Everyone knows that New York’s food scene is immaculate. Gastronomists and food lovers could spend their entire lives here and never get through all the amazing restaurants. But New York is also amazing at pulling off absolutely stunning restaurants in the decor department. Whether you’re looking for modern minimalism, explosions of pink, or dining in a fairytale forest, New York has you covered.
In this running list, I cover what are, in my opinion, the prettiest restaurants and cafes in NYC. Keep in mind that this is an actively maintained list and will have additions over time, so don’t forget to bookmark this and check up every once in a while!
And lastly, don’t forget that pretty doesn’t mean delicious. Sometimes we go to places just for the aesthetic! If you’re looking for quality > Instagrammability, check out the below:
The Best Dessert Spots in NYC: Delicious, Not Just Photo-Worthy
Enough chatter. Let’s get down to business.
Jack’s Wife Freda
Jack’s Wife Freda has always been a beloved staple of the Soho brunch club, but ever since they relocated to the corner building and expanded their space, it’s become more of a hit than ever. Sunny European-style sidewalk dining on the outside allows you to idly chat and people-watch the bustling streets of Soho, and a fresh-colored interior is no less appealing on colder days.
I thought the food was alright, if not a tad expensive—a glass of juice was around $8! But to be fair, as content creators our food is always cold when we eat it, so perhaps it’s better hot and fresh. (LOL!)
Location: 226 Lafayette St, New York, NY 10012
Remi Flower & Coffee
Remi Flower & Coffee is my favorite cafe in New York. Part florist, part coffee shop, this spot is just bursting with beautiful color, fresh smells, and the prettiest drinks you’ve ever seen. I mean, just look at this space!
The cafe is very popular and there’s not a ton of space, so make sure to snag your spot early (especially on weekends). Thankfully, there’s decent wifi and multiple kind baristas to help fuel all your working needs.
Location: 906 2nd Ave, New York, NY 10017
Urban Backyard
Urban Backyard is a tiny coffee shop in Soho that is a cult favorite. Tucked behind an unassuming door, you’ll make your way through a stone-lined path and into a plant-filled oasis. Again, there’s practically no seating here, but luckily people tend to come and go.
There’s more opportunity to lounge here in the summer when they open up outdoor seating and the cutest single table on the sidewalk, but I love their winter menu as well!
Location: 180 Mulberry St, New York, NY 10012
Cha An
Cha-An is a beautiful and delicious traditional-style Japanese teahouse on the second floor of a tiny complex on St. Marks Place. While the staircase entrance is barely big enough to fit one person, you’ll definitely be able to spot this place—there are often queues out the door. Try your hand at traditional Japanese desserts, such as anmitsu with brown sugar syrup and hand-whisked matcha, to the more modern offering such as the sakura teardrop.
While the ambiance at Cha-An is top-notch, it’s quite dimly lit inside and not ideal for photography. But you won’t regret coming to soak in the vibes!
Location: 230 E 9th St 2nd FL, New York, NY 10003
Rooftops and Bars
It wouldn’t be New York without the extreme rooftop competition here. If you’re looking for drop-dead gorgeous dining and drink spots, a good quarter of them are bound to be rooftop bars! I have a whole separate list just dedicated to NYC rooftops, but here are a couple of the greats:
- SERRA by Birreria: seasonally decorated Italian rooftop restaurant on top of the Eataly in the Flatiron district
- The Fleur Room: colorful and elegant bar well-known for its beautiful and tasty cocktails
- Magic Hour NY: fantastically pink rooftop known for its Instagrammable floral carousel
- PHD Terrace at Dream Downtown: popular rooftop with a seasonally decorated flower tunnel
For the extended version, check out my full list of the Best Rooftops in New York here.
Matchaful
This matcha chain in Manhattan offers only the highest quality matcha. You can definitely see it reflected in the price—it’s certainly on the high end—but you can also taste the difference. They offer only a handful of drink options, but just the classic matcha latte is already excellent. Why mess with perfection?
These photos are from the Matchaful location in Soho, which is large enough to offer some seating. There are other branches, but most of them are small.
Soho Location: 359 Canal St, New York, NY 10013
Maman
Maman is a beloved chain in New York known for its great drinks, even better baked goods, and signature porcelain-and-plant design. I believe there are almost 20 locations across New York City! Spend an afternoon here sipping from actual blue and white teacups and chatting with your friends—laptops are not allowed at Maman, so this definitely isn’t your cafe working spot.
Besides a signature and seasonal drink menu, and those delicious pastries I mentioned, you can also get actual food here. Perhaps go for a deconstructed avocado toast (the most New York-sounding menu item imaginable), or try your hand at the zucchini spaghetti.
My Favorite Location: 239 Centre St, New York, NY 10013
Felix Roasting Co.
This beloved over-the-top coffee chain also has a few locations in New York, and they each have the same vibe in different colors. Take your pick of pink or blue; it’ll be lovely either way. Even better, they have long opening hours, strong wifi, and plenty of seating. What could be better for a working cafe?
The lighting is a bit dim, especially on a cloudy day. Don’t go in expecting great photos, but seeing with your eyes will definitely be a treat.
Soho Location: 104 Greene St, New York, NY 10012
Dante West Village
The most beautiful green restaurant in West Village has somehow nailed every single point. Gorgeous outdoor dining, gorgeous indoor dining, and a damn good menu—what’s not to like here? I love the emerald-green bar inside, but the plant-covered outside is just irresistible! And the plate design is just immaculate.
It’s hard to order anything bad here, but we got the shakshuka, lox bagel, and fingerling potatoes…and couldn’t stop stuffing our faces.
Location: 551 Hudson St, New York, NY 10014
Bakeri
Bakeri is a wildly popular bakery (surprise) located in Greenpoint, Brooklyn. It can be tricky to get here from Manhattan, but it’s well worth the trek. Starting at opening hour, there is a constant flow of people coming in and out, grabbing their morning coffee and freshly baked bread.
There’s really only one cute corner in this store: the two-person table directly next to the door. Due to the amount of traffic, it can be hard to pull off this shot, but a little patience will go a long way. I think it’s entirely worth it! How cute is this plant and vegetable-themed wallpaper? Plus, the croissants and chai were just delicious.
Location: 105 Freeman St, Brooklyn, NY 11222
Arvaci Coffee
I’ll be honest: I’ve never been inside Arvaci Coffee. Shockingly, I don’t drink actual coffee (I know, a New York sin), so I’ve actually never stepped inside. But I couldn’t resist including it on this list because of the colorful floral exterior! Floratorium designs most of the floral decor in New York and they always do an incredible job. Just look at how beautifully that pink stands out!
Bonus: there’s a small bench outside the window (you can see me sitting there below), which makes it perfect for photos.
Location: 340 W 37th St, New York, NY 10018
Café-Flor
Cafe-Flor’s rich turquoise walls instantly set it apart from any other cafe in New York. Unlike how most coffee shops go for a fresh aesthetic, Cafe-Flor pairs its deep colors with unique scattered seating, fresh flowers, and a gently cluttered Apartment Therapy-esque design. Sit among the vases of flowers or on an ambiguously-shaped couch underneath a Renaissance painting and you’ll understand why it’s such a popular spot.
It’s worth noting that their wifi, while technically available, is completely useless. Also, their drinks aren’t particularly good either. Again: we’re here for the ambiance.
Location: 218 8th Ave, New York, NY 10011
Kobrick Coffee Co.
Unlike some of the cafes on this list (ahem), Kobrick Coffee is actually an excellent and proper coffee joint—at least, according my caffeine-guzzling friends. I’ve tried the mushroom coffee, which sounds weird but was actually delicious. And of course, the chai latte—my personal benchmark—was great.
The prettiest part of the coffee shop includes the couch with the plant wallpaper and neon sign, and the nest-shaped swing in the back surrounded by blooming greenery. Take your pics, drink your coffee, and bounce—while no one has ever come to kick me out, they don’t approve of laptops or lingering.
Location: 24 9th Ave, New York, NY 10014
Lê Phin
This Vietnamese-run cafe in East Village is the definition of tiny: it can hold probably less than 10 people, and on weekends you might as well forget about finding a seat. I love the fresh aesthetic and especially the window seat—how cute of an idea is that? Bonus points for having excellent wifi, the sweetest and friendliest staff I’ve ever met, and delicious and tasty drinks. Go for the pandan or pandan and matcha latte and you won’t regret it: they make their pandan syrup in-house, which means it’s not too sweet. (And if you’re Asian, you know that’s the highest compliment you can give!)
Location: 259 E 10th St, New York, NY 10009
Afternoon Tea
A question for all my elegant ladies: who doesn’t enjoy an amazing afternoon tea experience? Also known as high tea, there’s nothing more likely to transport you directly into a period drama than sipping tea and eating petit fours in the early afternoon.
New York has a plethora of afternoon tea locations (great news for high tea lovers like me!), and here are a few notable ones:
- Prince Tea House: affordable afternoon tea chain with a soft pink floral interior
- The Williamsburg Hotel: elegant afternoon tea experience set on the bottom floor of the posh Williamsburg Hotel in Brooklyn
But that’s just a preview of a much, much longer lineup. See my list of Where to Have Afternoon Tea in NYC here.
Tacombi on Bleecker Street
There are a few Tacombis scattered around NYC, but the one on Bleecker Street is decidedly the prettiest one. An open window from the bar facing the street means plenty of light can get in, and the blue and white diamond decor and pops of yellow and orange mean you have a party of color. Their bar is undoubtedly cute, with high stools and a basket of pineapples just begging to be photographed.
Bonus points: their tacos are actually delicious! Not to mention, the watermelon juice and corn are both must-orders in my book.
Location: 255 Bleecker St, New York, NY 10014
Casa La Femme
If you’re looking for a lesser-known Instagrammable restaurant, look no further than Casa La Femme. This Egyptian restaurant has nailed outdoor dining. Even though you’re sitting just steps from passing cars, it feels as though you’re in a lush garden, with plants, lanterns, and carpets bringing the whole act together.
The interior is similarly beautiful, but extremely dark. I would recommend coming to sit outdoors during the day and soak in the sunlight during lunch or golden hour!
Location: 140 Charles St, New York, NY 10014
Pietro Nolita
No photo-worthy restaurant list would be complete without Pietro Nolita, one of the most well-known Instagram restaurants in New York. Both the exterior and interior of this Italian joint are covered wall-to-wall in pink. While pink restaurants and cafes have slowly started to go out of style on Instagram, Pietro Nolita has somehow managed to stay relevant despite subpar food reviews.
I personally prefer taking photos outside the restaurant, where you can also catch this little heart wall. Be mindful, however; people live in that apartment and aren’t too fond of people always blocking their door.
Location: 174 Elizabeth St, New York, NY 10012
Davelle
One of the lone residents of this list where I think the food here is the star of the show, not the restaurant decor. Davelle has the cutest menu items, from their signature thick-cut toast with a variety of colorful toppings, to their savory menu items that look and sound absolutely mouth-watering.
I mean, just look at these toasts! How could you resist this place?
Location: 102 Suffolk St, New York, NY 10002
Mangia NYC
Remember earlier on this list I mentioned Floratorium? Mangia is a consistent client of Floratorium’s, and their decor changes not just seasonally but for holidays and events also! For example, you can see their Valentine’s Day 2022 installation below. Seasonal decor is always a hit with New Yorkers, and Mangia’s broad window is perfectly eye-catching.
Pro tip: this store is located practically just across from Eataly Flatiron and their gorgeous rooftop restaurant Serra by Birrera, which you can find on my NYC Rooftops & Bars guide here!
Location: 50 W 57th St, Manhattan, NY 10019
ppl
Tucked away in Brooklyn is ppl, a tiny Japanese cafe full to bursting with plants and thoughtful, detailed decor. The staff operates out of a nondescript window, but opening the door reveals this miniature garden oasis inside.
Not many people seem to know about this spot, but there is a tightly-knit local Japanese population that loves to frequent this cafe and the surrounding area. I loved the quiet vibe and the friends of the baristas who would often pop in and out.
Location: 189 Roebling St, Brooklyn, NY 11211
MONO+MONO
MONO+MONO’s vibe screams dark academia; this lesser-known gem is a sultry vintage dining spot where you can sit tucked inside the shelves of old records and enjoy modern Korean cuisine. Alternatively, just come for a cup of coffee and soak in the ambiance from the dark wooden furnishings and the skylights that leak dusty rays of sunlight.
Location: 116 E 4th St, New York, NY 10003
Loulou
This floral French restaurant in West Village pairs a casual ambiance with an upscale experience. They have very beautiful cocktails, a wonderful atmosphere, and the prettiest orange decor over their corner-store entrance. I went to an event in the basement before, and the vibes are immaculate. Also, I don’t drink alcohol, but I’ve heard that the drinks are as delicious as they are Instagrammable.
Location: 176 8th Ave, New York, NY 10011
Boucherie
Boucherie is an elegant French restaurant with a few locations across New York City. My favorite branch is the one in West Village, which is bursting with beautiful greenery, elegant outdoor and open-air dining, a stunning wood-paneled bar with huge mirrors, and overflowing with rich Parisian charm. The vibe here is laid-back and upscale—the kind of place to have a 3-hour lunch soiree with friends, or an elegant cocktail hour after work.
The food is as delicious as it is beautiful. The French onion soup is classic and so delicious! I also was head over heels for the seared scallops—it’s my favorite seafood. Boucherie also has an extensive drink menu, but we settled for mocktails and enjoyed them thoroughly as well. However, the price point here is on the higher side, so don’t expect to go budget at this fantastic restaurant.
West Village Location: 99 7th Ave S, New York, NY 10014
How’s that for a roundup of the most photo-worthy restaurants and cafes in New York City? No matter what kind of cuisine or snack you’re looking to get, no matter what aesthetic you prefer, NYC has it all.
Don’t forget that I regularly update this list as I visit more and more spots! Be sure to save and bookmark this article so that you can stay up-to-date on the best Instagrammable eateries in the Big Apple.
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