Aquavit
Swedish, Scandinavian · Midtown-Times Square, New York City
Restaurant in New York City, United States
Book with PearlThe Read
Nordic Precision
Price
$200–300per person
Chef
Emma Bengtsson
Dress
Smart Casual
Why go
Choose Aquavit for a dedicated Scandinavian meal in Midtown. Emma Bengtsson’s kitchen offers lunch, a tasting menu and a chef’s tasting menu, with seafood and preserved flavors central to its Nordic approach. Book ahead, especially for a dinner reservation.
About Aquavit
Aquavit is a strong choice when the meal itself is the occasion. At 65 East 55th Street, Emma Bengtsson leads a contemporary Scandinavian kitchen with an open dining-room view of the work. The restaurant has held two Michelin stars, and its current site lists lunch, a tasting menu and a chef’s tasting menu.
Choose the right format
Weekday lunch gives you a shorter way into the kitchen’s Nordic cooking. Dinner is the better fit for a longer tasting-menu evening. The restaurant takes dining-room reservations online or by phone and recommends booking well ahead; it releases reservations on the first of each month through the end of the following month for parties of six or fewer.
What to plan for
The dining-room dress code is smart casual. Aquavit opens for lunch Monday through Friday and dinner Monday through Saturday, with Sunday closed. For a group of seven or more, the restaurant directs guests to its private-dining team. Its Linné Salon and Nobel Room offer distinct spaces for larger gatherings, while the main dining room keeps the focus on Bengtsson’s Swedish and Scandinavian cooking.
Planning details
- Hours
- Monday: 5:30–9 pm · Tuesday: 12–1:30 pm, 5:30–9 pm
- Location
- 65 E 55th St, New York, NY 10022
- Reservations
- Book on Tock
- Website
- aquavit.org
- Phone
- (212) 307-7311
The take
The Take
The Vibe
Aquavit channels a spare Scandinavian sensibility into a Midtown fine-dining room. The décor and tableware, glazed earthenware, slate platters, wooden boxes, keep the eye on texture and temperature rather than decoration, so the experience feels restrained and quietly deliberate. An open kitchen folds the cooks into the dining room, reinforcing a transparent, almost domestic rigor that underpins the tasting-menu choreography. The result is a focused, measured atmosphere: high-end and composed, where technique and preserved flavors take center stage rather than theatrical flourishes.
Best For
Aquavit suits a planned Scandinavian meal in Midtown, from weekday lunch to a longer tasting-menu dinner. Emma Bengtsson leads the two-Michelin-star kitchen; the dining room is smart casual and reservations are recommended well ahead.
Ordering Tips
Choose among the published lunch, tasting and chef’s tasting menus according to the length of meal you want. Menus change; check the current dining-room links before reserving. For seven or more guests, contact Aquavit’s private-dining team.
Venue details
Ambiance
Minimalist interiors with soft lighting, calm and comfortable atmosphere, undulating wooden ceilings, and muted decor emphasizing the food.
Tags
Vibe
Best For
Experience
At the Table
- Dress Code
- Smart Casual
- Noise Level
- Quiet
- Service Style
- Formal
- Meal Pacing
- Leisurely
- Capacity
- Medium
- Kitchen
- Modern
- Menu Format
- Tasting menu, Prix fixe
- Wine Program
- Deep wine list
- Drinks Focus
- Aquavit, Wine pairing
Signature Dishes
- birds_nest_dessert
- sweetbreads
- sea_bass
- wagyu_beef
Know before you go
Know Before You Go
- Getting there
- 65 E 55th St, New York, NY 10022
Planning details
Hours
- Monday
- 5:30–9 pm
- Tuesday
- 12–1:30 pm, 5:30–9 pm
- Wednesday
- 12–1:30 pm, 5:30–9 pm
- Thursday
- 12–1:30 pm, 5:30–9 pm
- Friday
- 12–1:30 pm, 5:30–9:30 pm
- Saturday
- 5:30–9:30 pm
- Sunday
- Closed
Location
Recognition and awards
Explore New York City
Around this place
Discover more on Pearl
Unlock the full Aquavit guide in Pearl, including awards, comparisons, FAQs, planning details, and nearby places.
