Guidebook for Astoria
Food Scene
District Saigon
37-15 BroadwayUpscale Vietnamese food--try the grilled rice paper!
Quirky seasonal Italian food with a limited rotating menu. The bathroom has Italian language lessons.
16 locals recommend
Vite Vinosteria
31-05 34th StQuirky seasonal Italian food with a limited rotating menu. The bathroom has Italian language lessons.
Tasty ethically sourced burgers--they're now a chain, but this is the original spot. Great for kids.
465 locals recommend
Bareburger
33-21 31st AveTasty ethically sourced burgers--they're now a chain, but this is the original spot. Great for kids.
Pachanga Patterson
33-17 31st AvenueGood Mexican food with rotating seasonal menu.
Unique and delicious pizzas. Try the 'st the ghost' with chopped garlic.
53 locals recommend
Milkflower
34-12 31st AveUnique and delicious pizzas. Try the 'st the ghost' with chopped garlic.
This is the best of the local bakery/dessert/coffee shop combos. Good pastries sweet or savory.
14 locals recommend
Leli's Bakery & Pastry Shop
3514 30th AveThis is the best of the local bakery/dessert/coffee shop combos. Good pastries sweet or savory.
Eat in or take out--the best cheese shop in the neighborhood and definitely the most interesting beer selection.
38 locals recommend
Astoria Bier & Cheese
3414 BroadwayEat in or take out--the best cheese shop in the neighborhood and definitely the most interesting beer selection.
Pye Boat Noodle
1711 2nd AveFabulously authentic Thai cuisine in an inventive setting.
The Queens Kickshaw
Known for their hard cider selection and comfort food.
An old-school neighborhood Italian bakery. Cannoli aren't filled until you order them, so be patient--it's worth it to enjoy that crisp shell filled with moist cream. Or try their sfoggliatelle--a traditional pastry with layered buttery pastry dough and filled with a sweet, cheese-based filling.
12 locals recommend
Rose & Joe's Italian Bakery
22-40 31st StAn old-school neighborhood Italian bakery. Cannoli aren't filled until you order them, so be patient--it's worth it to enjoy that crisp shell filled with moist cream. Or try their sfoggliatelle--a traditional pastry with layered buttery pastry dough and filled with a sweet, cheese-based filling.
MP Taverna Astoria
31-29 Ditmars BoulevardGreat modern interpretations of Greek Food.
The Bao Shoppe
34 Canal StFusion Asian/Mexican street food. Forget your diet and just go!
Balkan-style street food from this small storefront (eat in or pickup only). Yummy & cheap!
9 locals recommend
Djerdan Burek Astoria
34-04 31st AveBalkan-style street food from this small storefront (eat in or pickup only). Yummy & cheap!
Decent bagel & coffee place. Watch the lines on the weekends!
101 locals recommend
Brooklyn Bagel & Coffee Company
35-05 BroadwayDecent bagel & coffee place. Watch the lines on the weekends!
Maizal Restaurant Astoria
32-07 34th AveUpscale Mexican. Mole like Abuela made.
Essentials
True old-style neighborhood salumeria (Italian meat & cheese shop). Get fresh, housemade Italian sausages, pastas, bread, olives, fresh mozzarella plus imported cheeses, cured meats and other Italian delicacies.
Dave & Tony Salumeria
3518 30th AveTrue old-style neighborhood salumeria (Italian meat & cheese shop). Get fresh, housemade Italian sausages, pastas, bread, olives, fresh mozzarella plus imported cheeses, cured meats and other Italian delicacies.
Greek and other Mediterranean Food specialties, including 18 varieties of feta cheese and a fridge case filled with tasty, fresh-made spreads.
11 locals recommend
Mediterranean Foods I
30-12 34th StGreek and other Mediterranean Food specialties, including 18 varieties of feta cheese and a fridge case filled with tasty, fresh-made spreads.
The best place for fresh fruit & veg when the farmer's market isn't open. Open 24 hrs.
29 locals recommend
United Brothers Fruit Markets
32-24 30th AveThe best place for fresh fruit & veg when the farmer's market isn't open. Open 24 hrs.
Good for milk and cheese and quick items. Not so great for fresh meat or fruit/veg.
238 locals recommend
Associated Supermarket
Good for milk and cheese and quick items. Not so great for fresh meat or fruit/veg.
Good all-around supermarket, but if price is important, it's worth it to look at a few other local places for comparisons.
509 locals recommend
Key Food Supermarkets
492 Myrtle AveGood all-around supermarket, but if price is important, it's worth it to look at a few other local places for comparisons.
International Meat Market Inc.
36-12 30th AveGreat butcher. Can get ethically sourced meat.
Ocean Fish Market
35-08 30th AveGood fresh fish.
Urgent Care--decent doctors. Much cheaper and much shorter wait than a trip to the ER in case of minor illnesses.
6 locals recommend
CityMD Astoria Urgent Care - Queens
31-11 Steinway StUrgent Care--decent doctors. Much cheaper and much shorter wait than a trip to the ER in case of minor illnesses.
Nearest drug store. Nice pharmacists (Mya & Lyubov) can give advice on OTC medications.
56 locals recommend
Duane Reade
7301 37th AveNearest drug store. Nice pharmacists (Mya & Lyubov) can give advice on OTC medications.
Ricky's NYC
44 E 8th StExtensive selection of makeup & beauty products.
Cheap basic gym ($10 month basic membership) is good for longer-term stays.
111 locals recommend
Planet Fitness
329 Wyckoff AveCheap basic gym ($10 month basic membership) is good for longer-term stays.
Drinks & Nightlife
Winegasm Bar & Eatery
31-86 37th Streettasty food & great wine selection
Authentic German-style beer garden--a holdover from the original immigrant wave in the late 1800s. Good for families during the day and early evening.
224 locals recommend
Bohemian Hall
29-19 24th AvenueAuthentic German-style beer garden--a holdover from the original immigrant wave in the late 1800s. Good for families during the day and early evening.
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37-20 30th AvenueLocal spot popular with the younger Greek community.
Parks & Nature
Small local park, good for a stroll or jog on the water. Free morning yoga & tai chi on summer weekends. Also try Rainey Park, with a good children's playground, on the other side of the Costco from Socrates.
238 locals recommend
Socrates Sculpture Park
32-01 Vernon BlvdSmall local park, good for a stroll or jog on the water. Free morning yoga & tai chi on summer weekends. Also try Rainey Park, with a good children's playground, on the other side of the Costco from Socrates.
Larger park with playing fields, playground and a WPA-era Olympic-sized swimming pool (public, but make sure you read and follow the rules!).
424 locals recommend
Astoria Park
19 19th StLarger park with playing fields, playground and a WPA-era Olympic-sized swimming pool (public, but make sure you read and follow the rules!).
Huge park, less crowded than most in the city. Site of two World's Fairs, it is also home to Queens Museum, Queens Hall of Science and Queens Zoo.
250 locals recommend
Flushing Meadows Corona Park
Van Wyck ExpresswayHuge park, less crowded than most in the city. Site of two World's Fairs, it is also home to Queens Museum, Queens Hall of Science and Queens Zoo.
Shopping
The Brass Owl
36-19 Ditmars BlvdCute gifts.
The Astoria Bookshop
36-19 31st StSmall local bookstore with great local events & connections.
Broadway Silk
35-11 BroadwayGood fabric store with cool gifts.
Arts & Culture
Showcases film & tv history, especially focused on the local Kaufman-Astoria Studios, home of the Marx Brothers, Law & Order, Orange is the New Black, Nurse Jackie and many others.
507 locals recommend
Museum of the Moving Image
36-01 35th AveShowcases film & tv history, especially focused on the local Kaufman-Astoria Studios, home of the Marx Brothers, Law & Order, Orange is the New Black, Nurse Jackie and many others.
Museum showcasing the works of Isamu Noguchi. Also holds frequent workshops for adults & children.
192 locals recommend
Noguchi Museum
9-01 33rd RoadMuseum showcasing the works of Isamu Noguchi. Also holds frequent workshops for adults & children.
Putting the 'modern' in the Museum of Modern Art--featuring new and up-and-coming artists.
575 locals recommend
MoMA PS1
22-25 Jackson AvePutting the 'modern' in the Museum of Modern Art--featuring new and up-and-coming artists.
The best natural history museum in the world (I'm not biased because I work there, I swear!). Home of the Hayden Planetarium.
1623 locals recommend
American Museum of Natural History
200 Central Park WestThe best natural history museum in the world (I'm not biased because I work there, I swear!). Home of the Hayden Planetarium.
Enormous collection of every type of art. Competitive with the British Museum. Special highlights include the Temple of Dendur in the Egyptian wing and a whole room from a Frank Lloyd Wright house. Devote at least a day, but you could easily spend a week.
2653 locals recommend
The Metropolitan Museum of Art
1000 5th AveEnormous collection of every type of art. Competitive with the British Museum. Special highlights include the Temple of Dendur in the Egyptian wing and a whole room from a Frank Lloyd Wright house. Devote at least a day, but you could easily spend a week.
Excellent modern art museum--many programs for children, check their website current listings.
2114 locals recommend
The Museum of Modern Art
11 West 53rd StreetExcellent modern art museum--many programs for children, check their website current listings.
Sightseeing
The iconic New York building--go on, it's a great view (pick a clear day if you can).
1787 locals recommend
Empire State Building
20 W 34th StThe iconic New York building--go on, it's a great view (pick a clear day if you can).
Gorgeous architecture with many hidden features--grab our guidebook or take a tour. Rest your feet and refresh yourself with a drink at the Campbell Apartments (a very upscale historic bar inside the terminal--check the dress code).
781 locals recommend
Grand Central Terminal station
89 E 42nd StGorgeous architecture with many hidden features--grab our guidebook or take a tour. Rest your feet and refresh yourself with a drink at the Campbell Apartments (a very upscale historic bar inside the terminal--check the dress code).
If you don't want to go up the Empire State Building, go up this one instead for a great view of it and the rest of the city.
423 locals recommend
Top of the Rock
30 Rockefeller PlazaIf you don't want to go up the Empire State Building, go up this one instead for a great view of it and the rest of the city.
Take the ferry for FREE and get great views of the Manhattan skyline, the Statue of Liberty & Ellis Island (but you need to take a pay ferry to get off and visit either island).
254 locals recommend
Staten Island Ferry
Staten Island FerryTake the ferry for FREE and get great views of the Manhattan skyline, the Statue of Liberty & Ellis Island (but you need to take a pay ferry to get off and visit either island).
Fun neighborhood with famous farmer's market (Monday, Wednesday, Friday & Saturday, year-round). Playground for kids, famous Strand Bookstore. Lots of great eats. Easy walk to the Flatiron building, good views of the Chrysler & Empire State up the canyons of buildings.
987 locals recommend
Union Square
Fun neighborhood with famous farmer's market (Monday, Wednesday, Friday & Saturday, year-round). Playground for kids, famous Strand Bookstore. Lots of great eats. Easy walk to the Flatiron building, good views of the Chrysler & Empire State up the canyons of buildings.
Steinway Street
Steinway StreetMiddle Eastern neighborhood with tons of hookah bars.