“A cafe on Crosby Street started by a couple of Greek brothers who treat everybody like family. The coffee is amazing, but the people watching is even better; forget apps, this is the spot for downtown NYC cuties.”

“We throw around words like ‘community’ a little too often, but that’s exactly what you’ll find at this café and bakery on the south side of Tompkins Square Park. Honorable mentions go to the croissants, the chicken-and-avocado sandwiches, and bear hugs administered by Ali, the shop’s owner.”

“It’s like stepping into a different era of heat and darkness and elderly men’s unsolicited opinions about how long is too long to spend in a 200-degree sauna. There’s a Kazakh guy who gives massages and deep cleans who scrubbed me down when I first went 20 years ago. They serve borscht for lunch. It smells crazy in there. What’s not to love?”

“A superchic, super-rustic, supercool hangout serving clothing, coffee, and books.”

“I discovered a lot of my favorite smaller men’s brands perusing the racks at C’H’C’M’ over the past 12 years. The owner, Sweetu, is a fantastic conversationalist, and his taste is impeccable. I lived down the block when I first arrived and he was one of my first friends.”

“I heard recently that the power lunch is dead, but long live the power dinner. Strip House is meaty and old-school and serves steak followed by a 12-layer chocolate cake for dessert. The patrons are tycoons of a different era; I once saw a guy buy a $40,000 gold AP off another guy’s wrist right at the table. With my own two eyes!!”

“The undisputed heavyweight pizza king of NYC.”

“My favorite Thai food in the entire city. My opinion probably doesn’t carry much weight, but my best friend Yada Villaret is Thai and she says it’s the best, so that’s that. We order the duck larb, pad see ew, pork skewers, and papaya salad, and I die from the insane spice level but it’s worth it.”

“One of the most beautifully curated art and rare-book stores I’ve ever been in. I cannot walk in without buying something. Don’t take it personally if the staff don’t smile at you, they don’t smile at me either.”

“Locals-only coffee for East Villagers made by East Villagers. Without a doubt the best Americano I’ve had in New York City, and I come from New Zealand so I’m a huge coffee snob.”