#1. King Cole Bar: The ultra glam King Cole Bar represents an era of vintage luxury in New York City—it’s even been said that the Bloody Mary was invented there. Since opening in 1932, celebrity fans have included everyone from Salvador Dali to Marilyn Monroe and a scene from The Devil Wears Prada also took place at the bar. The atmosphere evokes a chic, old-school New York feel of the ’40s or ’50s with its famous mural by Maxfield Parrish, installed during its opening year, featuring a watchful Old King Cole.

Courtesy of King Cole Bar

#2. Junior’s: This classic Brooklyn restaurant feels like it’s straight out of the ’50s. Most famous for their cheesecake, Junior’s has been serving Brooklyn deli food and more since it opened in 1950. The interior is full of neon signs, colourful stripes and, of course, vintage photographs of Brooklyn. The menu boasts almost anything you could ever want, starting with a welcome by waiters who serve bowls of pickles, coleslaw, beets and bread on the table for pre-meal snacks.

Courtesy of Junior’s

#4. Delmonico’s: Often credited as America’s first restaurant, Delmonico’s is an iconic New York City steakhouse in lower Manhattan. Though the timeline of the original Delmonico’s is slightly complex—the family owned and operated many restaurants around the city beginning in 1827—the history can be felt at the current space on Beaver Street. The old school patrons of the past range from Mark Twain to J.P. Morgan and the space continues to serve signature items like the Delmonico’s steak, eggs benedict, lobster Newberg, and baked Alaska.

Courtesy of Delmonico’s

#5. Piece of Velvet: This bakery’s specialty is Velvet Cake – a vintage American classic. With locations throughout the city, Piece of Velvet serves freshly made velvet cake in nontraditional flavours like blueberry, pineapple, carrot and lemon in whole cakes, slices or cupcakes. The colorful cakes and velvet obsession feel particularly retro right now.

Image Courtesy of Red Velvet

#6. Holiday Cocktail Lounge: For a New York City dive bar experience, without being toodive-y, head to the Holiday Cocktail Lounge in the East Village. Built in 1835, the bar is steeped in history but was revived this year with a new batch of owners and bar program. Regardless of its makeover this year, it still has all the retro vibes like telephone booths decked out in Christmas lights, classic cocktails and a very particular downtown New York feel.

Courtesy of Holiday Cocktail Lounge