NYC's best new openings | Spring 2025
New York is the city that keeps on moving. With a record number of businesses and restaurants opening year after year, it’s no wonder it feels impossible to keep tabs. Lucky for you, we’ve done the hard work.
Here are our picks for the best new places to eat, drink, stay, and host in New York in Spring 2025.
Hotels
Faena New York
Chelsea, NYC
Opening in One High Line’s East Tower by the Hudson River, Faena is bringing its signature eclectic, luxury hospitality from Buenos Aires to the Big Apple. With 120 rooms across 13 floors, a nightlife spot with private dining, and an indulgent 17,000 sq. ft. spa, this five-star hotel is prepping to make a splash on the West Side.
Opening May 11
Waldorf Astoria
Midtown, NYC
Having closed in 2017 for renovations – and taking a piece of Manhattan history with it – it’s back and better than ever. It needs no introduction; the 1,400-room art-deco building opened in 1931 and has hosted everyone from Charlie Chaplin and Grace Kelly to JFK and Winston Churchill. There’s no doubt that its resurrection will bring a new level of razzle-dazzle to Midtown, honoring the Art Deco designs of its past with careful restoration and design while combining it with 21st-century amenities (like a 30,000 sq. ft. spa). If you can afford it, the $1,500 per night rate might just be worth it. If not, you can walk in confidently to use the bathroom and get a taste of the high life.
Opening Spring 2025
Bars
Sweet Linda
East Village, NYC
This moody, 70s-style bar on 2nd Ave is full of palms, chandeliers, and a lot – like a lot – of crushed velvet. Round tables and corner booths make it a great spot for gossiping with the girls or having an intimate date night. Find bar bites like pigs in a blanket, spinach and artichoke dip, and chocolate chip cookies alongside signature cocktails. There’s also an event space for up to 40 guests.
Opening March 5
schmuck.
East Village, NYC
Alums of Barcelona’s famed Two Schmucks bar have brought something new to the East Village – if you can believe it. The 1,600 sq. ft. space has a casual, house-party feel, with a design inspired by Mid-Century Modern, Space Age, and Brutalist periods. The two spaces, dubbed the Living Room and The Kitchen, have separate menus and different seating arrangements. The cocktails are bold and creative: pickleback piña coladas, a “savory highball” evoking tomato and bread flavors, and a cinnamon-roll-inspired cocktail called Fika. The food menu is a fusion of Persian and Western flavors – a reflection of the owners’ heritages. Personal and intimate, it’s the kind of business NYC attracts.
Now Open
Lume
West Village, NYC
This all-day cocktail bar and restaurant blends Italian, French, and American influences to create a menu full of favorites: from honey and ricotta pancakes and a breakfast sandwich to mushroom gnocchi and Maine lobster burrata. Paired with an accessible $18 cocktail menu and a lengthy wine list, you’ll find everything you’re looking for in a casual night out. The dimly lit interior is brightened by a stunning light-array bar, centered with a communal table in the center for large groups.
Now Open
Hear & There
Williamsburg, Brooklyn
The first concept from husband and wife duo Howard Ng and Samantha Nie of Third Date Hospitality, Hear & There is a full sensory cocktail bar built for both taste and sound. The space was designed by HOUSE/UNDER/MAGIC and audio visionary Danny Taylor with acoustics in mind, featuring sleek interiors, warm wood tones, and custom speakers tuned for high-fidelity listening.
Up front, Please Don’t Tell alum Larry Gonzalez leads a cocktail program that reinvents the classics, paired with delicate Japanese small plates (otsumami) that are as refined as they are craveable. Think soy-glazed wings, citrus-cured seafood, and inventive riffs that perfectly complement the drinks.
The real magic lies behind a discreet sliding door: a 22-seat omakase counter helmed by executive chef Mark Garcia. The tasting menu options ($105 or $165) are a personal dining experience, with courses that blend tradition and technique. From delicate cuts of sashimi to seasonal dishes, each flavor is written into the rhythm of the room.
Opening March 3
Superbueno
East Village, NYC
From the minds behind Katana Kitten and Mace comes Superbueno, a new cocktail bar that blends Mexican street culture with NYC flair. Founded by Ignacio “Nacho” Jimenez, this East Village bar earned the title of Best New U.S. Cocktail Bar and cracked the World’s 50 Best Bars list in its first year. It’s safe to say that it’s already turning heads.
Inside, the vibe is neon-lit and high-energy, with playful cocktails. The Green Mango Martini is inspired by the fruit carts of the NYC subway, while the Roasted Corn Sour comes topped with a dusting of charred corn powder. The food goes well beyond bar snacks. Pork belly tacos, bright ceviche, and other bold Mexican American plates match the drinks in both flavor and fun. Superbueno lives up to its name.
Now Open
Restaurants
Crevette
Greenwich Village, NYC
The owners of Dame and Lord’s have crossed the English Channel into the French Riviera. Crevette specializes in seafood, with frequent menu changes but a consistent emphasis on Mediterranean flavors: think chilled muscles with salsa brava, steamed Manila clams with chorizo on toast, and Spanish tortilla with morels and parsley. The interior is fresh and summery, with cream interiors grounded by a colorful mural by LA-based artist Michael McGregor.
Now Open
Kabawa
East Village, NYC
Momofuku is back in the East Village, and not just with another noodle bar. The group’s newest opening takes over the space that once housed the cult-favorite tasting menu spot, Ko, and turns it into something warmer, bolder, and full of island soul. Led by chef Paul Carmichael, Kabawa serves a Caribbean prix-fixe experience rooted in flavor and memory. The $145 three-course menu is thoughtful and expressive, with dishes like sorrel-spiked pepper shrimp, cassava dumplings in Creole sauce, and coconut cream cheese turnovers. Each course is layered and balanced, full of both tradition and personal history. Connected to Bar Kabawa - which opened earlier this year - it’s already pulling a serious crowd.
Opening March 25
Vinile Chophouse
Flatiron District, NYC
The team behind Vinyl Steakhouse is back. and they’ve turned the volume (and the drama) all the way up. Vinile Chophouse, named after the Italian word for vinyl, is what happens when a classic steakhouse takes a detour through a high-fidelity sound system and a Eurodisco playlist. The vibe? Think moody lighting, rich leather, and a record collection that swings from Pavarotti to Italo beats.
The menu leans indulgent, starting with bone marrow focaccia and whipped nduja butter, followed by standout pastas like wild boar ragù rigatoni or pancetta-loaded pappardelle. On the steak side, there's a $139 dry-aged bone-in ribeye made for sharing or a perfectly seared filet mignon if you're feeling selfish. Whether you're there for the playlist or the porterhouse, Vinile makes dinner feel like a theatrical experience.
Now Open
The View
Times Square, NYC
Seasoned New Yorkers old enough to remember the original restaurant that opened in 1985 can vouch that, aside from its gimmicky rotating charm, the food at The View has always been notoriously horrible. Not anymore. After its celebrated shutting five years ago, Union Square Hospitality’s Danny Meyer has taken it over (combined with a mid-century-inspired redesign by the David Rockwell), and anything Meyer does is sure to be a hit. The menu honors Old New York with classic cocktails, American fare, and live music every night. If you’re normally one to avoid Times Square, this is worth the trek. It’s 47 stories above it, anyway.
Now Open
Ren
Williamsburg, Brooklyn
Birds of a Feather alum Jayne He has opened a sleek Szechuan restaurant on Grand St. Specializing in a rotating, diverse array of modern Chinese dishes, plates are designed to be enjoyed in a tapas style for a taste of everything, from pickled cucumbers and spicy fried rice to kung pao chicken and Dan Dan noodles. They’re still obtaining their liquor license, but from the looks of their current non-alcoholic beverage menu, the cocktails are gonna be a hit. The serene interior is set up in multiple sections, so big groups can share a dim-sum table in semi-privacy between limewashed walls and sunbeams from the windows. The best part? The menus have pictures for every dish.
Now Open (Soft)
Passerine
Flatiron, NYC
Named after a class of Indian songbirds and inspired by the folktale The Songbird and The King, Passerine is the kind of restaurant where the story is woven right into the food. In the tale, a bird loses its voice in captivity but sings again once it’s free - a fitting metaphor for Chef Chetan Shetty’s approach to Indian cuisine. The cooking here doesn’t follow rules or stick to tradition for tradition’s sake. It’s rooted in heritage but led by instinct, with bold and thoughtful dishes.
The best move here? Load up on small plates. The crispy shrimp Koliwada is a standout: crunchy, bright, and straight-up addictive. The starters, in general, are where the menu blows away, while main portions are modest, which might be a blessing. You’ll want to save room for dessert.
Now Open
Other Openings
Newcastle NYC
DUMBO, NYC
Tucked above the streets of DUMBO, Newcastle is a modern penthouse loft and rooftop terrace with one of the most striking skyline views in the city. From the East River to the Williamsburg and Manhattan Bridges, the panorama stretches wide, offering a view that shifts with the light, making any gathering feel cinematic.
The space itself is clean and contemporary, with an open floor plan that invites flexibility. Inside, natural light floods through oversized windows. Outside, the private rooftop terrace creates the perfect stage for golden hour cocktails, small weddings, brand launches, or team dinners that end under the city lights. It’s simple, but not minimal. Polished, but not showy. And it’s exactly what you want when the space needs to do the talking.
Opening April 3rd, available to book now
The Frick Collection
Upper East Side, NYC
Having closed in 2020 for renovations, this iconic, tucked-away museum on the edge of Central Park is known for its collection of 14th to 19th-century European paintings. After five years of virtual exhibitions and online archive browsing, the historic buildings re-open in April, and the public can re-visit paintings by Monet, Turner, and Vermeer. To celebrate, the museum will hold a week-long festival with classic and chamber performances in its galleries, complete with a recreation of ceramic floral arrangements from the museum's original 1935 opening.
Opening April 17
SoHo Live
SoHo, NYC
Opening beneath Lafayette St’s 10,000 sq. ft. axe-throwing venue is SoHo Live, a 4,500 sq. ft. live music venue combining intimate hospitality with Downtown NYC’s vibrant music and nightlife scene. The decor is a blend of edgy and iconic NYC, with concrete, graffiti, and industrial lighting, as well as lounge seating and a bar with bespoke cocktails and sharable dishes. As for music, the owner says it won’t stick to just one – from emerging indie artists to industry icons, it’s designed to keep you coming back for something new. The venue also has options for private events.
Opening March 17