New York City

Food & drink

• 4 Charles Prime Rib: West Village. Double wagyu cheeseburger with bacon and egg. Ranked #1 of NYC burgers with a 10.0 rating; described as the favorite burger in the world. reel
• Red Hook Tavern: Red Hook, Brooklyn. Top-rated burger spot in Brooklyn featuring a dry-aged masterpiece burger. Ranked #2 with a 9.4 rating. reel
• Swoony’s: Columbia Waterfront, Brooklyn. Newest spot on the list; double cheeseburger described as “gourmet McDonald’s in the best possible way.” Ranked #3. reel
• Minetta Tavern: Greenwich Village. World-famous $38 black label burger made from a secret blend of dry-aged beef topped with caramelized onion. Ranked #4 with a 9.6 rating. reel
• Au Cheval: Tribeca/Chinatown. NYC outpost of the iconic Chicago burger spot. Ranked #5 with a 9.6 rating; described as just as good as the original. reel
• Fast Times Coffee: Aesthetic coffee shop inside the Buck Mason store in SoHo. Minimalist design with paper lanterns, black leather seating, large windows overlooking SoHo streets, bookshelves, and a relaxed vibe. Serves cold brew and espresso drinks. reel
• Buck Mason: Clothing store in SoHo that houses Fast Times Coffee inside. reel
• C&B NYC: Pastry supplier for Fast Times Coffee, providing their baked goods. reel
• Salt Hanks: Viral French Dip sandwich made with Frenchette baguette, roasted garlic aioli, shaved prime ribs, 7-hour caramelized onions, and provolone. reel
• Sal, Kris & Charlie’s: Astoria. Famous for “The Bomb” sandwich; very large, can feed four people. Known as the Sandwich King of Astoria. reel
• Casa Della Mozzarella: Bronx. Serves “The Casa” Italian sandwich; makes approximately 6,000 pounds of mozzarella each week. reel
• Mama’s 2: Known for Chicken Cutlet Vodka Sandwich with homemade vodka sauce, burrata, pesto in house-made rolls. reel
• Salty Lunch Lady’s: Serves the Dill Party sandwich: turkey with avocado, pickles, dill mayo, and dill Havarti; their most popular sandwich. reel
• Katz’s Delicatessen: NYC institution famous for its Pastrami Sandwich, considered the best pastrami in NYC. Often very busy with lines down the block. reel
• Danny & Coop’s: Best cheesesteaks in NYC; described as Bradley Cooper’s new spot. reel
• Faicco’s: Legendary Italian sandwich spot, still run by the same family. reel
• Banamem: Makes the best banh mis in NYC; notable for making their own bread. reel
• S&P: Serves a notable tuna melt sandwich. reel

Sights & activities

• 6BC Botanical Garden: Hidden garden in the East Village, between Avenues B and C. Nature-lined walking trails with dense plant coverage creating an isolated, peaceful atmosphere despite being in Manhattan. Free and open to the public. reel
• Treehouse at 6BC: A special reading space within the garden featuring books, tables, and seating, with views of the surrounding botanical landscape; accessible via the garden paths. reel
• Salon 94: Contemporary art gallery on the Upper East Side. reel
• Met Cloisters: The Cloisters branch of The Metropolitan Museum of Art, with medieval art and gardens. reel
• Society of Illustrators: Museum and gallery featuring illustration art and design, on the Upper East Side. reel
• Gagosian: Major contemporary art gallery on Madison Avenue. reel
• Lighthouse Park - Roosevelt Island: Public park with sculptural monuments and a lighthouse structure, with views. reel
• McNally Jackson: Independent bookstore in Downtown Brooklyn with an extensive collection. reel
• Metro Private Cinema: Newly opened private cinema venue with 20 private screening rooms accommodating 4–20 people. Features reclinable heated seats, a full dining table, bar area, and customizable four-course menu, plus alcoholic/non-alcoholic drinks. Includes a 10-minute bathroom break before the movie starts; premium popcorn served in heated bowls. Cost: $50 per seat for screening and meal, plus $50 per person for a drink package (wine or 3 cocktails). Rooms vary in design; dietary restrictions accommodated on request. reel
• Peter Harrington: Hidden rare book dealer and museum-like bookstore on the third floor of 35 East 67th Street, Upper East Side. No exterior signage; ring the buzzer for the third floor. Contains books over 500 years old, Shakespeare Folios (one sold for $5 million), editions by Walt Whitman and Karl Marx, early Harry Potter copies, and Andy Warhol paintings; some books larger than a person’s torso. reel
• The Morgan Library & Museum: Historic library and museum featuring ornate ceilings with Renaissance frescoes, rare book collections in floor-to-ceiling wooden cabinets, and neoclassical architecture. Hosts free Friday evening events 5-8pm with live music. reel

Practical tips

• Burger rankings above are based on 55 million Beli user ratings aggregated platform-wide; personal ratings from creator “eliot” on Beli may vary from overall community ratings. reel
• For a more local, less touristy experience, focus on cultural attractions like Upper East Side galleries (Salon 94, Society of Illustrators, Gagosian) and independent bookstores. reel
• Mix classic NYC sandwich institutions (like Katz’s) with newer spots (like Danny & Coop’s) for variety, and expect long lines at Katz’s Delicatessen. reel
• At Metro Private Cinema, arrive early to enjoy the bar area before the screening, and reserve in advance given the venue’s popularity as a new opening. It’s ideal for group outings, Friendsgiving, date nights, or cozy fall/winter gatherings. reel
• At Peter Harrington, there’s no street-level signage; look for building number 35 East 67th Street and ring the buzzer for the third floor; consider calling ahead as it’s a specialty dealer. reel
• 6BC Botanical Garden is best experienced during daylight hours to fully appreciate the botanical landscape; bring a book or journal for the treehouse reading space. reel
• Free Friday evenings at the Morgan Library run 5-8pm with live music beginning at 5pm. reel
• Reservations are required; tickets are released 1 week in advance, so plan ahead. reel
• Great free date night activity in NYC. reel
• Bring a date or friends to enjoy the live music in the stunning architectural setting. reel