Restaurants are back, baby! We’ve never been more excited to dine out—and in our opinion, there’s no better time to get out of the house and try a new restaurant than August. Luckily, there’s no shortage of new and reopening establishments lining the streets of New York City.
Check out these five dynamic dining and drinking projects that you need to visit!
Photograph: Great Jones Distillery Company | Website
Great Jones Distilling Co.
The first legal whiskey distillery on the island of Manhattan since prohibition, Great Jones Distilling Co. (686 Broadway in Noho) is a sprawling 28,000-square foot space that spans four stories and includes a cocktail bar, tasting room, shop, private event area, and a restaurant from Adam Raksin of Per Se fame. The unique distillery experience in the city will also toast to tours, cocktail classes, guided food pairings, and tastings.
Photograph: Temperance Wine Bar | Website
Temperance Wine Bar
Another new neighborhood drinking spot is Temperance Wine Bar (40 Carmine St.), where 100-plus wines are served up by the glass in an atmosphere that’s full of fun energy and eclectic design aesthetics. Owners Jonathan Rexroat and Devin Rochford recruited sommelier A.J. Ojeda-Pons to oversee the wine, while consulting Chef Chris Jaeckle was tasked with creating a menu of snacks and small plates to pair with the wines.
Photograph: 70 Pine | Website
SAGA
Penthouse party vibes are on the menu at SAGA (70 Pine St.), an ambitious new fine-dining concept perched atop several top floors at the building located in the Financial District. From executive chef James Kent and restaurateur Jeff Katz (the duo behind Crown Shy), the sky-high restaurant houses a 52-seat main dining room on the 63rd floor, a 50-seat private dining room on the 62nd floor, and a 20-person private event space on the 66th floor. The 64th floor staffs a 24-seat bar serving cocktails and small plates. What’s more, each of the floors offer an outdoor space.
Photograph: Gia Bowery | Website
Gia Bowery
A rustic dining room serving homemade pasta and other classic Italian dishes is what you’ll get when visiting Gia Bowery (334 Bowery). The NoHo neighborhood eatery also serves an array of mouthwatering wood fired pizzas, appetizers, shareables, snacks, and entrees, along with hand-crafted drinks. The cozy and contemporary eatery comes from owners Samantha and William Fung, with Justin Slojkowski, formerly of Roberta’s, stepping in as executive chef.
Photograph: Gabriel's Bar and Restaurant | Website
Gabriel’s
Known as a celebrity haunt in its Columbus Circle location for close to 30 years, upscale Italian hotspot Gabriel’s has officially relocated just a couple of blocks away (40 Central Park South, between Fifth and Sixth avenues). The new space features a 4,600-square foot dining room with painted, curtained banquettes and a wraparound bar made of butternut wood, oiled brass and a soft green marble top. Customers can expect the same elevated Northern Italian Cuisine, including Gabriel’s famous handmade, in-house pasta.
