Katz’s Deli needs no introduction. You’ve seen Meg Ryan’s iconic Sleepless in Seattle scene that takes place, there’s even a sign in-store that points to the very table that it was filmed. While New York City’s oldest deli found Hollywood fame its dedication to plating up the best pastrami sandwich has not waivered. More than 100 years old, the popularity of this deli among locals and tourists remains so don’t be surprised if you have to queue. Each piece of pastrami on this sandwich has been prepared in-house. The hours-long process includes the pastrami being soaked in brine, rubbed with spices, smoked and boiled before being freshly carved when ordered. The deliciously juicy slices of pastrami (and the sandwich is packed with them) are crammed between two slices of rye that have been slathered with mustard and reuben dressing (if you so choose). This meaty Pastrami on Rye sandwich doesn’t come cheap, it costs around $42, but you can easily split one between two as it’s so big. While I’m sure many hope Katz’s would open more locations, there’s just the one store on the Lower East Side. katzsdelicatessen.com

For 108 years Russ & Daughter has been serving New Yorkers one of the city’s most iconic dishes: bagel and lox sandwich. They keep it simple and delicious here. The Classic Bagel & Lox Sandwich is made up of a poppy seed bagel, a schmear of cream cheese, slices of Gaspe Nova smoked salmon, usually finished with tomato and red onion. Of course you can adjust to your palette, opt for different flavoured cream cheese or bagel, but to get a real taste of what Russ & Daughter are famous for, we recommend starting with the Classic. If you brought a hearty appetite with you, pair your bagel with some potato latkes or finish off with something sweet like a slice of babka. Conveniently, there are four locations across New York City and you can find which one is closest to you via the Russ & Daughters website. russanddaughters.com

While Carrie and Miranda may have put Magnolia Bakery’s cupcakes on the map in Sex and the City, it is the New York shop’s banana pudding that is more iconic than its cupcakes. The dessert combines creamy vanilla pudding layers with smashed up vanilla wafers and fresh banana. But while you’re here you might as well opt for a small cup of the pudding and order a cupcake while you’re at it. There are nine stores scattered throughout the city, so finding a Magnolia Bakery close by is easy enough, but if you want to visit the flagship store, you’ll find it on Bleecker Street. magnoliabakery.com

Biting into a cookie in New York City is a rite of passage for tourists – as is ordering a hot dog or pretzel from a street vendor. But if you want to bite into the best cookie in the city head to Levain. For almost 30 years, Levain bakery has been baking bread and cookies that are beloved by locals and tourists alike. So much so that there are seven Levain bakeries in New York City alone, with the original located on the Upper West Side, as well as other outposts nationwide. The cookie that started it all, Levain’s first flavour, is the signature Chocolate Chip Walnut Cookie, a thick cookie which is crispy on the outside and thick and gooey in the middle. levainbakery.com

If you ask a New Yorker where to get a slice of the best cheesecake from, they will most likely answer with: Junior’s. The classic diner-style bakery has been serving handmade New York cheesecake since the 1950s from its Brooklyn outpost (there are now two other stores in New York). While the OG NY cheesecake is a go-to, there are plenty of flavour options like Raspberry Swirl, Strawberry Cheesecake, Triple Chocolate and more. juniorscheesecake.com

Known as America’s first pizzeria, Lombardi’s opened in 1905 and is said to have helped develop what is now known as the New York style pizza – which is characterised by a thick and crispy crust around the edge with a thin and soft base that can be folded to eat.. Aptly located in Little Italy, founder Gennaro Lombardi crafted his pizzas using his bakers trade he learned in Naples. Start with the Original Margherita which is topped with pure tomato sauce, fresh whole milk mozzarella and basil and is oven-baked. firstpizza.com