Best Trendy Restaurants in Washington Heights (North)
12 hand-picked restaurants, critic-reviewed and ranked
Last Updated: February 2026
Our Top Pick
Terravita
A polished Uptown brunch spot marrying modern American plates with a cocktail-forward dining room.
Notable Picks
#1
Terravita
8.7
Terravita is Washington Heights’ destination brunch room, where lemon–ricotta pancakes, salmon eggs Benedict, and avocado toast share space with cocktails in a polished dining room. Locals use it when they want a sit-down weekend brunch that feels closer to downtown than a neighborhood diner.
Must-Try Dishes:
Lemon & Ricotta Pancakes, Salmon Eggs Benedict, Avocado Toast with Poached Egg
What Makes it Special: A polished Uptown brunch spot marrying modern American plates with a cocktail-forward dining room.
8.5
Jade Sushi & Steak Bar is a nightlife-leaning sushi and steak spot on St. Nicholas where Latin-influenced specialty rolls, grills, and cocktails run late into the night. Couples use it for loud, high-energy date nights that blend sushi boats, music, and bottle-service vibes in one compact room.
Must-Try Dishes:
Wadsworth Roll, St. Nicholas Roll, Dragon Balls
What Makes it Special: A high-energy sushi-and-steak lounge where specialty rolls meet late-night cocktails.
#3
Le Chéile
8.5
Le Chéile is an Irish-leaning pub and restaurant near the bridge where crisp, marinated wings share space with burgers, fish and chips, and pints. Locals treat it as the neighborhood’s social clubhouse when they want proper bar wings with blue cheese and a lively room.
Must-Try Dishes:
Chicken Wings with Blue Cheese, Carrots, and Celery, Fish and Chips, Shepherd's Pie
What Makes it Special: Irish-style neighborhood pub where marinated wings and pints meet bridge views.
#4
Saggio
8.4
Saggio is a cozy Italian restaurant in Hudson Heights serving handmade pastas and a frequently praised lasagna program in a candlelit dining room and garden patio. Since 2010, locals have used it for date nights, small celebrations, and a more sit-down lasagna experience than the nearby slice shops.
Must-Try Dishes:
Lasagna Bolognese, Spinach Lasagna, Spaghetti al Limone
What Makes it Special: Handmade pastas and lasagna in a warm, date-friendly neighborhood room with a garden patio.
8.1
Dutch Baby Bakery is a full-service Washington Heights restaurant and bakery where cast-iron Dutch babies, waffles, and brunch plates meet a shelf of babkas, cakes, and cookies. Guests treat it as a sit-down brunch spot first and a source for well-made pastries and coffee refills second.
Must-Try Dishes:
Savory Dutch Baby, Banana Coconut Waffles, Brioche French toast
What Makes it Special: Southern-leaning brunch restaurant where Dutch babies share space with house-baked pastries.
8.1
The Uptown Garrison is an all-day New American spot and bar where coffee and laptops in the morning give way to brick-oven pizzas, chicken and waffles, and cocktails at night. It’s one of Hudson Heights’ most flexible rooms, used equally for brunch, casual dates, and late-evening drinks a block from the A train.
Must-Try Dishes:
Chicken and Belgian Waffle, Brick Oven Margherita Pizza, Meatball Melt Sandwich
What Makes it Special: An all-day neighborhood anchor that handles everything from espresso to cocktails in a single, design-forward space.
Tinto Tapas Restaurant & Wine Bar is a Spanish-leaning spot in Hudson Heights where weekend brunch borrows from the tapas menu—think gambas al ajillo, tortilla española, and croquetas—with a serious wine list. It reads more like a sit-down brunch for sharing plates and cava than a pancakes-and-eggs café.
Must-Try Dishes:
Gambas al Ajillo, Tortilla Española, Empanadas de Costilla
What Makes it Special: A Spanish tapas and wine bar that treats brunch like a long, shareable tapas session rather than an eggs-only meal.
Worthy Picks
7.9
Budda Kitchen & Bar is a Latin-leaning sushi and cocktail lounge where rolls, wings, and steaks play against a DJ-backed soundtrack. Washington Heights groups treat it as the neighborhood’s louder option for sushi-heavy nights with strong drinks rather than quiet, traditional Japanese dinners.
Must-Try Dishes:
Chicken Wings, Chicken Dumplings, Fried Calamari
What Makes it Special: A DJ-fueled Latin-Asian bar where sushi, small plates, and cocktails anchor late-night hangs on Broadway.
#9
Monkey Room
7.8
Monkey Room is a Hudson Heights bar-lounge on Fort Washington Avenue where cocktails, nachos, and full-size burgers fuel nights that stretch to 4am. Between hip-hop and Latin playlists and a menu of bacon cheeseburgers and sliders, it’s one of the neighborhood’s most dependable late-night burger-and-drink combos.
Must-Try Dishes:
Bacon Cheeseburger, BBQ Cheddar Burger, Beef Sliders
What Makes it Special: Lounge-y bar where cocktails, music, and full-size burgers run until 4am.
#10
Bar 180
7.7
Bar 180 is a New American bar and kitchen in Washington Heights known for its rotating craft beer taps, burgers, and shareable bar bites. Its menu leans into crowd-pleasers like loaded nachos, rib tips, and burgers that pair well with the game on TV or a casual night out with friends.
Must-Try Dishes:
Washington Heights Burger, Bar 180 Nachos, Guava BBQ Glazed Rib Tips
What Makes it Special: Craft-beer-focused bar with a full New American menu built for sharing and watching the game.
#11
Wahizza
7.7
Vibes:
Family Friendly Favorites
Group Dining Gatherings
Birthday & Celebration Central
Trendy Table Hotspots
Wahizza is a Dominican-Italian fusion pizzeria and party-friendly space where thin-crust pies come topped with everything from classic pepperoni to chimi-style toppings. It’s lively but casual, making it a natural fit for families, kids’ birthdays, and group pizza nights that want big flavors, music, and plenty of seating.
Must-Try Dishes:
Chicken Chimi pizza on sesame-seed crust, Meat Lovers pizza with generous toppings, Classic Margherita pizza with fresh mozzarella
What Makes it Special: Dominican-Italian fusion pizzas and a high-energy room built for families, friends, and celebrations.
7.6
Vibes:
Birthday & Celebration Central
Group Dining Gatherings
Late Night Legends
Trendy Table Hotspots
Lobster Steak House is a late-night Washington Heights seafood-and-steak spot known for skirt steak mofongo, churrasco plates, and lobster-forward specials. Weekend brunches, buffet events, and DJ-powered evenings make it as much a social hangout as a place to order a full steak dinner.
Must-Try Dishes:
Skirt Steak Mofongo, Churrasco Steak, Seafood Mofongo
What Makes it Special: A Dominican-leaning seafood and steakhouse that doubles as a brunch, buffet, and late-night party destination.