It’s June which means the Knicks are blessedly in the playoffs, the World Cup tourists haven’t quite yet descended on our fair city, and the weather is near-perfect, with warm temps and low humidity (for now), absolutely perfect for al fresco dining.
To add to the good fortune of New Yorkers, yet another crop of newly-opened bars and restaurants have sprung up around town. Look for a Brooklyn cantina inspired by Mexico City from the team behind Taqueria Ramirez and Carnitas Ramirez, a wood-fired restaurant in Nolita from The Noortwyck team, a new rooftop spot, and more.
Socceria
As a friendly disclaimer, Socceria, a new bar from the Taqueria Ramirez team, proclaimed that it’s not a sports bar— it’s actually a “CDMX-inspired cantina with a soccer problem.” Whether Greenpointers (and tourists and locals) will make the distinction is anyone’s guess.
Since inviting friends and family in last week, word got out and reservations for the recent soft-openings sold out rápido, disappearing in minutes. Between the lure of the weeks of soccer matches and signature top-notch Mexican food and drink items–including new breakfast offerings like chilequiles and huevos rancheros, plus wings, burgers, and of course, tacos–Socceria is officially the hottest spot in Brooklyn. Look for limited service this weekend, June 6 and 7 and an official opening on June 11, just in time for World Cup viewing. 46 Norman Ave., Greenpoint, socceria.nyc
Oriana
From The Noortwyck team comes Oriana, a live-fire restaurant in Nolita that opened on May 28. The bi-level space on Mott Street features an onyx bar, a sprawling wood-fired grill (for cooking peak-season vegetables, fresh seafood, and large-format meats), and an old-world wine cellar. It also boasts a private listening lounge with vinyl curated by artists including Rufus Wainwright.
Executive chef Andy Quinn and sommelier Cedric Nicaise were successful with their first venture The Noortwyck, which they opened together in June 2022. Oriana marks the pair’s next chapter in New York City dining.
“With Oriana, I want to showcase how fire can transform ingredients, bringing clarity to delicate seafood, depth to vegetables, and a real sense of character to larger cuts,” said chef Quinn. “It’s showing how beautifully these different elements come together, like smoke, acidity, and texture, to create dishes that feel cohesive and fully realized.” 174 Mott St., Nolita, oriananewyork.com
Jade Rabbit
In late May, Jade Rabbit opened for the season, a new rooftop izakaya and cocktail lounge atop the Kimpton Era Midtown New York with impressive panoramic views of Rockefeller Center and beyond. Guests will arrive through a secret side hallway with a floor-to-ceiling mural created by artist Aaron Petz and are met with 360-degree views.
The menu of Japanese and Asian fusion-inspired small plates includes sashimi, crispy rice, maki rolls, hand rolls, and desserts—all meant for sharing. Along with a menu of zero-proof offerings, look for an Asian-inspired menu of cocktails, including a Thai Basil Gimlet (pear vodka, Midori, Thai basil, and lime). 32 W. 48th St., Midtown, jaderabbitny.com
Wokuni Broadway
On May 28, Japanese seafood restaurant Wokuni opened its second Manhattan location, Wokuni Broadway, on Broadway near 36th Street, joining a sister restaurant on Lexington, which opened back in 2017. Known for sourcing bluefin tuna directly from its own fish farm in Nagasaki, Wokuni built a following for serving high-quality seafood in a more affordable and approachable way than typical NYC restaurants.
The menu features sushi, sashimi, rolls, and tuna-focused dishes, alongside izakaya offerings like grilled hamachi collar, tempura, and wagyu. Lunch is also a strong draw and a great deal, but Wokuni’s signature tuna cutting show is also a big deal.
Wokuni Tuna Entertainment will be held monthly at the new location during which guests witness a live breakdown of a whole bluefin tuna. Following the breakdown, select rare cuts are auctioned to guests in the dining room and a heads-up: Wokuni’s first “Broadway show” takes place June 23. 1359 Broadway, Herald Square, wokuninyc.com
Avenue Sky Lounge
Tao Group unveiled its reinvention of Avenue to the public on May 29 with the launch of Avenue Sky Lounge. Avenue was, for those who don’t remember, a fixture of the West Chelsea club era during its 10-year run from 2009 until 2019. The new Avenue is a 6,000-square-foot cocktail lounge and private event space above Edge at Hudson Yards.
It’s designed to be a flexible, transformative space, depending on time of day and party size, and feels far different than the old digs on 10th Avenue mainly because it’s on the 101st floor, adding an incredible wow factor.
“At the heart of this transformation is the return of Avenue,” said Noah Tepperberg, co-CEO of Tao Group Hospitality. “Bringing Avenue back to New York is deeply personal for us. It’s a brand that has always represented the best of what we do, and reimagining it 1,100 feet above Manhattan felt like the only way to do it justice.” 30 Hudson Yards, Hudson Yards, taogroup.com
