New York Dearest
The guide, $35

The Best of New York · 2026

Good places deserve to be recognized.

An independent editorial distinction for the places we recommend.

New York has no shortage of places worth your time. Every place featured on a New York Dearest Best list is welcome to display our annual Best of New York seal.

Find your place on the Best listsGet the digital sealRequest a window decal

The Best of New York 2026, New York Dearest seal: a black and yellow circle reading BEST OF NEW YORK 2026

What the seal means

The seal means a place made one of our Best lists. That's the whole qualification. It doesn't matter whether a place sits first or last on the list, and every place gets the same seal. Businesses can't pay to appear or buy the seal.

How places get on the lists

Every Best list grows out of one of New York Dearest's guides, and a place is on it because the guide recommends it. There's no fee, no application and no nomination, and PR clients and advertisers get no priority. Right now 1,708 places are on 231 Best lists.

How the lists workSee every Best list

Find your place

Search for a place on the Best lists. Pick it to see the lists it's on, its seal and its decal request.

    The digital seal

    If your place is on a Best list, the seal is yours to use on your website, social channels and press materials. No sign-up and no email address needed.

    Download PNGDownload SVG

    PNG: 900 by 900 pixels with transparent corners, for email and social. SVG: the vector, sharp at any size.

    Embed it on your site

    <a href="https://newyorkdearest.com/rankings/"><img src="https://newyorkdearest.com/assets/recognition/2026/best-of-new-york-2026.svg" alt="Best of New York 2026, New York Dearest" width="240" height="240" style="max-width:100%;height:auto"></a>

    This code links to the Best lists. Pick your place above and it links to your list instead.

    Using it

    • Show it at any size, on any background.
    • Keep the circle whole: no crop, no frame, no added words or names.
    • It's the same seal for every place, so please don't describe it as a first place or a top spot. If you mention your ranking in words, use the list's own wording.
    At 240 pixels, the size the embed code sets.

    The window decal

    A 4.5-inch circle for the storefront. It goes on the inside of the glass and reads from the street. One per storefront a year, free while supplies last; we cover the cost.

    The first decals are being made now. Ask for one and we'll mail it when they're ready.

    Putting it up

    1. Clean and dry the inside of the glass.
    2. Peel off the backing. The printed side is the sticky side.
    3. From inside, press it onto the glass so it reads correctly from the street, smoothing from the center out.

    Request a window decal

    Illustration: a storefront door with the 4.5-inch decal on the inside of the glass at eye level, and a side view showing the printed face stuck to the glass so it reads from the street 4.5 in Side view InsideStreet reads fromoutside printed faceon the glass
    An illustration, not a photograph. Photos of the real decal on a door come when the first samples arrive.

    Request a window decal

    For the owner or a manager of a place on a Best list, or the PR agency that represents it. We only use the address to mail the decal. The first decals are being made now. Ask for one and we'll mail it when they're ready.

    Your place

      You

      Mail it to

      It can be a different address from the storefront. US addresses only for now.

      One for each storefront. If you ask for more, we'll check with you first.

      Questions

      Who qualifies?

      Any place included on one of New York Dearest's published Best lists for 2026.

      Does ranking position matter?

      No. Everyone on the lists receives the same seal.

      Is there a fee?

      No. Editorial inclusion and the seal are never sold.

      Can our PR agency request a decal for us?

      Yes. Someone representing your business can submit a request. We may confirm the relationship before shipping.

      We have several locations. Can we get more than one?

      Each storefront on a Best list can have one decal a year. Send a request for each location; a head office can send them all.

      How long will a decal take?

      We'll send an update after reviewing the request. Shipping depends on current inventory and production.

      Can we use the digital seal?

      Yes, on your website, social channels and press materials. Download it above; there's nothing to sign up for.

      What if our place is no longer on a list?

      The 2026 seal records the year a place was recognized. Once a place has left every Best list, we don't send new decals for it.

      Can we pay to be included?

      No. There's no fee, no application and no nomination. A place is on a list because a guide recommends it.

      Sharing the seal is optional. There's no need to post about it, link back, or tag anyone. If you choose to link to the editorial coverage, please link to the relevant list or your place page so readers can see the recommendation in context.