By: Frances Le Bubu

Hudson Square, long overshadowed by Tribeca, Flatiron, and Williamsburg, is quietly emerging as one of New York City’s most exciting new dining destinations, as NY Post reported. The low-key commercial district, historically home to the city’s early 20th-century printing industry, is now drawing high-profile chefs and food lovers alike.

The surge comes as the neighborhood has seen an influx of creative and media tenants, including 16 new firms moving in after Google and Disney together absorbed more than four million square feet last year and in 2025, as NY Post reported. Restaurateurs are seizing the opportunity, setting up in the area’s century-old buildings to cater to the young professional crowd.

High-profile openings are reshaping the streetscape. Daniel Humm, the chef behind Eleven Madison Park, is planning a 5,000-square-foot eatery at 435 Hudson St., set to open later this year, as NY Post reported. Cesar Ramirez’s Cesar at 333 Hudson St. recently earned a second Michelin star, while Flynn McGarry’s Cove debuted in October at 285 W. Houston St., further boosting Hudson Square’s reputation.

Brooklyn transplant Jake Leiber of Greenpoint’s Chez Ma Tante signed a 4,437-square-foot ground-floor lease at 555 Greenwich St., and Simo Pizza is bringing its Neapolitan pies to 350 Hudson St., as NY Post reported. The district also welcomed omakase-style Sushidokoro Mekumi at 70 Charlton St., and Lina Goujjane’s Kiko at 307 Spring St. recently celebrated its first anniversary.

Much of the expansion is driven by Hudson Square Properties, a joint venture of Trinity Church, Norges Bank, and Hines, which owns 13 buildings in the area. “They deliberately targeted the kinds of chefs who generate buzz,” a source told the Post, emphasizing the strategic nature of the growth, as NY Post reported. The restaurants reflect a concerted effort to make the area appealing to both office workers and local residents.

“Hudson Square is becoming one of the city’s most interesting new dining corridors,” Hines senior managing director Jason Alderman told the Post. “Our joint venture has worked intentionally to transform ground-floor retail, providing the best mix of uses for office tenants and residents,” as the New York Post reported.

Though Hudson Square isn’t a square at all but a trapezoid north of Canal Street and east of West Street, its culinary rise is undeniable. HSP has leased more than 64,000 square feet of retail space in the past two years, reducing the office vacancy rate from 17.9% to 16.5%, as NY Post reported.

Energy peaks at hotspots like Port Sa’id at 350 Hudson St., where Israeli-born chef Eyal Shani draws nightly crowds with Mideastern and Mediterranean fare. “Dinner here is never just dinner,” its Instagram proclaims, capturing the raucous, napkin-twirling dining experience that’s redefining the neighborhood, as NY Post reported.

Hudson Square may have flown under the radar for years, but with Michelin stars, celebrated chefs, and vibrant nightlife, the district is quietly staking its claim as Manhattan’s newest culinary hotspot, as NY Post reported.