Shuka is my favorite brunch place in NYC, and I have been to my fair share of local spots in the city. Nestled in my favorite neighborhood (West Village) and featuring Santorini-blue exteriors, Shuka is pure Instagram eye candy before you even set foot inside.
The interior is even more aesthetically pleasing. With three different rooms each featuring its own unique decor, Shuka is as spacious as it is beautiful. The food is also amazing. Specializing in Mediterranean fare, Shuka will make you forget about your favorite grocery store hummus - they serve the real deal here. The Mediterranean plate allows you to sample a little bit of everything like labne, falafel, beet tzatziki, and more.
They also take reservations for brunch, something that is hard to come by in NYC. It’s an excellent option if you don’t want to wake up early on the weekend or spend the better part of your day waiting for a table for brunch!
Explore cities like a local with Spotted by Locals - discover hidden gems and all our locals’ favourites! Get full access to our New York guide.
L&B in Brooklyn, famed for its plain square slices since 1939, is a must-visit. Enjoy outdoor dining in Bensonhurst, a haven for Italian-American cuisine. Iconic!
By
"The Old Print Shop" in New York is my hands-down, hands-on museum/gallery of choice. I love mid-twentieth century 'industrial' or 'city' art...
By
"Sea & Sea " in NYC is a traditional-looking fish shop with wet, tiled floors, cool air, grated ice on every hand, busy with customers from near and far...
By
Come to "Pikine" in NYC to eat shoulder-to-shoulder with Senegalese people!
By
"Modern Bread and Bagel" in NYC has surfaced as exemplary, using criteria such as size and texture, seed and salt density. Here are some more top picks...
By
"Django" in NYC is proof that the city's jazz club world is recovering. I celler/cavern is intimate enough that after performances I walk over to engage...
By
"The Dublin House" in NYC has been around since Prohibition and it still is neighborhood-sized. By the end of the night, everyone speaks Irish here...
By
"Pain d' Epices" is a French bakery in NYC that makes croissants so flaky & buttery, the only way to avoid the crumbs is to 'put your back to the wind...'
By
"Pastrami Queen" in NYC has if not the best, among the very best pastrami sandwiches in the city. It's the kind of American excess you just can't miss...
By
I stumbled across a store about which I had read but never visited—the very inviting and colourful playground of Dawn Harris-Martine), retired teacher, now famous—named Grandma’s Place.
By
"Sisters Uptown Bookstore" in NYC is a hidden shop/cultural center w/ an eye-opening trove of books by African diaspora authors. A true neighborhood spot!
By
Color World sets up on the corner of 116th and 2nd Avenue, rain or shine. There they serve beef, pork, goat, oxtail, and chicken for $10 a plate.
By