Best Girls Night Out Restaurants in Upper East Side-Lenox Hill-Roosevelt Island
3 hand-picked restaurants, critic-reviewed and ranked
Last Updated: February 2026
Our Top Pick
Sea Salt
Mediterranean seafood and meze with a well-used sidewalk patio that shines during happy hour.
Notable Picks
#1
Sea Salt
8.5
Sea Salt NYC is a Greek-leaning Mediterranean restaurant known for grilled seafood, meze, and cocktails served on a busy First Avenue patio that is popular during happy hour. It’s a go-to for after-work drinks that can easily turn into a full dinner built around branzino, lamb, and classic Greek salads.
Must-Try Dishes:
Grilled Octopus, Whole Branzino, Lamb Chops
What Makes it Special: Mediterranean seafood and meze with a well-used sidewalk patio that shines during happy hour.
8.3
Vibes:
Group Dining Gatherings
Girls Night Out Approved
Business Lunch Power Players
Trendy Table Hotspots
Across from Bloomingdale’s, Anassa Taverna is a bi-level Greek taverna built for groups, with a marble bar, high ceilings, and a menu that leans into fried zucchini chips, fresh calamari, and charcoal-grilled lavraki. Its heavy review volume and consistent ratings point to reliable food and a flexible room that works for everything from shopping breaks to social dinners.
Must-Try Dishes:
Anassa Chips (paper-thin fried zucchini and eggplant), Fresh Calamari (pan-fried or grilled), Lavraki (grilled Mediterranean branzino with lemon and capers)
What Makes it Special: Lively, two-story taverna with crowd-pleasing mezze and fresh fish flown in daily.
8
Vibes:
Girls Night Out Approved
Birthday & Celebration Central
Trendy Table Hotspots
Brunch Bliss Spots
Festivál Cafe calls itself a farm-to-bar cocktail café, combining serious drinks, brunch plates, and occasional themed experiences in a compact Second Avenue space. Locals lean on it for birthdays, girls’ nights, and low-key celebrations where cocktails, live music nights, and shareable plates matter more than white tablecloths.
Must-Try Dishes:
Cajun Chicken Sandwich, Brunch Burger, Bacon, Egg and Cheese Sandwich
What Makes it Special: Farm-to-bar cocktail café that doubles as a neighborhood spot for themed nights, live music, and celebratory brunches.