Posted by Long a melting pot of NYC’s immigrant communities, the LES still retains its eclectic identity today, though over the past decade it has increasingly become gentrified and a spot for some snazzy nightlife. It’s still mainly a low-rise tenement neighbourhood, but more and more high-rise buildings are appearing on the skyline.
A lively area for nightlife where the balance between sophisticated and unrefined venues is still being delicately maintained, the lines between restaurants and bars blurs easily here, as many are adept at offering casual drinks or drinks with substantially good food too. The intersection around Broome and Orchard Streets is particularly fun, with a buzzy attitude and cheery vibe on weekend nights. The Dimes Square area, which is borderline LES/Chinatown, has become very much the place to be seen in the last few years, with the opening of Nine Orchard putting the area on the map.
There’s also a modest Antipodean influence in the area, with venues such as Attaboy, The Flower Room, Bar Belly and The Ten Bells all being established by creative Australian expats.
There’s plenty to keep you entertained from morning till late night, and another great reason for staying in the Lower East Side is that it’s an easy walk across the Williamsburg Bridge, where the ever-cool borough of Brooklyn beckons your discovery.
If you get bored of the LES (as difficult as that many be!), check out Travis’ other NYC guides to the West Village and Williamsburg, Brooklyn.
This guide to the Lower East Side was updated in January 2026.
Just Coffee..
Ludlow Coffee Supply | 176 Ludlow St
This compact LES coffee den is very popular with the local hipster crowd, they serve fabulous coffee and decadent baked treats, which are perfect for on the go or to be enjoyed in their alfresco street-side sitting area. Ludlow Coffee Supply
Little Canal | 26 Canal St
In the ever-hip Dimes Square precinct, Little Canal delivers great coffee in a cute, compact mid-century space with vinyl records providing a low-key soundtrack. A strict no laptops policy keeps conversation flowing, and LES locals congregate over fabulous coffee, pastries and a small breakfast menu in this relaxed, social gem. Little Canal
Cafe Grumpy | 13 Essex St
Relaxed and rustic, this hole-in-the-wall café on the Southern Lower East Side serves beautifully smooth coffee in a space that feels genuinely local. Baristas here keep things mellow, and the vibe is all about community (even with a community notice board bringing local life into the space). Despite there being multiple locations across the city for Café Grumpy, it never feels like a chain. Cafe Grumpy
Ost Cafe | 511 Grand St
You’ll have to detour from the ‘hip’ part of the LES to find Ost, it’s situated in the thick of the residential towers in the southern part of the LES. It’s a far cry from the manufactured uber-hip cafes that are popping up around town, still cosy and authentically rustic, inviting patrons to linger and chat over a good cup of caffeine. If you need something sweet with your cup of joe, hop across the road and grab something from the traditional Jewish bakery. Ost Cafe
Caffe Vita | 124 Ludlow St
From the Pacific Northwest, where they really know a thing or two about coffee, this outlet is a snug, hole in the wall spot with a touch of LES attitude, with very satisfying coffee. Caffe Vita
Breakfast & Brunch…
Clinton St. Baking Company | 4 Clinton St
You’ll usually find a line outside this perennially popular bakery and cafe. The original pokey cafe has moved next door to a more spacious dining room bathed in sunlight. The vast menu caters for all tastes, from super fluffy pancakes to more southern and Mexican influenced dishes, plus some twenty sides to choose from. The servings are more than generous, there are breakfast cocktails on offer if that’s you thing, and considering how busy they are, the service is quite swift. A little touristy? Maybe. Great Food? Definitely. Clinton St. Baking Company
Sunday to Sunday | 88 Orchard St
This bright café on the busy corner of Broome and Orchard St’s opens for dinner and drinks too, but it has a particularly warm hum at brunchtime. The menu offers traditional brunch fare – it’s not mind bending but very solid and comfortable. with options including French toast, breakfast sandwiches or a big breaky plate. The languid pace here encourages you to perhaps order a cocktail with your brunch (especially encouraged on weekends) – well it’s surely after midday somewhere in the world! Sunday to Sunday
Good Thanks Cafe | 131a Orchard St
An easy-going, homely café that dishes up very good brunch fare without too much fuss. The menu features interesting options with Middle Eastern and Asian flavours in many of the dishes, and it’s broken up into small, medium and large sections so you know how much food to expect. They offer healthy juices, breakfast sandwiches, salads, ample vegetarian options or just simple poached eggs if that’s all you need. Good Thanks Cafe
Dimes | 49 Canal St
A snug spot on the edge of Chinatown, the coloured tables are packed tightly together, with a regular crowd of locals dropping in for a coffee or California style brunch fare prepared with panache. There’s breakfast winners like a scrambled egg sandwich, tacos and light & fluffy pancakes. The serving sizes are modest, which is a welcome relief in a city like NYC, and the mellow soundtrack is just right for easing into the day ahead. Dimes
Sweet Chick | 178 Ludlow St
A homely restaurant and that serves hearty southern fare, there are several other outlets around the city. This branch is a long narrow room, with fairy lights lighting up the dark space. The brunch menu features their classic fried chicken & waffles, plus sandwiches and other southern favourites, as well as ‘Boozy Beverages’ including their own canned cocktails. Sweet Chick
Russ & Daughters Cafe | 127 Orchard St
This popular café by the family behind the iconic Russ & Daughters Deli is a rather different experience to the historic deli, with a slick and stylish retro style diner fit-out, though they dish up the same delightful Jewish comfort food. You can’t go wrong with the classic bagel and lox (with pastrami cured salmon), there’s a variety of egg dishes, a wealth of seafood options such as pickled herring trio and even caviar, though the comforting matzo ball soup is a also standout. Russ & Daughters Cafe
Pause Café | 3 Clinton St
A very chilled coffeehouse with Moroccan inspired décor and cuisine, there’s a large communal table and a handful of individual tables, where hip Lower East Siders congregate for catchups and work. The menu is large, featuring many varieties of sandwiches, sweet & savoury crepes and grain bowls. It’s popular, so often busy. Pause Café
Katz’s Delicatessen | 205 E Houston St
Best get to this iconic deli early before the crowds arrive, collect a ticket when you arrive, they’ll mark it up with every order, then payment is collected upon leaving. It’s a large room, with the walls covered in photos of the famous, and perhaps not so famous, who’ve dined there – there’s no shortage of history considering Katz’s has been around since 1888. The servings are particularly generous, so split a sandwich between two, or otherwise go for the half serve sandwich with soup option. The Ruben sandwich is their specialty, they might give you a little taste of the corned beef whilst you’re watching it get put together from scratch… and when it’s time to dive into the Ruben, it’s likely to get messy, but don’t hold back. Katz’s Delicatessen
Drinking & Dining…
Freemans | Freemans Alley, off Rivington St
At the end of a graffiti covered laneway you’ll find the long-lasting gem that is Freemans in a former coffin factory that’s been given a kooky hunting lodge feel, with dark timber, soft lighting and quirky taxidermy displays. There are two bars to choose from and a variety of dining rooms, all are cosy and welcoming – the upstairs dining rooms are especially cocooning. The food is American with a distinct retro slant, their hot artichoke dip is an enduring favourite on the menu and most of the other share dishes are similarly good, plus they produce great craft cocktails too. This is a popular place that’s been going strong for some twenty-one years now, but it always feels very local and inviting. Freemans
Cervo’s | 43 Canal St
A relative newcomer to NYC’s dining scene, Cervo’s has quickly found a following and it’s evident why – this cosy bar and dining room has a timeless look, with low lighting and simple décor that leave the focus very much on the food. The food is Spanish and Portuguese coastal influenced, the menu a short but interesting array of hit seafood dishes, which the chefs in the open kitchen make look effortless to prepare, but they taste oh so good. Non seafood eaters are looked after too, with piri piri chicken and a lamb burger on offer. There’s a large European wine list (including a decent selection of orange varieties), a random music soundtrack and loud chatter from the happy diners who gladly pack in shoulder to shoulder to get a taste of this wonderful food. Cervo’s
Eel Bar | 252 Broome St
From the team behind Cervo’s, Eel Bar turns their focus to Basque flavours with great success. Book ahead as this mid-century beauty fills fast and gets agreeably rowdy. Low lighting, ornate pendants and warm timber set the mood, with a welcoming bar for quick drinks and snacks or booths to settle into for a longer dining stint. The wine list is generous (including orange and fortified wines), cocktails are concise, and the share-style menu shines; spicy fried mussels are a standout, with seafood dishes front and centre throughout. Eel Bar
Corner Bar | 10 Allen St
Anchoring the Nine Orchard hotel, Corner Bar is literally a bar on a corner, sleekly done in country house–chic style that feels comfortably lived in. A long bar invites conversation with bartenders, whilst there’s ample dining tables for catching up with friends. The wine list is small and European-leaning, cocktails riff on classics, and the contemporary American menu delivers ample seafood, supple vegetable sides, and excellent steak frites – hangar or strip, your call. Corner Bar
The Ten Bells | 247 Broome St
It doesn’t get much snugger than this dark, characterful den with pressed metal ceilings and a couple of intimate rooms to while away time in. The natural Euro leaning wine list is quite extensive and mainly from small producers – though they keep the wine by the glass choice easy with just four options in each category (sparkling, white, red). The food offering revolves around rustic tapas plates for sharing, the servings are small but very tasty. Ten Belles can easily lure one into a long night of vino and chatter. They also have a Brooklyn outpost in Bushwick. The Ten Bells
Dudley’s | 85 Orchard St
Another of NYC’s Aussie influenced venues, this uber-relaxed all day café and bar serves classic homestyle American fare with a few Australian twists. Their simple cheeseburger is a treat in itself, but there’s also pasta and goodies like a chicken schnitzel on the menu. Drinks wise they keep the cocktails rather simple, there’s just three white or red wines, plus a handful of skin contact vinos, and local craft brews. The decor veers between rustic and mid-century, the tunes are spot-on and it’s got a lovely welcoming vibe. Dudley’s
Dirty French | 180 Ludlow St
This sexy and seductive restaurant may offer French fare, but it’s quintessentially New York City in every other aspect, with moody lighting, loud music and an attractive crowd that looks like they are straight from a casting call. The menu isn’t overly long, but it hits the mark with its offering of deliciously rich French fare with a modern edge here and there. Dirty French is housed in the equally hip The Ludlow Hotel. Dirty French
Bar Belly | 14 Orchard St
On the lower, Lower East Side, Bar Belly is vibrant and alive with a young and carefree crowd, enjoying warm hospitality and simple but rewarding retro-slanted comfort fare. There’s a short wine list highlighting Californian and French drops and the cocktail list offers a whole section of alcohol-free options. The décor is distressed vintage, with uneven timber floors, seductive mood lighting and of course there’s super cool tunes on the playlist. Bar Belly
The Flower Shop | 107 Eldridge St
There’s something very comforting about this bar, the room feels a little like your Grandma’s living room, with 70’s style timber paneled walls, an unashamedly retro playlist, and a vibe that is relaxed early but amps up as the night gets later (especially in the rowdier basement bar). The menu is lofty comfort food, spanning Asian and Mediterranean influences, with ample options for sharing. The concise but crowd-pleasing drinks list has just eight wines from France and Portugal and nine mostly classic cocktails on offer, but there’s more than sufficient choices for hard liquor drinkers. The Flower Shop
Drinks…
Ye’s Apothecary | 119 Orchard St
Tucked in a cosy basement, Ye’s feels like a hidden speakeasy with rich, intricate decor and old-world Shanghai vibes. Deep green velvet booths, patterned lamps, and mood lighting set the tone. The Asian-inspired cocktail menu is thoughtful but never overdone, paired with snacks like potstickers and prawn toast. Warm, attentive service completes the experience, making it an elegant yet unpretentious spot, and possibly my new favourite cocktail bar in a neighbourhood that is blessed with excellent cocktail bars! Ye’s Apothecary
The Highlight Room | 145 Bowery
Perched atop the Moxy Hotel, The Highlight Room dazzles with champagne aplenty, a short wine list from California to France, and inventive cocktails. Dramatic high ceilings, expansive windows, and a central greenery installation create a striking atmosphere, with plush, oversized banquettes perfect for groups. The views are indeed one of the highlight, looking straight up the Bowery to midtown and the Empire State Building never gets old. Open till 4 am, it’s busiest late at night. The Highlight Room
Attaboy | 134 Eldridge St
Innovative, creative cocktails & classic concoctions shaken and stirred in a narrow, dark industrial-style space. It’s super busy (expect to wait, sometimes considerably, for space to become available) and there is no written cocktail list, the talented bar team will simply ask you a few likes and then create the cocktail of your dreams. No wonder Attaboy is often cited in the world’s best bar lists. Spot on! Attaboy
Skin Contact | 76 Orchard St
This edgy wine bar is housed in a long and narrow low-lit space, with the name giving away the fact that they tend to focus on natural, skin contact wines. The wine by the glass selection is kept relatively concise, however if you want to dive into something more complex, the bottle list is a lot more extensive, with some rather obscure varieties (unless you really know your wine). Their selection is Euro centric, with some North American and Australian vineyards thrown into the mix. There’s wine friendly food like charcuterie to nibble on too. Skin Contact
Le Dive | 37 Canal St
Anything but a dive, this super cute Parisian style wine bar has floor to ceiling windows so you can glimpse the happiness in the romantically lit room as you approach it – the interior has a 1970’s retro Paris vibe. They make choosing easy, with just five classic cocktails and a handful of French wines, including a few skin contact varietals. Foodwise there’s oysters, French drinking-friendly snacks and some heartier large dishes like roast chicken or steak frites. Le Dive
The Back Room | 102 Norfolk St
There are plenty of hard to find bars in NYC, but The Back Room has one of the more complex entries to navigate. Don’t bother looking for a sign, find the obscure entry gate, then head down a set of stairs and through a dark alleyway. Inside, the split-level room is quite spacious and elegantly furnished, with a pressed metal ceiling, sparkling chandeliers and antique furniture. It’s all about the cocktails of course and they serve them in antique teacups to add another layer of quirkiness. The fun ramps up on weekends when it gets busier and noisier, with a DJ spinning tunes. The Back Room
Fig. 19 | 131 Chrystie St
Quietly working its magic for fifteen years now, Fig. 19 remains deliciously discreet with no signage, just a glass door leading into a sparse art gallery where you’ll find a simple door at the rear providing access to the bar itself. Inside, a small but elegant room glows with chandeliers, a candle-filled fireplace and a cabinet of curiosities. Cocktails are refined and as elegant as the decor, the wine list is small but well-considered and the service is best in class. Best enjoyed midweek, as weekends can get quite lively. Fig. 19
Ray’s | 177 Chrystie St
Opened in 2019 by celebrity owners, Ray’s has been perfectly created to seem like it’s been around forever. Everything seems authentic, from the wood paneled walls plastered with memorabilia, to the off-kilter lighting shades and a prominent pool table. The dive bar attitude and style extends to the beer in cans, margaritas and shots served in plastic cups, not to mention the fact you might even find a tattoo artist working in the corner of the room. The only thing that gives Ray’s authenticity away is the clientele – young and rather clean-cut, though it does seem rowdy enough that the idea of things getting out control quite quickly is always present. They also serve very drinking-friendly food into the early hours of the morning. Ray’s
Double Chicken Please | 115 Allen St
Double Chicken Please serves complex, whisky-forward cocktails in a super contemporary space with concrete floors, timber panelling, and a cosier back room with couches. A playful pinball game helps you choose your drink, while the small snack menu is just as inventive. Smart, quietly confident staff match the stylish, well-dressed clientele, making it a fun, modern cocktail destination. Double Chicken Please
Must Do…
Tenement Museum | 103 Orchard St
This is not so much a museum as a series of immersive walking tours, highlighting the rich history of the Lower East Side and its diverse immigrant population. There are different themed apartment tours which include visits to an old tenement building that is partially still in its original condition, providing an insight into how immigrant families lived in the 19th and 20th century’s. The museum also schedules some general LES neighbourhood walking tours, so it’s certainly worthwhile taking more than one of their tours if you have the time. Tenement Museum
Big Onion Multi-Ethnic Eating Tour | Southeast corner of Delancey & Essex St’s
The tour lasts about two hours and winds its way through the Lower East Side, Little Italy and Chinatown. It’s an informative blend of the history of the area and how the different waves of immigration have impacted on the food culture of the area, interspersed with an abundance of delicate tastings included. Start with an empty stomach, as there’s up to eleven food stops where you’ll get to try samples of Caribbean, Jewish, Italian and Asian foods. A rewarding and fulfilling tour for anyone interested in history or food. Big Onion Multi-Ethnic Eating Tour
Where to Stay…
The LES has not traditionally been a locale of many hotels, but with increasing regeneration in recent years, the choices are growing and there are now enough options to suit most tastes, and even budgets.
The Ludlow Hotel | 180 Ludlow St
Artfully designed to make it seem like it’s been around for generations, there’s still no mistaking that The Ludlow has a very present-day ethos and style. The attractive rooms vary from petite studios to more generous lofts, though all have bountiful natural light streaming in, and if fresh air is a luxury you can’t live without, opt for one of the studios with terraces on the 7th floor. Naturally, their Lobby Lounge and Dirty French restaurant, both on the ground floor, are happening spots to see and be seen. The Ludlow Hotel
Hotel Indigo Lower East Side New York | 171 Ludlow St
IHG’s modish brand of neighbourhood centric boutique hotels is right at home in the LES, there’s a definitive edgy aura with funky furniture and eclectic artwork sprinkled throughout the property, though the guest room décor is a little more sedate. The rooms are generously spacious and have ample natural light, and if the views from your room aren’t enough, head up to the 15th floor rooftop bar, Mr Purple, to take things to another level. Hotel Indigo Lower East Side New York
Moxy NYC Lower East Side | 145 Bowery
This Moxy has a convenient location on The Bowery, putting you right at the crossroads of the LES and Soho, with Chinatown just down the road, so it’s excellent if you want to explore all three neighbourhoods. It’s rather new and thoroughly contemporary, and although the rooms are compact, they are thoughtfully designed, with high ceilings and floor to ceiling windows that make them seem larger than they are. The lobby is quite luxe, with a coffee stand and separate media room for those that need to get work done. Their rooftop bar, The Highlight Room, is also a fab spot for a drink or two. Moxy NYC Lower East Side
Nine Orchard | 9 Orchard St
A former bank building dating from 1912 has recently been meticulously restored into a luxe hotel that marks a significant change to the face of this edgy part of the neighbourhood. The elegantly decorated rooms feature large windows and a level of attention-to-detail missing in many hotels these days. There’s also a swag of cutting-edge F&B outlets, including the opulent Swan Room, which requires some patience to score an entry to, as it’s quite the hot spot at the moment. Nine Orchard
Featured Photo: ‘Street Art, LES Style’
Travis. 
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