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 opens his inaugural fine-dining restaurant in Murray Hill this May.
Dubbed Oyatte, the restaurant will offer 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 – Opens May 7
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.
Once open, Queens Tavern will bring together London tavern culture, modern hospitality, and New York energy in the heart of Hudson Yards.
Skinny Louie – Opens May 8
Award winning burger joint Skinny Louie is opening its third NYC location on the Upper East Side this Friday, May 8th.
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.
Six Coasts by Smorgasburg – Opens May 9
Smorgasburg is shaking things up this spring with the highly anticipated debut of Six Coasts, a Pan-American seafood experience opening 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 will feature 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 – Opens May 15
A new all-day bar and dining concept from Shigefumi Kabashima (ROKC, NR) and chef Elias Popa (of Oti) is set to open in the West Village in mid-May.
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 will spotlight 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 will roll 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.
Sono – Opens May 16
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.
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.
