Places app by Raya builds network of restaurant recommendations in the 42BELOW neighborhood

Manhattan, NY Inside one particular pocket of Midtown South — the stretch running roughly from the southern edge of Times Square down through the Garment District and Koreatown, and from Bryant Park to Eight Ave. Some locals have started calling it “42BELOW,” and the restaurants, bars, and cafés packed into it are becoming favorites among one of the city’s most discerning communities. 

The following recommendations come from Places, the restaurant and travel discovery app created by the team behind Raya, the ultra-selective dating and networking app that is reported to accept only about 8% of applicants, making it, infamously, more selective than Harvard. Rather than relying on algorithms or crowdsourced reviews, Places is built around recommendations from a global network of curators — including chefs, designers, and cultural tastemakers such as Eric Ripert, David Gelb, and Laura Kim — who share where they actually like to go. Originally launched as a members-only Raya perk before expanding into its own standalone subscription app, Places has earned a reputation for insider-approved discoveries.

Ten Spots to Take a Date in 42BELOW

The Places picks for those looking to make an impression — whether the move is a well-made highball, an L’Impensable (Aux Merveilleux de Fred’s coffee-cream merveilleux), or a bite of otoro at the counter:

• Akoya — “Intimate rooftop sushi and cocktail bar offering inventive Japanese bites and skyline views, featuring a 13-seat hand roll bar and a menu of seasonal drinks.” 6 Times Square.

• Aux Merveilleux de Fred — “French bakery renowned for its airy merveilleux pastries and buttery cramiques, set in a charming space adorned with an oversized crystal chandelier.” 37 W 30^th St.

• da Toscano — “Warm, brick-walled venue for comforting Italian plates including chilled seafood and pasta.” 49 W 44^th St.

• Gabriel Kreuther — “Sophisticated French cuisine in chic interiors featuring salvaged-wood beams, with a menu highlighting Alsatian influences and meticulously crafted tasting options.” 41 W 42^nd St.

• Keens Steakhouse — “Historic steakhouse since 1885 famous for mutton chops and dry-aged USDA Prime steaks served in clubby, wood-paneled rooms lined with over 90,000 clay pipes from former patrons.” 72 W 36^th St.

• Peppercorn Station — “Classic Sichuan noodle, rice and vegetable dishes, some with a modern twist - the mapo tofu with fermented black beans and fish fillet in numbing golden broth are standouts.” 66 W 39^th St.

• Sushi Sho — “Traditional Edomae-style sushi counter from renowned Chef Keiji Nakazawa, featuring aged and fermented fish during the omakase portion, plus an okonomi section where diners can order additional pieces a la carte.” 3 E 41st St.

• The Parlour Room — “Whiskey emporium with 400+ labels and a refined American menu, set in a plush, 1920s-inspired room with velvet booths.” 70 W 36^th St.

• Togyushi — “Contemporary Japanese restaurant featuring a fine dining omakase counter that highlights G1 Zao wagyu beef and innovative cocktails in a stylish, modern setting.” 37 W 37^th St.

• Valerie — “Art Deco cocktail bar and American kitchen near Bryant Park, known for its 90+ gin library and burlesque-mural backroom.” 45 W 45^th St.

The neighborhood is also a favorite for the city’s top matchmakers. Nikki Lewis, co-founder of The Bevy — the members-only matchmaking service the Observer has called a “high-touch matchmaking service with a 98% success rate” — points to a couple of go-tos in the area for her own clients. “Osamil Upstairs (5 W 31^st St.) is my pick for a great first date, while Keens (72 W 36^th St.) with its more eclectic crowd, is better suited to a third date, ideally paired with a show,” she said.

The Bevy is an ultra exclusive and referral based matchmaking agency in which their small team often makes reservations at the hottest spots in the city on behalf of their clients. “We send the gentlemen to where their dates are located, certainly for the first date, and we are seeing a lot more women living in this area, so we make a lot of reservations these days in the 42BELOW neighborhood,” she said.