Every August, NYC’s Summer Streets gives people a chance to experience the city in a different way. For select days, parts of Manhattan and Brooklyn open up for walking, biking, and exploring without the usual pace of traffic.
This year, Summer Streets takes place in Manhattan on August 15 and Brooklyn on August 22. If you’re planning to walk the route, it’s also a great opportunity to discover restaurants along the way. They’re places where you can stop for a meal, revisit an old favorite, or find a new spot that becomes part of your own New York story.
Over the years, I’ve drawn many restaurants that capture what makes NYC dining special. A restaurant is never just a storefront to me. It’s the conversations that happened inside, the celebrations that took place there, and the memories people carry long after the meal is over.
Why Summer Streets Is a Great Time to Rediscover NYC Restaurants
Walking through New York gives you a chance to notice the details that often get missed when you’re moving quickly. Summer Streets creates space for that kind of exploration. Instead of simply getting somewhere, you can slow down, look around, and experience the neighborhoods that make NYC unique.
For me, those details are what makes a restaurant worth turning into a hand-drawn restaurant print. The goal is always to preserve the feeling of a place.
Manhattan Restaurants Along the Summer Streets Route
Manhattan’s Summer Streets route offers the perfect excuse to slow down and rediscover some of the city’s most memorable restaurants. These are the kinds of places that become part of our NYC stories — through shared meals, celebrations, and ordinary moments.
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Le Coucou - Le Coucou brings classic French dining into a tastefully designed SoHo space. Its elegant details and timeless atmosphere make it a restaurant that feels special the moment you walk in.
- Jack’s Wife Freda - This beloved neighborhood gathering place has locations in Chelsea and SoHo. With a welcoming atmosphere and globally inspired menu, it’s the kind of restaurant people return to again and again.
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Eataly SoHo - SoHo’s Eataly celebrates Italian food culture through restaurants, markets, and specialty foods. It’s a natural stop for anyone who enjoys getting to know a city through its flavors.
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Sant Ambroeus Lafayette- With roots in Milan, Sant Ambroeus brings European café culture to downtown Manhattan. Experience it for yourself to see how a simple coffee, dessert, or meal can become a memorable part of the day.
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Temple Bar - Temple Bar is one of those NYC spots with a distinct personality. Its intimate setting and downtown history make it a memorable stop for anyone meandering through the neighborhood.
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Lafayette - When you enter Lafayette, you’ll experience a palette of pastries and collection of coffees characteristic of a grand French café. The lively dining room and beautiful space of this NoHo restaurant make it a destination beyond the menu.
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Indochine - A downtown essential, Indochine has been part of NYC’s restaurant scene for decades. Its distinctive design and atmosphere have helped make it one of the city’s recognizable dining venues.
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Community Food & Juice - Located on the Upper West Side, Community Food & Juice provides a relaxed neighborhood atmosphere. It’s the kind of restaurant that feels connected to the daily rhythm of the community it serves.
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ROKC - Harlem’s ROKC is a convergence of cocktails, ramen, and an inspired atmosphere. It’s a great example of the neighborhood restaurants that continue to shape NYC’s evolving food scene.
Brooklyn Restaurants Worth the Walk
The Brooklyn Summer Streets route gives another chance to browse the borough’s neighborhoods and dining culture. These restaurants are a short walk from the route and make great additions to a summer itinerary.
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Tom’s Restaurant - A Brooklyn staple, Tom’s has been part of the community for generations. It represents the kind of neighborhood restaurant that becomes woven into people’s routines and memories.
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Cheryl’s Global Soul - Located near Prospect Park, Cheryl’s Global Soul attracts customers with a welcoming atmosphere and comforting menu. It’s a neighborhood favorite that encourages lingering over a good meal.
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Ample Hills Creamery - The best ice cream and the best NYC summer just go together. Ample Hills in Prospect Heights brings a playful, nostalgic experience that makes it a fun stop during a day of sightseeing.
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Geido - A longtime Brooklyn favorite, Geido offers Japanese cuisine in a relaxed neighborhood setting. It’s the kind of restaurant that earns loyal customers through consistency and community.
Celebrate the Restaurants That Become Part of Your Story
Summer Streets is a reminder that exploring NYC is about noticing the places that matter.
A restaurant might be where you celebrated a milestone, met a friend, enjoyed a memorable meal, or discovered a neighborhood you love. Those experiences are what turn restaurants into something more.
As you walk the Summer Streets routes this August, take note of the restaurants that catch your attention. You never know which one might become part of your story.
Find a New Print This Summer
