I could travel to NYC every weekend just to eat. The beauty of NYC is that you could go through your whole life without eating at the same restaurant twice. In 2008, the New York Times estimated that there were about 25,000 restaurants in NYC. This means you could try a new spot every day for nearly 68 years! (Exciting, right?)

Below are a few of my favorite spots I highly recommend you visit during your next NYC trip. I ate at most of these restaurants/cafes over the course of two days for New Years week! All of these are places have been introduced to me by friends who live in the area – you know who you are. This blog post is dedicated to them :o)

1. Cafe Habana

This is a Cuban restaurant located on 17 Prince St. in SoHo. I fell in love with their Grilled Corn “served Mexican style with cotija cheese, chilli powder and lime.” 

2. Turkiss

 Most of us are familiar with the late night eats on MacDougal & Bleeker (Mamoun’s, Kati Roll, Masala Times) where we are welcomed at until 4am after long nights out partying. This past weekend, I tried a new Lebanese spot which in my opinion was a classier version of Mamoun’s in terms of quality of food. Next time you’re craving the late night munchies, go here instead of/after/before Mamoun’s. My favorite was the falafel sandwich with the special hot sauce they provide. 

3. La Churreria 

Need a sugar rush? Check out La Churreria (“Churro Shop”) in Nolita, 284 Mulberry St. where you can indulge in Churros and Chocolate! They also have sandwiches, tapas, coffee, hot chocolate, etc. I came here this past weekend with some friends for a late afternoon snack – perfect spot for a cold wintery day. 

5. Cafe Mogador

Moroccan and Mediterranean cuisines are always a hit with the vegetarians. This fantastic restaurant is located at 101 St. Mark’s Place in East Village. It’s a great brunch spot for a just a few or large group of people. The mixed platter and hummus falafel platter were delicious. They give really soft pita bread which I cut in half and turned into a falafel sandwich. Don’t forget to try the breakfast potatoes – soo good. 

6. Rubirosa

This is a family-style Italian restaurant located on 235 Mulberry St. between Prince St. and Spring St.  I came here with a few friends for lunch and we sat in the back dining area where they can fit larger parties. The flatbread Arugula Pizza was excellent. The Ricotta Ravioli was very tasty as well. The best part about Rubirosa is that you leave feeling light and healthy – always a bonus!

…more Food blogging to come soon! Stay tuned 🙂