The Best Places To Eat & Drink Near the Lincoln Center, During NYFF and Beyond
A very opinionated, very definitive guide to good bars and restaurants in an area that doesn't have many.
In the lead-up to every New York Film Festival, one of the most commonly asked questions is “Where should I go to eat near the Lincoln Center?” The correct answer is “another neighborhood,” but that isn’t always practical, especially if, like me, you tend to double up on film screenings with only the smallest of gaps in between, or if you’re with a group of friends and want to stay close by1.
I’m a bit of a particular eater, which is not the same as picky, but probably the same as snobby. To use the slogan of a prominent movie-foodie newsletter: “life is too short for bad movies. And bad food.” Over the past few years of seeing movies and Broadway shows in this lower corner of the Upper West Side, I’ve been on a quest to find eateries that are delicious, fast, and affordable, with a particular eye on places that are open after 10 PM. Now I think I’ve got a good sense of the area for a variety of contexts: grab and go lunches, late night grub, and date night spots.
This is my fully vetted and very opinionated list of where you should eat and/or drink when you’re near the Lincoln Center when time is short and nights are long. It’s valid during NYFF and all throughout the year. Roughly ordered from quickest to fanciest. All listed distances are from 65th & Broadway; for the most part everything is in between the 72nd Street and Columbus Circle subway stations. Links take you to Google Maps.
Bowlslop and Grocery Stores
Just to get this out of the way: personally I would not be caught dead eating from a grocery store hot bar unless it’s Tashkent Supermarket, and same goes for those $20 office lunch bowls.
But they are very practical meals that are filling and (mostly) healthy, especially if really pressed for time and/or money.
Dig Inn is the least bad of those office lunch chains.
Around the corner. Closes at 10 PM.
Sweetgreen is healthier and fiber is good for you.
Two streets north. Closes at 10 PM.
The Migrant Kitchen can be good, depending on what you get. I like the lamb torta; the burrito I had was severely wanting for salsa. They also have empanadas which do the trick for something easy and breezy.
Two streets north. Closes at 8 PM.
For grocery stores, Gourmet Garage is recommended but no one I know genuinely likes it lol, though it’s the closest option just one block north. Instead you should go to the H-Mart that opened last year and has been a godsend for many critics during NYFF press screenings; it’s five streets away on 72nd. There’s also a Whole Foods in the basement of that shopping mall at Columbus Circle and Trader Joe’s near 72nd.
Snacks and Dessert
These won’t do for a full meal but if you want a snappy post-movie treat you can’t do much better.
Gray’s Papaya is a hot dog institution. Scarf down a glizzy or two, they’re about $3 a pop. I suppose you could make this your whole dinner but that would be a lot of hot dogs!
6 streets north, next to 72nd Street. Open 24/7, baby!
Van Leeuwen has a location on Columbus & 72nd. It’s my favorite ice cream chain and their vegan options are perfect for those with lactose intolerance.
6 streets north. Closes at midnight (1 AM Friday/Saturday).
Hot To Go! (Bakeries, Trucks, and Quick Service Restaurants)
This is what I usually eat when I’m near the Lincoln Center. Seating is usually nonexistent, limited, or unpleasant, so you may have to take your takeout somewhere.
Breakfast Type Stuff
Broad Nosh Bagels is your classic New York bagel spot—you’ll be here with wealth managers, cops, and students— and the only one of its kind in the area; consequently it is pretty busy and every time I’ve gone it’s taken longer than I’m used to (ten minutes instead of five). I get off at the Columbus Circle subway station so this has been a convenient spot for me to grab a sausage egg and cheese to eat while I’m in line for a press screening.
6 streets south, next to Columbus Circle. Closes at 8 PM, which is hella late for a bagel shop but this is what Google says. I’ve never been here after 11 AM.
Breads Bakery is one of the city’s top patisserie chains and they have a location where the Lincoln Plaza Cinemas used to be. Croissants and babkas are great, and if you want something more savory I can vouch for the egg and tuna salad sandwiches.
Across the street. Closes at 8 PM.
Food Trucks
The Casbah is the best halal cart in the immediate vicinity. Personally I don’t partake too often, because after a lamb over rice I’m guaranteed to pass out during my movie! But it’s very good and much better than the stall that sets up next to Alice Tully Hall.
Across the street. Closes at 11 PM (10 PM Saturday/Sunday) but trucks can be mercurial.
Birria Landia is relatively new, having opened in Spring 2024. I haven’t been to this specific truck but if it’s as good as the Brooklyn and Queens locations, a taco or two will hit the spot. Big greasy, take extra napkins!!
5 streets north. Closes at midnight but trucks can be mercurial.
Quick and Easy
These spots will have some sort of seating arrangements that tend to be limited but are way better than Chipotle.
Bāng Bar (by Momofuku) is popular with the office lunch crowd, and it’s easy to see why. A cross between shawarma and jianbing, it’s what bowlslop ought to be. They offer wraps, rice bowls, or salad bowls with your choice of protein (the roast pork and beef galbi have received good marks), and they all pack a spicy punch. A wrap is $12 and when paired with waffle fries (which come with a fiery red sambal for dipping), you can get a delicious lunch for just about $20.
5 streets south, inside the shopping mall at Columbus Circle. Closes at 8 PM.
Also in the mall: right next to Bang Bar is a Shake Shack which is useful, and Momofuku Noodle Bar is an ever-reliable ramen joint that would be a very quick sit down meal.
Charles Pan-Fried Chicken is excellent. For just $10 you can get two pieces of chicken (you can ask for specific parts), a choice of side (fave is mac n cheese), and cornbread which to be honest is usually mediocre. If you’re really hungry, three pieces & two sides runs you $19 but beware the tryptophan-induced movie nap.
Seven streets north. Closes at 10 PM (11 PM Friday/Saturday/Sunday).
Xi’an Famous Foods is a bit more of a walk but worth the journey, and they have more seating than the other places in this mini-section. N1 Spicy all the way!
9 streets north. Closes at 9 PM.
The Late Night Options
You can’t afford to be picky after 10 PM. Both of these places are next to the 72nd Street station and open until the wee hours of the morning.
Usually, the best pizza shop in New York is the one closest to you that is open.
As a person who cooks a lot and loves seasonal produce, some are surprised when I tell them I LOVE McDonald’s. But their fries are the best, the burgers scratch an itch, and if you have the app on some days you can get six chicken nuggets, a McDouble, and a medium fries for $6. (This is the official Buttered Popcorn McDonald’s meal.)
Sit Down Restaurants That Won’t Break the Bank And Actually Good
This is probably the most important section of this entire guide.
There are some large restaurants within eyesight of the big fountain and many French and Italian bistros nearby. Sure, places like The Smith and P.J. Clarke’s will allow you to exchange your money for what can charitably be described as food. But none are particularly good and can be quite pricey. Go to one of these spots instead! They are decidedly unhip but you don’t go to this area for trendy.
La Dinastia is my go-to when I want to sit down with friends for a truly excellent but affordable meal. (You’ll spend $30-35 per person after tip and tax.) It’s a classic, no-frills Chino-Latino restaurant where chicharrones de pollo is served alongside char siu fried rice and a side of maduros. Portions are very big so get one fewer entrée than your party size unless you want leftovers. (Say, now there’s an idea!) I like the fried pork and the oxtail stew.
7 streets north. Closes at 10 PM.
Across the street from La Dinastia is La Caridad 72, another Chino-Latino spot which I haven’t visited myself but is usually mentioned in the same breath. Unfortunately I did not get a chance to compare for myself but let me know if you prefer one over the other.
The Flame Diner boasts an extensive menu with a Greek twist. Some critic colleagues swear by this place for their post-screening supper, and I get it. The food isn’t going to be the best, but you don’t go to diners for the best. You go to fill up with a big sandwich or plate of pasta that comes with a mediocre side salad that you’ll barely touch, or for a stack of pancakes and hash browns at any time of the day because there are no rules in New York.
7 streets south. Open 24/7, baby!
Old John’s Luncheonette comes up a lot but I can’t recommend it when Flame Diner exists and is cheaper, better, has a more expansive menu, and stays open later.
Sit Down Restaurants That Will Break the Bank But Are Probably Worthwhile? (AKA Date Spots)
I have not personally been to any of these, but trusted friends say they are worth the visit. If you have the time and funds and/or you’re doing date night, these are the places where you should snag a reservation.
Tatiana remains one of New York’s toughest tables. There are some walk-ins available at the bar, but unless you get in line well before opening you may be quoted a two to three hour wait time. That happens to be the length of the average movie + Q&A, so it could be worth a shot to put your name down on your way to the movie, and then you walk out with a seat waiting for you. If you try this let me know if it works!
On the Lincoln Center campus. Open Tuesday-Saturday.
El Fish Marisqueria has gotten strong recommendations from fellow gourmands. It’s a fancy Mexican seafood spot where media executives can often be spotted2.
2 streets north and 1 avenue west.
Unglo is a brand new restaurant serving Thai hot pot and BBQ. There’s an $88 set menu or you can go à la carte.
Across the street.
There are also the neighborhood sushi joints: Sushis Lin, Yasaka, and Kaito.
And in the Columbus Circle mall are two three-starred Michelin restaurants: Per Se and Masa. Just in case you wanted to know!
Where To Get a Drink
These watering holes are solid spots to debrief on a movie with some friends. I’ve been to almost every bar near Lincoln Center so if it’s not on this list it means I didn’t like it. None of these are dive bar cheap but that’s the Upper West Side for you.
I don’t have any pictures from inside these bars because, well, I was drinking.
Craft beer: Gebhard’s Beer Culture is my general go-to. Very chill and plenty of seating.
7 streets north. Closes at midnight on weekdays, 2 AM on weekends.
Irish pub: Emerald Inn is an institution. Guinness on tap, they’ll pour shots, and there is a kitchen but not sure how late they serve food or if it’s any good. A pool table can be found in the back.
Next to Gebhard’s and closes at 4 AM every day (unless it’s slow and the bartender decides to call it an early night).
Wine: Vanguard Wine Bar is a warm, inviting place with an old-world wine list, and they also serve solid light bites like charcuterie and tartines.
4 streets north. Closes at 2 AM (midnight on Sunday); kitchen open until two hours before close.
Cocktails: You will need to walk a mile north for worthwhile cocktails, but Tiki Chick is a favorite of mine. Their drinks are great and very strong, and they have $5 fried chicken sandwiches. It can get crowded on weekends but there’s usually room for everyone!
Amsterdam & 85th. Closes at midnight (2 AM on Friday/Saturday)
To really party: Barcelona Bar has 100 themed shots 🤪
8th & 55th. Open til 4 AM, obviously.
If you have less than 30 minutes to get food
Your best move is to pack some energy bars that can tide you over until you have more time to eat something. If you wanna go crazy (like me) you can pack a lunch. I do this sometimes, because press screening days are jam packed and unless I skip a movie, there’s effectively just a half-hour break.
BONUS: Where to kill time and hang out
On the Lincoln Center campus is a sloped lawn in front of the reflecting pool and the Lincoln Center Theater. It’s a nice spot to literally touch grass and eat that fried chicken you got from Charles.
Or if you want a table, there’s a POPS (privately owned public space) next to the Apple Store.
The lobby of David Geffen Hall is open during the daytime and has the best bathrooms in Lincoln Center. (We need to have a conversation about the bathroom situation at the Walter Reade and Alice Tully Hall.)
And if you wanna get some work done, The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts has plenty of communal tables, and they house a big collection of film and theater related books, including sheet music. This is also, if you request in advance, you can watch archival recordings of Broadway shows. As a bonus, their Wi-Fi doesn’t block my work VPN.
Maybe I’m missing something in this guide, or maybe you disagree on one of my takes. Feel free to sound off in the comments:
This dining guide is an extensive update to the one originally published as part of my (apparently very popular) New York Film Festival User’s Guide, which contains some pro tips that still apply to this year’s edition of the fest.
Sure you could all take the subway together but that’s a juncture at which point part of your squad decides to just go home.
It’s near the CBS offices so uh, maybe you’ll see Bari Weiss hanging around there pretty soon. If you don’t know who she is, god I wish I could be you.