Restaurants & Dining
Upside Pizza
4.9 out of 5Price level $
Upside Pizza is a restaurant in Morningside Heights described by visitors as pizza and italian. Based on 10 reviews.
Bookish. Cozy. Ethiopian food.
Best Bars & Restaurants in Morningside Heights(Morningside)
Columbia's campus, Cathedral of St. John the Divine, and the smartest brunch crowd in town.
- Academic
- Intellectual
- Leafy
- Relaxed
- Community-Oriented
Top places in Morningside Heights
Highly rated restaurants, bars, cafes, and things to do nearby.
Restaurants & Dining
Island Grill Harlem Modern Caribbean Kitchen
4.8 out of 5Price level $$Island Grill Harlem Modern Caribbean Kitchen is a restaurant in Morningside Heights described by visitors as latin and indian. Based on 10 reviews.
Coffee & Casual
Qahwah House - Broadway
4.8 out of 5Price level $Qahwah House - Broadway is a cafe in Morningside Heights described by visitors as a cafe, cozy interior. Based on 10 reviews.
Restaurants & Dining
Cafe Massawa
4.9 out of 5, 122 reviewsPrice level $$Cafe Massawa is a restaurant in Morningside Heights described by visitors as food-focused, vegetarian vegan, known for excellent service. Based on 10 reviews.
Restaurants & Dining
Le Monde
4.7 out of 5Price level $$Le Monde is a restaurant in Morningside Heights described by visitors as a cafe, french and seafood, known for excellent service. Based on 10 reviews.
Coffee & Casual
Hex & Company
4.7 out of 5Price level $$Providing tabletop fun, food, and drink to NYC! Three locations in Manhattan!
Coffee & Casual
Oasis Jimma Juice Bar
4.7 out of 5, 342 reviewsPrice level $Oasis Jimma Juice Bar is a cafe in Morningside Heights described by visitors as budget-friendly. Based on 10 reviews.
Coffee & Casual
Kuro Kuma
4.7 out of 5, 310 reviewsPrice level $Kuro Kuma is a cafe in Morningside Heights described by visitors as a cafe, french. Based on 10 reviews.
Coffee & Casual
The Hungarian Pastry Shop
4.6 out of 5Price level $Originally opened in 1961 by Hungarian immigrants, The Hungarian Pastry Shop has been a bedrock of the Morningside Heights community for 60 years. We are still committed to serving great pastry and great coffee.
Restaurants & Dining
Dos Toros
4.6 out of 5Price level $At Dos Toros Taqueria, were all about that Mission-style taqueria vibe. To us, Mission-style means fresh, flavorful ingredients wrapped in a steamed tortilla with perfectly melty cheese.
Restaurants & Dining
South of the Clouds云之南upper westside
4.8 out of 5, 66 reviewsPrice level $South of the Clouds云之南upper westside is a restaurant in Morningside Heights described by visitors as food-focused, known for excellent service. Based on 10 reviews.
Bars & Nightlife
Arts and Crafts Beer Parlor
4.6 out of 5Price level $$Arts and Crafts Beer Parlor is a popular beer bar in Morningside Heights, Manhattan. A go-to spot for drinks and good times in the neighborhood.
What to do in Morningside Heights
Every category, narrowed to this neighborhood.
- Drinks & Nightlife in Morningside HeightsBest bars, cocktail lounges, rooftop bars, dive bars, and late-night drinks in Morningside Heights. Happy hour deals, speakeasies, wine bars, and where the locals actually go after midnight.Cocktail bars · Rooftop bars · Speakeasies · Wine bars
- Food in Morningside HeightsBest restaurants and places to eat in Morningside Heights. 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 Morningside HeightsBest coffee shops, cafes, bakeries, and chill hangout spots in Morningside Heights. 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 Morningside HeightsLive music, comedy shows, jazz clubs, karaoke bars, and performances in Morningside Heights. Open mics, ticketed events, and the kind of nights that become stories.Comedy · Live music · Jazz · Karaoke
- Activities & Experiences in Morningside HeightsFun things to do in Morningside Heights — 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 Morningside HeightsBest outdoor spots, parks, rooftop bars, patios, waterfront walks, and gardens in Morningside Heights. Fresh air, skyline views, and places to actually sit outside without a reservation.Rooftops · Patios · Gardens · Waterfront
- Date Night in Morningside HeightsBest date night spots in Morningside Heights — 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 Morningside HeightsBest places for groups in Morningside Heights — 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 Morningside HeightsQuick plans in Morningside Heights 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 Morningside HeightsBest things to do in Morningside Heights 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 Morningside Heights the best neighborhoods in NYC
Columbia University brain power and comfort food energy
Morningside Heights is a college neighborhood that transcends being a college neighborhood. Yes, Columbia dominates the landscape, but the Ethiopian restaurants on Amsterdam, the old-school Hungarian bakery, and the Cathedral of St. John the Divine give it a depth that pure campus towns don't have. Students and professors mix with lifers who've been here since before the tuition was six figures.
Morningside Heights is a college town in the middle of Manhattan. Columbia University and Barnard College set the tone—bookstores, coffee shops, affordable-ish restaurants catering to students and professors. Broadway from 110th to 125th is the main strip, lined with Thai, Mexican, Ethiopian, and classic American spots. The Cathedral of St. John the Divine is the world's largest Anglican cathedral and genuinely awe-inspiring. Morningside Park and Riverside Park bracket the neighborhood with green space. Tom's Restaurant (yes, the Seinfeld diner) is here. Riverside Church offers incredible views from its tower. It's intellectual, leafy, and more affordable than neighborhoods further south.
Best for
An intellectual afternoon of bookstore browsing, cathedral visiting, and Ethiopian food that rivals anything in Addis Ababa
Insider tip
The Hungarian Pastry Shop doesn't take credit cards. Bring cash. Thank us later.
Morningside Heights is known for
- Columbia University
- Cathedral of St. John the Divine
- Tom's Restaurant
- Riverside Park
- Bookstores and cafes
Local lingo: “Morningside Park at sunset is free therapy. The diner on Broadway is the follow-up session.”
Neighborhoods near Morningside Heights
Every neighborhood has its own character. Here is what's close by.
- HarlemThe capital of Black America—Apollo Theater, soul food legends, and cultural renaissance.
- Manhattan ValleyThe UWS's low-key neighbor—diverse eats on Broadway and a neighborhood that still feels like one.
- Hamilton HeightsHarlem's historic hilltop—stunning rowhouses, CCNY campus, and a neighborhood finding its groove.
- Upper West SideIntellectuals, Zabar's bagels, and brownstone-lined streets between Central Park and the Hudson.
- 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 Morningside Heights
What are the best restaurants in Morningside Heights?
Ranked by rating and number of reviews, the top restaurants in Morningside Heights on Moodap are Upside Pizza (Pizza, 4.9 stars), Island Grill Harlem Modern Caribbean Kitchen (Caribbean, 4.8 stars) and Cafe Massawa (African, 4.9 stars).
What are the best bars in Morningside Heights?
Ranked by rating and number of reviews, the top bars in Morningside Heights on Moodap are Arts and Crafts Beer Parlor (Beer bar, 4.6 stars), Sipsteria Morningside (Wine bar, 4.6 stars) and Hajis famous deli (Deli, 4.8 stars).
What are the best cafes in Morningside Heights?
Ranked by rating and number of reviews, the top cafes in Morningside Heights on Moodap are Qahwah House - Broadway (Coffee/Tea, 4.8 stars), Hex & Company (Coffee/Tea, 4.7 stars) and Oasis Jimma Juice Bar (Juice Smoothies Fruit Salads, 4.7 stars).
Where can I eat or drink cheap in Morningside Heights?
50 places in Morningside Heights are marked budget-friendly ($). The best-ranked are Upside Pizza (Pizza, 4.9 stars), Qahwah House - Broadway (Coffee/Tea, 4.8 stars) and Oasis Jimma Juice Bar (Juice Smoothies Fruit Salads, 4.7 stars).
What kind of food is Morningside Heights known for?
Of the 59 restaurants Moodap lists in Morningside Heights, the most common kinds are American (9), Chinese (7), Deli (7) and Pizza (6).
How many places does Moodap list in Morningside Heights?
59 restaurants, 8 bars and 31 cafes, each with its own page. The best-ranked are at the top of this page.
What neighborhoods are near Morningside Heights?
Harlem, Manhattan Valley, Hamilton Heights and Upper West Side are next door. Each has its own guide on Moodap, linked on this page.
How does Moodap rank places in Morningside Heights?
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 Morningside Heights spot
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