Emily Adler
Associate Social Media Manager
Meet the author: Emily Adler is the Associate Social Media Manager at Condé Nast Traveler and a lifelong resident of New York City.
As a Jewish New Yorker, food is always top of mind—at home, it revolves around cooking and preparing for the next Shabbat or holiday meal, and on the streets of New York City, the world of Jewish food exists vastly in the form of delicatessens, bakeries, lox counters, and steakhouses. In a city with such strong ties to Jewish heritage—namely the Lower East Side where Jewish immigrants settled in the early 1900s, and pockets of Brooklyn, home to one of the largest Orthodox Jewish communities in the world—it’s no secret that some of the city’s best and most nourishing bites have deep historical ties to Jewish culture, with influence from Eastern Europe, Morocco, Israel, and everywhere in between.
Hanukkah is around the corner, and this year, the eight-night Festival of Lights coincides with Christmas Day and New Years. In other words, there’s never been a better time to celebrate this holiday and take advantage of New York City’s Jewish food offerings. To make things easier for more observant travelers, too, we’ve noted which are kosher. These are the most quintessential Jewish and Jew-ish spots to visit this holiday season, and well beyond, no matter what holiday you celebrate.
Gertrude’s
605 Carlton Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11238
The “older sister” restaurant to Gertie’s, this new Brooklyn spot brings a young spirit to Jew-ish staples, including latkes with crème fraîche and trout roe, babka french toast, and brisket hash. Aside from Getrude’s brunch menu, dinner offerings resemble those of a neighborhood European bistro with dishes like steak au poivre and a cheeseburger on a toasted challah roll (hence the Jew-ish). Oh, and don’t miss the Black & White Seven Layer Cake, a mashup of two classic Jewish desserts: black and white cookies and seven-layer cake.
Michaeli Bakery (Kosher)
401 E 90th St, New York, NY 10128
Founded by one of the bakers behind the widely-loved Breads Bakery, Michaeli Bakery offers a more low-key atmosphere with pastries and baked goods that are equally as delicious. Unless you’ve visited the shuks (markets) in Israel, you likely have not tried anything as divine as their babka and rugelach: moist, chocolatey, slightly greasy, and dense in the best way possible. You’ll also find seasonal specials year-round with creative flavors like pistachio and hazelnut sufganiyot (Hanukkah jelly-filled donuts).