The Client List: Where to Wine, Dine & Impress in NYC (Downtown Edition)
The restaurants and cocktail bars that strike the perfect balance between business and pleasure.
New York is a city that runs on connection, and sometimes, the best business is done over a perfectly poured martini. At Monday Talent, we believe client dinners should feel as inspired as the work itself. The Client List is our guide to the restaurants that blend atmosphere with intention: where a corner banquette can double as a boardroom, and a great glass of wine can open more than just conversation.
Neighborhood: Chelsea
Tucked inside of Hotel Chelsea, this French brasserie brings a touch of old-world glamour to the West Side. Between the moody lighting, marble bar, and impossibly chic crowd, it’s the kind of place where a business dinner feels like a scene. The menu leans classic (steak frites, Dover sole, martinis done right), making it ideal for impressing clients who appreciate timeless taste with a hint of downtown edge.
Best for: stylish dinners that mix business with a little bit of buzz
Neighborhood: Flatiron
A New York institution that never tries too hard because it doesn’t have to. With its wood-paneled warmth, impeccable service, and quietly confident menu, Gramercy Tavern strikes that rare balance between polished and personal. Whether you’re seated in the Tavern for a lively lunch or the Dining Room for something more refined, it’s the kind of place that makes clients feel taken care of and conversations feel effortless.
Best for: meaningful meetings over modern classics
Neighborhood: Flatiron
Effortlessly elegant with a distinctly European soul, Borgo feels like a tucked-away Milanese dining room in the middle of downtown. The candlelit space, linen-draped tables, and flawless service set the stage for plates of handmade pasta and an expertly edited wine list that always impresses. It’s intimate without being quiet, the kind of place that makes a client dinner feel equal parts personal and polished.
Best for: refined evenings that leave a lasting impression
Neighborhood: Flatiron
Where business dinner meets big-city polish. Oceans delivers all the hallmarks of a power spot: crisp white tablecloths, impeccable service, and a menu that makes seafood feel celebratory. From sushi and crudo to perfectly grilled branzino, every detail is designed to impress without overdoing it. The bar scene hums just enough for post-meeting martinis, making it ideal for clients who appreciate sophistication with energy.
Best for: deal-making dinners with a side of Champagne
Neighborhood: West Village
A modern homage to the great New York bar and grill, Cecchi’s is equal parts charm and sophistication. The candlelit room, leather banquettes, and brass details set the tone for a menu built on timeless comfort — think perfectly cooked steak, crisp martinis, and oysters served with quiet confidence. It’s the kind of place that feels instantly familiar yet distinctly elevated, ideal for client dinners where conversation flows as easily as the cocktails.
Best for: classic New York dinners that never go out of style
Neighborhood: West Village
Imported Parisian charm meets New York cool. Ferdi brings its cult-favorite energy from the 6th arrondissement to West Village, serving comfort classics with an upscale twist, think caviar-topped fries, perfect burgers, and champagne that never stops flowing. The velvet banquettes, candlelight, and fashion-world clientele make it the kind of place where a client dinner feels more like a shared secret than a meeting.
Best for: stylish nights that blend business with a touch of Parisian mischief
Neighborhood: West Village
Equal parts supper club and sanctuary, The Eighty Six brings moody sophistication to the West Village. Designed with plush banquettes, low lighting, and the faint hum of jazz, it feels like a love letter to the city’s golden age, with a menu that moves from caviar service to modern American indulgence. Perfect for a client dinner that calls for privacy and polish, it’s where timeless taste meets new luxury.
Best for: late-night deals and dinners that deserve a little ceremony
Neighborhood: SoHo
Polished yet relaxed, Lure Fishbar has mastered the art of making business feel like pleasure. The yacht-inspired interior, low hum of conversation, and consistently perfect seafood create an atmosphere that’s equal parts sophisticated and social. Whether you’re tucked into a booth for oysters and cocktails or sealing a deal over sushi, it’s a space that feels both established and easy, the downtown definition of quiet confidence.
Best for: seamless client lunches that turn into after-work drinks
Neighborhood: NoHo
A cornerstone of downtown dining, Lafayette is the kind of place that never goes out of style and never phones it in. The menu celebrates French brasserie classics done with quiet precision: steak frites crisp at the edges, truffled omelettes folded just right, and a pastry case that rivals any in Paris. The airy dining room hums from morning through late-night, making it ideal for client breakfasts, working lunches, or celebratory dinners that deserve a little extra sparkle.
Best for: polished meals that prove timeless taste never trends out
Neighborhood: NoHo
Effortlessly timeless, Il Buco is where rustic Italian charm meets downtown sophistication. Set in a candlelit townhouse lined with wine bottles and antiques, it’s the kind of place that feels more discovered than booked. The Mediterranean-inspired menu leans seasonal and soulful; handmade pastas, roasted fish, and olive oil that deserves its own course. Every detail feels intentional, making it an ideal setting for client dinners that value authenticity and atmosphere in equal measure.
Best for: intimate dinners that linger past dessert
