Food & culture · New York
What to Eat in New York: A Food Guide
A food guide to New York: the dishes worth seeking out, what to drink, dining etiquette and the neighbourhoods to eat in.
Updated 2026-07-01
What to eat in New York
New York-style pizza
Foldable slice from a corner joint; try coal-oven pies too.
Bagel with lox and cream cheese
Weekend brunch staple — Ess-a-Bagel, Russ & Daughters.
Pastrami on rye
Katz's Delicatessen is the tourist classic; Sarge's is a solid alt.
What to drink
Tap water is safe and celebrated — locals credit it for NYC bagels and pizza crust.
Dining etiquette and practicalities
Tip 18–20% at restaurants, $1–2 per drink at bars, $1–2 per bag for hotel porters.
Sales tax (~8.875%) and tips are added on top of menu prices.
Walk with the flow on sidewalks; don't stop at the top of subway stairs.
Where to eat in New York
Midtown Manhattan
Times Square, Broadway and easy transit access.
SoHo / Tribeca
Boutique loft hotels and downtown dining.
Upper East Side
Museums, Central Park and quieter evenings.
Brooklyn (Williamsburg / DUMBO)
Design-led hotels with Manhattan skyline views.
Ready to book your New York trip?
Everything in this guide is bookable through Marhaba's licensed partners.
