13 Essential Restaurants Near Union Square

The blocks around Union Square have plenty of lauded dining options -- Pret A Manger, Le Pain Quotidien, and Au Bon Pain, just to name a few sparkling and possibly French examples. But, as a handy reference for when you get greedy and need something even better, here are our 13 favorite spots.

Coffee Shop

<h2>Most beautiful servers (at least by&nbsp;reputation):&nbsp;<a href="https://www.thrillist.com/venue/eat/new-york/restaurants/coffee-shop&qu…; target="_blank">Coffee Shop</a></h2>

<em>29 Union Square W</em><br />
The vaguely Brazilian restaurant and late-night&nbsp;hot-spot (DO YOU GET IT?) has had a weird mystique surrounding its alleged model servers for years, but, honestly, they're kind of overrated.&nbsp;The pressed Cuban and herbed fries are crazily tasty,&nbsp;although eating too many will guarantee you never work here.<br />
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<h2>Best restaurant in a department store:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.thrillist.com/venue/eat/new-york/restaurants/abc-kitchen&qu…; target="_blank">ABC Kitchen</a></h2>

<em>35 E 18th St</em><br />
It's inside home decor shop ABC Home, so you can shop for vintage Turkish tulu rugs&nbsp;and then eat Chef Jean-George's unreal seasonal farm-to-table fare,&nbsp;which is a unique/mildly pretentious experience, but quite apt because this is a seen-and-be-seen, erm, scene.

Murray's Bagels

<h2>Best bagels:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.thrillist.com/venue/eat/new-york/restaurants/murrays-bagels…; target="_blank">Murray's Bagels</a></h2>

<em>500 Avenue of the Americas</em><br />
You have a former&nbsp;Merrill Lynch vice prez and his big-city bagel shop dreams to thank for these chewy, delicious dough rings. The line takes forever, but that's expected -- these are&nbsp;some of the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.thrillist.com/eat/new-york/best-nyc-bagels&quot; target="_blank">best bagels in the city</a>.<br />
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<h2>Best sushi:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.thrillist.com/venues/15-east-10003&quot; target="_blank">15 East</a></h2>

<em>15 East 15th St</em><br />
Specialties like&nbsp;ice-cured wild sea bass&nbsp;are prepared minimally so all the different flavors and textures can shine in all their unadulterated glory.&nbsp;The Michelin-starred Japanese eatery also augments its super-fresh ingredients with seasonal produce from the Union Square Market.

Dos Toros

<h2>Best carnitas burrito:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.thrillist.com/venue/eat/new-york/restaurants/dos-toros&quot; target="_blank">Dos Toros</a></h2>

<em>137 4th Ave</em><br />
It's basically the love child of a dirty Mission burrito joint and Chipotle, but more importantly, it's owned by the former bassist for Third Eye Blind. The one-of-a-kind, custom, industrial-strength carnitas-braising machine&nbsp;will ensure your burrito life is&nbsp;fully&nbsp;charmed. Oh god.<br />
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<h2>Best steakhouse:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.thrillist.com/venue/eat/new-york/restaurants/strip-house&qu…; target="_blank">Strip House</a></h2>

<em>13 E 12th St</em><br />
Think of a typical&nbsp;<a href="https://www.thrillist.com/eat/new-york/best-steakhouses-in-new-york&quot; target="_blank">steakhouse</a>, then unthink of it. The tiny, velvety lounge feels like the kind of place showgirls would've eaten at in the '50s, probably because there are pictures of 'em all over the wall. Also, the creamed spinach is the sh*t, which is not something often said about creamed vegetables.<br />
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<h2>Best pizza:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.thrillist.com/venue/eat/new-york/restaurants/joes-pizza-392…; target="_blank">Joe's Pizza</a></h2>

<em>150 E 14th St</em><br />
The original Greenwich Village location is a Spider-Man-approved institution, but that doesn't make the East Side outpost any less of a destination. Over-the-counter slices are simple, classic, and heavily New York.

Flickr/ohocheese

<h2>Best bakery/hot chocolate:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.thrillist.com/venue/eat/new-york/restaurants/the-city-baker…; target="_blank">City Bakery</a></h2>

<em>3 W 18th St</em><br />
A different hot chocolate flavor like ginger, malted milk, or bourbon&nbsp;is offered every day of the month from a steamy vat that sits right on the countertop. Topped off with a giant, homemade marshmallow, it's thick and indulgent and basically just tastes like a melted chocolate bar, which is actually what it might be, and that's perfectly fine.<br />
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<h2>Best Venetian:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.thrillist.com/venue/eat/new-york/restaurants/allonda&quot; target="_blank">All'onda</a></h2>

<em>22 E 13th St</em><br />
Fine dining without the fancy, this rustic-industrial restaurant offers up a familiar Italian menu with some help here and there from Asian cuisine. For example, you can't go wrong with the creamy, briny, perfectly al dente&nbsp;<a href="https://www.thrillist.com/eat/new-york/union-square/the-best-new-pasta-…; target="_blank">uni bucatini</a>.

Blue Water Grill

<h2>Best seafood:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.thrillist.com/venue/eat/new-york/restaurants/blue-water-gri…; target="_blank">Blue Water Grill</a></h2>

<em>31 Union Square W</em><br />
With simply prepared cuts,&nbsp;shellfish plate towers, Alaskan King Crab, super-fresh oysters, fantastic outdoor seating, and live jazz, it's one of the best options for seafood in the city, let alone Union Square.<br />
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<h2>Best Asian fusion:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.thrillist.com/venue/drink/new-york/bar/republic&quot; target="_blank">Republic</a></h2>

<em>37 Union Square W</em><br />
All the East Asian-influenced cheap eats are excellent -- look out for the dark horse crispy tofu. With high ceilings, a completely open floor plan, and communal seating, it's also great for groups, if not for acoustics.

Joe Coffee

<h2>Best coffee shop for spotting&nbsp;famous people:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.thrillist.com/venue/drink/new-york/bar/joe-coffee-3918778&q…; target="_blank">Joe Coffee</a></h2>

<em>9 E 13th St</em><br />
The coffee is high quality, and you'll definitely probably run into a celebrity here. Or at least Bill Hader. Yeah, I ran into Bill Hader here once.

<h2>Best icon you need to visit soon, because it's closing:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.thrillist.com/venue/eat/new-york/restaurants/union-square-c…; target="_blank">Union Square Cafe</a></h2>

<em>21 E 16th St</em><br />
Pleasant and welcoming in a way that fine dining typically is not,&nbsp;Danny Meyer's&nbsp;five-time James Beard Award winner&nbsp;employs&nbsp;<a href="https://www.thrillist.com/drink/nation/the-best-two-buck-chuck-at-trade…; target="_blank">this rare genius</a>,&nbsp;and does American-Italian&nbsp;classics as well as anyone out there. Better get in here for that banana tart with&nbsp;macadamia brittle&nbsp;quick, though --&nbsp;it's&nbsp;moving out of its 30-year home at the end of 2015. The rent is too damn high!<br />
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<a href="https://www.thrillist.com/authors/carrie-dennis&quot; target="_blank">Carrie Dennis</a>&nbsp;is an Associate Editor for Thrillist. Follow her on Twitter&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/CarrrieDennnis&quot; target="_blank">@CarrrieDennnis</a>.</em>