5 New Manhattan Restaurants to Try in September
I’m so ready for the fall.
As a Californian, I spend the whole year praying for cooler weather, so when the leaves start changing and the sweaters come out, I’m in. It’s also when new restaurants start coming out of the woodwork.
Below, we’ve rounded up a snapshot of the latest restaurant openings in Manhattan, along with a few more to come. You’ll find Mexico City’s celebrated El Califa de León and an old-school West Village restaurant with Italian American flair, plus anticipated openings from a Korean cocktail bar tucked in Joo Ok and a new Thai restaurant centered around jasmine rice. ia Georgian Kitchen
El Califa de León
In 2024, Mexico City’s El Califa de León was catapulted to fame when it was awarded the very first Michelin Star for a Mexican taco stand. (It lost the star in 2026.) Now it’s opened up its first New York brick-and-mortar, specializing in simply seasoned, whole cuts of meat seared on a scorching-hot plancha.
The menu features a handful of tacos—gaonera, costilla, bistec, chuleta, and a vegetarian option with peppers, huitlacoche, and corn. Plus, there’s a fun selection of refreshing margaritas, Mexican coke, and beer.
ia Georgian Kitchen
1618 Amsterdam Ave, New York, NY 10031 https://iaharlem.com/ Opened mid-August. This all-day café offers a taste of Georgia in Hamilton Heights, Harlem. Drawing on the country’s production of cheese, walnuts, and orange wine, ia Georgian Kitchen serves specialties such as khachapuri (boat-shaped breads filled with melted cheese), grilled meats, savory beef-filled pastries, and khinkali, traditional Georgian dumplings. The cuisine reflects Georgia’s location at the crossroads of Eastern Europe and Asia, where centuries of trade along the Silk Road brought a mingling of culinary influences. Inside, white-tablecloth tables, a wood-paneled bar, and a small chandelier lend elegant touches to the dining room without making it feel overly stuffy. The neighborhood restaurant comes from the owners of popular brunch spot Lucille’s.
El Califa de León
20 W 23rd St, New York, NY 10010 https://califadeleon.com/ Opened August 24 In 2024, Mexico City’s El Califa de León was catapulted to fame when it was awarded the very first Michelin Star for a Mexican taco stand. (It lost the star in 2026.) Now it’s opened up its first New York brick-and-mortar , specializing in simply seasoned, whole cuts of meat seared on a scorching-hot plancha. The menu features a handful of tacos—gaonera, costilla, bistec, chuleta, and a vegetarian option with peppers, huitlacoche, and corn. Plus, there’s a fun selection of refreshing margaritas, Mexican coke, and beer.
Floradora
205 Thompson St New York, NY 10012 https://www.floradoranyc.com/ Opened August 27 Inspired by New York’s old-school restaurants, the team behind French hotspots Libertine and Capitaine has began trading a two-story restaurant and bar in a former carriage house. The warmly lit space is adorned with Tiffany-style lamps, vintage photography, and film posters. The food takes cues from the neighborhood’s rich Italian American history, with dishes such as oxtail lasagna, spicy vodka garganelli made with gochujang, and a Bananas Foster ice cream sundae topped with chocolate malted-milk powder and strawberry graham crackers.
Hommali
28 7th Ave S New York, NY 10014 https://www.instagram.com/hommalinyc Opening September 2 New York’s already-thrilling Thai restaurant scene is about to welcome another promising addition. Founded by three friends who grew up in Bangkok, this contemporary Thai restaurant showcases the versatility of Thai preparation (think: a tom yum sauce spooned atop seafood crudo). Chef Chattchakorn “Benz” Khajornchaisan, who spent time at Eleven Madison Park and Café Carmellini, brings technique-driven finesse to homemade spice blends, curries, and more. Unsurprisingly, rice features prominently throughout the menu and even the cocktails, such as a drink concocted with rice wine and clarified with soy milk. Best of all, jasmine rice is always on the house.
Tender Bar
22 W 32nd St 16th Floor, New York, NY 10001 https://tenderbar.nyc/ Opening September 2026 Set to open inside the two-Michelin-starred Korean restaurant Joo Ok, Tender Bar will bring technique-driven, ingredient-forward cocktails to the heart of Koreatown. Head bartender Kwangjin Yang trained under legendary Japanese bartender Kazuo Uyeda, who’s known for developing the Hard Shake technique. Joo Ok chef Chang-ho Shin curates an exclusive anju menu that will feature bar snacks and plates to share such as A5 Miyazaki Wagyu tteokgalbi, shrimp-and-taro jeon, and scallops with gochujang. The cocktails will as well make use of the restaurant’s house-made jangs, vinegars, and seasonal produce.