Close Icon
Gear IconImportant Reminder:The Foursquare City Guide app officially sunset on December 15, 2024, with the web version following in early 2025. However, your check-in journey doesn’t end here! Join us on Swarm, where new adventures await.
Learn more
Approved for Tourists NYC

Approved for Tourists NYC

Creator Avatar
Created by Jeff Orlick • Updated On: April 1, 2015

I don't want tourists coming to NYC and doing crap things, like pedicabs or Famous Famiglia. I want you doing the real NY thing with the real NY stuff and keeping the money in the real New York City!

Grand Central Oyster Bar is one of Approved for Tourists NYC.

1. Grand Central Oyster Bar

7.6
89 E 42nd St (Grand Central Terminal), New York, NY
Seafood Restaurant · Midtown East · 402 tips and reviews

Jeff O.Jeff Orlick: Just get oysters, forget the other stuff. Have a great time!

Nathan's Famous is one of Approved for Tourists NYC.

2. Nathan's Famous

8.0
1310 Surf Ave (at Stillwell Ave), Brooklyn, NY
Hot Dog Joint · Coney Island · 360 tips and reviews
Katz's Delicatessen is one of Approved for Tourists NYC.

3. Katz's Delicatessen

9.0
205 E Houston St (at Ludlow St), New York, NY
Sandwich Spot · Lower East Side · 1449 tips and reviews
Citi Field is one of Approved for Tourists NYC.

4. Citi Field

9.1
41 Seaver Way (at Roosevelt Ave), Flushing, NY
Baseball Stadium · Flushing · 666 tips and reviews
Patsy's Pizzeria is one of Approved for Tourists NYC.

5. Patsy's Pizzeria

8.8
2287 1st Ave (btwn E 117th & E 118th St), New York, NY
Pizzeria · East Harlem · 143 tips and reviews

Jeff O.Jeff Orlick: This is the only acceptable Patsy's.

Gray's Papaya is one of Approved for Tourists NYC.

6. Gray's Papaya

8.1
2090 Broadway (at W 72nd St), New York, NY
Hot Dog Joint · 246 tips and reviews

Jeff O.Jeff Orlick: I am misquoting Regis Philbin when I say that it's like dessert in a bun - but you get the idea

Union Square Greenmarket is one of Approved for Tourists NYC.

7. Union Square Greenmarket

9.3
Union Sq W (btwn E 14th & E 17th St), New York, NY
Farmers Market · Union Square · 410 tips and reviews

Jeff O.Jeff Orlick: Biggest green market in NYC. Love the Hawthorne Farms yogurt.

Maison Premiere is one of Approved for Tourists NYC.

8. Maison Premiere

9.1
298 Bedford Ave (btwn S 1st & Grand St), Brooklyn, NY
Seafood Restaurant · Williamsburg · 446 tips and reviews

Jeff O.Jeff Orlick: You can't beat the oyster happy hour - come as early as possible.

New World Mall Food Court is one of Approved for Tourists NYC.

9. New World Mall Food Court

8.0
136-20 Roosevelt Ave (at Main St), Flushing, NY
Food Court · 81 tips and reviews
Rubirosa is one of Approved for Tourists NYC.

10. Rubirosa

9.2
235 Mulberry St (btwn Prince & Spring St), New York, NY
Italian Restaurant · NoLita · 841 tips and reviews

Jeff O.Jeff Orlick: Go to the back room, see that wonderful pizza oven.

2nd Ave Deli is one of Approved for Tourists NYC.

11. 2nd Ave Deli

8.8
162 E 33rd St (btw 3rd & Lexington Ave), New York, NY
Jewish Restaurant · Rose Hill · 181 tips and reviews
Village Yokocho is one of Approved for Tourists NYC.

12. Village Yokocho

8 Stuyvesant St (at 3rd Ave), New York, NY
Japanese Restaurant · East Village · 144 tips and reviews

Jeff O.Jeff Orlick: This entire block is great

New York Pizza Suprema is one of Approved for Tourists NYC.

13. New York Pizza Suprema

9.0
413 8th Ave (btwn W 30th & W 31st St), New York, NY
Pizzeria · Chelsea · 342 tips and reviews
Jazz Standard is one of Approved for Tourists NYC.

14. Jazz Standard

111 E 27th St (btw Park & Lexington Ave), New York, NY
Jazz and Blues Venue · Rose Hill · 78 tips and reviews
Smorgasburg Williamsburg is one of Approved for Tourists NYC.

15. Smorgasburg Williamsburg

90 Kent Ave (at N 7th St), Brooklyn, NY
Street Food Gathering · Williamsburg · 412 tips and reviews
Golden Shopping Mall is one of Approved for Tourists NYC.

16. Golden Shopping Mall

41-28 Main St (41st Rd), Flushing, NY
Chinese Restaurant · 52 tips and reviews
Cosenza's Fish Market is one of Approved for Tourists NYC.

17. Cosenza's Fish Market

8.5
2354 Arthur Ave (E. 186th St.), Bronx, NY
Fish Market · Belmont · 9 tips and reviews
Yakitori Totto is one of Approved for Tourists NYC.

18. Yakitori Totto

8.5
251 W 55th St (btwn Broadway & 8th Ave.), New York, NY
Japanese Restaurant · Theater District · 183 tips and reviews
John's of Bleecker Street is one of Approved for Tourists NYC.

19. John's of Bleecker Street

9.0
278 Bleecker St (at Jones St), New York, NY
Pizzeria · West Village · 228 tips and reviews
Chubby Mary's Heroes is one of Approved for Tourists NYC.

20. Chubby Mary's Heroes

328 E 14th St (btwn 1st & 2nd Aves.), New York, NY
Sandwich Spot · Gramercy Park · 15 tips and reviews
Veselka is one of Approved for Tourists NYC.

21. Veselka

8.9
144 2nd Ave (at E 9th St), New York, NY
Ukrainian Restaurant · East Village · 648 tips and reviews
NY Jumbo Bagels is one of Approved for Tourists NYC.

22. NY Jumbo Bagels

8.4
1070 2nd Ave (Bt 56th And 57th), New York, NY
Bagel Shop · Midtown East · 32 tips and reviews
Absolute Bagels is one of Approved for Tourists NYC.

23. Absolute Bagels

9.1
2788 Broadway (at W 108th St), New York, NY
Bagel Shop · Upper West Side · 295 tips and reviews
MoMA Design Store is one of Approved for Tourists NYC.

24. MoMA Design Store

9.3
44 W 53rd St (btwn 6th & 5th Ave.), New York, NY
Gift Store · Midtown East · 69 tips and reviews
Grand Bazaar NYC is one of Approved for Tourists NYC.

25. Grand Bazaar NYC

6.0
100 West 77th Street (Columbus Avenue), New York, NY
Flea Market · Upper West Side · 40 tips and reviews
Arlene's Grocery is one of Approved for Tourists NYC.

26. Arlene's Grocery

7.8
95 Stanton St (btwn Ludlow & Orchard St), New York, NY
Rock Club · Lower East Side · 103 tips and reviews
Keens Steakhouse is one of Approved for Tourists NYC.

27. Keens Steakhouse

9.1
72 W 36th St (btwn 5th & 6th Ave), New York, NY
Steakhouse · Koreatown · 484 tips and reviews
Economy Candy is one of Approved for Tourists NYC.

28. Economy Candy

8.8
108 Rivington St (btw Essex & Ludlow St), New York, NY
Candy Store · Lower East Side · 96 tips and reviews
Mast Brothers Chocolate Factory is one of Approved for Tourists NYC.

29. Mast Brothers Chocolate Factory

111 N 3rd St, Brooklyn, NY
Chocolate Store · Williamsburg · 103 tips and reviews
Nom Wah Tea Parlor is one of Approved for Tourists NYC.

30. Nom Wah Tea Parlor

8.2
13 Doyers St (btwn Pell St & Bowery), New York, NY
Dim Sum Restaurant · Chinatown · 376 tips and reviews
The Pickle Shack is one of Approved for Tourists NYC.

31. The Pickle Shack

256 4th Ave (Carroll), Brooklyn, NY
Vegan and Vegetarian Restaurant · Gowanus · 56 tips and reviews
Brooklyn Heights Promenade is one of Approved for Tourists NYC.

32. Brooklyn Heights Promenade

9.6
Columbia Heights (btwn Remsen & Orange St), Brooklyn, NY
Scenic Lookout · Brooklyn Heights · 222 tips and reviews
Williamsburg Pizza is one of Approved for Tourists NYC.

33. Williamsburg Pizza

9.0
265 Union Ave (South 3rd Street), Brooklyn, NY
Pizzeria · East Williamsburg · 81 tips and reviews
Donna Bell's Bakeshop is one of Approved for Tourists NYC.

34. Donna Bell's Bakeshop

301 W 49th St (at 8th Ave), New York, NY
Bakery · Hell's Kitchen · 78 tips and reviews
Best Bagel & Coffee is one of Approved for Tourists NYC.

35. Best Bagel & Coffee

9.0
225 W 35th St (btw 7th & 8th Ave), New York, NY
Bagel Shop · Garment District · 215 tips and reviews
Washington Square Park is one of Approved for Tourists NYC.

36. Washington Square Park

9.5
W 4th St (btwn MacDougal St & University Pl), New York, NY
Park · Greenwich Village · 710 tips and reviews
OddFellows Ice Cream Co. is one of Approved for Tourists NYC.

37. OddFellows Ice Cream Co.

175 Kent Ave (btwn N 3rd & N 4th St), Brooklyn, NY
Ice Cream Parlor · Williamsburg · 231 tips and reviews
Food Bazaar Supermarket is one of Approved for Tourists NYC.

38. Food Bazaar Supermarket

8.7
42-02 Northern Blvd (42nd Place), Astoria, NY
Supermarket · Long Island City · 40 tips and reviews
WNYC Transmitter Park is one of Approved for Tourists NYC.

39. WNYC Transmitter Park

9.4
2 Greenpoint Ave (at West St), Brooklyn, NY
Park · Greenpoint · 59 tips and reviews

Jeff O.Jeff Orlick: Great views at night

Coleman Playground Skatepark is one of Approved for Tourists NYC.

40. Coleman Playground Skatepark

7.8
at Cherry, Market, Monroe & Pike St. (btwn Chinatown & Lower East Side), New York, NY
Skate Park · Two Bridges · 11 tips and reviews
Defonte's Sandwich Shop is one of Approved for Tourists NYC.

41. Defonte's Sandwich Shop

9.1
379 Columbia St (at Luquer St), Brooklyn, NY
Sandwich Spot · Red Hook · 89 tips and reviews
Pulau Pinang is one of Approved for Tourists NYC.

42. Pulau Pinang

6.6
82-84 Broadway, Elmhurst, NY
Malay Restaurant · 7 tips and reviews
Areperia Arepa Lady is one of Approved for Tourists NYC.

43. Areperia Arepa Lady

77-02a Roosevelt Ave (at 77th St), Queens, NY
Arepa Restaurant · Elmhurst · 34 tips and reviews
SoHo Playhouse is one of Approved for Tourists NYC.

44. SoHo Playhouse

8.7
15 Vandam St (btwn 6th Ave & Varick St), New York, NY
Indie Theater · Hudson Square · 14 tips and reviews
Balthazar is one of Approved for Tourists NYC.

45. Balthazar

9.0
80 Spring St (at Crosby St), New York, NY
French Restaurant · SoHo · 1057 tips and reviews