9 Best Places to Eat and Drink in the Upper West Side (2026 Guide)

TLDR: The Upper West Side covers everything from $3 hot dogs to three-Michelin-star tasting menus. Best picks include Barney Greengrass, Tatiana, Gray's Papaya, Zabar's, and Per Se. Budget-friendly and splurge-worthy spots within walking distance.

The best restaurants on the Upper West Side aren't trying to impress anyone, and that's what makes them worth visiting. After eating my way through the blocks between Columbus Circle and Morningside Heights, I've found a neighborhood that quietly serves some of New York's best meals.

The range is enormous: $3 hot dogs at a counter or a $355 tasting menu overlooking Central Park. Here are ten places I genuinely recommend.

1. Tatiana by Kwame Onwuachi

Tatiana by Kwame Onwuachi opened inside Lincoln Center's David Geffen Hall in November 2022, and it's still one of the city's toughest reservations. The Afro-Caribbean menu draws from his Bronx upbringing, with short rib pastrami suya and curried goat patties unlike anything else in the neighborhood.

The New York Times named it the best restaurant in New York two years running. Reservations drop 28 days ahead at noon, and bar seats are held for walk-ins.

Did You Know? Tatiana is named after the chef's sister, and the dining room design pays tribute to the 1980s Bronx hip-hop scene.

2. Barney Greengrass

Known as "The Sturgeon King", Barney Greengrass has been serving smoked fish on the Upper West Side since moving from Harlem in 1929. The original shop opened in 1908. I recommend the eggs scrambled with nova and a bagel with cream cheese.

Weekend brunch draws serious lines, so arrive before 11 AM. The fourth generation of the Greengrass family still runs the place.

Did You Know? Barney Greengrass shipped smoked sturgeon to President Franklin D. Roosevelt for Thanksgiving in 1939.

3. Per Se

Thomas Keller's Per Se has held three Michelin stars since the guide launched in New York in 2006. The nine-course tasting menu starts at $355, and every course feels precise and deliberate. The dining room sits on the fourth floor at Columbus Circle with views across Central Park.

This isn't an everyday meal. Book well in advance and expect the kind of service where they remember your preferences from previous visits.

Did You Know? Thomas Keller is the first and only American-born chef to hold multiple three-star Michelin ratings simultaneously.

4. Gray's Papaya

Gray's Papaya has been selling hot dogs and papaya drinks at 72nd and Broadway since 1973. The Recession Special, two hot dogs and a medium drink, is the order. I get mine with mustard and sauerkraut, eaten standing at the counter while watching Broadway foot traffic.

This is the last remaining location in the city, which makes it feel more essential than ever. Open late and a solid stop after a show.

Did You Know? Gray's Papaya appeared in the 1998 film You've Got Mail, where Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan chat at the counter.

5. Cafe Luxembourg

Cafe Luxembourg has been the Upper West Side's go-to French brasserie since 1983. Walking in still feels like stepping into a Parisian bistro: red leather banquettes, warm lighting, and solid French-American classics. The steak frites and french onion soup are reliable.

It's a pre-Lincoln Center staple, and regulars treat it like a second living room. Reservations recommended on weekends.

Did You Know? Cafe Luxembourg was originally opened by Keith McNally as a sister restaurant to The Odeon in Tribeca.

Want to explore the Upper West Side's food scene while learning about the neighborhood's history? StoryHunt's Personal Tour Guide lets you create custom audio walks with an interactive map, connecting the best restaurants with the stories behind the streets.

6. Zabar's

Zabar's is technically a gourmet grocery, but calling it that undersells the experience. Since 1934, this family-owned institution at Broadway and 80th has been the Upper West Side's food headquarters. The smoked fish counter is worth the trip alone.

The upstairs cookware section is a pleasant surprise. February 6, 2025 was officially declared Zabar's Appreciation Day in New York City.

Did You Know? Zabar's was the first store to widely sell Brie cheese in New York City, introducing it in the 1960s.

7. Parm

Parm comes from the same restaurant group behind Carbone but is far more casual and easier to get into. The spicy rigatoni from Carbone's menu appears here too. I recommend the chicken parm smothered in mozzarella alongside a caesar salad with oversized croutons.

Great for families or when you want reliable Italian-American comfort food without the downtown price tag.

Did You Know? Parm's parent company, Major Food Group, also operates Carbone, The Grill, and several other high-profile New York restaurants.

8. Pig & Khao (UWS)

Chef Leah Cohen expanded her Lower East Side Pig & Khao restaurant to the Upper West Side in December 2024, at 81st and Amsterdam. The khao soi is the most talked-about dish for good reason: the curry is rich and deeply layered. The sizzling sisig is crispy and addictive.

Come hungry, because the large plates live up to their name. This spot fills a Southeast Asian gap the neighborhood needed.

Did You Know? Leah Cohen was a contestant on Top Chef Season 5 before opening the original Pig & Khao on the Lower East Side.

9. Jean-Georges

Jean-Georges Vongerichten's flagship at 1 Central Park West holds two Michelin stars and keeps earning spots on best-of lists. The French tasting menu balances precision with creativity, and the dining room offers Central Park views that make the experience feel special.

The lunch prix fixe is a much more affordable entry point than dinner. I noticed the service strikes a balance between formal and genuinely warm.

Did You Know? Jean-Georges has held Michelin stars continuously since the guide launched in New York in 2006.

Eat your way through the Upper West Side

These nine spots cover the full spectrum, from a hot dog at a counter to a three-Michelin-star tasting menu. Trust the delis, try the new arrivals, and don't skip the cheap eats.

Want to explore what else Upper West Side has to offer? Then try StoryHunt's Personal Tour Guide to create your own audio walk with an interactive map and discover the best restaurants, hidden history, and neighborhood landmarks with a personalized experience.