ITO New York City

Ito is at 75 Barclay St. It is a five-minute walk from the 9/11 Memorial & Museum.

The room runs smart and elegant, but the real draw is the relative solitude. While its neighbours near The Oculus often struggle with the frantic pace of the financial district, Ito remains a quiet, focused counterpoint. Most visitors here are looking to escape the heavy foot traffic of the nearby memorial sites, and the Japanese menu is handled with a restraint that the surrounding high-volume spots lack. It is a better choice than the busier kitchens toward One World Trade Center if you actually want to hear your companions speak.