Russian Samovar

This Rat Pack-era restaurant has been a staple in Midtown for decades so if you’re looking to have a classic NYC night from start to finish, head to Russian Samovar. Upstairs, the restaurant and piano bar is often bustling with entertainment, and house-infused vodka is always flowing from behind the bar. For the Broadway set, there’s a prix-fixe theater menu for $45 with favorite Russian dishes like borscht, beef stroganoff, and stuffed cabbage and an opportunity to stop by after the show to party until 4 am.

Opened in 1986 in a former Sinatra hangout, this restaurant and live music venue is one of the few Manhattan enclaves that honors and preserves Russian cuisine and culture. Mikhail Barishnikov was one of the co-owners at one point, and subsequently appeared on season 6 as Carrie’s love interest, artist Alexksandr Petrovsky. Their first date on the show takes place here in an upstairs dining room, wherein Petrovsky teaches Carrie about Russian food and the tradition of tea with black cherries.