Murray Hill Specialty

This little Italian cafe in the Redbury Hotel feels straight out of Rome. In the morning, we come here for some of the best espresso in the city, plus amazing Italian pastries, non-tooth-breaking biscotti, and great frittata paninis, which they'll pack up for you to take into the office. Around the lunch hour (and until 6), they serve light pizzas, sandwiches, and soups to a grab-and-go lunch crowd. We love to sneak in right before six for an affogato or a cocktail; they always have a white and red wine, plus Italian drinks like Peronis, Aperol spritz, and negronis.

Beyond being one of the more perfect independent grocery stores around, Fairway is the perfect New York cross section: You'll see young families, old ladies in fur coats, students looking for good food at good prices, and just about every New York "type" you can think of.

Beyond being one of the more perfect independent grocery stores around, Fairway is the perfect New York cross section: You'll see young families, old ladies in fur coats, students looking for good food at good prices, and just about every New York "type" you can think of.