The Most Lavish Luxury Meals That NYC Has To Offer

New York City might not be the first destination you think of when planning a luxury vacation, but trust us when we say that this is a great one to add to your lavish staycation wishlist. After all, with a luxury district literally named ‘Billionaire’s Row’, New York City has a whole lot to offer for a traveler who enjoys the finer things in life. From a stay at the iconic Plaza or Ritz-Carlton, to shopping splurges on Fifth Avenue, there’s no end of things to do. And, once you’re all worn out and ready to retire, NYC’s astoundingly good fine-dining cuisine could be just the thing on which to end your days.

Yes, eating in the city isn’t all about pizza and hot dog vendors (though you have to love those too); there are also some top-notch, Michelin-starred restaurants serving astounding menus all across NYC. But, what are the most lavish meals you’ll want to consider during your trip, and where can you get them? Keep on reading to find out.

We've all heard of Eleven Madison Avenue, Dan Humm's three-Michelin-star fine-dining restaurant that’s located in the heart of Madison. In 2021, the restaurant iconically made the switch to an entirely plant-based menu. Some keen restaurant-goers were initially concerned that this chance would see Eleven Madison Avenue losing Michelin stars, but years down the line, that simply hasn’t been the case. This is testament to the fact that Humm’s menu performs at the top of its game regardless of ingredients, and never is that truer than with the iconic carrot tartare.

This dish, which was on the menu in 2012 and relaunched for an anniversary retrospective menu, is iconic for its use of carrots, which Humm sources from Hudson Valley’s Paffenroth Farms, as a meat replacement. Humm even uses a meat grinder to get his carrot to the ideal moist yet meaty consistency! That carrot is then served alongside small dishes that include ingredients such as rye bread, peas, and ginger.

Atomix has been a major part of the NYC fine dining scene since its launch back in 2018. This dining hotspot, which has two Michelin stars, is the foody love child of Chef Junghyun and manager Ellia Park, and is a follow-up from their firstborn restaurant, Atoboy. At Atomix, guests are invited to deep-dive into Korean cuisine, and the ‘Tour of Ten Courses’ is by far the best way to do that.

This taster-style menu choice costs $395, a price that’s more than worthwhile considering you’ll get a chance to taste the restaurant’s most exquisite offerings, including Spanish mackerel and Wagyu striploin. The exact menu items you can expect will vary depending on what time of year you visit, for the simple reason that Junghyun uses only seasonally available ingredients to ensure that all ten courses are as fresh and well-flowing as possible.

While the name might sound laid-back, Daniel is the New York-based flagship restaurant of celebrity chef Daniel Boulud, and joins a family of locations including Le Gratin. Unfortunately, despite originally having three Michelin stars, Daniel was downgraded to two in 2014, but don’t let that overshadow the quality of food you can order here.

Of all the dishes you’ll want to sample on the menu, the iconic venison has to be one of the best. This dish uses local venison sourced from Hudson Valley’s Highland Farm and is prepared using the classic French techniques that Boulud is best known for. Bear in mind that Daniel also runs a seasonal menu. Make sure you catch the venison by visiting in the colder winter months! 

If you’re planning to travel through Penn Station at any time during your stay (or even if you aren’t), drop your bags off in nearby Radical Storage NYC and head straight for nearby Koloman. Here, Chef Markus Glocker blends ‘Parisian creativity with Viennese tradition’, and he does so to the tune of a Michelin star.

The dish you’ll hear about time and again when considering a trip to Koloman is the schnitzel viennoise, a standout highly rated dish that’s much-loved thanks to its tender creation and standout originality. You certainly won’t forget the taste of that crisp Berkshire pork alongside sharp lemon and refreshing cucumber that’s sure to make your tastebuds sing.

Chef Jungsik Yim had already earned two Michelin stars with his restaurant Jungsik when he embarked on extensive travel throughout Southeast Asia. This experience led him to uncover the region’s sweet, salty, and spicy flavors, all of which he’s since been putting on the NYC menu of SEA by Jungsik.

This contemporary fine dining hotspot, which is also within close proximity to Penn Station, only opened last year and has already become one of the city’s must-eat spots. According to Time Out, top dishes include the Sriracha-soaked ribs with lime leaf and lemongrass, or the prawn and pork rolls with mung beans. But we’re bypassing all of that to go in on SEA’s sweet scene.

Anyone who has visited SEA in its first year will tell you that the coconut sundae, which comes complete with Vietnamese coffee and hazelnut, is a dish that you have to try, and we can’t deny it. It’s also the only sweet dish on this list, meaning that if you’re looking for a great way to finish off a fine meal, SEA is a great spot for you.

New York’s fine dining scene is strong and continuing to grow more so, with the vast majority of these restaurants filling up for reservations pretty fast during peak periods. If you want to make the most of what luxury NYC cuisine has to offer, then make sure you book at these hotspots during your stay. Whether you order the dishes we’ve recommended or go off-piste according to your tastes, we guarantee that you won’t leave disappointed (or hungry!).