One of the best parts about Kips Bay is the thriving Indian community. Take a walk down Lexington and you’re sure to find upwards of 20+ different Indian restaurants. While it can be hard to choose a favorite, our tried and true is Spice Symphony – a wonderful Indo-Chinese spot that serves Indian classics as well as The unique subgenre of Indian/Chinese fusion.
Fore the times you’re a little tired of classic NY style pizza try Vezzo – a supremely delicious pizzeria that specializes in ultra-thin crust. We love to pop in for lunch for a small pie with salami and their tangy, crunchy house salad.
While it may no longer be on 2nd Avenue, this place is absolutely a delicatessen. Serving some of the most prime examples of Jewish deli far, 2nd Ave is a contender for the best pastrami in the city, and certainly holds the crown for the best matzo ball soup. Take a tub of whitefish salad to go on your way out.
Peruvian chicken is one of the best things on the planet and Pio Pio 7 has perfected it. Portions are big and reasonable and the sides are worth a visit on their own. Don’t miss the Arroz Chaufa – a Peruvian-style fried rice mixed with chicken, eggs, bean sprouts, scallions and soy.
Every neighborhood needs a good deli. Murray Hill Market is the kind of place where you can get a delicious deli sammie from either their extensive menu or totally customized. There’s endless snacks, drinks etc…a classic that does it well!
This place is exactly what you’d expect: breakfast all day, roasty coffee, and bright lights. A classic New York luncheonette, Murray Hill diner feels like it’s pretty much just for locals and people who work in the neighborhood…and that’s how you know the club sandwich will absolutely slap.
This petite Parisien Bistrot pops up on a quiet block of 33rd street in a delightful and unexpected way. The menu is classic Franco-American brasserie fare (think: Balthazar or Pastis.) Would be the perfect place for classic after work drinks.
A benefit of much of the neighborhood being in the upper 20’s and lower 30’s is its proximity to K-town…meaning there are a couple stellar Korean spots which bleed into Kips Bay. A great one is KOBA because not only do they serve delicious KBBQ classics, but they do so fast casual style which makes it perfect for lunch.
This is a classic cocktail bar that strikes the perfect balance of not being divey but also not being too high end. The dark and moody space also serves solid pub fare! As one of us has had many a fun night at Cask Bar (not saying who!) this rec also comes with a warning: do not underestimate the strength of Cask’s margaritas!
Our coffee pick in the neighborhood, Sorella is the sister cafe to some of our favorite Brooklyn coffee shops: Octavia and Little Zelda. This jewelbox space is sized to go, but don’t forget to buy a slice of banana bread in addition to your iced oat latte!
While Felix technically falls outside of Kips Bay’s formal boundaries, it’s pretty damn close. This is one of our favorite coffee shops in the city thanks to the wonderful Ken Fulk-designed interiors. Bonus points for plenty of seating, great pastries, and sparkling water on tap! One note, this certainly isn’t the cheapest coffee shop in the city.
Founded by Comme des Garçons’ designer, Rei Kawakubo, Dover Street Market is New York’s hub for emerging and avant garde fashion…and it’s located in a historic building in Kips Bay! In addition to many floors of designer clothing and accessories, Dover Street also has a great cafe on the ground floor.
Possibly the single best grocery in NYC, Kalustyan’s is a legendary Armenian grocer known for their extensive spice selection. For reference, there is an entire aisle of nothing but dried peppers and another of dried edible flowers. For the cook in your life, this is a great place to snag a hard to find ingredient which, by the way, would make for a great gift without breaking the bank.
A theme we’ve noticed while writing this guide is that many places in Kips Bay are the best at what they do without shouting it from the rooftops – Vino is no exception…and they have RANGE! There are a ton of delicious natural wines available under the $20 mark as well as a solid selection of large-format bottles and rare wines if you’re in the mood for something a little more celebratory.
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