This iconic Upper West Side bistro, steeped in French charm, has been a chic haven for locals and creatives alike, serving up classic comfort dishes since '83.
"Cafe Luxembourg is open on Christmas Eve for breakfast, lunch, a 3 to 5 p.m. brasserie hour, and for dinner from 5 to 10 p.m. It’s also open for Christmas Day from 5 to 10 p.m. For breakfast it’s warm cinnamon doughnuts, omelets, and avocado toast. For dinner, look for items like shrimp cocktail, Nicoise salad, chicken paillard, linguine with clams, and more." - Eater Staff
"A charming French bistro on the Upper West Side of Manhattan, featured in several of Nora Ephron's works."
"Will you remember the classic French bistro dishes at Cafe Luxembourg forever? Absolutely not. But you will remember the experience of seeing Fran Lebowitz taking a meeting in a corner booth with two extremely tall people. This classic Upper West Side spot is more about dining in a dimly lit, red-leather-booth institution than it is about any single plate of food. Having said that, you could order the french onion soup and a martini and be perfectly satisfied by your meal here." - bryan kim, willa moore, neha talreja, hannah albertine, will hartman
"Will you remember the classic French bistro dishes at Cafe Luxembourg forever? Absolutely not. But you will remember the experience, and the fact that you may see Fran Lebowitz taking a meeting in a corner booth with two extremely tall people. This classic Upper West Side restaurant (owned by the same team as The Odeon in Tribeca) is more about dining in a dim-lit, red-leather booth institution than it is about any singular plate of food. Having said that, you could order the French onion soup and a martini, and be perfectly satisfied by your meal here. Food Rundown French Onion Soup Aside from the people-watching and occasional slurp of a cold martini, we’ve always believed that the best part of eating at Cafe Luxembourg is the appetizer round. Their French onion soup tastes like a piping hot crock of liquified onions went on a week-long road trip with some cattle and never opened the windows. It’s endlessly rich, and topped with a raft of melted gruyere. There is truly no way to eat this without filling the saucer below the bowl with spilled soup and soggy breadcrumbs. Enjoy. Mixed Greens Salad You could opt for a country frisee with blue cheese, bacon lardon, and a poached egg, but we prefer to go a little lighter with this simple mixed greens salad dressed with a conservative amount of roasted shallot sherry vinaigrette. NY Strip Steak Frites What is a meal at an old-timey French bistro without a proper piece of steak and some McDonald’s-esque shoestring fries? There’s nothing wrong with this 8-ounce aged prime rib NY strip steak inherently (the meat is cooked well and you can choose your accompanying sauce). It just feels a bit small and naked on the plate for $42. Our advice? Skip the sauce au poivre, which tastes more like French onion soup concentrate than pepper and cream. Profiterales Does this mountain of ice cream-stuffed choux pastry globes taste like it was topped with Hershey’s chocolate sauce? Possibly. Do we continue to order it regardless? Absolutely." - Hannah Albertine
"There is no shortage of French brasseries in the city, but few restaurants have a scene like Cafe Luxembourg. The dining room and bar are gathering spots for longtime Upper West Side residents, New York Philharmonic performers, Broadway actors, and all sorts of creative types. The menu offers reliable standards like strip steaks and pan-roasted salmon, but it’s the buzzy energy in a room full of regulars that makes hanging out here feel like a night out." - Eater Staff
