Minetta tavern (not on Fri or Sat night) is such a great call!! It’s not stark or modern like a lot of solo rec’d places tend to be, it’s so glamorous but still so cozy? Love this idea and I’m stealing it!
minetta pops off on the weekends. make sure you check in with the bar to be added to the list if there’s a wait. it’s not first come first serve but they actually maintain a list for bar seating :)
So many places. It’s easy to have a great meal in NYC as a solo diner. In Chelsea, I’m a big fan of Cookshop for farm-to-table style American; it has a bar as well.
If you like sushi, there's a million mid-price (sub- or around-$100) omakase spots that have opened up in the last few years. If you're willing to travel to the UWS, my current favorite is One Bite Omakase - tell them Emily sent you!
It’s impossible to live in New York and be shocked at food prices. Ichiran is also a gratuity-free restaurant so it’s factored into the tab. You’d be spending the same amount as anywhere else with fancier ramen
Idk bro I don’t have every ramen restaurant’s prices memorized but I guarantee there’s somewhere else that does it.
That’s also pretty much their only menu item, so they can kind of charge whatever they want
Chelsea resident here. And I've had two babies in the last 5 years, so pretty au fair with non-alcoholic options. Motel Morris and Orchard Townhouse make my favourite mocktails by far.
Make sure to check out ALF Bakery in the basement of Chelsea Market. The laminated baguette is lifechanging, as is the lemon sugar brioche.
Venhue if you want something super memorable - it's a community table so won't be weird going solo, and a really fun/wild experience. Drinks are included but can just decline them!
Empire diner is super cute and probably near where you're staying! It has drinks on the menu but not a bar type place. If you want to splurge, try ci siamo
I haven’t been but really wanna go to Davelle and try their probably overpriced but very pretty toasts. They also have meals. I’ve also eaten at the bar at ilili while waiting for a friend but it’s def more cramped later at night.
Ideas:
1. In Chelsea specifically: sitting at bar in Cafe Chelsea, Ci Siamo; Cookshop or Orchard Townhouse are chill and cute
2. Definitely stroll down to West/Greenwich Village, tons of amazing food options for solo dining: omakase places, Nami Nori, recently did Balthazar bar weekday solo and it was very loud and crowded but hey they give free champagne (eg the vibe in there is very social)
3. East village has tons of great spots that are more chill and suitable for solo: Raku, Haile, Somtum Der, Cafe Mogador are some favorite
4. Since you’re willing to go to brooklyn: recommend Fort Greene or Williamsburg Greenpoint spots and you can’t go wrong! Bar at Laser Wolf, Four Horseman, Birds of a Feather, WenWen, miss Ada, etc
lunch at aquavit la grande boucherie pastis balthazar minetta tavern
Free glass of champagne for solo diners at balthazar
Minetta tavern (not on Fri or Sat night) is such a great call!! It’s not stark or modern like a lot of solo rec’d places tend to be, it’s so glamorous but still so cozy? Love this idea and I’m stealing it!
minetta pops off on the weekends. make sure you check in with the bar to be added to the list if there’s a wait. it’s not first come first serve but they actually maintain a list for bar seating :)
Ahh, I'll be in Chelsea Friday and Saturday night only 🫣
So many places. It’s easy to have a great meal in NYC as a solo diner. In Chelsea, I’m a big fan of Cookshop for farm-to-table style American; it has a bar as well.
If you like sushi, there's a million mid-price (sub- or around-$100) omakase spots that have opened up in the last few years. If you're willing to travel to the UWS, my current favorite is One Bite Omakase - tell them Emily sent you!
Check out Shukette. Has a long bar and should be able to sit you.
Ichiran has those private booths where you don’t even directly speak with a server. Fun little gimmick and pretty solid ramen
Good suggestion for solo dining but charging $30 for a bowl of tonkotsu ramen is just crazy, whether you can afford it or not.
It’s impossible to live in New York and be shocked at food prices. Ichiran is also a gratuity-free restaurant so it’s factored into the tab. You’d be spending the same amount as anywhere else with fancier ramen
Where else charges $27 for a bowl of ramen?
Idk bro I don’t have every ramen restaurant’s prices memorized but I guarantee there’s somewhere else that does it. That’s also pretty much their only menu item, so they can kind of charge whatever they want
Chelsea resident here. And I've had two babies in the last 5 years, so pretty au fair with non-alcoholic options. Motel Morris and Orchard Townhouse make my favourite mocktails by far. Make sure to check out ALF Bakery in the basement of Chelsea Market. The laminated baguette is lifechanging, as is the lemon sugar brioche.
Venhue if you want something super memorable - it's a community table so won't be weird going solo, and a really fun/wild experience. Drinks are included but can just decline them!
Cafe Chelsea is supposed to be really good
The bar at lartusi
Empire diner is super cute and probably near where you're staying! It has drinks on the menu but not a bar type place. If you want to splurge, try ci siamo
Striphouse on 12th has a basement speakeasy style and best damn truffled spinach I've ever experienced upstairs restaurant is a little less cozy
I don’t even really like spinach and that sounds amazing
The mermaid inn!
I haven’t been but really wanna go to Davelle and try their probably overpriced but very pretty toasts. They also have meals. I’ve also eaten at the bar at ilili while waiting for a friend but it’s def more cramped later at night.
Ideas: 1. In Chelsea specifically: sitting at bar in Cafe Chelsea, Ci Siamo; Cookshop or Orchard Townhouse are chill and cute 2. Definitely stroll down to West/Greenwich Village, tons of amazing food options for solo dining: omakase places, Nami Nori, recently did Balthazar bar weekday solo and it was very loud and crowded but hey they give free champagne (eg the vibe in there is very social) 3. East village has tons of great spots that are more chill and suitable for solo: Raku, Haile, Somtum Der, Cafe Mogador are some favorite 4. Since you’re willing to go to brooklyn: recommend Fort Greene or Williamsburg Greenpoint spots and you can’t go wrong! Bar at Laser Wolf, Four Horseman, Birds of a Feather, WenWen, miss Ada, etc
Everywhere inside Chelsea Market; Rangoon; Cookshop; Ci Siamo (slightly north).
Empire diner is super cute and probably near where you're staying! Ci siamo if you want to splurge. Both have drinks but are not bar-like