Restaurants & Dining
Mala Town 自选麻辣烫
5.0 out of 5, 368 reviewsPrice level $$
Mala Town 自选麻辣烫 is a restaurant in Gramercy described by visitors as food-focused. Based on 10 reviews.
Low-key. Well-fed. Unbothered.
Best Bars & Restaurants in Kips Bay
Under-the-radar east side living—solid Indian food, hospital workers, and no tourist crowds.
- Residential
- Low-Key
- Convenient
- Unpretentious
- Neighborhood-Y
Top places in Kips Bay
Highly rated restaurants, bars, cafes, and things to do nearby.
Coffee & Casual
Apollo Bagels
5.0 out of 5Price level $New-school bagel shop rooted in old-school technique. Naturally fermented, boiled bagels made fresh every morning with a carefully curated menu.
Coffee & Casual
ARVACI coffee
4.8 out of 5Price level $ARVACI coffee is a favorite coffee/tea spot in Kips Bay, Manhattan. Perfect for a quick bite or a relaxed break.
Restaurants & Dining
Forefeathers Chicken Madness
4.8 out of 5, 193 reviewsPrice level $Forefeathers Chicken Madness is a restaurant in Murray Hill described by visitors as food-focused, korean and american. Based on 10 reviews.
Restaurants & Dining
Kalustyan's
4.7 out of 5Price level $$Kalustyan's is a restaurant in Murray Hill described by visitors as indian and mediterranean. Based on 10 reviews.
Restaurants & Dining
Marko's Pizzeria
4.8 out of 5, 148 reviewsPrice level $We have a custom Italian oven that runs on electric and we also use non-bromated and non-GMO flour producing a healthier choice for our customers
Restaurants & Dining
Sam Sunny
4.7 out of 5, 479 reviewsPrice level $$Sam Sunny is a restaurant in Murray Hill described by visitors as food-focused, korean and chinese, hidden/speakeasy vibe. Based on 10 reviews.
Restaurants & Dining
Nom Nam
4.7 out of 5, 327 reviewsPrice level $Traditional Vietnamese cuisine with a modern twist. Setting up shop in Murray Hill, Nom Nam is a preservation of the Lien family culinary legacy.
Restaurants & Dining
Candle
4.7 out of 5Price level $$Owner/Chef Jorge Pineda and Executive Chef Angel Ramos, the culinary team behind NYC's revered Candle Cafe and Candle 79, have assembled a team of spiritually like-minded, health-conscious and decidedly plant-based culinary aficionados, and are overjoyed to welcome you to Candle.
Restaurants & Dining
Gila's Nosh
4.7 out of 5, 163 reviewsPrice level $Gila's Nosh is a restaurant in Gramercy described by visitors as food-focused, mediterranean, cozy interior. Based on 10 reviews.
Coffee & Casual
Espresso Bar ,,Tiger”
4.9 out of 5, 48 reviewsPrice level $Espresso Bar ,,Tiger” is a cafe in Gramercy described by visitors as a cafe, japanese, cozy interior. Based on 10 reviews.
Coffee & Casual
Tipsy Scoop
4.6 out of 5Price level $$Our liquor-infused ice cream flavors are all inspired by classic and contemporary cocktails and are made with local and seasonal ingredients in New York, NY.
What to do in Kips Bay
Every category, narrowed to this neighborhood.
- Drinks & Nightlife in Kips BayBest bars, cocktail lounges, rooftop bars, dive bars, and late-night drinks in Kips Bay. Happy hour deals, speakeasies, wine bars, and where the locals actually go after midnight.Cocktail bars · Rooftop bars · Speakeasies · Wine bars
- Food in Kips BayBest restaurants and places to eat in Kips Bay. From brunch spots and cheap eats to fine dining, pizza, sushi, and the holes-in-the-wall you won't find on TripAdvisor.Pizza · Sushi · Brunch · Steakhouses
- Casual & Social in Kips BayBest coffee shops, cafes, bakeries, and chill hangout spots in Kips Bay. Great for working remote, catching up with friends, or pretending to read while people-watching.Coffee shops · Tea houses · Bakeries · Study spots
- Live Entertainment in Kips BayLive music, comedy shows, jazz clubs, karaoke bars, and performances in Kips Bay. Open mics, ticketed events, and the kind of nights that become stories.Comedy · Live music · Jazz · Karaoke
- Activities & Experiences in Kips BayFun things to do in Kips Bay — escape rooms, bowling alleys, art classes, arcades, pop-ups, and interactive experiences that don't involve staring at a menu.Escape rooms · Bowling · Art classes · Arcades
- Outdoor & Fresh Air in Kips BayBest outdoor spots, parks, rooftop bars, patios, waterfront walks, and gardens in Kips Bay. Fresh air, skyline views, and places to actually sit outside without a reservation.Rooftops · Patios · Gardens · Waterfront
- Date Night in Kips BayBest date night spots in Kips Bay — romantic restaurants, intimate cocktail bars, cozy wine bars, and vibey spots that do the heavy lifting so you don't have to.Romantic dinners · Cocktail bars · Speakeasies · Rooftops
- Group Hangouts in Kips BayBest places for groups in Kips Bay — sports bars, beer gardens, karaoke rooms, bowling alleys, and spots that can actually fit your whole crew without a 2-hour wait.Sports bars · Beer gardens · Bowling · Karaoke
- Quick & Easy in Kips BayQuick plans in Kips Bay that require zero effort. Happy hours, grab-and-go coffee, fast casual spots, delis, and solid options for when you've got 30 minutes and no ideas.Coffee · Happy hour · Delis · Fast casual
- Tourist Friendly in Kips BayBest things to do in Kips Bay for first-time visitors. Iconic restaurants, famous bars, must-see landmarks, and spots worth the hype — no tourist traps, we promise.Famous pizza · Iconic bars · Broadway area · Landmarks
What makes Kips Bay one of the best neighborhoods in NYC
Quietly doing its own thing between Gramercy and Murray Hill
Kips Bay is the underdog neighborhood that doesn't need your validation. It's not trendy, it's not famous, and it doesn't have a signature landmark. What it has is excellent Indian food from the Curry Hill spillover, affordable apartments by Manhattan standards, and a population of young professionals who figured out you don't need to live in a 'cool' neighborhood to eat well and live right.
Kips Bay doesn't try to be cool, and that's what some people love about it. Stretching from roughly 23rd to 34th Street along the East River, it's a residential neighborhood defined by post-war apartment buildings, NYU Langone medical workers grabbing lunch, and a surprisingly excellent stretch of Indian restaurants along Lexington Avenue (Curry Hill bleeds into its northern edge). The bar scene is chill—neighborhood pubs, sports bars, the occasional wine bar. Waterside Plaza offers rare Manhattan waterfront access. It's not a destination, but if you live or work here, you know the spots. Perfectly functional, occasionally charming.
Best for
The best Indian food in Manhattan — Lexington Ave in the high 20s is basically Little India and everything on it is incredible
Insider tip
Curry Hill spills into Kips Bay. The Indian food here is world-class and half the price of Midtown.
Kips Bay is known for
- Indian restaurants on Lexington
- NYU Langone area
- Waterside Plaza
- Neighborhood pubs
- Affordable eats
Local lingo: “Kips Bay: where people say 'oh, near Murray Hill' and we choose peace.”
Neighborhoods near Kips Bay
Every neighborhood has its own character. Here is what's close by.
- GramercyA gated park, old-world townhouses, and cocktail bars with a members-only mystique.
- Murray HillYoung professionals, bottomless brunch, and Lexington Avenue's endless restaurant row.
- FlatironThe iconic building, Madison Square Park lunches, and some of Manhattan's best restaurants.
- Stuyvesant TownA massive, tree-filled residential complex—post-war calm in the middle of the east side.
- Hell's KitchenTheater kids, global eats on 9th Avenue, and the gritty-turned-great west side neighborhood.
- Alphabet CityGritty authenticity meets creative energy on the eastern edge of the East Village.
- Battery Park CityWaterfront calm on the southern tip—Hudson River sunsets, family vibes, and the Esplanade.
- Carnegie HillOld-money elegance between Museum Mile and the reservoir—Manhattan's quietest flex.
- Central Park843 acres of green in the middle of the madness—NYC's backyard since 1858.
- ChelseaArt galleries, High Line views, and diverse nightlife from gay bars to rooftop lounges.
Frequently asked questions about Kips Bay
What are the best restaurants in Kips Bay?
Ranked by rating and number of reviews, the top restaurants in Kips Bay on Moodap are Mala Town 自选麻辣烫 (Asian Fusion, 5.0 stars), Forefeathers Chicken Madness (American, 4.8 stars) and Kalustyan's (Deli, 4.7 stars).
What are the best bars in Kips Bay?
Ranked by rating and number of reviews, the top bars in Kips Bay on Moodap are Mr B bar (Wine bar, 4.9 stars), The Flying Cock (Dive bar, 4.5 stars) and Banc Cafe (Dive bar, 4.4 stars).
What are the best cafes in Kips Bay?
Ranked by rating and number of reviews, the top cafes in Kips Bay on Moodap are Apollo Bagels (Bagels/Pretzels, 5.0 stars), ARVACI coffee (Coffee/Tea, 4.8 stars) and Espresso Bar ,,Tiger” (Coffee/Tea, 4.9 stars).
Where can I eat or drink cheap in Kips Bay?
100 places in Kips Bay are marked budget-friendly ($). The best-ranked are Apollo Bagels (Bagels/Pretzels, 5.0 stars), ARVACI coffee (Coffee/Tea, 4.8 stars) and Forefeathers Chicken Madness (American, 4.8 stars).
What kind of food is Kips Bay known for?
Of the 127 restaurants Moodap lists in Kips Bay, the most common kinds are Deli (19), Indian (12), Mexican (12) and Pizza (12).
How many places does Moodap list in Kips Bay?
127 restaurants, 27 bars and 53 cafes, each with its own page. The best-ranked are at the top of this page.
What neighborhoods are near Kips Bay?
Gramercy, Murray Hill, Flatiron and Stuyvesant Town are next door. Each has its own guide on Moodap, linked on this page.
How does Moodap rank places in Kips Bay?
By star rating, weighted by how many reviews back it: a place with hundreds of strong reviews ranks above a perfect score from a handful. Places with few or no reviews come after well-reviewed ones. Not sure which fits your plans? The Mood Match quiz picks one for your mood in about 25 seconds.
Find your Kips Bay spot
Answer a few quick questions and Moodap narrows the neighborhood down to places that fit your mood.
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