Date of publication 13/08/2017
City tourism Celebrities' favorite restaurants in New York
The search for celebrities in New York usually demands quite a bit from those daring enough to take it on. But with this handy guide to New York’s best hotspots for spotting stars in their natural habitat, you can land in the city with half the mission already accomplished.
PHILIPPE CHOW
It makes sense to start with Philippe Chow, a renowned Peking cuisine restaurant whose signature dish — the traditional Peking duck carved tableside by a waiter and served with pancakes — has become a celebrity favorite. Stars like Adam Sandler often pick up their orders in person, stopping by the restaurant located in the chic lower part of the Upper East Side, while others such as Rihanna, Paul McCartney, and Lady Gaga prefer to enjoy their meal in the sleek dining room where deep reds and blacks dominate a minimalist, elegant decor.
ESTELA
Named by the prestigious Bon Appétit magazine as one of the 50 best restaurants in the world in 2016, Estela is one of the true gems of the Nolita neighborhood (North Little Italy). The restaurant serves a menu of modern American cuisine with Mediterranean influences, featuring standout dishes like burrata in green sauce and endive salad. Those two dishes aren’t random choices — they were ordered by Barack and Michelle Obama during their surprise visit in 2014. Other White House alumni, Bill and Hillary Clinton, even rented out the entire venue to celebrate the former Secretary of State’s 70th birthday.
ELEVEN MADISON PARK
After being named the best restaurant in the United States in 2015, Eleven Madison Park went on to reach the number one spot on the prestigious World’s 50 Best list published annually by the British magazine Restaurant in 2017. Its maître d’ is famously known for googling his guests before dinner, ensuring that their experience at the Midtown Manhattan restaurant is truly unforgettable. According to model Chrissy Teigen, who, along with singer John Legend, is part of one of America’s most glamorous couples, “it’s an experience.” And what an experience it is — a curated fine-dining tasting menu costing nearly $300 and lasting around three hours.
CORNELIA STREET CAFÉ
Sarah Jessica Parker became famous for strutting through the Upper East Side in haute couture, supposedly where her Sex and the City apartment was located — though in reality, that iconic façade was filmed in Greenwich Village. In that very same neighborhood lies the charming Cornelia Street Café, where the actress met her now-husband, fellow actor Matthew Broderick. This cozy spot offers brunch at fairly reasonable prices — by Village standards — and often features live jazz or poetry readings. Must-try: the french toast with fruit and the quiche of the day.
THE FLOWER SHOP
When it comes to hot spots favored by younger crowds, The Flower Shop is the ultimate trendy-millennial hangout in the Lower East Side —right on the border with Chinatown. The vibe has won over celebrities like skater Tony Hawk and influencer Jenné Lombardo. The menu pairs burgers with oysters, the décor features a pink fireplace, a pool table, and plenty of 90s memorabilia, and the drink list ranges from Bud Lights to cocktails and martinis. Naturally, Trivia Night takes place every Tuesday, and its Instagram feed perfectly captures the zeitgeist. Just be warned — the line outside can get pretty long.
DEL POSTO
Little Italy isn’t what it used to be. That’s why it’s worth heading to Chelsea to experience the refined Italian elegance of Del Posto, a favorite dining spot of Beyoncé and Jay Z. The restaurant features a plush, double-height dining room with handcrafted Italian chairs and crystal candles imported from Slovenia. The waitstaff wear tailored Italian suits, and among the desserts, a chocolate sphere that reveals custom sweets when cracked open never fails to impress. From the pasta menu, the Luna Piena with white truffle is one of its true showstoppers.
ZUMA
If one of the Kardashian sisters happens to be in New York, chances are Zuma is on her must-visit list. Originally founded in London, this Japanese restaurant with Western influence has become a favorite hotspot for millennial celebrities like Selena Gomez and Demi Lovato. Signature dishes include sesame-crusted beef tenderloin and grilled lobster with shiso-ponzu butter, though Kanye West is known to opt for the chicken wings. Needless to say, booking in advance is highly recommended.
THE POLO BAR
The Polo Bar is probably the closest thing to what any non-American might picture when imagining a “posh” U.S. restaurant. It’s a classic-style venue featuring a polished wooden bar, white tablecloths with individual lamps, and polo horses — lots of polo horses. After all, the place belongs to Ralph Lauren. On any given night, you might spot Bradley Cooper sipping a Chardonnay or Hillary Clinton enjoying the house specialty, the Polo Bar Burger (with tomato, lettuce, onion, pickle, cheddar cheese, and crispy bacon). Reservations? Expect a very long waitlist.
RAO’S
New York’s cinematic imagination —thanks largely to Martin Scorsese— has always made one thing clear: there’s one Italian staple you simply can’t miss in this city — meatballs. The best place to try them is Rao’s, located in the formerly Italian neighborhood of East Harlem, where diners can also enjoy Mediterranean-style fish and meat dishes. Open for over 120 years, its walls are lined with photographs of famous patrons and film memorabilia from productions inspired by Rao’s itself. Goodfellas, directed by Scorsese, is one of them. Over the past two decades, music legends like Celine Dion, Billy Joel, and Gloria Estefan have also dropped by.
LUCKY STRIKE
Dinner is the least of your concerns at Lucky Strike Lanes, one of New York’s best-kept nightlife secrets. The spot mixes a classic American bar menu —burgers, fries, and chicken wings by the pound— with a neon-lit bowling alley glowing in red and blue. There’s happy hour, plenty of buzz, and the chance you might spot a celebrity or two — regulars like Gerard Butler or Jim Carrey, trying their luck at scoring a few strikes.
