New York Eats

There's no more authentic way to start your day in NYC than with a fresh-baked bagel, such as at the bohemian Murray's Bagels in Greenwich Village. For lunch, try the sandwich of the moment: the Vietnamese bánh mì, sold at a number of take-out shops. And who says you can't find a good, cheap dinner in Manhattan? Doing the Scene Balthazar is an unwavering classic; the theatrical SoHo space is always full of movers and shakers. While you're in the East Village, fight your way into the tiny Abraço for a café cortado. Mario Batali and Joe Bastianich's Otto does not have a happy hour, but if you find yourself in Greenwich Village, there's no more pleasant place to be among in-the-know New Yorkers who stop in for an afternoon quartino of wine at the bar. Blowout Meals In town for a break-the-bank birthday or anniversary? Daniel Boulud is one of New York's titans in the food world, and his db Bistro Moderne is a classy, fashionable spot for lunch, serving the richest burger in town: sirloin stuffed with braised short ribs and foie gras, sandwiched in a Parmesan bun and accompanied by pommes frites. TriBeCa's gorgeous Brandy Library is the place to whet your appetite before dinner; its catalog of rare spirits is a real eyepopper; how about a Pierre Ferrand cognac from 1914 or a Springbank single malt distilled in 1969?