Four Things Not to Miss in New York This Month
- Celebrate Cinco de Mayo: Restaurants throughout the city have special events planned for May 5. Avant Garden is celebrating the cuisine of Puebla, Mexico, the hometown of chef Juan Pajarito, with a four-course, family-style feast. Tex-Mex specialist Yellow Rose is popping up at their sibling restaurant, Rose Marie. Mad Bar & Lounge will have a night overflowing with handcrafted margaritas and live Latin jazz. Alma Negra will have food and drink specials all weekend long from May 3 to 5. And do consider ordering cocktails from Superbueno, The Cabinet Mezcal Bar, and elNico, too. Needless to say, these are great choices the other 364 days of the year, too.
- Pop-Ups of Note: Introduce yourself to up-and-coming chefs as part of The Lineup dinner series, taking place on May 7 and 21, as well as on June 4. On May 7, Le Bernardin chef de partie Aditya Mishra showcases a five-course tasting menu inspired by a 1970’s trade route from Kathmandu to Tibet, featuring pani puri, lobster momo with caviar, and more. On May 21, Borgo chef de partie Kevin Jordan debuts a seasonal menu that reflects his experience cooking in kitchens like Bouchon, Per Se, and of course, Borgo. And next month, mark your calendars for a dinner with Eleven Madison Park chef Imogen Baber, which will be a fully vegetarian tasting menu built on global influences and precise techniques.
- Brunch Recs Galore: It’s never not brunch season in New York, but with Mother’s Day (May 10) taking place this month, there are even more opportunities to brunch than ever before. A few suggestions for that particular Sunday: Treat mom to brunch at Meadowsweet where they’ll have a three-course menu for $65/person ($30/child). Or take her to Il Buco Alimentari e Vineria for a lovely menu of Italian classics, plus specials. Or maybe splurge on brunch at Gabriel Kreuther or Sartiano’s. Or feast family-style at Naro. Or maybe even create your own floral arrangement and dine on some sushi while you’re at it at Kinoko. Check out our guide to brunch in NYC for even more suggestions for the entire month.
- Support AAPI-Owned Restaurants: May is Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage month, and what better time to support the city’s AAPI-owned restaurants? From superb Korean American pub fare at Golden HOF – Korean Bar & Grill and no-holds-barred Sichuan fare at Mission Chinese Food to elegant Hawaiian dishes at Noreetuh and a sophisticated Indian tasting menu at Passerine, there’s so much to savor.
New to the Hit List (May 2026)
Kidilum, Bar Bête, Dean’s, S&P Lunch, Mắm, Confidant, and Balera.
