Eat Like the Stars! The Hottest Celebrity Restaurants to Visit in New York City

Credit: SAINT

Eat Like the Stars! The Hottest Celebrity Restaurants to Visit in New York City

Dining with the stars! New York City is home to some of the hottest restaurants in the world — and our favorite stars have taken notice. From casual eateries to elegant fine dining, there are so many different restaurants that numerous celebrities have visited. When the stars eat out, most restaurants that come to mind are upscale restaurants but that’s not always the case. Even A-List celebrities enjoy casual dining establishments. The 12 Chairs Cafe’s Brooklyn location is a must-visit for celebrities. Kacey Musgraves frequents the Williamsburg spot and shares how much she adores the restaurant’s authentic Israeli cuisine several times on her social media. Bravo star Dorothy Wang and even the Obama family have been seen enjoying a meal at the popular dining establishment. Another casual restaurant frequented by Hollywood’s elite is Au Za’atar. Stars like Cynthia Nixon, Scarlett Johansson, Ashley Benson, DJ Khaled and more frequent this spot for its one-of-a-kind atmosphere and authentic and delicious Lebanese cuisine. When the stars do choose to dine at an upscale establishment, there are countless options to choose from, especially in New York City. For Italian cuisine, two celebrity hot spots are Canto and Alice — both located in the West Village. Canto offers a variety of Italian dishes and signature cocktails and is open for brunch. Many reality stars have dined at Canto celebrating special occasions like Kelly Killoren Bensimon who celebrated her birthday at the fancy restaurant. Alice focuses primarily on fresh seafood and lobster and offers an intimate setting while nestled in the basement of one of the neighborhood's iconic brownstones. J Balvin and Bill Murray have both visited and taken in the spot’s charming atmosphere. Sometimes eating out also includes a night on the town after, but SAINT, a celebrity favorite, kills two birds with one stone. On the surface level, SAINT is an upscale restaurant in the East Village that serves American cuisine. Below the dining establishment, there’s Saint Downstairs — an active speakeasy. Stars like Taye Diggs have enjoyed a meal upstairs and then ventured down to lucrative nightclubs and danced the night away. Scroll down to see more of the star’s favorite restaurants in New York City! [podcast_block]

Credit: SAINT

Eat Like the Stars! The Hottest Celebrity Restaurants to Visit in New York City

Dining with the stars! New York City is home to some of the hottest restaurants in the world — and our favorite stars have taken notice. From casual eateries to elegant fine dining, there are so many different restaurants that numerous celebrities have visited. When the stars eat out, most restaurants that come to mind are upscale restaurants but that’s not always the case. Even A-List celebrities enjoy casual dining establishments. The 12 Chairs Cafe’s Brooklyn location is a must-visit for celebrities. Kacey Musgraves frequents the Williamsburg spot and shares how much she adores the restaurant’s authentic Israeli cuisine several times on her social media. Bravo star Dorothy Wang and even the Obama family have been seen enjoying a meal at the popular dining establishment. Another casual restaurant frequented by Hollywood’s elite is Au Za’atar. Stars like Cynthia Nixon, Scarlett Johansson, Ashley Benson, DJ Khaled and more frequent this spot for its one-of-a-kind atmosphere and authentic and delicious Lebanese cuisine. When the stars do choose to dine at an upscale establishment, there are countless options to choose from, especially in New York City. For Italian cuisine, two celebrity hot spots are Canto and Alice — both located in the West Village. Canto offers a variety of Italian dishes and signature cocktails and is open for brunch. Many reality stars have dined at Canto celebrating special occasions like Kelly Killoren Bensimon who celebrated her birthday at the fancy restaurant. Alice focuses primarily on fresh seafood and lobster and offers an intimate setting while nestled in the basement of one of the neighborhood's iconic brownstones. J Balvin and Bill Murray have both visited and taken in the spot’s charming atmosphere. Sometimes eating out also includes a night on the town after, but SAINT, a celebrity favorite, kills two birds with one stone. On the surface level, SAINT is an upscale restaurant in the East Village that serves American cuisine. Below the dining establishment, there’s Saint Downstairs — an active speakeasy. Stars like Taye Diggs have enjoyed a meal upstairs and then ventured down to lucrative nightclubs and danced the night away. Scroll down to see more of the star’s favorite restaurants in New York City! [podcast_block]

Credit: Courtesy of Balvanera

Balvanera

Balvanera brings a taste of Buenos Aires to the heart of the Lower East Side with its traditionally inspired small plates and family-style dishes. The kitchen is helmed by Argentine Chef Fernando Navas, who also serves as an Official Culinary Ambassador of Argentina. Along with the exquisite menu, Balvanera also has an extensive beverage menu that includes the largest Argentinian and South American wine selections in New York City. When you, or your favorite stars, walk through the french doors of Balvanera, you’re greeted by the warm, friend-like hospitality with laid-back charm and elegance.

Credit: 12 Chairs Cafe

12 Chairs Cafe

The 12 Chairs Cafe is known for its vibrant party atmosphere with tambourines passed around to diners and delicious sharable Mediterranean favorites like hummus and warm fluffy pita, schnitzel and Israeli pickles. The cafe has several locations, including one in Manhattan — but the one in Brooklyn’s Williamsburg neighborhood is the restaurant that the stars frequent the most. Kacey Musgraves couldn’t help but rave about her meal and even posted about it on social media. Bravo star Dorthy Wang was also spotted enjoying a meal at this popular Israeli cafe. Even the Obama family was seen crossing the street after dining on Sunday in Brooklyn.

Credit: Daniel Kwak @foodcre8ive

Canto

For a taste of Italy, the stars love to dine at Canto in the West Village. Known for its Italian-inspired cuisine, Canto offers a variety of plates for everyone, from hearty meat dishes to refreshing seafood platters and some plant-based options for the vegetarians in the group. In addition to the tasty food, the beverage menu does not disappoint. It includes a range of fine Italian wines, mixed drinks and even frozen cocktails. Canto isn’t just a hot spot for dinner — the restaurant is also open for weekend brunch and lunch on Thursdays and Fridays. Reality star Kelly Killoren Bensimon recently celebrated her birthday at Canto. Also, TV personality Jason Cameron dined with Danielle Olivera here as well.

Credit: SAINT

SAINT

SAINT recently opened as an upscale American restaurant in the East Village and has quickly captured the attention of the stars like Summer House's Lindsay Hubbard and Top Influencer Danielle Bernstein from WeWoreWhat. With an impressive vast upstairs dining room with hanging crystal chandeliers and a beautiful outdoor garden, we can see why this destination has already attracted many celebrities. Apryl Jones and Showtime host Desus Nice also visited SAINT. Plus, did we mention the many raw bar options with seafood towers and caviar to pair and craft cocktails available? SAINT’s menu includes a variety of globally-inspired seasonal dishes for both dinner and brunch.

Credit: Saint Downstairs

Saint Downstairs

As if SAINT wasn’t enough. Below the upscale restaurant, Saint Downstairs channels the essence of a roaring ‘20s speakeasy. The downstairs bar and separate lounge include a dance floor with a disco ball and DJs spinning sets on select nights. Saint Downstairs is the perfect place to go after enjoying a meal upstairs and dancing the night away — that’s exactly what Taye Diggs and his significant other did when they visited this new hotspot.

Credit: Liz Clayman

Au Za'atar

Au Za’atar is the only place in New York (and maybe the world) where you can get personal tableside shawarma. Served on a rotating spit, patrons can cut their slices of chicken, beef or lamb to create the perfect pita sandwich — and let’s not forget the sides. You can pair your tasty sandwich with a mountain of fries and sauces. It’s a great spot for groups that love to eat authentic Lebanese cuisine. No wonder A-listers like Cynthia Nixon, Scarlett Johansson, Ashley Benson and DJ Khaled love to frequent this space.

Credit: Liz Clayman

Emmetts on Grove

If you’re craving authentic Chicago deep dish pizza while in New York City, then Emmett’s on Grove is the best spot to grab a slice. Inspired by Windy City native Emmett Burke, the tavern-style restaurant specializes in serving the iconic Chicago-style thin crust pie, but Emmett’s on Grove is more than just a pizza joint. The menu also includes comfort food like fried crispy olives, house chips, burrata topped with prosciutto and Italian classics like chicken parmesan and spaghetti and meatballs. The restaurant has attracted an array of stars since its doors opened this year like Michael Kors, Bill Murray and more. Former Bachelor Matt James and his partner, Rachael Kirkconnell, stopped by to enjoy the ultra-thin pizzas and even customized the pies by adding honey drizzled and parmesan toppings. David and Brooklyn Beckham also visited the original location on MacDougal for the classic Deep Dish. If you’re not in New York City, Emmett’s pizzas are available on Goldbelly nationwide.

Credit: Somewhere Nowhere

Somewhere Nowhere

For the ultimate New York City nightlife experience, Somewhere Nowhere is the best spot to spend late nights. Party goers can take their night out to new heights with the venue’s rooftop lounge, nightclub and pool. When you step into the club, get ready to be transported into a dreamy, full-sensory fairyland. The massive 5,156-square-foot space is full of whimsical décor, like flower canopies, gnomes, and fireflies, with a stunning 360-degree view of the NYC skyline and Empire State Building. You can take in the beautiful cityscape and watch the sunset while sitting poolside. Then hit the dance floor while DJs spin your favorite jams on the club’s cutting-edge sound system. Stars like G-Eazy, Dale Moss and many more have visited this top night spot. As one of the top nightlife venues, the nightclub offers exclusive performances from your favorite music acts that spin into the late hours. During NFT Week, Somewhere Nowhere recently had a string of performances from A$AP Ferg, Fat Joe, 3Lau and more.

Credit: Alice

Alice

Alice is an elegant restaurant specializing in Italian cuisine with a primary focus on seafood. The New York City hot spot also has its very own lobster bar. Fresh pasta is hand-crafted on site every day, and the fish served is locally caught off the coast of Montauk. The intimate dining establishment is a hidden gem found in the basement of one of the historical brownstones in the West Village. The sophisticated eatery is a hotspot for many celebrities. Stars like J Balvin and Bill Murray have taken in the spot’s charming atmosphere.

Credit: Photos Courtesy of Mr. Purple

Mr. Purple

For a good vibe after a long day, Mr. Purple offers a break from the city’s hustle and bustle with their stunning panoramic views and freshly made beverages and bites. You can find the rooftop bar and restaurant nestled on the 15th floor of Hotel Indigo. Their selection of craft cocktails and locally sourced plates capture the artistic spirit and vibrant essence of the Lower East Side. On those warm summer days, you can escape the heat at their rooftop pool and get your feet wet while taking in the NYC skyline. Mr. Purple is operated by hospitality industry leader Gerber Group, which operates eight innovative cocktail bars in New York, Washington D.C. and Atlanta, in addition to Blackstar in Whitefish, MT, which just opened as well.