When you plan a trip to New York City, there are plenty of experiences to book ahead of time, including restaurant reservations. With seemingly limitless options in a city known for its food, it can be difficult to know which options are best.
When planning an unforgettable trip, you will want to eat at some New York exclusive restaurants. We have compiled the top 8 most exclusive restaurants in NYC to make your planning easier.
1. Le Bernardin
Holding a top-quality rating ever since the Michelin Guide began sending reporters to NYC, Le Bernardin specializes in French seafood preparations. With luxurious lunch and dinner options, Le Bernardin offers an exquisite seven-course tasting menu. Using simple techniques to highlight each fish's best qualities, the menu is categorized into three levels of preparation. These include “Almost Raw,” “Barely Touched,” and “Lightly Cooked.”
Le Bernardin begins accepting reservations up to four weeks in advance and often sells out quickly. Reservations open on the first day of each month, so be sure to book your reservation early.
2. Momofuku Ko
Boasting two Michelin stars, Momofuku Ko offers an extravagant tasting and à la carte menu. Momofuku Ko only utilizes seasonal ingredients, contributing to an ever-changing menu based on season and market availability.
Reservations can be made through the website up to 30 days in advance. The restaurant can accommodate parties up to seven. However, parties of one to four can also sit at the counter, where you can interact with the chefs as they skillfully prepare your food.
3. Atera
Highlighting the poetry and creativity involved in a culinary experience, Atera offers an expertly curated seasonal tasting menu. Expect your party to spend two hours enjoying this unique and sensory dining experience.
With a chic and modern dining room and private lounge, Atera accommodates parties of up to six guests. Atera accepts reservations up to four weeks in advance on its online booking system but sells out quickly, so be sure to book your reservation in advance.
4. Masa
With only 26 seats available, Masa is an upscale Japanese restaurant focused on providing a premium omakase experience. In the capable hands of Chef Masa Takayama, you will encounter an extensive tasting menu that is tailored to your personal tastes.
Masa embraces the Japanese concept of shibui and celebrates the purity of sensing. Expect simple decor, which emphasizes the food. This experience can last up to three hours, as each meal is different. Reservations can be made up to 60 days in advance.
5. Eleven Madison Park
Overlooking the beautiful Madison Square Park, in a historic Art Deco building, Eleven Madison Park is the embodiment of urban sophistication. Serving a variety of modern French cuisine, guests can book an eight to 10-course meal with optional, customized wine pairings.
As a New York exclusive restaurant, Eleven Madison Park has an extensive list of accolades, including three Michelin stars, four stars from the New York Times, seven James Beard Awards, and more. Guests.
In addition to the traditional dining room and event rooms, guests can visit the restaurant's bar for an inspired cocktail menu.
6. The Chef's Table At Brooklyn Fare
This 18-seat, three Michelin star spot is one of the most exclusive restaurants in NYC. Open Tuesday through Saturday, this restaurant offers 20-course meals with an emphasis on fresh seafood. These meals generally take over two hours to complete.
Featuring Japanese cuisine with a modern French twist, the menu is updated weekly with new offerings, so you will have a unique experience each time. Although reservations often fill up months in advance, it is well with the wait.
7. Per Se
Utilizing classic French techniques, Per Se offers two separate nine-course tasting menus each day. These are particularly unique as no ingredient is used more than once in the meal. The course offerings are also updated daily to highlight the freshest ingredients available.
As a New York exclusive restaurant, Per Se has been awarded three Michelin stars annually since 2006. While dining, you will be surrounded by an understated sense of luxury. You can reserve a table in the 64-seat dining room or any of the three private rooms for a more intimate experience.
8. Rao's
A high-end family-owned restaurant in Spanish Harlem, Rao's offers a range of authentic southern Neapolitan Italian cuisine. While all of its dishes are incredibly delicious, many people regard Rao's tomato sauce as the best in the world. The restaurant features a classic New York atmosphere to send you back in time while enjoying a few modern twists as well.
Out of the top New York exclusive restaurants, Rao's can be the most difficult to book a reservation at. As it has grown in popularity over the last several decades, the restaurant tends to give the first pick of tables to regular, long-time patrons. Only the most connected patrons can easily swing a table at this exclusive spot.
The Bottom Line
If you are looking for the most exclusive restaurants in NYC, this list has you covered. Each of these New York exclusive restaurants holds stars from the most exclusive cuisine ranking systems in the world, so you can't go wrong when you choose from our top eight picks.
