The best NYC restaurants for a business lunch

Even if you’re not in the fashion world, you know that the famed CEO of Vogue has great taste. So don’t take our word for it – Anna Wintour is more than happy to claim PJ Clarke’s as her favorite lunch spot in the city. With three locations in New York (FiDi, Lincoln Square, and Midtown) and a nearly 150-year history, this restaurant is a classic NYC eatery with great food. The menu has something for everyone, including oysters, burgers, salads, or sandwiches. Red gingham tablecloths and dark hardwood floors make every guest feel at home, even when you’re there for work. If your group requires a larger space, there are ample private dining options for up to 120 guests. For anyone's New York City business lunch, PJ Clarke’s will be a fan favorite for both clients and coworkers.

For over 25 years, Il Gattopardo has impressed patrons with its fine linens, impeccable service, and delicious pasta. Midtown is the hub of many corporate headquarters, making this Italian joint perfectly located for business meetings. Dishes here are pleasantly unfamiliar. Every entree is unique, such as their busiate pasta made from an ancient grain. Il Gattopardo is carefully curated for an ideal fine dining experience, and its classically professional aura and clientele make it a perfect option for your next working lunch.

Historic, award-winning, and a good time, Union Square Cafe is a great lunch option for no-fuss classics. Opened in 1985, this restaurant led to the creation of Union Square Hospitality Group and has won five James Beard Awards over the years. It is well known for a reason – incredible service, calming ambiance, and delicious entrees come together as a harmonic setting for business lunches. Union Square Cafe is in a landmark location, set between Union Square, Gramercy Park, and the Flatiron building. After snagging first place in Zagat’s most popular restaurant list an unprecedented nine times, this eatery will impress out-of-towners and satiate locals.

Book the 45-person Park & Irving Room, the semi-private Alcove for 10 people, or buy out the full restaurant for up to 200 guests.

A favorite of the New York Times, Gemma, tucked away in the Bowery Hotel, boasts cozy booths, gorgeous lighting, and a mouthwatering menu. The lunch menu is perfect for fans of pizza and pasta, with plenty of primi options for close colleagues who prefer shareables. Conveniently located by Washington Square Park, this is the perfect lunch spot for those working in Soho, LES, or West Village. For anyone else, it is still worth the trek.

For many New Yorkers, winter is spent dreaming of their Honeynut Raviolli, and hoping for an excuse to hide away in Gemma’s cozy 45-guest dining room – so make your colleague's dream come true and host your next work meeting at Gemma.

Located near Union Square Cafe (and run by the same hospitality group) is Gramercy Tavern. This famous Lower Manhattan spot has a coveted Michelin star, but if you like something more down-to-earth, don’t let that scare you. This spot is warm, welcoming, and down to earth, offering the perfect blend of fine dining and New York City charm. The lunch menu offers an a la carte or a four-course prefix option. While every item on the menu is delectable, the dark chocolate cake is ooey, gooey, and sure to seal any business deal. The tavern has private and semi-private dining options for up to 120 guests, and each room is beautifully curated.

Looking to impress a client with an indulgent steak lunch? Head to Delmonico's, a NYC institution that's been around since the 1830s. Take in the old-money atmosphere in the elegant dining room featuring larger-than-life murals portraying swanky diners of yesteryear.

The menu includes everything you could want for a decadent lunch: oysters to start, wagyu burgers, and steaks paired with a variety of butters and sauces. Be sure to leave room for dessert – Delmonico's invented the baked Alaska and has served the iconic ice cream concoction for over a century.

For a business lunch, book the boardroom, a 12-seat private dining room that has hosted the likes of presidents and infamous businessmen. Delmonico's also offers private dining for larger parties of 40 to 375 guests.

Nothing says power lunch like heading to the Upper East Side and dining on Park Avenue. Upland is an Italian-Californian restaurant, glitzy enough to be deserving of its address. The walls lined with seemingly infinite wine bottles and the cozy yet modern interiors create an ideal setting for a productive working lunch.

The Mediterranean and West Coast influence shines through on the menu, with an emphasis on fresh, seasonal ingredients. Choose from gourmet pizza and pasta as well as hearty salads and sandwiches.

Upland can host private dining for up to 40 guests.

If you catch yourself thinking you'd be much more productive if you could take your meetings from a French countryside chateau, Le Pavillon is as close as you can get in NYC. Combining fine dining with a unique atmosphere, you'll be transported away from the hustle and bustle of the city, even in the middle of Midtown.

Lunch is offered as two, three, and six-course tasting menus, so you'll be able to try a variety of gourmet dishes while you talk business. The menu is almost entirely pescatarian with a focus on vegetables and fish, prepared using traditional French techniques.

For semi-private dining, you can book The Garden Table, tucked away in a serene courtyard filled with olive trees that can accommodate up to 14 guests. Le Pavillion also offers a fully private dining room and a buyout of the restaurant.

For a business lunch with a little extra je ne sais crois, head to the lively West Village brasserie, Boucherie. With white tablecloths and a traditional French menu, the restaurant adds Parisian flair to any meeting.

You can order a prix-fixe set lunch or choose from the a la carte menu that includes classic dishes like French onion soup and steak frites. Nothing will get the conversation going like trying escargots for the first time!

Boucherie offers several options for private dining including the secluded wine room or the chef's table where your guests get a front-row seat to the action of the kitchen. These offerings can accommodate 8 to 175 guests for a full buyout.

Italian food is always a crowd-pleaser, and where better than a cozy trattoria to host your next meeting? Olio e Piu brings Italian food and hospitality to Greenwich Village in their airy, Old World-inspired dining room.

The menu consists of handmade pasta in traditional sauces, wood-fired pizza, and focaccia paninis. They also serve traditional Italian coffees and desserts like tiramisu, olive oil cake, and gelato.

For private events, Olio e Piu can accommodate up to 180 guests for a full buyout.