New York has more Michelin-starred restaurants than any other American city, and the guide also recognizes much more affordable places. Here is how to think about it.
The three-star tier
In the 2025 guide, the top tier included Eleven Madison Park, Le Bernardin, Per Se, Masa and Jungsik. These are special-occasion meals, with tasting menus that often cost several hundred dollars per person. Michelin updates its list every year, so check the current guide before you book.
Newer stars
Among the restaurants that earned their first star in 2025 were Yamada, a kaiseki restaurant from chef Isao Yamada, along with Bridges and Huso. New stars are a good way to find a place before everyone else books it.
The Bib Gourmand: great food, smaller bill
Michelin's Bib Gourmand list highlights restaurants with good food at a lower price. Names that appeared on the recent list include Katz's Delicatessen, Dhamaka, Una Pizza Napoletana, Superiority Burger, Roberta's, Russ & Daughters Cafe, Momofuku Noodle Bar, Nami Nori, Cho Dang Gol and Tanoreen. They cover Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens and Staten Island, and a lot of different cuisines.
How to book
Top tables often release reservations weeks ahead on Resy, OpenTable or the restaurant's own site. Check the dress code and the cancellation policy, and tell the restaurant about allergies when you book rather than when you sit down.
How to do it on a budget
Look for lunch menus, bar seating and set-price offers, which some starred restaurants run during NYC Restaurant Week. The Bib Gourmand list is the easiest place to start.
Stars, menus and prices change often, so confirm everything on the restaurant's own page and the Michelin Guide before you plan a night around it. We have not eaten at every place named here, and this is a starting point rather than a ranking.
