After living over 4 years on the UWS, I can now officially share my recommendations for the best restaurants on the Upper West Side. Here are my 20 go-to restaurants, cafes, and bakeries.
I’ve been living on the Upper West Side for a little over 4 years now. It’s funny how writing a guide to the city or neighborhood in which you live in is always harder than writing about a place you travel too. I think it’s because you’re so entrenched in your daily activities, that you find it hard to narrow things down. But after receiving a ton of questions about my favorite restaurants on the Upper West Side, I thought it was time to share my local neighborhood guide.
I am tired of hearing that the Upper West Side doesn’t have good restaurants. I’m not going to lie, we don’t have the variety that a Tribeca, Meatpacking, or Village have that’s for sure, but we do have some amazing spots hidden among our homey streets. When putting together this list, I was stunned that I actually have up to 20 go-to spots and Upper West Side restaurants! Who says the Upper West Side doesn’t have good selections? Let me help you reconsider this area. You’ll find me ordering from many of these places or stopping by during the week. This is not a definitive list and it is always evolving, but it definitely is a round-up of my go-to’s.
Quick Navigation: Best Restaurants on Upper West Side
1. Coffee & Drinks
The Sensuous Bean; 66 W 70th St
This store is one of the last remaining custom coffee shops on the Upper West Side. It’s been around since 1976 and has over 70 different kinds of coffee. You can make your own blend, buy from the already existing selection, or hop in for some sweets or a cup of their fresh coffee. They also have tea, tesane, and hot chocolate.
Black Press Coffee [Best Cold Brew]; 274 Columbus Ave
They specialize in farm-to-table coffee, but what they really excel at in my opinion is their cold brew. I’m not a big fan of ice coffee or cold coffee, but their cold brew is out of this world.
Jacques Torres [Best Hot Chocolate]; 285 Amsterdam Ave
I know Jacques Torres is a chain, but it deserves a shout out. They have the best hot chocolate hands down. It’s like drinking a hot melted chocolate bar because you literally are.
2. Bakeries
Magnolia Bakery [Banana Pudding]; 200 Columbus Ave
Magnolia Bakery is also a chain, but they have a line out the door for their banana pudding.
The Muffins Shop Cafe [Blueberry Muffin]; 222 Columbus Ave
It’s been a neighborhood staple since 1993. You’ll always see locals of all ages sitting outside on the communal bench during any time of the day chatting it up. It’s kind of like the local hang out spot we all know about, but it’s not actually written anywhere. My favorite go-to’s here are their muffins and their turkey sandwiches for lunch.
Mille Feuille [Best Croissants]; 2175 Broadway
I love the story of Mille Feuille. The owner, Olivier, left his career in IT in Paris to open up a bakery in New York. The croissants here taste like something straight out of Paris. I recommend the classic, chocolate, and almond croissant.
Levain Bakery [Best Cookies]; 167 W 74th St
Levain is home to the legendary cookies New Yorkers speak of. This is probably the most known spot of where to eat on the Upper West Side. Everything is baked fresh that day with natural ingredients. It’s hard to miss the original location at 74th street because the line is always out the door, whether its 20 degrees Fahrenheit outside or 105 Fahrenheit, that’s how good Levain cookies are. Their most famous is the six-ounce chocolate chip walnut cookie. I also recommend trying their Valrhona Chocolate Rolls if you’re looking for something a little different.
Barachou [Best French Pastry]; 449 Amsterdam Ave
Barachou opened this summer 2019 and has had huge success. Started by French girl, Rebecca Tison, who dropped her career in finance to start New York’s first-ever cream puff store, or chou. She hired a chef directly from France and tries to use ingredients imported only from France to try and keep her choux as close to the original recipe, texture, and flavor as possible. The result? A SUCCESS. Don’t be fooled by their size, they may look big but their extremely light and airy. Try the classic chou, pistachio, oreo, or red velvet flavor (some of my favorites) as well as her choquettes and famous Tirami-chou (a tiramisu with a chou in it)! If you have a sweet tooth, this is definitely a reason to come up and eat on the Upper West Side.
Kirsh Bakery & Kitchen [Best Danish]; 551 Amsterdam Ave
When it comes to morning pastries, Kirsh is a little hike from my home in the 70s, but it’s worth the walk. The co-owners own a brasserie in Jerusalem that has won them several awards. Their danishes are some of my favorite breakfast pastries on the Upper West Side, particularly their Sweet Ricotta danish and almond flavored danishes. They’re also famous for their French toast so highly recommend that if you’re looking for a sit down breakfast.
3. Breakfast
Zucker’s Bagels & Smoked Fish [Best Breakfast Sandwich]; 273 Columbus Ave
Zucker’s is expensive when it comes to breakfast sandwiches and the line out the Columbus Avenue location on the weekends can get scary long…but they have hands down the best bagels on the UWS. Pair them with any of their fun and creative bagel options or a classic egg sandwich or lox and you have the ultimate breakfast. It’s worth the line, but try and get their early in the AM or after lunch to avoid the crowds.
4. Japanese
Sushi Yasaka; 251 W 72nd St
Sushi Yasaka is as traditional as sushi gets. It’s a small locale located right off of Broadway and reservations are a must on the weekend. Once you step in, it has that charming Japanese vibe making it feel very authentic. The sushi here is more expensive than other places, but the fish is very fresh and the vibe of the locale is worth the trip.
Kitakata Ramen Ban Nai – Upper West Side; 267 Amsterdam Ave
Having been raised in Japan for a good 11 years of my life, I can tell you Kitakata Ramen Ban Nai is the real deal. The establishment opened up on the Upper West Side November 2019. The original Ban Nai Shokudo establishment started in Japan back in 1958 in the city of Kitakata, it was eventually brought to Tokyo and there are about 57 locations in Japan. It is considered one of the “big 3” Ramen places in Japan by locals. Kitakata’s ramen noodle is distinct from others. Their noodles are flat and curly with a hint of chewiness to them and they spend hours extracting the pure umami from specific pieces of pork bones. We usually start with an appetizer of Ban Nai buns, which is thick cut toro chashu tucked into a warm bun with some sauces, followed by the Aburi Miso Ramen. A can’t miss and a new favorite of mine!! Especially on those cold winter days.
5. Pizza
Freddie & Pepper’s [Best Large Pizza Pie]; 303 Amsterdam Ave
The hole in the wall pizzeria across from Beacon Theater doesn’t look like much, but their pizza is top notch. You’ll find walls covered in pictures of celebrities who’ve visited the pizzeria after the theater. Our go to is a large cheese pizza, always ordered to-go since the locale is so small. It’s more of a grab-and-go place or pizza slice sort of a stop. What I like about Freddie & Pepper’s is how ungreasy their pizza is compared to other pizza places I’ve been to. When you finish eating their pie, there are barely any oil stains on the box (but that’s just my opinion). I’m not a fan of large pizza pies, I’m all for custom pies Italian style, but if I had to choose one it would be Freddie & Pepper’s.
Motorino [Best Custom Pizza]; 510 Columbus Ave
Real Neapolitan-style pizza. The prices are high, but the quality is good. It’s the closest pizza to us that comes as close to Italian pizza as one could get.
6. Indian Food
Angaar; 283 Columbus Ave
Our quest to find good Indian food failed on multiple occasions. Finding good, authentic Indian food in NYC is not as easy as you think, until Angaar showed up. The place has been PACKED since it opened and we’ve been weekly regulars since it’s first opening day in 2019. There’s no better Indian food in the area (hands down) and the prices are extraordinary. It’s worth the trip to this Upper West Side restaurant. It’s family run, which makes it even more authentic, and the staff is beyond generous. This is the can’t miss Indian food in NYC. Everything is amazing, but their chicken tikka masala is my go-to (with less cream).
7. Thai Food
Sala Thai; 307 Amsterdam Ave
Good thai food was another thing Pat and I struggled to find for so long. The pad thai either was packed with what tasted like just peanut butter, to nutty, to soggy, and the list goes on. When Sala Thai opened up in 2019, we were ecstatic. Everything from their penang curry to their pad thai, pad see ew, and krad tateeum was off the charts. The restaurant is super cool, dipped in gold with an authentic thai feel.
8. Mexican Food
Tacombi; 377 Amsterdam Ave
Tacombi recently opened up as an Upper West Side restaurant and it’s been a hit. The price is right, the quality is good, and the environment has a super cool vibe. One of my favorite tacos is the veggie option–sweet potato with beans.
9. Chinese Food/Dim Sum
Jing Fong; 380 Amsterdam Ave
Since I was born in Hong Kong and raised in Asia, my parents have been taking me to eat Dim Sum since I could remember. The UWS was limited in options till last year when a second Jing Fong location opened (the original is down in China town). The price is more expensive than the Chinatown location and the restaurant is more chic and proper, but the food is definitely high quality. My go-to’s include: Roasted pork buns, steamed siu mai, peking duck and asparagus, soup dumplings, sautéd greens with garlic, and of course sesame balls for dessert.
10. Wine & Cheese
Le Pif; 2058 Broadway
If you’re looking for happy hour and an aperitivo, or aperitif as the french would say, in a small, cozy, and intimate setting, say hello to Le Pif. Their cheese platters are insanely delicious and layered with different flavors, meats, and dry fruits. Their wines are also from a top notch selection. They also serve dinner, but since the locale is so small you’ll need to make a reservation both for dinner and just to get a glass of wine. It’s in high demand. I especially enjoy Le Pif in the winter since the inside gives it a warm French vibe.
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