In a city where it sometimes feels like there are no true bargains left to be had, you can still find deals in Lower Manhattan if you know where to look. Here a few of the many affordable gems in the neighborhood where $10 and a smile are more than enough to get by.
An every day $3 menu is unheard of in today’s economy, but local chain Matto Espresso (37 John St.) is dedicated to keeping coffee affordable. If you order through the Matto app, most coffees, teas and pastries (including a couple gluten free options) are only $3. Your caffeine addiction is not only encouraged but rewarded here, because for every 10 items you buy, you get one free.
Sometimes after a tough morning workout or a long happy hour, all you want is to start your day at Healthy Green Juice Bar (30 John St.). This neighborhood staple has been making sure Lower Manhattanites get their daily intake of fruits and veggies for years, and the friendly service and good prices (and old-school loyalty card) keep customers coming back — a 12 ounce fresh pressed juice starts at just $6. You can choose from the menu, or devise your own healthy concoction. (An acai bowl, pictured above, is $10.95 — still a deal!)
With dumplings and boba galore from numerous Asian food vendors, there are lots of delicious deals at the new downtown location of Golden Mall (47 Broadway). But the pork ribs and rice from Shrimps Dim Sum is hard to beat. The generous portion of pork ribs comes with a bed of fluffy white rice and pickled vegetables for just $8.50.
Every New Yorker has had to grab a bite on the go, and luckily 2 Bros Pizza (72 Nassau St.) still offers a classic bargain, two slices and a can of soda for $5. Hence why you’ll usually see a long line around lunchtime.
Real bargain seekers (and social media users) know one of the best viral deals is tucked inside a grocery store. Jubilee Marketplace (99 John St.) has a Korean hot bar with food for $9.99-a-pound, and the made-to-order counter near the front entrance also has creative takes on deli classics for a good price.
No matter if you work the night shift or if you have a 9 to 5 job, for a cheap, no-frills drink after work, you’ll want to go to Nassau Bar (118 Nassau St.). The downtown staple has a great daily happy hour from 11 a.m. until 7 p.m. that’s hard to beat in this economy.
Bonus: Carmen’s Kitchen (17 Nassau St.) has netted long lines since opening its downtown outpost in 2022, and for good reason — for $16 or less, you can score a heaping (and we mean heaping) bowl packed with a protein of your choice (options include chicken, beef, fish, veggies and pork), which come with a variety of seasonings, like barbecue or jerk. Yes, it’s $16, but you can easily get two meals out of it, which technically nets out to just $8 each.
