brainchild of restaurateur Jeffrey Chodorow, and gourmet street food trucks another trendy innovation.

For meat-lovers, chef April Bloomfield’s gastro-pub The Breslin (16 W 29th Street, New York), serves classic cocktails along with delights such as lamb burgers with feta cheese and a pig foot for two, while Prime Meats (377 Greenwich Street, New York) uses locally-sourced ingredients to complement its perfectly–prepared steaks, chops and ribs.