Best Instagram Worthy Wonders Restaurants in University Village

Since opening in 2011, pastry chef Dominique Ansel’s original SoHo bakery has drawn daily lines for inventive French pastries from the Cronut to the DKA. It functions as both a neighborhood coffee stop and a destination dessert shop, trading table-service comforts for creativity and a constant stream of limited-run sweets.

A Bib Gourmand–recognized SoHo spot where former Din Tai Fung Shanghai chef Charlie Chen turns out soup dumplings, Peking duck, and modern Chinese comfort plates alongside a serious wine program. Locals treat it as both a date-night dining room and a destination for xiaolongbao and shared small plates.

Chloe is a vegan all-day café on Bleecker serving burgers, bowls, salads, and house-baked sweets in a bright, boho space. Locals use it as a reliable plant-based stop near Washington Square for hearty, vegetable-driven comfort food and laptop-friendly counter seating.

A halal-certified smashburger shop with a sleek, futuristic diner look and a tight menu of buttery, crispy-edged patties. Students and night owls flock here for affordable burgers, truffle fries, and a veggie and chicken lineup that feels more curated than fast food.

Cha Cha Tang reimagines the Hong Kong cha chaan teng café with polished design, a serious bar program, and Cantonese comfort dishes. The menu leans into dim sum, roasted meats, and playful brunch-leaning items in a room that feels more downtown cocktail bar than diner.