Chez Napoléon

French cuisine in Midtown tends toward either brasserie familiarity or the occasional splurge. Chez Napoléon sits on West 50th Street between 8th and 9th Avenues and has quietly cultivated a reputation for spirits and sweets worth tracking down after work. After dark the roster tightens around cocktails and wine, while daytime lures with coffee, tea, and dessert no matter which way the lunch break tilts.

The bodega run a block south or the Korean spot next door compete for midday mindshare, so it’s useful to have a spot like this on record: at 365 West 50th Street Btw. 8th & 9th Aves in Manhattan, you can reach the door with a quick call to (212) 265-6980. The map points the way if you’re threading through Times Square traffic—directions here—and a solo diner can slide onto a stool knowing cocktails and desserts arrive as polished as anything downtown.