The Best of GO

5th Annual “Where-To” Guide to NYC

From swanky hotels to hot dogs for a steal, from museums to mega-gyms, we’ve logged it all. Share with your visiting ex from Wisconsin, or refresh your memory by taking a peek yourself (we won’t tell). We present you with GO’s Top 10s of the best of NYC (in no particular order).

Where to Eat:

B. Community Favorites

Eat like you live here, even if you don’t; our
LGBT-friendly faves.

Lola’s Restaurant 15 Watts St (@ Thompson St), lolaissoul.com. We’re “souled” on Lola’s rhythm and blues lounge where many dollars will buy you crabcakes, beignets, and musical entertainment.

Bamboo 52 344 W 52nd St (btwn 8th & 9th Aves), bamboo52nyc.com. Settle in for the night with everything you need; this well-equipped spot boasts a DJ booth, an open sushi kitchen, and a nine-hour happy hour with huge cocktails.

Beast 638 Bergen St, Bklyn (@ Vanderbilt Ave), 718-399-6855. This vaguely gothic tapas tavern serves generous small plates and gets your drink flowing with wine served by the quartino.

Deborah 43 Carmine St (btwn Bleecker &
Bedford Sts), deborahlifelovefood.com. Let Deborah cook you dinner, with a bit of hemp and a bevy of farm-fresh ingredients. We assure you, you’ll be begging for more.

East of Eighth 254 W 23rd St (btwn 7th & 8th Aves). Kick off your evening with tasty mini-pizzas and all-American fare with a mostly-queer crowd in this cozy (read: flirty) spot.

Cowgirl 519 Hudson St (@ W 10th St),
cowgirlnyc.com. Kitschy, kitschy! Out-of-towners should cruise the tacky-fun “general store”
after scooping up Frito pie and sucking down a few fantastic margaritas.

Florent 69 Gansevoort St (btwn Washington & Greenwich Sts), restaurantflorent.com. This decades-old 24-hour bistro will refuel you with a nice 3am plate of escargot after a night of partying.

Rita Mae’s/Rubyfruit 531 Hudson St (@ W 10th St), rubyfruitny.com. Scuttle under Rubyfruit’s stairs to the full-service restaurant, where cute waitresses serve up surf ’n’ turf and vegetarian vittles. Then, follow the music to the inevitable dance party upstairs.

Superfine 126 Front St (@ Pearl St), Bklyn,
718-243-9005. Enjoy a Texas roadhouse meal as hipsters shoot pool in the background at this bar/restaurant/bluegrass venue/family spot hybrid.

Island Café Bar & Lounge 35-15 36th St, Queens, 718-433-0690. Our favorite Top Chef star (and Woman We Love ’07), Josie Smith-Malave, is the executive chef at this brand spanking new Long Island City eatery.

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