Dine Around Downtown Returns on June 6 With 42 Lower Manhattan Restaurants

The Alliance for Downtown New York, Lower Manhattan’s nonprofit business improvement district, will welcome 42 Lower Manhattan restaurants to the 2023 Dine Around Downtown festival, held at Fosun’s landmarked plaza at 28 Liberty Street on Tuesday, June 6 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The event marks the 20th edition of the festival and features award-winning chef, author and downtown resident Rocco DiSpirito as its special guest host. 

DiSpirito has had an ongoing relationship with the Downtown Alliance since 2020, when he began hosting the virtual “Cooking at Home” series pairing him with local chefs as they demonstrate to viewers how to make their favorite dishes. This is his second year as the in-person festival’s host.

Launched in 1997, Dine Around Downtown has become Lower Manhattan’s premier tasting event. Every year, thousands of local residents, office workers and tourists alike gather at the festival to celebrate the neighborhood’s rich culinary scene. Admission is free, with restaurants offering signature menu items ranging from $5 to $9;  beverages are available for purchase as well. Many newcomers will be featured this year, including: BioPoke, Gnoccheria Wall Street Express, Havana Social, Kesté Pizza & Vino, Mezcali, Mezze on the River, Pearl Alley and Que Chevere.

“Dine Around Downtown is the perfect time to take a decadent culinary journey,” says Downtown Alliance President Jessica Lappin. “This is the only time of the year you can sample dishes from dozens of the neighborhood’s best restaurants all in one stop. It’s free to attend and always a great time.”

As part of the Alliance’s ongoing commitment to a sustainable Lower Manhattan, Dine Around Downtown is a zero-waste event. Attendees will find composting and recycling stations located throughout the plaza, all of which will be staffed by educators who can advise on proper waste diversion and offer information on other zero-waste programs available in the neighborhood. 

“Dine Around Downtown is a cultural mainstay for Lower Manhattan residents, workers and visitors,” said Thomas Costanzo, global partner of Fosun and CEO of Four Trees Asset Management. “We look forward to partnering with the Downtown Alliance to bring the neighborhood’s best culinary offerings to Fosun Plaza for an unforgettable community experience.”