East Village

This chai shop, owned by brothers Ayan and Ani Sanyal, makes traditional masala chai inspired by the summers and winters they spent in Kolkata as kids. They also sell chai concentrates and mixes you can whip up easily at home.

If In-N-Out has an East Coast equivalent, it’s 7th Street Burger, which has a cult following for juicy smashburgers and crispy fries slathered in sauce. (Vegetarians: They do have Impossible burgers here.) Depending on the location—there are nearly a dozen in Manhattan alone—they stay open late; this one’s open until 3 a.m. on weekends, and it’s a beacon of grease and cheese on a boozy night out.

Penny is a raw bar that takes “bar” literally; it’s all bar and counter seating, with most spots reserved for walk-ins. They serve great oysters and crudo, garlicky periwinkles, caviar service, and house-made sesame brioche, with good wine to wash everything down.

Mouth-watering Tex-Mex in…New York? That’s correct. The East Village needed Yellow Rose, the brainchild of two Texas transplants serving authentic, impossible-not-to-overorder tacos to every other Texas transplant missing some hometown comfort food. We recommend making a few visits and working your way through the menu. (Note: The breakfast tacos are served on weekends only.) First-timers can’t go wrong with chicken verde tacos and the house-made tortilla chips with salsa. We loved the make-your-own-michelada kit to take home and cannot wait for our next Saturday sip of horchata spiked with cold brew. This spot is a winner.

Ariane Goldman had her lightbulb moment five years ago when she was pregnant with her daughter and couldn’t find many fashionable options for her growing size. Her months of searching resulted in Hatch, an easy-to-wear line geared toward mothers before, during, and postpregnancy. There are staples, like a striped bateau and chambray tops, as well as special pieces, like the Noa Jumper, a versatile linen jumpsuit with adjustable knotted straps, and the Ziggy Pant, which features a stitched smocked waistband to accommodate an expanding waist. Dressing rooms have a size chart to help you figure out how a piece might fit, depending on where you are in your pregnancy and—best yet—there’s a cravings bar stocked with candy, pickles, you name it.

Originally implemented by doctors to treat patients suffering from arthritis, holistically, cryotherapy is believed to lower anxiety and ease inflammation. During a cryofacial here, an aesthetician whooshes liquid-nitrogen-chilled air over your face to help tighten pores and promote smoother, glowier skin. It feels bracing, in a way that’s enlivening rather than “make it stop,” since the treatment is a speedy fifteen minutes. The exposure to frigid temperatures is said to stimulate the release of inflammation-calming molecules and endorphins. In any case, you saunter out looking and feeling fantastic.  

COVID-19 update: Temporarily closed until the spring. Ravi DeRossi’s collection of vegan restaurants and cocktail bars (Mother of Pearl, Avant Garden, cienfuegos) are all delicious; Ladybird, backed by animal-rights activist/musician Moby, has tons of tapas—hummus crudites, vegan fondues, and veggie toasts. All of the cocktails are packed with vegetables, so they feel a just little bit virtuous. The late-night happy hour re-creates classic bar food from mozzarella sticks and buffalo wings to mac 'n' cheese—all of which are mind-blowingly good.

Nestled in Alphabet City, this cozy herbal apothecary stocks every health-supporting botanical one could dream up, no matter how obscure. The shelves are lined with organic herbs—ones we’ve heard of like ashwagandha and comfrey, as well as ones we haven’t like bladderwrack and bloodroot—gorgeous flower essences, nourishing roots, bath salts, gem elixirs, organic mushrooms, and essential oils.

Part holistic café, part beauty and wellness boutique, The Alchemist’s Kitchen has everything from delicious matcha milkshakes and an array of beautifully health-supporting detox teas to adaptogenic mushroom powders (Sun Potion galore!) elixirs for sweet dreams, the best ghee butter on the planet, and tinctures for every ailment under the sun (menstrual cramps, stress, and more). Founded by three female herbalists, the studio offers workshops and informative panels on herbalism and the healing powers of botanicals, as well as one-on-one consultations with their in-house herbalists. (Bonus: Infrared studio Higher Dose shares the space, occupying the lower level.)

A beautifully outfitted spot for grab-and-go meals, El Rey and its menu live at the intersection of healthy, filling, and delicious. The offering is a tight edit of easy, craving-quenching, nutritious foods like chia pudding and granola, nutty farro salad, spicy chicken bowls topped with zesty yogurt, and flavorful add-ons like pickles, avocado, or eggs. For a caffeinated indulgence try the Mexican mocha, then settle into a window seat for prime people watching while you drink.