"BAR PITTI" is located between Houston & Bleecker St. on a "see-and-be-seen sidewalk"; it's a charismatic little Italian restaurant and could get very busy; great for lunch and in summertime outdoor seating; great Tuscan fare; no credit cards accepted; a little more South try this popular and by celebrities beloved lunch place called "CIPRIANI DOWNTOWN" (+1 212 343 0999, http://www.cipriani.com/ ) or the perfect breakfast spot called "BALTHAZAR" (+1 212 9410364, http://www.balthazarny.com/)

Best raw fish in town and the sake selection is huge; restaurant looks small from outside but goes on for miles inside; Japanese style seating; try the sushi deluxe platter

Nice little Italian in the Noho district; great homemade Italian pasta served in a grandmother's living room; check for the table next to the kitchen; import their own oil from Italy; Sunday & Monday only open for dinner; new Italian hotspot at the Gramercy Park Hotel is "MAIALINO" (2 Lexington Avenue, +1 212 777 2410, www.maialinonyc.com) by gastro-king Danny Meyer ("GRAMERCY TAVERN", "UNION SQUARE CAFE", "ELEVEN MADISON", "SHAKE SHACK"); more Italian? Try late night dining Italian "L'ARTUSI" (228 West 10th Street, +1 212 255 5757, http://lartusi.com/) in West Village

Located in the Soho-Nolita area and opened by hipster Serge Becker - the designer and nightlife entrepreneur behind such places like "BOWERY BAR", "THE BOX" or "AREA"; the counter-service taqueria on Kenmare dispenses tacos and tortas and a more extensive menu is served at the adjacent café around the corner as well as at the restaurant downstairs - which can be accessed by the "employees-only" door; try Serge's newly opened tiny Jamaican hotspot "MISS LILY'S" (132 West Houston Street, New York, NY 10012, +1 646 588 5375, http://misslilysnyc.com/)

Hot spot in the meatpacking district; celebrity breakfast & brunch on weekends; champagne, juice, coffee, best eggs Benedict and great service from friendly waiting staff; looking for a Nikki beach party on a Saturday afternoon? More scenic crowd you will find a stones throw away at the newly opened Standard Hotel (848 Washington Street at 13th street, +1 212 645 4100): For food head to "STANDARD GRILL" (open until 4 am!), for party it's the "BOOM BOOM BAR" and for a pint the real German "BIERGARTEN" (www.standardhotels.com/new-york-city/)

A one-of-a-kind, sophisticated steakhouse blending American tradition with French-flourishes; black truffle creamed spinach with the rib eye steak 22oz - awesome!

Graydon Carter's much-hyped celebrity hot spot in Greenwich village; the food in the semi-private restaurant is American style; macaroni & cheese is the specialty of the house; you also get chicken-liver mousse on artichoke, the Waverly burger and a delicious steak; only open for dinner.  Alternative in Greenwich Village is the ueber-cool and new place opened by Waverly Inn chef John deLucie called "THE LION" at 62 West Ninth Street, between Fifth and Sixth Avenues (+1 212 353 8400, www.thelionnyc.com/); Andy Warhol watches over you as you dine on classics