Diners in New York

Diners in New York are an experience in their own right. With their shiny counters, red vinyl booths and neon signs on the façade, they’re almost an attraction in themselves. You’ll no doubt recognise them from the silver screen, as the American diner is a popular backdrop in countless films and TV series. But a diner is so much more than that: it’s a place where locals gather and where you can pop in at any time of day. In this post, I’ll introduce you to a few of my favourite New York diners.

Eric's Index

1 Best Diners in New York
2 Square Diner
3 Kellogg’s Diner
4 Westway Diner
5 SoHo Diner
6 Squire’s Diner
7 Brooklyn Diner
8 Empire Diner
9 Tom’s Restaurant
10 Skylight Diner
11 Lexington Candy Shop
12 FAQ

Best Diners in New York

When you’re travelling, it’s always nice to experience a different culture. I’m convinced that an American diner is a unique piece of culture that you simply must try during your trip to New York.

Many people think that a diner is the place to go for breakfast, but many are open from early morning until late at night, or even 24 hours a day. They serve almost every meal you can think of. So you don’t have to go there for breakfast; you can also go there for lunch or dinner.

Eric’s Tip: “What I really like about diners is that nothing is too crazy. If what you fancy isn’t on the menu, you can always ask the waiters, and there’s a good chance the chef will make it for you.”

New York has plenty of diners; some are just like in the films, others are a bit more upscale, and others are really simple. I’d like to share my favourite diners with you and explain why I go there:

Square Diner

The Square Diner is located on the corner of Leonard and Varick Streets in TriBeCa. This is where I first tried an Arnold Palmer: a refreshing drink made up of half iced tea and half lemonade (highly recommended!). This classic train carriage-style diner has been there for over 100 years, and you’ll also pass it on my TriBeCa walking route.

Inside, you’ll find an authentic, timeless interior with wooden wall panelling, vinyl booths and shiny chrome. The menu features traditional diner fare such as pancakes, burgers, milkshakes and chilli. Please note: the diner closes early at the weekend. But in my opinion, this is one of the best diners in Manhattan.

📍Location: 33 Leonard Street, TriBeCa
Kellogg’s Diner

Whenever I think of a classic diner, Kellogg’s Diner immediately springs to mind. This cool diner is located in Williamsburg and has been there since 1928, with its distinctive silver-coloured façade and neon sign. In 2024, the restaurant was completely refurbished and given a new menu full of American comfort food with a Tex-Mex twist. Think fluffy pancakes, burgers and club sandwiches, but also enchiladas and Huevos Rancheros. You can visit this modern yet classic diner 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

📍Location: 518 Metropolitan Avenue, Williamsburg
Westway Diner

Just off the beaten track from many tourist attractions, you’ll find Westway Diner in Hell’s Kitchen. I used to come here often when I lived in this neighbourhood. This classic American diner opened in 1988 and is still a family-run business with a warm atmosphere. This is the best diner for breakfast, thanks to the wide range of options and the fact that breakfast is served all day.

A fun fact: this is where Jerry Seinfeld and Larry David came up with the idea for their famous sitcom Seinfeld late one evening in 1988. A plaque in the diner still commemorates this piece of television history.

📍Location: 614 9th Avenue, Hell’s Kitchen
SoHo Diner

Take a luxurious trip back in time. SoHo Diner is located on West Broadway, on the ground floor of the stylish SoHo Grand Hotel, which means the prices on the menu are slightly higher than usual. It is a modern and sophisticated take on a classic American diner, with a nostalgic, retro atmosphere and décor.

The menu features not only typical diner dishes, such as the SoHo Burger, avocado toast and chicken & waffles, but also an extensive selection of cocktails and wines. Another great thing about SoHo Diner is that it has a garden where you can sit during the summer months.

📍Location: 320 West Broadway, SoHo
Squire’s Diner

Squire’s Diner is a hidden gem in the Financial District, where there are hardly any tourists, if any at all. The diner is on Beekman Street, tucked away beneath the residential high-rises, so it’s easy to miss. That’s precisely what makes it special: here, you’re truly amongst the locals, all sorts of people mingling together. A young family, an older couple, businesspeople early in the morning.

It might not look particularly appealing at first glance, but it’s a proper diner experience through and through. You’ll find a classic menu featuring generous portions: pancakes, omelettes, burgers and club sandwiches. A nice, authentic spot to refuel, ideal if you’re in the vicinity of the Brooklyn Bridge or South Street Seaport.

📍Location: 80 Beekman Street, Lower Manhattan
Brooklyn Diner

When you’re walking through Midtown Manhattan, the Brooklyn Diner branches immediately catch your eye. Their vintage look, with its neon colours, contrasts with the skyscrapers. Brooklyn Diner has two branches: one near Times Square and one close to Central Park. The diners are the perfect place to start the day with breakfast or to take a break from sightseeing. Due to the diners’ location, it can feel a bit touristy.

📍Location: 155 West 43rd Street and 212 West 57th Street, Midtown Manhattan
Empire Diner

Near the High Line, you’ll find Empire Diner. This is the diner I’ve been going to for over 25 years. Every time I step inside, the memories come flooding back. The original carriage was built in 1946 in the classic style, and following a thorough refurbishment in 1976, the diner acquired its distinctive look: the shiny stainless-steel façade.

For years, this was the place where local artists gathered. Nowadays, Empire Diner serves up sophisticated takes on diner classics in a chic, retro-modern setting. What makes this place even more special is that it’s a famous diner! Its iconic Art Deco façade has featured in countless films and TV series, including Men in Black II, in which the interior serves as the backdrop for a scene featuring Agent J (Will Smith).

📍Location: 210 10th Avenue, Chelsea
Tom’s Restaurant

Tom’s Restaurant is located on the corner of Broadway and 112th Street in Morningside Heights, close to Columbia University. As a big fan of Seinfeld, I love coming here and, even though it’s a bit of a journey, it’s more than worth it. The façade of this diner served as the backdrop for ‘Monk’s Café’, the place where Jerry, George, Elaine and Kramer always met up in the series. Only the exterior was actually used; the interior shots were filmed in a studio.

Tom’s has been around since the 1940s and is still run by the same Greek-American family. Inside, you’ll feel as though you’ve stepped back in time by decades. The menu features affordable, classic diner dishes: breakfast is served all day, and the milkshakes are an absolute must-try. You’ll pass by it on my Upper West Side – Harlem walking route.

📍Location: 2880 Broadway, Morningside Heights
Skylight Diner

Skylight Diner is on West 34th Street, the same street as the Empire State Building. Whilst many passers-by and tourists head for the nearby Tick Tock Diner, Skylight is a bit more of a neighbourhood spot where you’ll find mostly locals.

The place has been run by owners Teddy and George since 1996 and has that wonderfully classic, flashy 1950s vibe. The menu features all the American diner classics. For those fancying something sweet, there are pancakes and French toast.

📍Location: 402 West 34th Street, Midtown Manhattan
Lexington Candy Shop

Lexington Candy Shop is located on Lexington Avenue on the Upper East Side. Don’t be confused by the name: this isn’t a sweet shop, but a proper, old-fashioned lunch spot. The establishment opened in 1925 and is still run by the same family. Stepping inside feels like stepping back in time, with swivel stools, a Formica counter and soda fountain equipment that has hardly changed since 1948.

There’s even an original menu from 1925 hanging on the wall. Be sure to order an old-fashioned Coca-Cola, and if you’re working up an appetite, try a butter burger, pancakes or French toast. A real hidden time capsule.

📍Location: 1226 Lexington Avenue, Upper East Side

FAQ

A diner is an informal, cosy restaurant that serves classic American dishes, such as pancakes, burgers, sandwiches and milkshakes. They are characterised by their booths, a long counter with swivel stools, and often a retro look featuring neon and stainless steel. Many diners serve breakfast all day long.

Some do, but by no means all of them anymore. In the past, many diners were open day and night; these days, most have fixed opening hours. If you want to visit at night, do check the opening hours of the specific diner beforehand.

It depends on the place. Most diners accept debit and credit cards, but some traditional, older diners are cash-only. To be on the safe side, do bring some cash with you.

Generally speaking, diners are affordable, especially compared to restaurants. Do bear in mind the location, though: diners in tourist areas or in hotels are often a bit more expensive than a proper neighbourhood diner.

Usually not, as diners are meant for spontaneous walk-ins. At the weekend, popular places can get quite busy, so be prepared for a short queue if you’re going around breakfast or brunch time.