Burger Joint is everything I dreamed of when I set out to find the best burger in New York. First of all, it’s tucked inside the lobby of a nondescript Midtown hotel, and only those who know to look for it will notice it (the concierge have a chuckle every time they see a wayward tourist looking confused). Second, the burger is truly excellent. The walls are filled with graffiti, the ketchup and mayonnaise are on tap, and there’s an open kitchen where you can watch the chefs do their thing. It isn’t a smashed burger, which is all the rage today, but the thicker, New York–style variation. We recommend having it all: patty, bacon, cheese, lettuce, and tomato. —Ludovico Bonaccorsi

Ludovico Bonaccorsi is the Italian restaurateur behind LùBar