May in New York City has arrived–and with it, a fresh wave of restaurant and bar openings worth building your plans around. As the weather warms and the city comes alive, there’s no better time to step out and eat and drink your way through the five boroughs.
From under-the-radar debuts to already buzzy newcomers, these are the openings defining the month–so you can get in before everyone else does!
Oyatte – Now Open
Chef Hasung Lee has officially opened his inaugural fine-dining restaurant in Murray Hill.
Dubbed Oyatte, the restaurant offers a contemporary, eight-course tasting menu experience built around a commitment to a single upstate New York farm–Crown Daisy Farm.
The experience begins in Oyatte’s ground-floor atelier with a series of vegetable-forward seasonal canapes before leading upstairs where the menu shifts into seafood and meat dishes.
With a thoughtful emphasis on sustainable sourcing, fermentation, and preservation throughout each course, diners can expect dishes like Charred Root Vegetable Consommé, Smoked Quail, and Spring Green Porridge.
Queens Tavern – Now Open
Queens Tavern is a London-inspired all-day tavern from The Evolv Collection. Rooted in the spirit, conviviality, and heritage of the traditional city tavern, the space will offer tavern bites, comfort-driven dishes, a lively beer and wine program, and a warm, character-rich setting designed for lunch, after-work drinks, dinner, and weekend gatherings.
The tavern brings together London tavern culture, modern hospitality, and New York energy in the heart of Hudson Yards.
Six Coasts by Smorgasburg – Now Open
Smorgasburg is shaking things up with the highly anticipated debut of Six Coasts, a Pan-American seafood experience on Governors Island.
Set against sweeping views of Lower Manhattan and New York Harbor, the new waterfront destination celebrates the vibrant flavors, cultures, and culinary traditions that connect the coasts of the Americas in one dynamic, open-air setting.
The menu features an evolving selection of dishes with highlights such as Snapper Tiradito with soursop leche de tigre, fig leaf oil, charred scallions and passion fruit, Blue Crab & Plantain Croquettes served with aiolis and pickled mango, and a curated list of coastal cocktails and refreshing drinks such as Coco Melo with coconut-washed vodka, watermelon shrub, lemon and mint and the Don’t Call Me Paloma with tequila, Aperol, elderflower, lemon and Angostura bitters.
Love Thy Neighbor – Now Open
A new all-day bar and dining concept from Shigefumi Kabashima (ROKC, NR) and chef Elias Popa (of Oti) has officially opened in the West Village.
Called Love Thy Neighbor, the space is built around a “no straight lines” philosophy–an ethos centered on flow, gathering, and a sense of belonging. Blending Japanese craftsmanship with the pulse of NYC, the design-forward restaurant and bar is envisioned as a warm, inviting environment that encourages lingering.
The beverage program spotlights world-class cocktails that reinterpret familiar classics like highballs and martinis, alongside more experimental, ingredient-driven creations. On the culinary side, the menu spans Japanese-inspired tapas, sandos, and shareable evening plates designed for the table.
Love Thy Neighbor is rolling out in phases, launching first with evening service six days a week before expanding into a full-day concept with café hours and weekend brunch.
Bar Susanne – Now Open
Brooklyn just got a new waterfront restaurant rooted in seafood, martinis, and feminine energy.
Bar Susanne comes from designer Matthew Maddy (Lilia, Oxomoco, Public Records) and features a seafood-forward menu from Chef Jackie Carnesi (Kellogg’s Diner, Nura), spotlighting Long Island purveyors and coastal New York flavors.
Expect raw bar staples like scallop crudo and crab salad alongside martini-led cocktails, agave drinks, and low-ABV spritzes, all served in a 75-seat, amber-lit space filled with art, marble, and reclaimed wood inspired by its Brooklyn waterfront setting.
Skinny Louie – Now Open
Award winning burger joint Skinny Louie has opened its third NYC location on the Upper East Side.
The Miami-born smash burger concept launched in Wynwood in 2023, with their “Very Best Burger” taking top honors at both the South Beach and NYC Wine & Food Festival Burger Bash events.
The menu is intentionally curated–just a few burgers, fries, and shakes–focusing on smash burgers made from fresh Black Angus beef, cooked simply to achieve a deep, caramelized crust. The “Very Best Burger” (double smash, smoked gouda, truffle aioli, jalapeño relish) started as a one-off for Burger Bash and is now an off-menu favorite.
Sono – Now Open
NYC is home to many Italian restaurants and Korean restaurants–but this new spot opening in the East Village combines both into one.
Dubbed Sono, the menu is centered on 100% handmade noodles paired with fermented sauces, pickled vegetables, and Korean pantry ingredients, creating a dialogue between the two cuisines.
Dishes include a bottarga pasta with Korean zucchini, pollock roe, nori, and saffron butter, alongside a range of Korean-inflected small plates.
Sendo – Now Open
Greenwich Village just got a new budget-friendly omakase spot with serious pedigree.
Sendo is an Edo-era–inspired sushi counter from chef Tsuyoshi Takahashi (formerly Sushi Noz), serving minimalist nigiri, handrolls, and kaisendon alongside omakase-style sets starting as low as $34.
The menu leans into Tokyo-style affordability with premium sourcing like Hokkaido rice and Toyosu market fish, plus a range of sets, handroll combos, and à la carte bites–all designed to keep high-quality sushi surprisingly accessible.
Lonnies – Opens May 20
Brooklyn Heights favorite Ingas Bar is opening a new sister restaurant called Lonnies this week, bringing a cozy, old-school neighborhood vibe to the area with prime rib, burgers, Basque cheesecake, and seasonal produce-driven dishes.
From married duo Sean Rembold and Caron Callahan, the restaurant is designed to feel warm, approachable, and a little nostalgic, pairing “lo-fi” comfort food with Art Deco-inspired interiors, vintage lighting, cherry-red details, and intimate bar seating.
The menu will spotlight local ingredients alongside classics like chicken under a brick and an affordable daily prime rib special.
hed NYC – Opens end of May
Opening at the end of May in the heart of Chelsea, HED NYC is a modern Thai restaurant from the team behind the Michelin Guide’s HED 11 in San Francisco.
Centered around a “Thai Sharing Progression,” the restaurant reimagines traditional Thai dining through a sequence of dishes designed to be enjoyed together. The experience highlights the balance, contrast, and natural rhythm of flavors that define Thai cuisine.