Hidden Gems: Restaurants, Cafes, and Dessert Spots in the NYC Area

There’s nothing better than exploring new areas and stumbling upon a hidden gem. Our team throughout the tri-state area has hit the road to handpick a selection of unique, off-the-beaten-path restaurants, cafés, and dessert spots that are worth paying a visit. We hope you enjoy exploring these spots for yourselves.

Restaurants

BarBacon
Hell’s Kitchen & Union Square, NYC
@bar­_bacon

“Bacon belongs to the hedonist, the throw-caution-to-the-winds sort who would eat a bacon sandwich with a side of bacon,” say the masterminds behind BarBacon. If you fancy yourself a hedonist (or you’re just craving some bacon), you’ll want to get yourself to either the Hell’s Kitchen or Union Square location. From Bacon Ice Cream Sundaes and Bacon Bloody Marys to more traditional bacon-filled foods like burgers, you’ll find an array of indulgent options.

Bell Book & Candle
West Village, NYC
@_bbcnyc

If you want local, organic, and sustainably sourced foods, you can’t get much closer than Bell Book & Candle. The menu shifts with the seasons and the ingredients produced by the aeroponic tower garden found on the rooftop. Dishes are inspired by the various American regions, with a special focus on the melting pot of food cultures found in the country.

Blossom
Chelsea & Upper West Side, NYC
@blossom.nyc

Created by two animal lovers, Blossom has been a pioneer in modern vegan cuisine for over a decade. Both the original Chelsea and newer Upper West Side locations serve creative vegan reinterpretations of classic world cuisine. All dishes are made with fresh, high-quality ingredients that are locally sourced and organic whenever possible.

Trinity Place Bar & Restaurant
Financial District, NYC
@trinityplacenyc

You can’t get more quintessentially New York than Trinity Place, housed in a turn-of-the-century Wall Street bank vault commissioned by Andrew Carnegie. It was known as the largest and strongest bank vault in the world, and today you can have a drink or enjoy a meal between the two 35-ton vault doors. Here, New American cuisine meets old-world grandeur and an extensive cocktail and wine list provides the perfect accompaniment as you revel in the location’s history.

Lexington Candy Shop
Upper East Side, NYC
@lexingtoncandyshop

Don’t be fooled by the name. Lexington Candy Shop is a longstanding luncheonette with a substantial diner menu. Founded in 1925, the classic New York institution is a reminder of a bygone era, when soda fountains and luncheonettes were fixtures in every neighborhood. The menu is also reminiscent of classic American fare, and breads served here are handmade a few blocks away at Orwashers Bakery.

Cafés

Freehold
Williamsburg, NY
@thefreehold

It’s designed like a hotel lobby, but there are no rooms to check into. Instead, the multi-purpose space is part coffee shop and communal workspace, and part restaurant and bar. If you want to get work done during the day, have dinner afterwards, and dance to live music late at night without having to change locations, The Freehold is for you.

Blank Slate Tea
NoMad, NYC
@blankslatetea

A modern Midtown tea bar, Blank Slate Tea’s pink-hued décor matches its aesthetically pleasing drink and food options. You’ll find a selection of hot and iced teas, tea lattes, and food options that include Blueberry Lavender Waffles, Pink Hummus Toast, and a Turmeric Quinoa Bowl. Adjacent to this tea bar is Blank Slate Coffee + Kitchen, a counter-order spot with a more extensive food menu.

Moto Coffee Machine
Hudson, NY
@motocoffeemachine

Located on Warren Street in Hudson, Moto Coffee Machine is part coffee shop, part motorcycle shop. Take a look at the bikes and accessories as you enjoy expertly brewed coffee drinks (and their waffles). You’ll have to make an in-person trip to get a real feel for the place, like their website encourages. “Drop in or call us, like it’s 1975 or something” is the extent of the information you can find on their website.

Dessert

CoolMess
Upper East Side, NYC
@coolmessnyc

This bright and bubbly ice cream shop comes with a twist: you make your own ice cream. You choose your flavor, use an ice cream machine to make your dessert, and add all the toppings you want. It’s a perfect activity to enjoy with your kids, and like the name suggests, making a mess is encouraged.

Economy Candy
Lower East Side, NYC
@economycandy

What began as a shoe and hat repair shop with an outdoor candy push cart now houses wall-to-wall candy and a lot of nostalgia. A Lower East Side staple since 1937, Economy Candy has been family-run since its inception. If you need to satisfy your sweet tooth, the 2,000+ types of sweets found here will definitely do the trick.

Chip
Astoria, NY & Meatpacking District, NYC
@chipnewyorkcity

Born in Astoria, Chip is the result of two childhood friends on a quest to make the best cookie they possibly could. Today, there are two Astoria locations, one in the Meatpacking District, and plans to open two new spots in Long Island City and the West Village. Whether you’re looking for a classic chocolate chip cookie or something more inventive like a Nutella Sea Salt cookie or a Lucky Charms concoction, you’ll find it at Chip.

Prohibition Bakery
Lower East Side, NYC
@prohibitionbakery

For a more adult spin on dessert, head to Prohibition Bakery, which specializes in boozy cupcakes. Created in 2011 by a chef and a bartender, the bakery has indulgent cupcake flavors that include Margarita, White Russian, Old Fashioned, Mulled Wine, and a few non-alcoholic options. If you would rather get tipsy on cupcakes in the comfort of your own home, you can also take advantage of Prohibition’s delivery service.

2018, for the Halstead Real Estate Blog