Lexington Candy Shop

Lexington Candy Shop is old. Like, pumping cola syrup into seltzer old. Like, having a coffee percolator that runs on an exposed gas burner old. This Upper East Side diner was founded in 1925, and not much seems to have changed here since then. There are booths with photos of regulars and posters of UES-centric movies hanging above them, but if you sit at the counter, you can watch your pancakes being flipped and your juice being freshly squeezed while the hood fights a losing battle against the overwhelming smell of bacon on the griddle. 

Sure, the tuna melt isn't the world's most luscious version of the sandwich, but it’s stood the test of time, tastes deliciously of the ocean, and it comes with an exceptional half-sour pickle. When you come here, be patient—the service is slow, and that’s a good thing. Bring a book on a lazy morning when you have nowhere else to be, because you’re already at the main event of your day.

photo credit: Will Hartman