The Whitby Bar & Restaurant

On our list of the best special-occasion restaurants in New York.

A pewter-topped bar anchors this all-day restaurant and bar inside the Whitby Hotel on West 56th Street, hung with pieces by artists Carla Kranendonk, Daniel Frost and Nicola Clarke. Designer Kit Kemp's bold color choices carry from the lobby into the dining room. The kitchen runs a seasonal European menu from breakfast through dinner, with afternoon tea and a cocktail list served alongside it. The bar takes walk-ins, though reservations are recommended for the restaurant on busy nights.