Coffee & Casual
Spoonable Spirits
5.0 out of 5, 416 reviewsPrice level $
A viral sensation dessert that began in New York City.
Polished. Cultural. Money talks quietly.
Best Bars & Restaurants in Upper East Side(UES)
Museum Mile, Park Avenue wealth, and the most classic New York neighborhood there is.
- Classic
- Upscale
- Cultural
- Residential
- Diverse-Dining
Top places in Upper East Side
Highly rated restaurants, bars, cafes, and things to do nearby.
Coffee & Casual
Charlotte Cafe
5.0 out of 5Price level $Charlotte Cafe is a favorite coffee/tea spot in Upper East Side, Manhattan. Perfect for a quick bite or a relaxed break.
Coffee & Casual
Green Mandala
5.0 out of 5, 261 reviewsPrice level $Handcrafted juices, smoothies, shot and acai bowls made with the freshest ingredient for your health lifestyle. Indulge in our expertly crafted cold-pressed juices, potent wellness shots, and vibrant acai bowls—designed to nourish and energize.
Coffee & Casual
Venchi Chocolate & Gelato UES
4.9 out of 5Price level $$$1117 Lexington Ave, New York, NY 10075
Bars & Nightlife
Shaken Not Stirred
4.9 out of 5Price level $$$Shaken Not Stirred is a bar in Upper East Side described by visitors as drinks-focused, relaxed atmosphere, known for excellent service. Based on 10 reviews.
Restaurants & Dining
Vegan Grill
4.9 out of 5Price level $$Vegan Grill is a restaurant in Upper East Side described by visitors as food-focused, french and american, relaxed atmosphere. Based on 10 reviews.
Restaurants & Dining
Grata Thai Cuisine
4.9 out of 5Price level $$Grata Thai Cuisine is a restaurant in Upper East Side described by visitors as food-focused, thai and indian, relaxed atmosphere. Based on 10 reviews.
Restaurants & Dining
Bobafish
4.9 out of 5, 298 reviewsPrice level $$Our menu features a tantalizing selection of sushi rolls, savory ramen bowls, and refreshing bubble teas. Perfect for those who crave a culinary adventure delivered right to their door or ready for pick-up.
Coffee & Casual
Artara Coffee (Cambodian)
4.9 out of 5Price level $Artara Coffee (Cambodian) is a favorite coffee/tea spot in Upper East Side, Manhattan. Perfect for a quick bite or a relaxed break.
Restaurants & Dining
Kuu
4.8 out of 5Price level $$Kuu has been proudly serving our signature ramen, donburi, and hand rolls to downtown Manhattan since 2016. Since day one, our mission is to bring people to share great moment together through great food by providing great tasting Japanese food like ramen, donburi, and other shareable small plates to the many office workers and students located in the area.
Restaurants & Dining
La Pecora Bianca UES
4.8 out of 5Price level $$La Pecora Bianca UES is a restaurant in Upper East Side described by visitors as italian, high-energy atmosphere, known for excellent service. Based on 10 reviews.
Bars & Nightlife
Avoca
4.8 out of 5Price level $Avoca is a popular dive bar in Upper East Side, Manhattan. A go-to spot for drinks and good times in the neighborhood.
What to do in Upper East Side
Every category, narrowed to this neighborhood.
- Drinks & Nightlife in Upper East SideBest bars, cocktail lounges, rooftop bars, dive bars, and late-night drinks in Upper East Side. Happy hour deals, speakeasies, wine bars, and where the locals actually go after midnight.Cocktail bars · Rooftop bars · Speakeasies · Wine bars
- Food in Upper East SideBest restaurants and places to eat in Upper East Side. 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 Upper East SideBest coffee shops, cafes, bakeries, and chill hangout spots in Upper East Side. 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 Upper East SideLive music, comedy shows, jazz clubs, karaoke bars, and performances in Upper East Side. Open mics, ticketed events, and the kind of nights that become stories.Comedy · Live music · Jazz · Karaoke
- Activities & Experiences in Upper East SideFun things to do in Upper East Side — 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 Upper East SideBest outdoor spots, parks, rooftop bars, patios, waterfront walks, and gardens in Upper East Side. Fresh air, skyline views, and places to actually sit outside without a reservation.Rooftops · Patios · Gardens · Waterfront
- Date Night in Upper East SideBest date night spots in Upper East Side — 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 Upper East SideBest places for groups in Upper East Side — 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 Upper East SideQuick plans in Upper East Side 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 Upper East SideBest things to do in Upper East Side 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 Upper East Side one of the best neighborhoods in NYC
Museum Mile, Madison Avenue, and brunch that requires a reservation
The Upper East Side is the Manhattan neighborhood that everyone has an opinion about, and half those opinions are wrong. Yes, there's old money. Yes, there's Madison Avenue shopping. But there's also a 2nd Avenue bar scene that goes hard on weekends, Museum Mile that holds the Met and the Guggenheim, and residential side streets so beautiful they make you reconsider every life choice that didn't lead to a townhouse here.
The Upper East Side is old-money Manhattan at its most iconic. Museum Mile along Fifth Avenue—the Met, the Guggenheim, the Neue Galerie—is one of the greatest cultural corridors on earth. Park and Madison Avenues are lined with pre-war co-ops that cost more than some towns. But get east of Lexington and the UES loosens up: Second and Third Avenues have a thriving bar and restaurant scene, especially for the 20-something crowd. The dining ranges from white-tablecloth French to neighborhood sushi to excellent pizza. It's more fun than people give it credit for—especially on the avenues, where the density of good restaurants rivals any downtown neighborhood.
Best for
A cultural Saturday: Met Museum until you're overstimulated, then a long Italian lunch on 2nd Avenue with a bottle of wine
Insider tip
2nd Avenue is the real UES dining scene. Forget Madison — that's for shopping, not eating.
Upper East Side is known for
- The Metropolitan Museum of Art
- Museum Mile
- Park Avenue
- Second Avenue bars
- Guggenheim Museum
Local lingo: “UES isn't stuffy — it's polished. There's a difference. (OK, it's a little stuffy.)”
Neighborhoods near Upper East Side
Every neighborhood has its own character. Here is what's close by.
- Lenox HillUpper East Side polish with Park Avenue addresses, upscale dining, and museum-adjacent living.
- Carnegie HillOld-money elegance between Museum Mile and the reservoir—Manhattan's quietest flex.
- YorkvilleThe Upper East Side's laid-back cousin—German roots, neighborhood pubs, and Carl Schurz Park.
- Central Park843 acres of green in the middle of the madness—NYC's backyard since 1858.
- 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.
- ChelseaArt galleries, High Line views, and diverse nightlife from gay bars to rooftop lounges.
- ChinatownThe real deal—hand-pulled noodles, bustling fish markets, and dim sum worth the wait.
- East HarlemEl Barrio's proud Latino soul—murals, cuchifrito counters, and a neighborhood in transition.
Frequently asked questions about Upper East Side
What are the best restaurants in Upper East Side?
Ranked by rating and number of reviews, the top restaurants in Upper East Side on Moodap are Vegan Grill (Vegan, 4.9 stars), Grata Thai Cuisine (Thai, 4.9 stars) and Bobafish (Asian Fusion, 4.9 stars).
What are the best bars in Upper East Side?
Ranked by rating and number of reviews, the top bars in Upper East Side on Moodap are Shaken Not Stirred (Cocktail bar, 4.9 stars), Avoca (Dive bar, 4.8 stars) and ARORA - L'art Du Cocktail (Cocktail bar, 4.8 stars).
What are the best cafes in Upper East Side?
Ranked by rating and number of reviews, the top cafes in Upper East Side on Moodap are Spoonable Spirits (Frozen Desserts, 5.0 stars), Charlotte Cafe (Coffee/Tea, 5.0 stars) and Green Mandala (Juice Smoothies Fruit Salads, 5.0 stars).
Where can I eat or drink cheap in Upper East Side?
246 places in Upper East Side are marked budget-friendly ($). The best-ranked are Spoonable Spirits (Frozen Desserts, 5.0 stars), Charlotte Cafe (Coffee/Tea, 5.0 stars) and Green Mandala (Juice Smoothies Fruit Salads, 5.0 stars).
What kind of food is Upper East Side known for?
Of the 496 restaurants Moodap lists in Upper East Side, the most common kinds are Italian (81), American (77), Japanese (56) and Pizza (40).
How many places does Moodap list in Upper East Side?
496 restaurants, 87 bars and 192 cafes, each with its own page. The best-ranked are at the top of this page.
What neighborhoods are near Upper East Side?
Lenox Hill, Carnegie Hill, Yorkville and Central Park are next door. Each has its own guide on Moodap, linked on this page.
How does Moodap rank places in Upper East Side?
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 Upper East Side spot
Answer a few quick questions and Moodap narrows the neighborhood down to places that fit your mood.
Take the mood quiz