My Favorite Places to Eat & Sweat In New York

Breakfast, lunch, pastry, dinner, cocktails ... and a workout? I've got you covered.

Welcome back to the Weekly Hurdle! This newsletter is free and will stay free thanks to sponsors and the individuals that opt-in to give. Your support is really appreciated.

Presented by LMNT:

---

“I’m coming to visit New York next weekend, where should I go?”

It’s a message I get at least once a week. Truth-be-told, I’ve hesitated putting together a list of some of my favorite places for a while now. Mostly because, there are just so many options. Alas, here I am, caving.

I’m positive I’ve overlooked places. But! After 11 years living within a 6-mile radius, I think the below list is a good summary of my usual haunts. I’d love it if you read this and are willing to add your favorites in the comments, too!

I’ll make it a point to come back every so often to throw in an update or two. Remember: I’m no food critic, and — as a surprise to no one, especially my grandmother — there are a lot of Italian options here. And the addition of fitness classes at the bottom? Really just a bonus.

Breakfast

Top pick: Jack’s Wife Freda
Jack’s Wife is really an NYC establishment. They’ve got three locations (two in Manhattan, one in Williamsburg), and my favorite is the one on Lafayette Street. The menu is the same all day long, but I’d vouch that Maya’s breakfast bowl is the best thing on it (scrambled eggs, red quinoa, kale, spaghetti squash, roasted tomato, radish, and avocado). If you go later in the day, you can’t go wrong if you add the fried zucchini chips or kefta kebab to your main dish. Their cookbook is great, too.

Honorable mentions: Two Hands, Bluestone Lane, Bubby’s, Balthazar, Breakfast by Salt's Cure, Egg Shop, Butcher’s Daughter

** If you’re doing Brunch, hit up Jacob’s Pickles (get a bloody Mary).

Lunch

Top Pick: Ruby’s
Ruby’s is an Australian-inspired cafe that never disappoints. With three locations in the city, I’d say they’re mostly known for their bowls. I almost always go for the Crispy Grains Bowl (freekah, farro, avocado, baby kale cherry tomatoes, cucumber, snap peas, watermelon radish, feta cheese, and red wine vinaigrette), but other favorites include the Malibu and chicken avocado. You also won’t regret the bronte burger or spicy Italian sausage rigatoni. Oh, and the watermelon margarita is a yes from me.

Honorable mentions: Flip Sigi, La Esquina (tacos), Ivan Ramen, Westville, Gotan, Milano Market (sandwiches)

Dinner

Top Pick(s): Bar Primi, Evelina
I will say this: Out of all the categories on this list, dinner is the most difficult to choose faves. There are truly so many options. These two have become my go-tos, both because of the amazing experiences I’ve had at both as well as the pure quality of the staff, ambiance, and food.
Starting with Primi on Bowery, literally the place I go for most big occasions. I’ve laughed, cried, and shared one-too-many glasses of red wine at this cozy Italian pick since I first walked in back in 2015. Part of the NoHo Hospitality Group (The Dutch, Lafayette, Westlight, Leuca, Mister Dips), my order lately is the chicory salad, brussels sprouts, and bolognese (but swap the penne for bucatini). Other favorites: Squid ink campanelle, linguini, stuffed meatballs, arugula salad, ricotta crostino, and hanger steak. Oh. And an affogato. Always an affogato.
Evelina, over in Fort Greene, is a Mediterranean-Italian spot. Near a few other great neighborhood options (Walters, Cafe Paulette, and Colonia Verde), it’s a cozy nook worth making the trip to Brooklyn for. The menu changes up fairly regularly, but I’m a fan of the charred Spanish octopus, heirloom beet salad, pappardelle, and pork chop. Of note: Their heated patio is about as close to sitting indoors as you get, so don’t worry if that’s the only reservation they have available. You’ll be comfortable, I promise.

Honorable mentions: Kiki’s, Potluck Club, Dante, Lilia, Lil Frankie’s, Cecconi’s Dumbo, Nom Wah, Miss Ada

Pizza

Top Pick(s): Best Pizza, Emmy Squared
If you know me, you know I have a soft spot for pizza after the pandemic. There are SO MANY good pizza places in the city, but these are my top two (and very different styles). I found Best Pizza during the pizza half marathon I ran during the pandemic. It’s exactly what it sounds like: A half marathon that included stops at six different pizza shops. Best Pizza is a classic, no-frills pie shop.
Emmy Squared is Detroit-style pizza, and during COVID I learned how to make a lot of their signature pies via Emily: The Cookbook. My favorite is the Colony (pepperoni, pickled jalapeños, honey) and The MVP (house made vodka sauce, red sauce, garlic parsley pesto, and sesame seed crust). Also, their burger is out of this world.

Honorable mentions: Paulie Gee’s, L&B Spumoni Gardens, Lucali, Roberta’s, Fini

Bakery

Top Pick: Ferrara Bakery & Cafe
I started going to Ferrara on Grand with my family years ago, and to this day I still pop by every so often to get a classic chocolate-dipped cannoli (this is the way to my heart). They have both dine-in and take-out service. The stracciatella gelato is also top-notch.

Honorable mentions: L'Appartement 4F (everything croissant), Ceci Cela (almond croissant), Maman, Tompkins Square Bagels, Supermoon Bakehouse, Peter Pan Donut & Pastry Shop

Coffee

Top Pick: Devoción
It’s just good coffee, period. The one in Williamsburg has really beautiful seating and is super bright, making it a perfect place to post up to read or do some work.

Honorable mentions: La Colombe, Bluestone Lane, Birch, Café Integral

Cocktails

Top pick: The Raines Law Room
This was the first speakeasy I ever went to in the city. I got a shaken piña colada, and it was out of this world. Now with two locations, I’d recommend knocking on the door at the one in Chelsea. If you can’t get in (read: the wait is too long), Patent Pending isn’t too far away, another hidden speakeasy located behind a coffee shop.

Honorable mentions: Attaboy, Goodnight Sonny, Employee’s Only, Mulberry Bar, Patent Pending

Fitness Studios

Top pick: Lyons Den
The community and climate here is unrivaled. A hot yoga studio, Lyons Den offers a few different formats including classes with and without music. The founder, Bethany Lyons, teaches regularly. If you’re looking for a challenging flow, try her 12 p.m. Sunday Service — a 90-minute class that will leave you feeling cleansed and ready to take on whatever the week throws your way.

Honorable mentions: MOTIVNY (especially the women’s strength class), Barry’s Bootcamp, New York Pilates, Fhitting Room, The Class, Mile High Run Club

Also, because I know this question is incoming, my absolute favorite running route in New York is the clockwise perimeter of Central Park (as in, the actual rectangular exterior on the sidewalk, not the inner loop). I used to live near Engineer’s Gate at 90th Street on the East Side, and I’d run the sidewalk regularly past the Met, along 59th Street, up the West Side, across 110th, and back down 5th Avenue — finishing at Bluestone Lane for a coffee. It’s nowhere near as crowded as the inner loop, about 6 miles, has some great, easy rolling hills, and notably ends on an uphill which is a nice test of fitness (or, the perfect time for walking).

I rarely get up there now that I live in Brooklyn, but I’m nostalgic for it often.

Keep hurdling,

---

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE WEEK

I’m Listening To: Abby Wambach: The Evolution of Mastery on Finding Mastery
Man, this is a good episode. U.S. Soccer titan Abby Wambach details the inner-work she is doing to thrive in the transition from sport to business, as well as what it means to be part of a wolfpack. Her vulnerability here made me immediately head over to We Can Do Hard Things — the podcast she hosts with wife Glennon Doyle — and download a few episodes.

I’m Watching: Purple Hearts on Netflix
Mom and I watched this on Thursday morning, and we thought it was cute. The gist: In spite of their many differences, Cassie (Sofia Carson), a struggling singer-songwriter, and Luke (Nicholas Galitzine), a troubled marine, agree to marry solely for military benefits. I have a hunch you can guess how this story plays out, but it was sweet despite its predictability.

Gear I’m Loving: Bandit Running The Daily Hoodie and Sweatpant
I love a matching sweat set. Got these in the mail earlier this week, and really loving the set. Super comfortable, sure, but the small details make it great — including a slit at the hem and an inner kangaroo pocket on the sweatshirt, so that your important stuff stays put. Use “HURDLE15” at checkout for 15% off, and if you’re interested in becoming a member to get more exclusive discounts and fun access, use “HURDLE20” to save 20% on The Membership.

Quote I’m Loving: “Do what you can with what you have right where you are.” — Theodore Roosevelt

---

Thanks to LMNT — an electrolyte drink mix with everything you need and nothing you don't — for supporting Hurdle.

Gotta give some love to LMNT, zero-sugar hydration to support your active lifestyle. I’m the saltiest sweater (cute, I know). These electrolytes have been my go-to recently to perform better. I like them not just because they taste great (the orange salt is my favorite), but they’re also without artificial ingredients, sugar, and coloring. With LMNT, you can:

☀️ Kickstart your mornings

💪 Fuel workouts and improve recovery

Head to DrinkLMNT.com/Hurdle to get a FREE LMNT sample pack with purchase. To claim this deal you must go to DrinkLMNT.com/Hurdle — no code necessary.

---

🎧  NEW PODCAST EPISODE: 240. Sami Clarke, Founder of FORM & Certified Trainer
Sami Clarke never anticipated falling into entrepreneurship. But during the pandemic, her passion for health and fitness took on a whole new meaning as she felt called to help others around the world move their bodies and rediscover wellness. In 2021, the former model founded FORM, a wellness platform. In today's episode, she describes what it felt like to go into flow state, building her community of 20K subscribers and over 1 million social followers from the ground up. She also details her morning routine, the #hurdlemoment of meeting her now-fiance that transformed her relationship with wellness, how she healed her skin, and why she prioritizes gut health. 

---

HOW CAN I SUPPORT HURDLE?

I’m so, so glad you asked!

SUBSCRIBE, RATE, AND REVIEW HURDLE: 
We’re now over 1,000 ratings and reviews in the iTunes store! Go on, get after it.
iTunes | Spotify | Stitcher | Anchor

JOIN: THE *Secret* FACEBOOK GROUP

Another (weekly) Hurdle conquered. Catch you guys next week.