In addition to SoHo’s beautiful boutiques and architecture, the area is home to a plethora of wonderful restaurants. It was difficult to narrow my list down to 5 as I have tried so many wonderful places throughout my time living here. However, the restaurants mentioned below are definitely the ones you should check out first before exploring any others.
From pink pasta to deep dish pizza, SoHo has restaurants with cuisine for every kind of diner!
Visiting other destinations in the region? Check out our other delicious guides:
- 5 Must-Try Vegan Pizza Brooklyn
- 10 Must-Try Jersey City Restaurants
- 10 Must-Try Restaurants In Rochester NY
- 5 Best Restaurants in LeRoy, New York
- 7 Must-Try Batavia Restaurants
- The 7 Best East Tremont Restaurants
5 Best Restaurants In SoHo NYC
Pietro Nolita
174 Elizabeth Street, New York, NY 10012 // +1 646-998-4999
I don’t know about you, but I haven’t heard of any restaurants that are decked out in pink from the time you arrive to the time you sit down until I came across Pietro Nolita. This is one of the Italian restaurants in SoHo NYC that is a fan favorite due to the aesthetically pleasing and photogenic ambiance. When I arrived at the restaurant, I was blown away in the best possible way by the presence of pink. Of course, I had to take a plethora of photos before checking in for my reservation. Since I visited during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, I sat at a table outside as I was more comfortable with that decision.
Pietro Nolita is especially recognized for its “pink” menu items including the “Heart Shaped Butternut Squash Ravioli” and “Pink As F***” Pancakes”. They also have some pink drinks including “fresh pink lemonade” and “a sneak pink” which is comprised of Gin, Cappelletti, rosemary, grapefruit, lemon, orange blossom, and soda
If you’re looking for a place to grab breakfast, Pietro Nolita is a good spot to go since they serve breakfast all day. Breakfast menu items include “Egg Sandwich / Egg Bowl” and the “Pink As F***” Pancakes.” On Friday, Saturday, and Sunday additional breakfast items are served including “Avocado Focaccia Toast”, “Eggs Norwegian”, and “French Toast”.
Pietro Nolita is recognized for its Italian cuisine and pasta offerings some of which include “Rigatoni Alla Carbonara” and “Fusilli Al Limone”.
I’d recommend making a reservation if you plan on dining at Pietro Nolita. The staff is very friendly and encourages photo taking and fun! It is worth it.
Emmett’s
50 Macdougal St, New York, NY 10012 // +1 917-639-3571
I had passed by Emmett’s countless times before finally going in to check it out. Emmett’s is known for their Chicago-style deep dish pizza and it’s why it is one of the best American restaurants in SoHo NYC.
When I dined there, I ordered just that. Let me start off by saying to make sure you come hungry because the portions are enormous.
For an appetizer, I ordered the cheesy garlic bread, which was really delicious but unnecessary to eat before my deep-dish pizza arrived. It was my first time dining there, so I didn’t really expect the coming pizza to be as filling and delicious as it was.
I was dining with one other person so we decided to share one of the speciality deep dish pizzas which are 10” of pure deliciousness. We ordered “The Cheese Louise” and boy was this pizza cheesy! It even came with caramelized cheese crust. I love cheese so I was content. Make sure to ask for a box if you are unable to finish your meal as the leftovers make for a great next-day treat.
Other specialty deep-dish pizzas on the menu include “This Buds For You” with spinach, white onion, and mushroom as well as the “Meat Lover” with pepperoni, sausage, and Italian beef.
This restaurant is especially good if you’re dining with a large party because of the larger portion sizes. I cannot speak to the inside decor and ambiance as I sat outside when I dined here. However, the service was stellar and I deemed the food to be reasonably priced for the value and portion sizes offered. Best value for money out of all the restaurants in SoHo NYC.
I recommend making a reservation if you plan on dining here as the establishment can get pretty crowded. Please note that the restaurant is closed on Mondays, so if you plan on going, make sure to keep that in mind when booking a table.
Dos Caminos
475 West Broadway, New York, NY 10012 // +1 212-277-4300
If you’re in the mood for Mexican cuisine, Dos Caminos in SoHo has got you covered. As someone who really enjoys Mexican cuisine, I appreciate the extensive menu at this location. I enjoy the “Taquitos De Pollo” which consists of pulled free-range chicken, sweet potatoes, crema, queso fresco, tomatillo salsa as well as the “Quesadilla De Pollo” which consists of marinated grilled free-range chicken* breast, chipotle bbq sauce, Mexican cheeses, pico de gallo, guacamole, charred serrano, and crema.
I do not drink, but this location offers a wonderful drink menu with signature Margaritas including the “SoHo Spicy Mango” which was the winner of 2022 Margarita Madness and is made up of 818 Reposado Tequila, habanero-agave syrup, mango purée, and lime juice. Additionally, “THE GREAT ESCAPE” was the winner of the 2022 Margarita Rumble and consists of Teremana Reposado Tequila, lime juice, hibiscus-ginger syrup. Frozen Margaritas and “Dos Cocktails” like the “Pineapple Smoke” with Casamigos Mezcal, Casamigos Reposado Tequila, bitters, pineapple juice, and agave lemon juice are also available. There is also wine both red and white, rose, and an extensive roster of Tequila one can order from.
Reservations are recommended for the SoHo location and can be made on the Dos Caminos website. Still, it’s up in the list of the best Mexican restaurants in SoHo NYC.
Bubby’s
120 Hudson Street, New York, NY 10013 // +1 212-219-0666
Bubby’s is my go-to restaurant for classic American fare. This restaurant serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner. For breakfast, Bubby’s offers a wide variety of options, but most especially with their pancakes. Diners have the ability to pick their pancake from James Beard “light and fluffy traditional flapjacks” or 1890 Sourdough “thin & chewy” for which they can select one topping of either blueberry, caramelized banana and toasted walnuts, chocolate chips and whipped cream, or Nutella, strawberries, and whipped cream for $22 (each additional topping is $3). If you’re not in the mood for pancakes, the establishment also offers a variety of breakfast plates.
Although I have not yet dined at Bubby’s for breakfast, I have had dinner there plenty of times.
Bubby’s has some of the best hamburgers on the menu with my favorite being “Bubby’s Burger.” What is really unique about this burger is that it is made from grass-fed & finished beef from Autumn Harvest Farm, and each burger comes from one animal. I particularly enjoy the hand-cut fries that come on the side as well.
If you’re not in the mood for a burger, there are plenty of soups and salads to choose from including Caesar Salad and Matzo Ball Soup.
What I love most about Bubby’s are their fantastic dessert pies. My favorite is the “Banoffee” which is made up of bananas, dulce de leche, espresso, whipped cream, and graham cracker crust. However, the “Peanut Butter Chocolate” and “Key Lime” are also really delicious.
I would recommend making a reservation if you plan on trying Bubby’s. Reservations can be made on Yelp, but please note that on Saturday and Sunday brunch from 8 am – 4 pm, no reservations are permitted and that only guests who walk in can be seated.
Although I have only eaten at Bubby’s a handful of times, it has definitely made a positive lasting impression and is somewhere I will continue visiting. One of the best restaurants in SoHo NYC.
La Pecora Bianca
54 Prince Street, New York, NY 10012 // +1 212-380-8202
Some of the best pasta in SoHo can be found at La Pecora Bianca. I had always seen such great things about this restaurant across social media, so when I decided to try it out for myself, I was not let down. All of the pastas served at this restaurant are made in-house. I ordered the “Bucatini” as cacio e pepe has become a new favorite of mine. Plenty of other pasta dishes are available including “Tagliatelle” and “Garganelli” to name a few.
I really enjoyed the burrata I ordered for an appetizer. One can also top their pasta with burrata if they are so inclined. I usually do, but decided not to as I wanted to experience my entree-to-order without any additions or modifications. In addition to pasta, this restaurant also has a variety of meat options such as “Chicken Milanese”, “Strip Steak”, and a “Pork Chop.”
In addition to the variety of food, this restaurant has a hefty cocktail and wine-specific menu. Available cocktails include the “Spicy Limoncello Margarita” with tequila, limoncello, Fresno chili and “Montenegro Mule” with Montenegro, dimmi, ginger. Here are a few more reasons why this is one of the best restaurants in SoHo NYC.
The dessert menu is unique with an assortment of options including “Olive Oil Cake,” “Chocolate Hazelnut Budino”, and “Tiramisu for Two.” I did not have the opportunity to try any of the desserts when I dined there as I was in a bit of a time crunch and had a show to catch, but I definitely look forward to trying the “Olive Oil Cake ” next time I visit.
Overall, this restaurant is great because of the delicious food, and timely and attentive service. My glass of water was never empty and our server consistently checked in on the table to ensure that all was well and the food was tasting good.
I did not sit inside, so I cannot speak to the ambiance inside the restaurant. However, I can say that the outside seating area they had arranged was very quaint and modern-looking. I personally love sitting outside and people-watching while I eat, so the setup was perfect for doing just that.
Restaurants can be made on Resy. When I dined there, it was super crowded, so I would recommend making one if you are able to.
Restaurants in SoHo NYC: Wrap Up
One of the things that amaze me is the constant drive for restaurant owners in NYC to improve and be the best and this reflects in their food. Soho is definitely a place where you can taste that drive in different amazing places.
