8 special-occasion worthy restaurants in New York City

For when only the rowdiest of dinners will do, Sushi on Me, in both Queens and Brooklyn, is the spot. This high-energy sushi bar is the opposite of a traditional omakase in all ways—except, happily, the top-notch fish—featuring bottomless sake, lots of cursing, and occasional live jazz. Everyone here is ready to party, and the 18-course omakase led by entertaining chefs who will do shots with you is a beautiful excuse to do so.

Few restaurants have captured New York’s imagination (and as many star-studded New York Times reviews) the way Gotham has since it opened in 1984. The kitchen is now led by chef Ron Paprocki, who puts out special-occasion feasts that are a mix of menu icons (yellowfin tuna tartar for the win) but also include new kids on the block like a crispy celery root dish with portobello mushrooms and Brussels sprouts. Level up your old-new celebration with cocktails like the deep amber Black Forest manhattan and toast to this updated NYC legend.

Indian Accent is where you go for a choose-your-own adventure Indian meal. The creative spot is an ideal place to toast over a festive spread that feels more playful than its other fine-dining friends in Midtown. It’s all thanks to one of New Delhi’s most acclaimed chefs, Manish Mehrotra, who brings remixed takes on South Asian staples like sweet pickle ribs with sun-dried mango and kulchas stuffed with butter chicken or hoisin duck. Don’t skip the ghee roast lamb—there’s a reason it’s been on the menu since the restaurant’s 2016 opening.

Before DUMBO’s trendy boutiques, scenic parks, and rooftop bars, there was The River Café. It’s been around since 1977, but the MICHELIN-starred restaurant is anything but out of place, even as its surroundings have evolved. The River Café has always been ahead of its time, sourcing farm-to-table ingredients long before that was the norm, launching the careers of celeb chefs such as David Burke and Charlie Palmer along the way. With its unmatched Manhattan skyline, it’s also hosted more engagements, weddings, and business dinners than anyone could count. Book a table in the elegant waterside dining room up to 30 days in advance. The time-tested prix-fixe menu includes seasonal hits like duck breast with a spiced lavender honey crust and cherry sauce.

If you can’t imagine a special night out without show-stopping pasta, Ai Fiori in the Langham hotel is your spot. Artistic plates like the squid ink pasta with crustacean ragu and spaghetti with blue crab are reason enough to celebrate (and can be ordered as part of a four-course prix-fixe or a chef’s tasting menu). Take the festivities further with a bottle of wine from a 1,000-plus list that reps Italy’s lesser-known regions and grapes. Then soak it all in via white tablecloths and brown leather chairs in a space filled with flowers—Ai Fiori is peak elegant dining.

As the name suggests, it’s all about battered and fried delicacies at Tempura Matsui. The restaurant’s late chef Masao Matsui introduced tempura tasting menus to the city, and his namesake spot celebrates him with a multi-course extravaganza that earned it a seventh consecutive MICHELIN star in 2022. Matsui’s wooden chef’s counter is the place to watch all the deep-fried action unfold. Rounds of sashimi and chawanmushi are the ultimate palate cleansers, as is a strong sake menu. The tranquil Japanese-style interiors make it a go-to for more low-key celebrations.

With three stars from The New York Times, two MICHELIN stars, and a history that stretches back to 1987, Aquavit is one of NYC’s most prized dining rooms—and an ideal place to mark anything exceptional. In recent years, the Scandinavian restaurant has expanded to include lunch, plus à la carte and tasting menu options for dinner. Across all its menus, you’ll find fine-dining twists on classic Nordic ingredients like three types of herring with cheese and potato and Norwegian king crab with corn. Reservations open on the first of the month and tend to fill up quickly, but bar tables for two are easier to score.

Zou Zou’s stands out for its theatrical and super-modern Middle Eastern food. It’s a massive, vibrant restaurant, ideal for large celebrations. Bring a group to share the housemade dips and breads, then dig into fire-roasted lamb leg shaved tableside. There’s also fresh fish, huge salads, and spectacular desserts—the OTT kataifi cheesecake is five inches wide. Chez Zou, the restaurant’s second-story cocktail bar, is a great place for a toast before or after your reservation.