Yi Fang Taiwan Fruit Tea is a tea shop chain with stores around the city, including this reliable one on St. Marks spot.

This Chinese restaurant on St. Marks in the East Village is home to some of the best soup dumplings in Manhattan.

Leland Eating & Drinking House serves excellent small plates, fresh focaccia, and hot cocktails from its corner shop in Prospect Heights.

Chez Nick is an American bistro that’s one of the best casual date spots on the Upper East Side.

Amigo By Nai in the East Village serves four different kinds of carnitas tacos.

Brooklyn Noosh is a casual spot in Bed-Stuy with burgers, beer, kabobs, and a big outdoor patio in their back alley.

Farra is a wine bar in Tribeca from the people behind (temporarily closed) Atera. Order the scallop fried rice.

Endswell is a French-American bistro in Fort Greene that serves great cocktails.

Fradei is an Italian wine bar in Fort Greene that's a good option for date night.

Bin 5 is an Italian spot with a back garden on Staten Island that’s perfect for date night.

& Sons is a wine bar in Prospect Lefferts Gardens with a rotating list of country hams.

Peachy’s is an underground cocktail bar in Chinatown with good cocktails and lots of neon lights.

Sunny’s is a live music bar in Red Hook with a nice backyard.

The Red Lion is a big bar in Greenwich Village that’s a good spot to watch soccer on TV during the day, and listen to live music every night.

Ulysses is a big Irish pub in FiDi with live music every night.

If you’re looking to hear some live music around Elmhurst or Jackson Heights, go to Terraza 7.