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Everyone’s favorite burger. We love to go here before a day at the MET. The best item combo is a burger, side of cottage fries, and a cup of chili to dip your fries in. PS- they are CA$H only!
We’ve said it before & we’ll say it agin…this is our favorite diner in NYC. There’s not another diner than you can expect your BLT to be this perfect every.single.time. It’s a perfect brunch spot if you can brave a line, but it’s also a go-to breakfast-for-dinner spot.
Hidden along an otherwise unremarkable stretch of East 60th street lies one of New York’s best restaurants: Le Veau d’Or. Refreshed and reopened by the chefs behind Frenchette and Le Rock, this prix-fixe spot turns French classics up to ten and offers a stellar bar program. Tables are hard to get, but if you can squeeze into the tiny walk-in only bar, you might just be in luck.
A favorite of Martha Stewart and the writers of this newsletter for warm pasta dishes, thinly-pounded veal cutlets, and strong martinis. Pro-tip at this Italian hotspot: make a reservation via phone, split as many plates as possible, and be sure to look around the room for any recognizable A-listers.
After being closed for a few years, chef Harold Moore led Cafe Commerce uptown to its new, warm, and swanky environs. While you’re here you can’t miss out on the 20 herb salad or whatever the daily specials may be. When it’s warm out, grab an outdoor table and enjoy the people watching along Lexington Avenue.
Our personal favorite among the empire of restaurants helmed by chef Jean-Georges, this modern and well appointed space never misses for a mid-high end meal. Great for a celebration or a date night, we love the fish (both raw and grilled.)
An Upper East Side classic among a certain sort, Donohue’s is a longstanding steakhouse and bar serving mammoth martinis and perhaps the best turkey club in NYC. There are rumors that when Donohue’s lease expires at the end of 2026 that they might close up shop for good, so if you’ve ever wanted to swing by this time machine to the 1950’s, do so soon!
We love this spot for everything from weekend pasta with friends, to birthday dinners, bridal shower luncheons and everything in between. It’s one of those old-school UES spots that you pray never changes…it’s artwork-covered pink walls and all!
As candy stores are becoming what fro-yo was in the 2010s, it’s good to have a good gummy store in your back pocket in each neighborhood. BonBon is one of the OG spots in the city to take on the craze and they still do it so well!
Glace is also serving up a candy wall full of your Swedish favorites, along with some of the best ice cream and hot chocolate on the UES.
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It’s not often that a hotel bar is just as well known as the hotel itself, but that is the case with Bemelmans Bar within The Carlyle. Named after the author and illustrator Ludwig Bemelmans who hand painted nearly every surface of the bar, Bemelmans’ illustrations capture Central Park across four seasons and include one of the first sketches of his famed character Madeline. While some may balk at the price of a martini, the room alone is worth the price of admission…especially once the live piano has begun.
Whenever we’re in need of a shot of espresso between museums or to fix the post JG Melon burger sleepies, we stop by Sant Ambrose for a cup of coffee “al banco” style - standing at the bar like the real Italians do.
The Neue Gallery’s museum cafe is worth a visit on its own. Serving up every Austrian baked good you can ever dream of, along with a perfect Viennese coffee, add this to your repertoire of spots.
This coffee pop-up series, hosting cafes in restaurants that would otherwise be closed during the morning and mid-day hours, has touched down on the Upper East and is already a neighborhood favorite.
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Given the monied stereotype of the average Upper East Side resident, it’s no surprise that plenty of the best retail experiences in the city can be found in this neighborhood along Madison and Lexington avenues. From sleepy bookshops to designer hotspots, here are all of our favorite places to shop.
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The pleasure of an afternoon at a museum or gallery is something never needs explaining… One of the most obvious appeals of the neighborhood is its unparalleled access to great artwork in the city...that and Central Park
PS. a key coolstuff secret is that a Met membership is one of the most valuable things you can invest in as a New Yorker. You can always enter through the downstairs entrance and forgo the long line at the main door. Here are our favorites...
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