Studio 151

"In order to get to Studio 151, you enter a door that's marked with a single red light bulb, then walk up a red-lit staircase and ring a tiny buzzer. This Alphabet City restaurant is technically a speakeasy, and it's located in a cavernous space reminiscent of a ‘90s art loft. You can grab a high-top or a couch and eat some à la carte sushi—but we suggest you reserve one of the four seats at the chef’s counter and try the exceptional $80 omakase. In any case, you’re going to have a good time." - will hartman, bryan kim, willa moore, kenny yang, neha talreja

"A big part of living here involves finding out about cool, unexpected little places and then gatekeeping the sh*t out of them. Which is why it hurts a little every time we tell a new person about Studio 151. Situated on top of a jazz club, this sushi speakeasy in the East Village is like a house party, in a house that also happens to have a standout $80 omakase meal. In one corner of the room, chefs at the four-seat counter serve buttery yuzu scallops and shiso sea bream with obvious swagger. Other guests eat sushi a la carte, sitting at high tops or on couches. There is, of course, a DJ, to help transition the crowd from fancy fish to after-hours debauchery. Bring the coolest New Yorker you know, but only if they can keep a secret." - sonal shah, bryan kim, neha talreja, willa moore, will hartman

"In order to get to Studio 151, you enter a door that's marked with a single red lightbulb, then walk up a red-lit staircase and ring a tiny buzzer. This Alphabet City restaurant is technically a speakeasy, and it's located in a cavernous space reminiscent of a ‘90s art loft. You can grab a high-top or a couch and eat some a la carte sushi—but we suggest you reserve one of the four seats at the chef’s counter and try the exceptional $80 omakase. The style is minimal but modern: a buttery scallop comes seasoned with two kinds of salt, lemon zest, and yuzu juice, and Japanese sea bream arrives with a pinch of ume shiso tucked underneath." - bryan kim, neha talreja, hannah albertine, will hartman

"Located in a cavernous space reminiscent of a ‘90s art loft, Studio 151 is like a house party thrown by someone with impeccable taste in records. This Alphabet City restaurant is technically a speakeasy, but unlike other IYKYK spots, it offers an $80 omakase that rivals options triple the price. Since there are only four seats at the omakase counter, intimacy is guaranteed—then you can move the date to one of the giant couches for a second round of handrolls and cocktails. " - carina finn koeppicus

"To get to this Alphabet City sushi speakeasy, head up some stairs, ring a buzzer, and go through a steel cage door, where you’ll come upon what probably happens when a celebrity buys an empty building and turns it into their dream loft. If you ask about the jazz playing here, they’ll tell you they only play vinyl to keep the volume relatively low—and this makes for a very pleasant listening experience. Most of the massive space is filled with leather couches and high tops where you can order nigiri and temaki à la carte, but the $80 omakase at the four-seat counter is what makes this place special." - Bryan Kim, Kenny Yang