Manhattan: Cuban Bites & Sweet Detours

4.6 (5,338)

Mon – Wed, 11:00 – 22:00; Thu – Fri, 11:00 – 23:00; Sat, 10:00 – 23:00; Sun, 10:00 – 22:00

17 Prince St

Start with Cuban sandwiches and grilled Mexican street corn at this 38-seat Nolita diner. Open since 1998 in a former Dominican diner, Café Habana mixes Cuban and Mexican cooking with a lively Latin soundtrack. Add plantain tacos or fried plantains if the table wants another savory bite. Indoor and outdoor seating is compact, so make this a close-knit catch-up rather than a sprawling group meal.

4.2 (10,520)

Mon – Thu, Sun, 09:30 – 20:00; Fri – Sat, 09:30 – 20:30

558 Broadway

Trade the diner for an interactive dessert stop at 558 Broadway. The Museum of Ice Cream pairs immersive playspaces with ice cream tastings, including a three-floor slide and a sprinkle pool. It is a playful detour rather than another restaurant; keep it in the plan for friends who want an activity between bites. A café also serves sweet treats.

4.2 (311)

Mon – Sun, 12:00 – 22:00

176 Spring St, New York, NY 10012, USA

Continue to Spring Street for Japanese-inspired mochi ice cream: premium ice cream wrapped in a thin, chewy layer of mochi. The menu includes seasonal flavors, matcha drinks, and a mochi s'more. Portions are small, making this a quick tasting stop rather than a full dessert course. There is no indoor seating, so enjoy it as a takeaway stop before moving on.

4.1 (1,433)

Mon – Thu, Sun, 11:00 – 01:30 (+1); Fri – Sat, 11:00 – 02:30 (+1)

363 W Broadway

Finish at a West Broadway neighborhood pub that has been a Manhattan fixture since 1972. Kenn's Broome Street Bar pairs cold drafts and classic pub food with a conversational, welcoming atmosphere, and pea soup is a noted kitchen highlight. The tavern has kept its historic character under new ownership. Make this the sit-down finish when the group wants more time to talk.