Spring is here, and Manhattan’s restaurant scene is heating up faster than the weather. From SoHo to the Upper East Side, a wave of exciting new spots are opening their doors this month — and whether you’re craving hand-pulled noodles, British pub fare, or Vietnamese coffee cocktails, there’s something fresh waiting for you.
Dean’s Brings Coastal Britain to SoHo
At 213 Sixth Avenue, Dean’s has officially opened its doors with a seafood-heavy British pub concept that feels like a slice of the English coast dropped into lower Manhattan. The team behind the acclaimed King restaurant is serving up dressed crab, Scotch quail eggs, and a reimagined stargazy pie alongside pints of Guinness and gin cocktails. The fish pie and roasted Scottish langoustines are already drawing crowds, and the potted shrimp on hot buttered crumpets is the kind of dish that makes you wonder why British food ever got a bad reputation.
Soba Ulala Rolls Into Thompson Street
Japanese noodle lovers, take note. Soba Ulala at 73 Thompson Street in SoHo is making its soba noodles in-house twice a day, and the difference shows. The menu goes beyond noodles into small dishes, sashimi, and rice bowls, but the star is the soba itself — buckwheat noodles with that just-made texture you rarely find outside of Tokyo. This is a quiet, deliberate restaurant in a neighborhood that tends toward flash, and that’s exactly what makes it special.
Ms. Alice Brings Aperitivo Hour to the Lower East Side
If you’ve been looking for a cocktail bar that channels European aperitivo culture without the transatlantic flight, Ms. Alice at 79 Rivington Street is your new spot. The vibe is luxurious but approachable — think martinis, spritzes, and inventive signature cocktails like the Yuzu Negroni and Pickled Blueberry Martini. It’s the kind of place where one drink turns into three and nobody’s complaining.
Motek Lands on Bleecker Street
Motek has taken over 184 Bleecker Street in Greenwich Village with a Mediterranean menu anchored by fluffy housemade laffa, shawarma, schnitzel, and a spread of vibrant mezze that practically demands you order one of everything. The daily $5 happy hour is the kind of deal that rarely survives long in the Village, so get there while it lasts.
After Eden: Coffee by Day, Cocktail Lounge by Night
Opening April 10 at 162 Orchard Street, After Eden is pulling double duty as a Vietnamese coffee café during the day and an intimate cocktail lounge after dark. The Southeast Asian-inspired drinks menu bridges the two concepts, and the Lower East Side location puts it right in the middle of one of the city’s best bar-hopping corridors.
More on the Way
Yesterday’s opens April 10 at 157 Bleecker Street with a 6,500-square-foot throwback to old-school NYC bar culture spanning two levels. And later this month, Miami’s Skinny Louie smash burger concept arrives at 1565 2nd Avenue on the Upper East Side on April 24, bringing Black Angus beef smash burgers and shakes to the neighborhood.
What You Need to Know
- Dean’s (213 Sixth Ave, SoHo) — British seafood pub, now open
- Soba Ulala (73 Thompson St, SoHo) — House-made soba noodles, now open
- Ms. Alice (79 Rivington St, LES) — Aperitivo cocktail bar, now open
- Motek (184 Bleecker St, Greenwich Village) — Mediterranean, early April
- After Eden (162 Orchard St, LES) — Vietnamese café/cocktail lounge, April 10
- Yesterday’s (157 Bleecker St, West Village) — Classic NYC bar, April 10
- Skinny Louie (1565 2nd Ave, UES) — Smash burgers, April 24
For more on what’s happening across the borough, check out our recent spotlight on Manhattan’s community heroes and our self-guided walking tour of Manhattan’s best-kept secrets.
