Our 10 Favourite Restaurants In New York City

New York City offers some of the most exciting dining in the world, yet the options can be a bit overwhelming. The following 10 restaurants are ones we enjoy returning to whenever we are in the city. Our NYC hit-list newcomers and all-time favourites, from below 14th to the Upper East Side, from Harlem to Brooklyn. Let's start in buzzing downtown:

• Via Carota our favourite Italian downtown. Never disappoints despite how 'buzzy' or 'trendy' it may seem. Menu changes seasonally, vibe is always energetic. Reservations sparingly on res, come early or late, and go grab a drink at their sister spot Bar Pisellino, or cocktail bar While We Were Young around the corner while you wait. West Village, 51 Grove St.

• I Sodi is the wife property of Via Carota, it serves perhaps the best Italian food in the village - and therefore, some of the very best Italian food in New York City. The good energy in the quaint and simply-designed room comes from people who are enjoying their dinner - not from hip lighting fixtures or hanging plants or dusty shades of pink. Everyone comes here for the cuisine, no frills. West Village, 105 Christopher St.

• Corner Bar From acclaimed chef Ignacio Mattos, Corner Bar is a restaurant inspired by legendary bistros and taverns in cities around the world. In a space that lends itself to everything from relaxed breakfasts to lively nightcaps, they offer a menu of classic dishes, thoughtfully prepared, and a beverage list that includes a remarkable selection of domestic wines and spirits.

• King Daily changing menu, serving northern Italian and southern French cuisine by former River Café trained-chef, Clare de Boer. Hudson Square, 18 King St.

• Il Cantinori is another Italian Downtown gem offering Tuscan cuisine and an evolving menu with specials. Very elegant, perfect for date night or a celebration. Greenwich Village, 32 E 10th St.

• Polo Bar, an Institution, serving classic American and Ralph Lauren’s favourite dishes in a setting that pays homage to the sophisticated equestrian heritage of his world. Have a drink at the upstairs bar first. Midtown, 1 E 55th St.

• Jupiter A new restaurant from the owners of King- Jess Shadbolt, Annie Shi, and Clare de Boer- is now open at Rockefeller Center's newly reimagined Rink Level. Jupiter is an Italian restaurant with a strong emphasis on pasta and wine, drawing from all regions of the country. Shadbolt, Shi, and de Boer have enlisted former colleague, Gaz Herbert of the River Cafe in London, as the executive chef. The 145-seat restaurant is being designed by the New York-based studio Workstead. Jupiter is located on the Rink Level of 620 Fifth Avenue and it can also be accessed through the 50th Street elevator on the street level.

• Rao’s New York City’s most exclusive restaurant, it’s the hardest reservation in the city. You need to own a table to get in or lucky enough to be buddies with one of the owners. Family-style Italian with a scent of the Godfather. Harlem, 455 E. 114TH St.

• Lilia brings the best of Italy to Williamsburg where wood-fired seafood, handcrafted pastas, classic Italian cocktails, and warm hospitality come together to create a casual dining experience, from revered Michelin-starred chef and Top Chef guest Missy Robbins. Brooklyn, 567 Union Ave.

• The Four Horsemen part natural wine bar, part restaurant, The Four Horsemen is one of our favourite places to eat and drink in Brooklyn. Brooklyn, 295 Grand St.