🚕 NYC Breakfast Prices Soar

Good Morning NY!

This week, we’re uncovering the bar where celebrities go to not act like celebrities.

We’re also discussing how the Waldorf Astoria’s long-awaited reopening just got pushed back… again.

Breakfast in NYC is getting pricier, and your morning bagel and coffee might be the next casualties.

Taco Bell and Milk Bar are back at it with a new sugary mashup, and it’s all about birthday cake.

And in the most NYC move ever, Nathan’s is now canning tap water so you can boil your hot dogs the right way.

A lot to cover today, so let’s dive in.

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Ray’s Bar: The Undercover Celebrity Hangout

Ray’s Bar is where celebrities go when they don’t want to feel like celebrities.

Tucked away in the Lower East Side, this dive bar is co-owned by Nicholas Braun of Succession and has become a low-key hotspot for A-listers.

Lady Gaga, Dua Lipa, and Jimmy Kimmel have all been spotted there, drawn in by the bar’s anti-VIP vibe.

Instead of bottle service and velvet ropes, Ray’s serves up cold beers, classic cocktails, and a Western-themed atmosphere that feels more like a local hangout than a celebrity playground.

Michelin-starred chefs Jeremiah Stone and Fabian von Hauske are behind the food, which means the burgers are actually worth ordering.

The bar also hosts themed events and collaborations.

It’s the kind of place where a construction worker and a Grammy winner could share a drink and play pool together in a chill environment.

Waldorf Astoria’s Reopening Delayed Again

The Waldorf Astoria’s long-awaited reopening has been pushed back yet again.

Originally set for spring 2025, the iconic hotel is now expected to welcome guests in September 2025.

This marks yet another delay in a renovation saga that has stretched on since the hotel first closed in 2017.

The latest setback follows a fatal construction accident in January, which led to a temporary stop-work order.

The hotel's Chinese owners, Dajia Insurance Group, have been blamed for the delays, while Hilton, which manages the property, is reportedly not at fault.

The renovation includes 375 luxury condos, some of which just sold for a combined $7 million.

The reservation site now lists no available rooms until September 1, 2025.

A new restaurant, Lex Yards, helmed by Chef Michael Anthony, is also set to open alongside the hotel.

Frustration is growing among local businesses eager for the Waldorf’s return, as well as guests who have been waiting years for its comeback.

Despite the repeated delays, the hotel’s reopening is still expected to be one of the biggest events in New York’s luxury scene.

NYC Breakfast Spots Struggle as Egg and Coffee Prices Soar

If your morning bagel and coffee suddenly cost more, you’re not imagining it.

Egg prices have nearly doubled since December, thanks to the worst avian flu outbreak in history.

Millions of birds have been culled, leaving suppliers scrambling and restaurant owners stuck paying premium prices.

Coffee isn’t faring much better, with global climate issues pushing costs to a 47-year high.

Flour prices are also climbing, partially due to ongoing disruptions from the Russia-Ukraine war.

For New York’s breakfast restaurants, this means tighter margins and tough choices.

Some spots are quietly raising prices, while others are tweaking menus or cutting portions.

No one wants to charge $25 for eggs and toast, but at this rate, it might not be avoidable.

Even with inflation slowing in other sectors, food costs remain stubbornly high.

For now, your favorite diner is just trying to keep the coffee hot and the eggs coming—without breaking your wallet.

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Taco Bell and Milk Bar Drop a Birthday Cake Churro

Taco Bell and Milk Bar are back at it with another sugary collaboration.

This time, they’re rolling out the Milk Bar Birthday Cake Churro, a crispy churro stuffed with vanilla frosting and covered in pink sprinkles.

It’s basically a birthday party in dessert form, minus the awkward singing.

Each order comes with two churros for $2.99, and they’re available nationwide starting today.

This isn’t their first team-up—back in 2022, they launched the Strawberry Bell Truffle, which sold out fast.

Milk Bar founder Christina Tosi says the new churro is meant to bring “pure joy” to Taco Bell’s menu.

If you needed an excuse to grab some late-night Taco Bell, this might be it.

Nathan’s Is Now Canning NYC Tap Water for the ‘Perfect’ Hot Dog

Nathan’s Famous is taking authenticity to a new level by canning New York City tap water.

Yes, you read that right—canned NYC tap water, straight from the Hudson Valley and Catskill reservoirs.

The idea is that boiling your Nathan’s hot dogs in this water will give you the real New York experience, no matter where you live.

To get your hands on this limited-edition offering, you’ll have to enter a contest on Nathan’s website.

The giveaway is open for just 24 hours, and since this started yesterday, contestants only have until 2:19 p.m. EST today to sign up.

Winners get a four-pack of the canned water plus a coupon for a free pack of Nathan’s hot dogs.

If you’ve ever wanted to recreate a Coney Island dog at home, this is probably as close as you’re going to get.

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