Spring in Manhattan welcomes renewed activity and a glorious awakening downtown in the Financial District.

Residential demand plus Wall Streeters after work, followed by uptown brands moving downtown, is all adding up to turn this neighborhood into one of the city’s delicious dining destinations. Enjoy this foodie tour of the Financial District!

Name and Menu tba by Danny Meyer @ 28 Liberty Street

Danny Meyer has decided to turn his planned FiDi events space into a sky-high, 6,000-square-feet public restaurant, 28 Liberty St., at William Street. It’s on the 60th floor, about 880 feet high, and it will have 360-degree views of the New York skyline. The rest of the space will still be used as private event space, with room for up to three events and 800 people. Once it opens next year, it will be the highest ballroom in the city. 

Yet to be Named Restaurant by James Kent @ 70 Pine Street

Former Nomad executive chef James Kent will open a restaurant in the 70 Pine St. Financial District Tower at the Art Deco building. Planned is a ground floor restaurant and a lounge complex on 70 Pine’s 62nd through 64th and 66th floors and its outdoor terraces. The landmarked tower, formerly the headquarters of AIG, was converted into luxury rentals by Rose and is now 60% leased.

City Acres @ 70 Pine Street

Also at 70 Pine Street, we see FiDi is also getting in on the food hall trend. When City Acres Market opens at the base of landmarked 70 Pine St., a slate of food vendors — including Artichoke Pizza and Vanessa’s Dumplings — will also launch their own counters inside, City Acres was formerly known as Urban Market. The upscale market, which has a location in Williamsburg, will take up about 13,000 square feet in the building, with a ground floor and basement level space. Other food hall vendors include cold pressed juice spot  JuiceBrothers, vegan eatery Cinnamon Snail and Beyond Sushi, which makes vegetarian and vegan sushi rolls and other meatless Japanese dishes. Beyond Sushi is also opening a second spot in May: a larger, full-service restaurant at 134 West 37th St., with a liquor license.

Restaurant by Guidara and Humm @ 3 World Trade Center

Will Guidara and Daniel Humm, the team behind Eleven Madison Park and the Nomad, will soon be adding a big new restaurant in the Financial District to their portfolio, a 7,000-square-feet restaurant on the ground floor of 3 World Trade Center tower next year. It’s the same complex that is home to Eataly and a location of Epicerie Boulud.  Humm and Guidara are aiming to open their new FiDi restaurant in 2018.

Nobu New York @ 195 Broadway

Nobu Matsuhisa’s flagship restaurant is vacating its original TriBeCa home for FiDi, slated to move to its new location at 195 Broadway in early 2017 inside the former AT&T Building. 

Ichimura @ 69 Leonard Street

Eiji Ichimura, who garnered three stars from the New York Times for his sublime sushi inside Brushstroke opened his own 10-seat counter featuring an omakase menu, including the special style of aged fish that he’s known for.

Blue Ribbon Federal Grill @ 84 William Street

The Bromberg Brothers and the team behind Blue Ribbon Bakery Kitchen are also bringing their eclectic downtown energy to the heart of the Financial District.  Blue Ribbon Federal Grill is located in the ground floor of the AKA Wall Street, at the corner of William Street and Maiden Lane.  Federal Grill’s menu embodies the abundant “something for everyone” approach that that has guided the Bromberg’s throughout their careers. Along with plenty of aged steaks and chops, the menu includes a broad scope of seafood and veggie options

Fuku @ 110 Wall Street

David Chang’s fried chicken chain will open its fifth location of the fast-casual spot in the neighborhood. The chef and restaurateur of Momofuku fame is to open an outpost of his sandwich shop Fuku at 110 Wall St., near Front Street. The small spot has just five tables that I’m sure will have a wait! A new restaurant from Chang is also opening at South Street Seaport’s revamped Pier 17, which is also being made new.

Years of construction work has finally led us to this—downtown Manhattan, and in particular, FiDi, is alive again, and expanding our culianary horizon. Enjoy savoring this roundup and watch for my next edition of Faithful Food! Happy Dining!