8. United Nations Delegates Dining Room

Although the United Nations Headquarters can be visited on guided tours, one of the best kept secrets is the Delegates Dining Room. Despite what its name suggests, the restaurant is also open to the public with advance reservation. The Dining Room re-opened in 2014 following extensive renovations to the General Assembly building, the first update since the United Nations complex opened in 1952. The buffet format at the Dining Room means that you’ll be brushing past and sitting amidst ambassadors, dignitaries and delegates, all while taking in impressive views of the East River, Roosevelt Island, and Long Island City. Plus, you get an escort through the main hall on the way there who functions almost like a guide.

The entrance to the Delegates Dining Room is like a step back in time to the mid-20th century. Floor to ceiling wooden beams flank the opening where you’ll be confronted first by the long buffet spread. Inside, the decor is not particularly impressive, but the views from the nearly floor-to-ceiling windows are. The “internationally inspired” buffet is prepared by an executive chef and changes daily.

Discover 90 of NYC’s hidden bars and restaurants in the new book New York: Hidden Bars & Restaurants.