Consider these places your education in getting to know NYU through its food. And don’t worry, I included Timothée Chalamet’s favorite bagel spot ;)
First, congrats on getting into NYU!
The one thing that you’ve heard time and time again is that your “campus” is the city. So, while schools with a more defined campus have their clear haunts, here it can be hard to know which restaurants and cafes are well-known spots, and which ones just happen to be next to your dorm.
Since the average student is here for about four years, I’ve compiled this list of four places that you’ll no doubt hear about or be invited to during your first year here. You can also consider this a list of places to avoid when you’re hungover and don’t want to risk running into that cute guy in the Essentials sweatshirt in your Texts and Ideas class.
The Bean
31 3rd Ave, New York, NY 10003 (Among other locations)
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Courtesy of Google Reviews
I’ve never met anyone who’s said The Bean is their favorite coffee place, but I’ve also never met anyone who hasn’t “been” (...sorry). You’ll probably end up here for your first NYC coffee chat. Their menu is almost intimidating, going above and beyond a typical cafe with their organic juices, smoothies, bowls, and pastries. When it comes to their drinks, as a Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup fan, I can’t recommend the Mother Theresa– a peanut butter cup latte– enough. And as someone who usually orders an acai bowl whenever she gets the chance, I always go for The Perch, which is an acai bowl topped with granola, banana, and Nutella. I suggest their Third Avenue location because it’s the most spacious one, but whichever one you end up at, enjoy the artsy vibe—and don’t forget about their 10% student discount!
Ray’s Pizza & Bagel Cafe
2 St Marks Pl, New York, NY 10003
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Courtesy of Google Reviews
I know, you probably thought I was going to say Joe’s. While you’re going to end up there, too, I would argue that everyone who comes to NYC goes to Joe’s but only NYU students go to Ray’s. Open 24 hours, this is the place where you find yourself debriefing a night out with your friends (just the normal stuff—what type of Stern student hit on you and whether or not his dad’s job at Goldman Sachs and slightly condescending attitude actually impressed you). Their slices are thin, crispy, and more flavorful than the ones at Joe’s, and the selection of slices is nearly overwhelming. My hot take is that the food there matters less than the conversation, so while I would recommend their vodka or pepperoni slices, feel free to order what you like and enjoy the memories you’re going to make!
Caffe Reggio
119 MacDougal St, New York, NY 10012
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Courtesy of Subha Sivakumar
Located near campus on MacDougal, Caffe Reggio—or Caffe Reg as most people call it—is a cafe that’s open till 3 am most nights, making it perfect for your caffeine needs at any time during your cram sessions at Bobst. As the first cafe in the United States to serve a Cappuccino, I can’t blame you for ordering one (if you do, make sure to get it with almond extract, which I feel adds a bit of depth to the cappuccino’s bitterness without overpowering the flavor), but especially as the weather gets colder, I always go for their hot cider. I also would recommend their Ravioli al Pesto, with crushed red pepper flakes on top. It’s an open secret that the service can be a little slow, so I’d recommend bringing someone you’ve always claimed you could talk to for hours—now’s the time to put that to the test ;).
Tompkins Square Bagels
165 Avenue A, New York, NY 10009 (Among other locations)
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Courtesy of What Now NY
Just in case you don’t believe me, here’s the article where Timothée Chalamet shouted out this place as the one with the “best bagels.” And with how perfectly soft and chewy they are when they’re warm, I have to agree. While I can’t claim to know Timothée’s order, I would personally recommend that you get either a Sausage, Egg, and Cheese on an everything bagel (with hot sauce) or any bagel of your choosing, toasted, with their sun-dried tomato cream cheese. I included the location that’s closest to Tompkins Square Park because nothing is better than heading there early on the weekends (and I really do mean early if you want to beat the line) and enjoying their bagels during a sunny morning in the park. If you go on Sundays, you can also walk around the Tompkins Square Greenmarket, which is open from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and features farmers from around New York State and their locally-grown produce.
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