"There's an allure to America's biggest urban jungle that's impossible to deny. New York City's energy has long made its landmarks the stuff of stage (hello, Broadway) and screen (Friends, Sex and the City, Gossip Girl-need we say more?). So it's little surprise that the nation's biggest city claimed Tripadvisor's Travelers' Choice Awards' top U.S. spot as the 2026 Best of the Best Destination."
"The classics are where many visitors start. Old-school delis like Katz's Delicatessen, open since 1888, still draw crowds for towering pastrami sandwiches and matzoh ball soup. Barney Greengrass has been slicing sturgeon since 1908, while Russ & Daughters, founded in 1914, remains a Lower East Side icon-order the whitefish and baked smoked salmon salad on a sesame bagel and thank me later."
"Of course, it wouldn't be New York without pizza. Lombardi's, America's first pizzeria, opened in 1905, but the city's pizza legacy stretches far beyond one address. Institutions like John's of Bleeker Street, Patsy's Pizzeria, Denino's Pizzeria & Tavern in Staten Island, and Joe's Pizza have shaped generations of slice lovers. Newer favorites now join the ranks, including Brooklyn's L'Industrie Pizzeria and Lucali, Una Pizza Napoletana on Orchard Street, and Don Antonio in Midtown for Neapolitan-style pies."
New York City earned Tripadvisor's Travelers' Choice Awards top U.S. spot as the 2026 Best of the Best Destination and ranked No. 1 among U.S. food destinations. The city's culinary scene mirrors its diverse population, combining century-old institutions with buzzy newcomers. Classic delis, bagel shops, steakhouses, oyster bars, and soul-food landmarks continue to draw crowds for signature dishes. Pizza and hot dogs dominate street-food culture, with historic pizzerias alongside newer Neapolitan-style spots shaping slice culture. Iconic names such as Katz's, Russ & Daughters, Lombardi's and Nathan's anchor the city's enduring food identity.
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