7 NYC Restaurants Hidden Inside Historic Buildings

One of the best things about dining out in New York City is that more often than not, the setting is just as memorable as the meal. And for us, the most ideal setting is one that makes you feel as though you’re stepping back in time.

Some of our favorite meals here have been enjoyed in old carriage houses, 19th-century townhouses, and historic spaces that have been part of the city’s story for generations. They’re the kind of places where you can almost imagine the people who walked through the doors decades—or even centuries—before you. Consider this your invitation to time travel through NYC, one unforgettable dinner at a time.

Located in: A townhouse in the West Village

Originally opened as Ye Waverly Inn & Garden in 1920, The Waverly Inn occupies a charming 19th-century townhouse in the West Village that actually dates back to the 1830s.

But long before it became the iconic restaurant it is today, the building served as a private residence, carriage house, and a tea room. Revived in 2006 by Graydon Carter (the former editor of Vanity Fair), the restaurant retains its intimate, residential feel with low ceilings, fireplaces, antique furnishings, and a secluded ivy-covered garden. The atmosphere is quintessential old New York—cozy, discreet, and effortlessly elegant.

Located in: An old drug store in Clinton Hill

Locanda Vini e Olli is a rustic Italian restaurant located inside a beautifully restored early 20th-century corner drug store. Need we say more? It truly feels like you’ve stepped back in time the moment you walk through the front door! Exposed brick walls, reclaimed wood, vintage tile, and original pharmacy displays evoke the feeling of a centuries-old Italian trattoria.

The restaurant has an upscale, yet relaxed neighborhood feel that invites you to linger over handmade pasta and Italian wine. For a moment, you’ll feel like you’re dining in a small village outside Rome!

Located in: A 19th-century townhouse in Greenwich Village

Bobo occupies a beautifully restored 19th-century Greenwich Village townhouse. With cozy fireplaces, exposed brick, and candlelit rooms, it almost feels more like someone’s elegant home than a restaurant.

We especially love the antique, French-inspired décor which gives off a romantic, tucked-away feel, despite being located on one of the Village’s busiest intersections.

Located in: An early 1800s townhouse in Tribeca

Tiny's & The Bar Upstairs is located inside one of Tribeca's oldest buildings, a charming pink townhouse dating back to the early 1800s. Inside, it feels warm and lived-in, thanks to its creaky wood floors, vintage furniture, fireplaces, and soft lighting.

Before it was Tiny’s, 135 West Broadway played the role of a drinking saloon, a “machinery, tools, horse, and wagon” store, a real estate office, and many more. It’s so fun to imagine the thousands of vastly different people, from 1810 to now, that have walked these halls.

Located in: A West Village carriage house dating back to 1911

The Commerce Inn opened in 2021, but it has the quiet charm of a place that’s been there much longer. The understated interiors are heavily inspired by Shaker craftsmanship, so you’ll find baskets and brooms hanging from the walls, as well as antique bar stools, dark woodwork, and an abundance of taper candles.

It’s from the same team behind Via Carota, I Sodi, Buvette, and Bar Pisellino—if that tells you anything! Everything detail is thought-out, and everything on the menu is spectacular.

Located in: An 1891 Beaux-Arts building in the Financial District

Delmonico's is widely recognized as New York City's first fine dining restaurant—and often as the first restaurant in the United States. So to say it’s filled with history would be an understatement! The iconic restaurant first opened in 1837 and is brimming with old-school glamour. The grand dining rooms, soaring ceilings, marble columns, rich wood accents, and classic architectural details create an atmosphere that is beyond elegant and timeless.

Everyone from Abraham Lincoln to Charles Dickens has dined there, and rumor has it, Delmonico’s invented both Eggs Benedict and Baked Alaska.

Located in: A four-story 1800s Italianate townhouse

No restaurant says Gilded glamour quite like Gage & Tollner. The historic Brooklyn establishment originally opened in 1879, and then was beautifully restored in 2021. The dining room feels like a perfectly preserved piece of old New York with dramatic mirrored walls, carved mahogany, glowing chandeliers, and high ceilings.

The restaurant came to be when Charles M. Gage opened his first oyster and chop house in 1879. Over time, a cigar salesman by the name of Eugene Tollner became a regular customer, and eventually, his business partner. Hence the name: Gage & Tollner!

Here’s to dining at restaurants that feel like stepping back in time. Let us know in the comments if you’ve ever visited any of these iconic spots! And if you have any old stories worth sharing.

Sending love from our stoop,

Jordan & Barry