Summer calls for delicious raw seafood, so (raw) bar hop around New York City and treat yourself to the most extravagant seafood on the island.
See Also: The 8 Most Decadent Seafood Towers In NYC
View this post on Instagram
89 South St. / 212.838.1200 / Website
There’s nothing quite like a raw bar with a waterfront view, and the Fulton is undoubtedly one of our favorite spots to indulge. Seafood platters, crudo, shrimp cocktails, sashimi, clams, oysters and caviar await, and you really can’t go wrong with any of the selections. We recommend bringing friends so you can share multiple plates.
View this post on Instagram
298 Bedford Ave., Brooklyn / 347.889.5710 / Website
Brooklyn’s most-celebrated oyster bar is the premier(e) of all things seafood. This melt-in-your-mouth raw bar is totally worth the Uber bill from Manhattan to Brooklyn. You can’t go wrong with any of the crudo, from Yellowtail to fluke and scallops, before moving on to caviar service and, of course, plenty of oysters to go around.
View this post on Instagram
155 Grand St. / 212.343.3236 / Website
Ed, we would like to personally thank you from the bottom of our hearts for creating a beachy lobster shack that transports us straight from downtown Manhattan to salty shores out East. The atmosphere is super casual and laid-back, but the food tastes—and is—expensive. If you ask us, it’s illegal to come here and not get the Maine lobster rolls, the tuna tartare and the oyster shooters.
View this post on Instagram
142 Mercer St. / 212.431.7676 / Website
The name of this yacht-like seafood restaurant says it all, as this hot spot is home to an extensive menu of raw bar offerings that are sure to lure you in like a siren call. Not only is the raw bar out of this world, but the world-class sushi selection is absolutely delightful. We highly recommend the grand shellfish plateaux, which comes with 12 oysters, eight clams, eight crab claws, Alaskan king crab, lobster, scallop crudo, tuna tartare, mussels and seafood salad.
View this post on Instagram
89 Macdougal St. / 212.260.0100 / Website
Calling all Mermaid Inn Lovers! The critically acclaimed seafood joint has an even better oyster bar in Greenwich Village. Rest assured, you never have to go on a Caribbean vacation again because the world’s most delicious raw bar is located in your backyard. The downtown eatery offers mouthwatering tuna crudo, jump shrimp, clams, ceviche, and of course, oysters. You’ll probably want seconds, thirds and maybe fourths, so be sure to come hungry.
View this post on Instagram
172 Waverly Place / Website
Don’t get us wrong, we love the bagel platter for two, but we’re in it for the raw bar. The West Village’s honorary hungover spot serves some of the best seafood in downtown Manhattan. The raw bar’s extensive menu features multiple varieties of oysters, a shrimp cocktail, a 1/2 lb of king crab legs, littleneck clams, smoked mussels and lobster salad.
View this post on Instagram
Pier 25 Hudson River Park / 212.660.6312 / Website
Most people come here for Instagrammable views, but we come here for the salty oysters and cold, crisp rosé. The oyster selection is extensive, including choices from near and far, such as British Columbia and Moriches Bay. If you’re here for a good time and a long time, order the Grand Banks Pan-American oyster experience with every type of oyster imaginable.
View this post on Instagram
80 Spring St. / 212.965.1414 / Website
We don’t typically associate French cuisine with a raw bar, but New York City’s most-coveted French bistro is home to some truly delicious raw bar selections. Just because Balthazar doesn’t refer to their sky-high seafood tower as a raw bar doesn’t mean it can't compete with the city's best. The lobster tails, clams, shrimp and oysters are so fresh they taste like you’re eating them while underwater.
View this post on Instagram
1 Delancey St. / 646.450.2557 / Website
Nowadays, you’ve probably heard of Sel Rrose, thanks to its outpost in Montauk, where celebrity sightings and the Hamptons’ finest abound. Lesser known is Sel Rrose’s rustic-chic oyster bar on the corner of Bowery and Delancey. We are frequent regulars of the two-dollar oyster happy hour, which is one of our favorite deals in NYC. We also love to splurge on the seafood platter, complete with a dozen oysters, five shrimp and six clams.
View this post on Instagram
240 Central Park S. / 212.582.5100 / Website
With plenty of oysters and caviar to go around, we love Marea for an elevated afternoon meal. Be sure to enjoy some of the crudo as well, such as the tonno with yellowfin tuna, oyster crema and crispy sunchoke or the alfonsino with tea-smoked golden eye snapper, smoked fish garum aioli, cucumber and fennel.
View this post on Instagram
22 Greenwich Ave. / 646.484.6548 / Website
Sister to neighboring restaurant Marian’s, Perle Wine & Raw Bar masterfully combines the finest seafood and wine within a chic West Village setting. Inspired by Europe’s wine bar and seafood culture, this swanky spot features a 12-seat bar led by chef Christian Rowan and sommelier Lacey Rozinsky. The extensive raw bar showcases East Coast oysters, perfectly complemented by a unique grapefruit-chili sorbet. Perle offers an elegant and sophisticated dining experience where the best of seafood and wine come together in harmony.
View this post on Instagram
90 Wythe Ave. Brooklyn / 718.388.0111 / Website
At Deux Chats, chef Nicole Gajadhar crafts menus that spotlight exquisite raw bar offerings. Set within a Paris-meets-Gatsby-inspired space, the restaurant serves a delightful array of clams, shrimp, snow crab legs and oysters, to name a few. Complementing the seafood selection is an extensive cocktail menu, ensuring an elegant and indulgent dining experience.
View this post on Instagram
420 Hudson St. / 212.242.7420 / Website
Chef Mike Price, influenced by his upbringing on the eastern shore of Maryland, draws inspiration from the rich traditions of the Atlantic Seaboard to curate the experience at the Clam. This West Village gem features a seasonal menu and raw bar that highlight market-driven ingredients, complemented by seafood classics like lobster salad and fried clam strips. The beverage program showcases best-in-class wines from small producers, perfectly pairing with the fare. Large windows illuminate the pearlescent dining room, offering a fine view of the West Village and creating an ideal atmosphere for any occasion.
Photography by: Bruce Chapman
