Guide to the Top Tourist Restaurants in New York City
Our guide to the top tourist restaurants, diners, and sports bars in New York City for visitors looking for entertainment
Planning a visit to NYC and looking for an amazing restaurant experience? We’ve rounded up a variety of tourist top picks in New York City to enhance your stay, each with a unique twist in its appearance or history.
Historic Restaurants
Lombardi’s Pizza
Location: 32 Spring Street
Phone: 212-941-7994
Since Lombardi’s was licensed as America’s First Pizzeria in 1905, it has been coveted as one of the best pizzerias in the United States, and a major tourist attraction in Little Italy. Cooked in a coal oven, the pizzas have a dark and crispy crust with a soft interior, and fresh tomatoes, herbs, garlic, and mozzarella are used to keep customers coming back.
Katz’s Delicatessen
Location: 205 East Houston Street
Phone: 212-254-2246
Katz’s Deli is a Jewish kosher-style deli and the oldest deli in New York City, established in 1888 on the Lower East Side. Popular among locals and tourists, this famous deli is known for its excellent hot dogs, pastrami, corned beef, and salami. Movie scenes have also been filmed here, like When Harry Met Sally and most recently Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist.
Theatre District
Sardi’s
Location: 234 West 44th Street
Phone: 212-221-8440
A Broadway theater district favorite since 1927, Sardi’s is known for its hundreds of movie star caricatures lining its walls and as a popular pre- and post-Broadway show hangout spot. Sardi’s is famous for its old New York atmosphere with red leather booths, uniformed waiters, and Italian-American cuisine.
Virgil’s Real Barbeque
Location: 152 West 44th Street
Phone: 212-921-9494
One of the most popular traditional barbeque joints in New York City, Virgil’s Real Barbeque is a Southern roadhouse-themed restaurant that serves up ribs, pulled pork, lamb, chicken, catfish, and ham, all smoked over hickory, oak, and fruitwood smokers.
Adventurous Dining
ESPN Sports Zone
Location: 1472 Broadway
Phone: 212-921-3776
A veritable playground for sports lovers, ESPN Sports Zone features a grill and sports bar on the first floor, screening room, bar, skybox, and the Bristol Suite overlooking Times Square on the second floor, and a sports arena with arcade games on the third floor. There are high-definition TVs throughout, as well as free wireless Internet access.
Dave & Buster’s
Location: 234 West 42nd Street
Phone: 646-495-2015
Dave & Buster’s in Times Square is like Chuck E. Cheese for adults: it has a massive entertainment complex with an arcade, billiards, and virtual reality simulators, as well as two full bars and a large dining area.
Themed Restaurants
Mars 2112 Restaurant & Bar
Location: 1633 Broadway
Phone: 212-582-2112
Mars 2112 is a family friendly space-themed restaurant located in Times Square with an out-of-this-world intergalactic decor. A UFO-like shuttle transports guests from the entrance to the bi-level restaurant, which features interactive entertainment, TVs, a game room, full bar, and dining area.
Planet Hollywood
Location: 1540 Broadway
Phone: 212-333-7827
A world franchise mega marketing machine and another Times Square favorite is Planet Hollywood. It features movie memorabilia like costumes and props on display throughout this Hollywood-themed restaurant, as well as celebrity hand prints outside. Great for all ages, there is also a 48-seat screening room and gift shop.
Hard Rock Cafe Times Square
Location: 1501 Broadway
Phone: 212-343-3355
Hard Rock Cafe in Times Square is a 708-seat restaurant with a collection of rock memorabilia from legends like Elvis Presley and The Beatles displayed on the walls. Hard Rock merchandise is sold in a gift shop, and also on location is a Hard Rock Live concert venue for performances and special events. Outdoor space is available above the marquee to hold private events.
Brooklyn Diner USA
Location 1 : 212 West 57th Street
Phone 1 : 212-977-1957
Location 2 : 155 West 43rd Street
Phone 2 : 212-265-5400
With locations in Times Square and on 57th Street in Midtown, Brooklyn Diner USA serves upscale versions of diner favorites like burgers, hot dogs, and sundaes. The restaurant has a nostalgic ‘50s diner theme with bright neon lights and nameplates of stars that have sat in each booth.
Bubba Gump Shrimp Co.
Location: 1501 Broadway
Phone: 212-391-7100
Based on the movie Forrest Gump, Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. serves seafood, Southern, and soul food, with its specialty being shrimp prepared every way possible. There are incredible window views of Times Square, Forrest Gump is always playing on a TV at the bar, and the restaurant is decorated with memorabilia from the movie.
Hawaiian Tropic Zone
Location: 729 7th Avenue
Phone: 212-626-7312
Hawaiian Tropic Zone is a must-see tourist attraction in Times Square, featuring a 30-foot video wall, three-tiered dining room, cascading waterfall, and twice-nightly beauty pageant on a catwalk stage. You may want to leave the kids at home as the waitresses are clad in bikinis and perform dance numbers. The food is good, if a little overpriced – but the surroundings more than make up for it. It’s also a favorite for movie and TV wrap parties