The most sought-after restaurant reservations in 7 popular US cities

Remember when the hottest place in town was a club with a long line on the corner, or a fancy bar frequented by Hollywood stars or Wall Street bigwigs?

Restaurants are popular not only because of their food, but also because of the exclusivity they offer. Thanks in part to what the New Yorker described as The gamification of restaurant reservations through platforms like Resy and OpenTable has made it almost impossible to get a reservation at a popular restaurant.

A coveted reservation can therefore be a safe way Representation of social capital, a possibility Impress friends or business associates with the places they can get to that are otherwise difficult to reach.

Thanks to social media, it’s easier than ever to give the general public a glimpse into your lavish lifestyle. Millennials and Gen Z are also using their “For You Pages” — the part of TikTok and Instagram that recommends content based on your interests and engagement — to find the next coveted restaurant to add to their bucket list.

Even though restaurants represent a greater financial burden due to inflation, dining out remains the category on which consumers spend the most money across all generations, according to a McKinsey consumer sentiment report.

According to a ConsumerWise Global Sentiment Survey of 4,003 people conducted by the consulting giant in May 2024, 39% of respondents said they plan to spend money at bars and restaurants – more than any other type of spending, including big-ticket items like travel, vehicles and consumer electronics.

These findings are supported by the latest U.S. Census consumer spending data, which show that household spending on eating out increased 20.1% between 2021 and 2022.

Some of the increase is due to a return to normalcy after many restaurants were forced to close due to restrictions imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic. Still, a surge in demand for hipper, trendier restaurants has prompted new players to enter the field. In January, Yelp reported that over 50,000 new dining establishments will open in the U.S. in 2023, a 10% increase from the previous year.

With our social media algorithms producing endless possibilities, it’s not easy to stay informed about which places are currently trending and actually worth spending money on – especially in a big city.

Here, a high net worth travel concierge and hotel concierges share their recommendations for the hottest and best restaurants for every occasion in seven of the United States’ most popular cities – from the perfect restaurant for a romantic evening to the ideal place to impress clients.

Take a look around. The list is sorted alphabetically by city.