Almost all of us have had that one (or one dozen), “OMG, it’s ____!” moment on the streets of NYC. But sometimes us celeb-obsessed city dwellers get a tad depressed when we don't see our favorite big-names traipsing down the streets. There's an easy solution to fill that NYC need to rub elbows with the elite: deliberately drinking or dining at the bars/restos they hang at. Your chances of sharing the same breathing space as Leo just got better!

-Maureen Meekins


There’s a common misconception that you have to fly to France to feast on le cuisine. Au contraire, Pastis brings Paris plates to NYC, and is also a spot for celebs like Beyoncé and Pharrell Williams to dine like Europeans when their private jet can't make that 14-hour trip. Executive Chefs Riad Nasr and Lee Hanson lure in head honchos like crazy with their Penne Puttanesca ($19) and Steak Frites w/Béarnaise ($36), while the traditional Frenchy décor is as sweet and dreamy as the icing on David Hasselhoff's favorite Warm Chocolate Cake ($9). Offering only the finest in French wines like CHABLIS “Les Preusses” Grand Cru Billaud-Simon ‘07 ($145/bottle), what money’s-no-option, I’d-fly-to-France-right-now-if-I-weren’t-working star could stay away?
Pastis 9 9th Ave. @ Little W. 12th St. (Meatpacking District) 212.929.4844


Tony Bennet wouldn't wander into just any neon-signed greasy spoon. While Brooklyn Diner delivers traditional meals you might find wafting out of a typical silver-sided spot and boasts a classic Deuces Wild design aesthetic, it's actually a haven for famous people and also actually not located in Brooklyn. No matter the misleading name, stars like Adam Sandler can’t turn down the ever-popular 15 Bite Brooklyn Diner®“All Beef” Hot Dog (frizzled onion rings, juniper sauerkraut, brioche bun, $18.95), and Sir Paul shows up for a health-conscious nosh like the Vegan Burger (whole wheat 7-grain bun, blended rice, black beans, peppers, mushrooms, dried cranberry, topped with: soy mozzarella cheese, avocado and mesclun salad, $16.95). Even the diner's milkshakes are a bit different. The Jerry Seinfeld-endorsed, alcohol-enhanced Tipsy Shakes are sure to get you silly!
Brooklyn Diner 212 W. 57th St. @ 7th Ave. (Midtown) 212.265.5400

No monkey business here...at Monkey Bar you'll see some serious celebs swinging through the doors. Perhaps it has something to do with the bar’s historical prohibition-age theme mixed with the tradition of superstar clientele (Marlon Brando, Fred Astaire and Tennessee Williams were once regulars), or maybe it’s simply that the cuddly Monkey name draws in those flashy members of the elite entertainment industry nowadays like Madonna or Ivana Trump. Speaking of famous, Ed Sorel's much-acclaimed mural only adds to MB's allure. Dishes and drinks like the Braised Lamb Shank (lentils, swiss chard and merguez, $31), mocktails such as the Bartlett Fizz (house-made pear soda and dash of bitters, $9) or cocktails like the Gin Blossom (gin, bianco vermouth, apricot eau de vie and orange bitters, $12) round out the experience at this jungle for glam people. Full of history and decorated creatively with unique artwork, it's no wonder Academy Award-winning film The Artist recently held a lunch here when they celebrated their release.
Monkey Bar 60 E. 54th St. Bt. Park & Madison Aves. (Midtown East) 212.838.2600

No need to worry about getting whacked (except maybe in the wallet department) at this fancy-shmancy restaurant, because owner Robert DeNiro’s got you covered. Though it's geared toward Bobby's hot-to-trot colleagues in the SAG and those of us that can easily afford a $20 crab cake or $26 chicken dish, Tribeca Grill is a friendly hangout spot for city-goers and A-list actors like Harvey Keitel and Sean Penn when they’re not shootin’ Oscar-worthy films in Hollywood. Charge up your credit card for a night out and feel like the king of the world as you keep your eyes peeled for celebs like Leo sipping down one of the many wines on this grill's award-winning, 1,800-bottle wine list like the Leonetti Merlot 2003. In a place filled with acting royalty and rife with oversized chandeliers and stone pillars, you better practice your best “you talkin’ to me?” face and act like you've, er, made it to fit in.
Tribeca Grill 375 Greenwich St. Bt. Moore & Franklin Sts. (TriBeCa) 212.941.3900 

Going green seems to be a growing trend amongst celebs nowadays, which would explain the red-carpet attraction to ABC Kitchen, an upscale hideaway that prides itself on serving nothing but the best in organic food and drink with only the freshest of ingredients (case in point: Housemade Ricotta Ravioli with herbs and tomato sauce, $15/$23; Whole Wheat Pizza with Mushrooms, Parmesan, Oregano and Farm Egg, $17; or specially made peak organic nut brown ale, English Style, $6). Drawing in earth-lovers like Kanye West or Meg Ryan is easy with décor (from silverware to seating) that is, wait for it, made from 100% recycled material. This “kitchen” has managed to put together trash cans and hubcaps to create seating fit for a king or, er, prez, as they recently played host to President Obama at a fundraising dinner last week. Between its environmental message and the elite group of rich and famous they serve, this joint is a real celebrity do-not-wasteland.
ABC Kitchen 35 E. 18th St. Bt. Broadway & Park Ave. S. (Gramercy) 212.475.5829

Continental NYC is an underground spot that attracts, how do you say, our more “eccentric” A-listers. Seriously, even rock royalty can’t resist their famous “5 shots for $10” deal. Snatch a seat at the beat-up bar where Iggy Pop ordered many a drink, or chill out in the back in plush booths surrounded by that same rugged old-wood floor where Lemmy performed, eyes peeled for those punk-rock 'n' rollers that still grace Continental NYC with their presence. It’s a flock spot for lush bigwigs like Steven Van Zandt (The Sopranos and Bruce Springsteen’s E Street Band) and grunged-out musicians like Shane West (perhaps better known for the role his sweeter side played in A Walk to Remember) making this been-around-the-block dive bar a secret, star-studded treasure trove the paparazzi have, so far, only dreamed about.
Continental NYC 25 3rd Ave. Bt. St. Marks Pl. & 9th St. (East Village) 212.529.6924