Five to Try: Best Bodegas Downtown
Being fiercely loyal and endlessly grateful to your local 24/7 corner store makes total sense: there’s really nothing like ordering a chopped cheese in the wee hours of the morning and then crawling right back into bed with it half-eaten. But if you ever find it in your heart to switch things up and give another bodega a chance, consider heading downtown. Whether you’re in the mood for a bacon-egg-and-cheese or a protein-packed smoothie, you’ll find it at these often round-the-clock bodegas. We’re sharing some of our favorites below.
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Sunny & Annie’s Deli: Best Unique Menu Items
This 24-hour, family-owned Alphabet City bodega is beloved by locals and clued-in visitors for its endless variety of deliriously creative sandwiches. The bodega’s tiny, but the sandwiches are giant and flavor-packed, especially the slew of phở-themed options—the P.H.O. #1 (roast beef, bean sprouts, basil, cilantro, avocado, hoisin, and sriracha) is a fan favorite. And many of the sandwiches are quirkily named: there’s one known as the Bernie Sanders (teriyaki chicken and shiitake mushrooms), another is called the Mona Lisa (chicken cutlet, basil, mozzarella, roasted red peppers), and another is the Jackie Chan (beef bulgogi, muenster cheese, pickled jalapenos, sesame leaves). You can’t go wrong ordering the classics here either—Sunny & Annie’s makes a killer bacon-egg-and-cheese. A crunchy pickle comes complimentary with your sandwich of choice, but for those wanting to bookend their meal with something sweet, dig through the ample selection of candy, cookies, and pints of Ben & Jerry’s. Fun fact: If this East Village institution’s crammed, colorful aisles look familiar, then you probably binge-watched Netflix’s Russian Doll just like the rest of us.
94 Avenue B, New York, NY 10009; T. (212) 677-3131
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Orchard Grocer: Best Vegan Dishes
Need to stock up on vegan pantry items? Head to Orchard Grocer, a small yet fully-stocked vegan grocer and delicatessen that’s tucked away in the heart of the Lower East Side. Order sandwiches, salads, pastries, and sides at the deli counter, including vegan versions of deli staples like a bagel and (carrot) lox, “egg” salad, and a hefty Reuben with housemade Thousand Island dressing that somehow tastes like the real thing. On warm days, you must order their I-can’t-believe-it’s-not-dairy soft serve ice cream on a cone or a vegan shake before making your way to Seward Park.
78 Orchard Street, New York, NY 10002; T. (646) 757-9910
Soho Garden: Best Flower Selection
Nolita is home to one of Manhattan’s most delightful bodegas, a.k.a. Soho Garden. Open 24/7 and located a stone’s throw from McNally Jackson Books on Prince Street, the shelves at this bright and airy mini-mart are stacked with endless groceries. Stock up on hard-to-find kinds of sauces, oils, nut butter, crackers, and chocolate bars. Buy a candle or two. Grab a plastic container of grapes or papaya slices. Order a sandwich to-go at the deli counter. And definitely peruse the overflowing buckets of freshly cut flowers, like sunflowers, roses, and eucalyptus, that line the storefront of this aptly-named neighborhood gem. Go on and unload your tote bag at the nearby Elizabeth Street Garden for an impromptu picnic for one.
40 Prince St, New York, NY 10012; T. (212) 941-5973
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L&M Delicatessen and Catering: Best Deli Sandwiches
This classic family-owned and operated Chelsea delicatessen has been a go-to for great soups, salads, and sandwiches since opening its doors on 7th Avenue in 1971. L&M is also where to go if you’re worried about what to bring to a house party or an office meeting. This much-adored mom-and-pop’s catering menu offers a variety of breakfast, lunch, and dinner options, from breakfast wrap and avocado toast trays to hot and cold platters of pasta. Just give them a 48-hour advance notice; the platter of gigantic Italian heroes stuffed with prosciutto, ham, capicola, salami, and provolone is particularly worth the wait.
80 7th Avenue, New York, NY 10011; T. (212) 242-2645
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Tribeca Finest Marketplace: Best Fresh Juices
Understatement alert: There’s no shortage of painfully hip and pricy juice bars in TriBeCa. Devoted downtown juicers can save some cash sans sacrificing quality at this no-frills, open 24/7 bodega, which boasts a top-notch, reasonably-priced juice bar. On the menu are fresh juices and superfood smoothies packed with healthy ingredients like spinach, kale, beets, carrots, and ginger. A 24-ounce protein smoothie will cost you just the unspeakable-for-NYC price of $7.99 here, which makes their even cheaper breakfast sandwiches oh-so-tempting.
393 Canal St, New York, NY 10013; T. (212) 625-3444
WORDS Alex Catarinella
PHOTOGRAPHY Michael Tapp
