Instagrammable Restaurants in NYC

A visit to one of the world’s most magical cities wouldn’t feel complete without some amazing pics. 🗽 Foodies and social media personalities alike agree New York, New York offers the best of the best. When it comes to Instagrammable restaurants, NYC comes to mind first… and they don’t break the bank! 

Here at ​​Flytographer, we easily connect people with trusted photographers for fun photo shoots and have captured over three million memories worldwide. 🌎 Today, we asked our local photographers to show us some of the most Instagrammable restaurants in NYC. (Be sure to also check out our Top 10 Places to Take Photos in NYC and our Local’s Guide to the Best Things to Do in NYC!)

TLDR

1. Time Out Market, DUMBO, Brooklyn — This casual market near the waterfront has options for everyone, featuring eateries that are likely already on your NYC dining list!
2. Pietro Nolita, Nolita, Manhattan — If you love the colour pink, homemade Italian food, and/or an A+ commitment to a theme, visiting Pietro Nolita is a must!
3. The Smith, Manhattan — Did someone say photo booth!? The Smith offers a handful of locations in the city with amazing food for everyone in your party, an awesome ambiance, and fun photo booths!
4. Tiki Chick, Upper West Side, Manhattan — A retro Tiki Bar with the coolest drinks and $5 sandwiches! Old school beach vibes in the world’s coolest city? You can’t go wrong.
5. La Esquina, SoHo, Manhattan — It doesn’t get much better than 10/10 tacos and a speakeasy.
6. While We Were Young, West Village, Manhattan — This eatery was basically made for social media! It’s a perfect spot to dine and snap pics while you’re in New York City.
7. Freemans, Lower East Side, Manhattan — Great food greets you on the other side of NYC’s coolest art-covered alley.
8. Laduree, SoHo, Manhattan — More than just macarons, this Paris favourite has one of the city’s most photo-worthy courtyards for al fresco dining (plus spectacular food).
9. Sunday in Brooklyn, Williamsburg, Brooklyn — With menu items that look unbelievable, this place will leave both you and your camera roll full.
10. La Mercerie, SoHo, Manhattan — Inside one of the city’s best interiors and design galleries lies an equally stunning French restaurant.

Photo: Flytographer in New York City. Doug & Sanj capture memories in New York City with a vacation photoshoot in Times Square.

1. Time Out Market, DUMBO, Brooklyn

This casual indoor market near DUMBO’s waterfront has a lot of different food options to choose from — many of which may be restaurants you already have on your dining must-eat list — all in one easy, very Instagrammable location! 🍽 For carb lovers, be sure to grab Dough Doughnuts, bagels from Ess-a-Bagel, or Clinton St. Baking Company’s famous blueberry pancakes! 🍩🥯🥞 Before you leave, stop for ice cream at Sugar Hill Creamery or head to the top level for an amazing view of the Manhattan skyline and Brooklyn Bridge (they also have a stellar rooftop bar if you’re not quite ready to leave!). As far as Instagrammable restaurants in NYC go, this one is a must-not-miss. 🤩

Photo: Kari in New York City for Flytographer. Meg and friends capture memories in New York City with a friends photoshoot at Brooklyn Bridge & DUMBO.

2. Pietro Nolita, Nolita, Manhattan

Calling alllllll pink lovers! 💕 From pastel to neon, all the shades are here. You’ve likely seen Pietro Nolita in your Instagram feed before — it’s an NYC IG staple! This delish Italian restaurant serves up healthy dishes and a mouth-watering weekend brunch in a setting that screams ‘INSTAGRAM!’ They make pasta fresh daily, and the best part is, their food and drinks taste as good as they look. 🍝 Especially if you’re looking for a spot to show off your best all-pink look with girlfriends, Pietro Nolita deserves to be way up high on your NYC restaurant list. 🎀

Photo: Kari in New York City for Flytographer. Krystle and family celebrate a birthday in New York City with a birthday photoshoot at Brooklyn Bridge & DUMBO.

3. The Smith, Manhattan

When it comes to Instagrammable restaurants in NYC, you have to check out The Smith. We love a lot about the Smith, in particular their consistently great meals, their awesome locations throughout Manhattan, and… their photo booths! The Smith is great for families and large groups, and the menu is amazing. 😋 If you’re planning on a show at Lincoln Center, be sure to make reservations at the Smith’s Lincoln Square location, and while you’re waiting for your food, you must visit the basement bathroom photo booth! 📸

Photo: Kari in New York City for Flytographer. Susan and friends capture memories in New York City with a friends photoshoot in Central Park.

4. Tiki Chick, Upper West Side, Manhattan

Tiki Chick is a retro tiki bar with cool cocktails and killer $5 fried chicken sandwiches (it’s always happy hour for their $5 sandwiches – can you believe it?)! All the drinks are served with a serious tiki flair, and the vibes are the epitome of Instagram-worthy. 🍹 Tiki Chick is located on the Upper West Side, not far from Central Park, and close to a handful of subway lines. With both indoor and outdoor seating, this spot is perfect for a couple, or a lot of you! 😎 Keep in mind, Tiki Chick doesn’t take reservations and the line can get quite long on weekends. No matter the season, Tiki Chick is always hot. ☀️

Photo: Sehee in New York City for Flytographer. Katrina and friends capture memories in New York City with a friends photoshoot in Madison Square Park.

5. La Esquina, SoHo, Manhattan

La Esquina has some of the best Mexican food in New York City, but their location on Kenmare in SoHo, just near Little Italy, also features more than you might expect. 🆒 The outside of the restaurant is totally one of the most Instagrammable restaurants in NYC – day or night – with their flashy signs, graffiti, and chic ads high above that scream ‘Take a picture!’ 🌮 You can order your tacos to-go, sit down for table service, or (for a truly awesome experience) make a reservation at their speakeasy! 🤫 Speakeasy reservations can be hard to grab, but it’s worth the walk through a side door, down the back stairs, and through the kitchen to dine in this super cool, Instagram-worthy spot.

Photo: Anna in New York City for Flytographer. Rickell and family capture memories in New York City with a family photoshoot in SoHo.

6. While We Were Young, West Village, Manhattan

If we’re talking Instagrammable neighborhoods in NYC, the West Village is one of the very best. You get it all: grit, charm, and spots like While We Were Young that are chic, hip, and deserving of a serious photo shoot! 🤳 This spot serves up stunning food and cocktails in a setting that was basically designed for aesthetic-loving Instagrammers. The dining experience here is light, airy, and filled with little pockets of cool. It’s perfect for social media — and for hungry visitors! 🫶

Photo: Kari in New York City for Flytographer. Brad and friend celebrate a birthday in New York City with a birthday photoshoot in Times Square.

7. Freemans, Lower East Side, Manhattan

Freemans has been serving up delicious, rustic, American cuisine since opening in 2004, but perhaps the coolest part of this restaurant happens before you even enter.🚶‍♀️ Freeman Alley is known for art – street art – and a lot of it. 🎨 The art changes often and runs the gamut from fun to quirky to crazy. Not only is Freemans a great place for photos, but their alley and outside entrance is what makes this one of the most Instagrammable restaurants in NYC.

Photo: Sehee in New York City for Flytographer. Erin and partner celebrate a birthday in New York City with a birthday photoshoot at Brooklyn Bridge & DUMBO.

8. Laduree, SoHo, Manhattan

Many know that this famous French bakery 🇫🇷 serves up pretty macarons, but did you know it’s also an amazing restaurant with a glamorous outdoor garden!? Laduree is the spot where Meghan Markle celebrated her baby shower back in 2019, and that alone should tell you it is beautiful. 👒 The courtyard is particularly out of this world in the spring when the blossoms are blooming, so rather than just stopping by for some sweet treats, stay a while and get your fancy on with this perfectly Instagrammable collision of Parisian beauty in NYC. 🌸

Photo: Amanda in New York City for Flytographer. Ingrid and friend capture memories in New York City with a friends photoshoot in SoHo.

9. Sunday in Brooklyn, Williamsburg, Brooklyn

For those spending time and/or staying in Brooklyn, we must share one of our faves from this borough. Brooklyn (Williamsburg in particular) is known for being endlessly cool, filled with hipsters and trendsetters, amazing coffee shops and popular eateries. ☕️ Sunday in Brooklyn is one of the most Instagrammable restaurants in NYC (and anywhere TBH), evidenced by their own IG feed! Their famous Sunday Pancakes are out of this world, and totally one of a kind. 💯 If you’re looking for a great picture-perfect brunch or dinner spot in Brooklyn where you can happen to show off just how cool NYC can be, this is it! 📍

Photo: Sehee in New York City for Flytographer. Amber and child capture memories in New York City with a vacation photoshoot at Brooklyn Bridge & DUMBO.

10. La Mercerie, SoHo, Manhattan

Located inside the spectacular Roman and Williams Guild, La Mercerie has one of the most lavish dining rooms in the city. ✨ With stunning architecture and interiors, including chandeliers, natural light, plush banquettes, and beautiful table settings, you can’t help but fall in love with La Mercerie. To make things even more magical, their food is spectacular. 🤌 NYC food can sometimes disappoint, but that’s not a problem you’ll have here! La Mercerie is truly one of the city’s most beautiful restaurants.

Photo: Sehee in New York City for Flytographer. Jamie and family celebrate an anniversary in New York City with an anniversary photoshoot in Central Park.

Always Insta-worthy

New York City has over 70 Michelin star restaurants, but some of the most fun dining experiences in the city don’t need to be fancy or wildly expensive. 👏 Insta-worthy hot spots are popping up all the time, so have fun getting your Insta-dining on!

For some of the city’s most amazing, Insta-worthy restaurants, head out of the ever-common Midtown and Times Square areas and into the nooks of the city’s many other incredible neighbourhoods. Although we only focused on two boroughs (Manhattan and Brooklyn), there is so much more to see, experience, and share throughout the city. 🍴 (Be sure to check out this post Inside Our Top 5 New York City Neighborhoods! 📲)

Don’t forget! 💡 Booking a Flytographer shoot is one of the best ways to celebrate your NYC adventure. Our professional photographers know the city and its eateries well and would love to help capture you and your loved ones with or without food, treats, drinks, or more! 🥂