Clubs in NYC

Bars in NYC

Restaurants in New York City

Balthazar (Global's Favorite!) 80 Spring St between Crosby St and Broadway (212-965-1414) Subway: C, E, 6 to Spring St. Mon-Thu noon-2am; Fri noon-3am; Sat, Sun 11:30-2am. Average main course: $20. AmEx, MC, V. Still a magnet for celebutantes and models, Balthazar remains one of the city's most alluring restaurants. Its Parisian brasserie decor (red leather banquettes, patinated mirrors) is irresistible; its roasted meats and raw-bar platters are always dependable. Remember to wear your elbow pads: You'll need them while waiting at the bar. Mercer Kitchen (Global's Favorite!) The Mercer Hotel, 99 Prince St at Mercer St (212-966-5454) Subway: N, R to Prince St. Mon-Sat 8am-midnight; Sun 6-11pm. Average main course: $20. AmEx, DC, MC, V. Just as hard to get into as Jean Georges, chef Vongerichten's new subterranean canteen in the Mercer hotel is, thankfully, substantially softer on the wallet. The menu options run the gamut from an irresistible Alsatian pizza (onion, bacon and fromage blanc) to Maine cod roasted in a fig leaf. The staff, straight from an Obsession ad, rarely smiles. But the dressed-in-black crowd, giddy just to be waiting at the bar, doesn't seem to mind. Nobu 105 Hudson St at Franklin St (212-219-0500) Subway: 1, 9 to Franklin St. Lunch: Mon-Fri 11:45am-2:15pm. Dinner: 5:45-10:15pm. Average main course: $18. AmEx, DC, MC, V. The original Nobu is still packed nightly with high-powered New Yorkers and Hollywood honchos (and probably friends of partner Robert De Niro's). Welcome the chance to pay through the nose for one of Nobu Matsuhisa's masterful tasting menus, and forget about being satisfied by any lesser sushi ever again. Le Cirque 2000 New York Palace Hotel, 455 Madison Ave between 50th and 51st Sts (212-303-7788) Subway: 6 to 51st St. Lunch: Mon-Sat 11:45am-2:45pm; Sun 11:30am-2:30pm. Dinner: Mon-Sat 5:45-11pm; Sun 5:30-10:30pm. Average main course: $70. AmEx, MC, V. Step into Sirio Maccioni's revamped Le Cirque and you'll be surprised by the loony, futuristic redesign of Stanford White's decor. But then chef Sottha Khunn's menu will grab your attention, from the exquisite sautéed foie gras and lobster salad to the "juggler's ball" of pink meringue filled with lemon curd and vanilla ice cream. Katz's Deli 205 E Houston St at Ludlow St (212-254-2246) Subway: F to Second Ave. Sun-Tue 8am-10pm; Wed, Thu 8am-11pm; Fri, Sat 8am-3am. Average main course: $10. AmEx, MC, V. This venerable New York deli, famous for its old-style cafeteria decor and superb salamis and hot dogs, stands at the invisible portals of the Lower East Side. Order a sandwich piled high with thick slabs of pastrami or corned beef, a platter of salami and eggs, or an egg cream, an old-fashioned drink with a misleading name. Bond Street 6 Bond St between Broadway and Lafayette St (212-777-2500) Subway: 6 to Bleecker St. Mon-Sat 6-11:30pm; Sun 6-10:30pm. Average main course: $20. AmEx, MC, V. Perhaps the only thing more attractive than Bond Street's stylish staff is the space itself: three floors of Japanese-inspired design, complete with a candlelit basement-level lounge. In addition to a full bar and a wide array of sake, the cocktail den also offers sublime sushi. In the dining room, expect top-notch Nobu-esque Japanese cuisine. Markt 401 W 14th St at Ninth Ave (212-727-3314) Subway: L to Eighth Ave; A, C, E to 14th St. Mon-Fri 5pm-1am; Sat Sun 10-1am. Average main course: $16. AmEx, Disc, DC, MC, V. If you can squeeze by the packed bar scene at this 4,500-square-foot Belgian brasserie in the heart of the meatpacking District, enjoy a meal in the rollicking wood-paneled dining room. Sample a hit parade of Belgian staples, including decent pommes frites, fancified waterzooi (a creamy seafood stew), steamed mussels and plenty of Belgian beer. Vandam 150 Varick St at Vandam St (212-352-9090) Subway: 1, 9 to Houston St. Mon-Sat 6pm-2am. Average main course: $22. AmEx, MC, V. Manhattan's newest arrival from Planet Balthazar combines all the familiar ingredients: mirrored banquettes, a buzzing Wall Street crowd and rich food. Vandam doesn't always hit the mark, but its menu offers a pleasant Latin-American twist on French standards. Foie gras is dusted with yuca and seared duck breast is coated in tamarind sauce and served with quinoa. Bottino 246 Tenth Ave between 24th and 25th Sts (212-206-6766) Subway: C, E to 23rd St. Mon-Sun 6-11:30pm. Average main course: $18. AmEx, DC, MC, V. Stop searching for New York's most pleasant garden - you'll find it at Bottino. Housed in a former hardware store, this art-world playpen fuses worn-down rusticity, simple Tuscan elegance and a backyard that any villa owner would be proud to call his own. Elaine's 1703 Second Ave between 88th and 89th Sts (212-534-8103) Subway: 4, 5, 6 to 86th St. 6pm-2am. Average main course: $22. AmEx, Disc, MC, V. Elaine's is the dinosaur of high-society restaurants, and even after all these years, it still pulls in an A-list crowd. The food, though respectable, isn't what counts. What does is the outspoken proprietress, Elaine Kaufman, and a stellar cast of characters that on any given night might include Woody Allen, Barbra Streisand or George Plimpton. Provence 38 MacDougal St between Houston and Prince Sts (212-475-7500) Subway: C, E to Spring St. Lunch: Noon-3pm. Dinner: Mon-Sat 6-11pm; Sun 5:30-10:30pm. Average main course: $45. AmEx. Provence has been a Soho institution since 1986, thanks to its informal, flirtatious staff and superb Provençal food. During the warm months, try to sit in the garden out back. Barolo 398 West Broadway, between Spring and Broome Sts (212-226-1102) Subway: C, E to Spring St. Mon-Fri 10am-midnight; Sat, Sun 10am-1am. Average main course: $20. AmEx, Disc, MC, V. This Soho attraction draws a swanky crowd that's heavily into money and looks. Barolo is a place where you can comfortably chat on your cell phone while digging into penne with lamb and artichokes. It's a perfect summer choice, due to the enormous garden in the back, complete with lush trees lit with tiny lights.