Lower East Side
Establishment
neighborhood
Saigon Social
172 Orchard St., Lower East Side
Chef Helen Nguyen isn’t going for traditional, and you’ll notice some twists on her menu (like pickles in the bánh xèo). But she does traditional Vietnamese food beautifully, and you should load your table with steamed dumplings, imperial rolls, garlic noodles, oxtail fried rice, and sauteed pea shoots.
Morgenstern’s BANANAS
2 Rivington St., Lower East Side
Morgenstern’s still does traditional ice cream in a parlor in Greenwich Village, serving up scoops, pies, and cakes made without anything artificial. This second outpost, Bananas, is dedicated to non-dairy soft serve made with a frozen-banana base.
Naks
201 1st Ave., Lower East Side
Naks is a Filipino spot by the same people who run the regional Indian restaurants Dhamaka (in the East Village) and Semma (in the West Village). Here, chef Eric Valdez makes food he grew up eating in his mom’s house in Makati, plus dishes inspired by his travels across the Phillipines. You can order à la carte—but the most special meal here is the kamayan dinner, where fried duck, lemongrass-stuffed pork belly, and pancit batil patong (ground wagyu and egg noodles) are spread out on banana leaves for you to eat with your hands.
Lullaby
151 Rivington St., Lower East Side
Lullaby is the kind of place you can order boozy punch and Dole whip cocktails. It’s dark. There’s a guy spinning vinyl at the end of the bar. People get up and dance, even though there’s not much space. It’s a great party—in the most low-key way.
Old Jewelry Store
75 E. Broadway #227, Lower East Side
If you’re wondering where your coolest friend gets their heavy silver rings and chunky chains, it’s probably Old Jewelry Store on the Lower East Side. Founder Sarah Burns finds the most unique vintage pieces, curating for old-school craftsmanship with contemporary wearability. She also makes a small house collection and showcases other indie designers—like, in one past pop-up, sculptural pins and earrings from Paris-based Zoé Mohm.
Café Forgot
29 Ludlow St., Lower East Side
Café Forgot’s tiny-designer emporium embodies “if you get it, you get it” Lower East Side–cool. Even if their stuff isn’t your style—it leans avant-garde, and some of it is transgressively difficult to wear—you’d struggle to flip through their racks without finding something totally unique and special.
Colbo
51 Orchard St., Lower East Side
The people who started Colbo went out of their way to make this more than a clothing shop. They carry men’s streetwear from Gramicci, Meals, and Small Talk Studio, plus Tejesta eyewear and ceramics from Danny D’s Mud Shop. Their in-house brand is designed and produced right here in New York. But as you’re browsing—or after you’re done—hang around a while to flip through design magazines and listen to their collection of rare records. The staff isn’t just helpful, but hospitable; take them up on their offer for a tea or an espresso, which comes from LA-based Canyon Coffee.
Regina’s Grocery
27 Orchard St., Lower East Side
Sure, “grocery” is in the name, and there are shelves of Italian-American kitchen staples on the wall, but mother-and-son operation Regina’s Grocery is a sandwich shop. Every sandwich is named for a real-life family member (there’s an Uncle John, an Uncle Phil, an Uncle Rocco, an Uncle Chubby…). And everything’s made with great ingredients sourced from around NYC—fresh bread from Parisi, mozzarella from Loni’s—or imported from Italy. The shop is low-frills and intentionally a little kitschy (see the paper-plate signs in the window, and the disco ball over the counter), but that’s part of its charm.
Nine Orchard
9 Orchard St., Lower East Side
In what used to be the Jarmulowsky Bank, Nine Orchard is a gem of a hotel in a beautifully preserved and restored Neo-Renaissance building. The Swan Room—gathering space by day, cocktail lounge by night—occupies the former teller room, and it’s gorgeous, with marble walls and sky-high ceilings. There’s also a warm and homey tavern, Corner Bar, for breakfasts and dinners that far exceed the casual neighborhood vibe: Here, it’s 56-dollar steak au poivre and rare bottles of Burgundy. There are 113 guest rooms, all simply and thoughtfully appointed with a minimalist mid-century vibe. One more thing: Nine Orchard is smack in the middle of the sceniest part of the Lower East Side, across the street from the café that became the namesake for Dimes Square. Whether that’s a pro or a con, we’ll leave to you.
Desert Vintage
34 Orchard St., Lower East Side
For serious vintage lovers, a trip here feels less like shopping and more like stepping into a vault. Desert is a destination for rare and antique fashion—specifically, pieces from the turn of the century through the 1970s. What’s exceptional is how modern it all feels; owners Salima Boufelfel and Roberto Cowan meticulously curate the assortment to work in contemporary wardrobes.