That is a pretty broad question and is very contextual. It depends on so many different factors, like what you plan to use the knife for, your budget, your style, how much maintenance you are prepared to take on, etc.
The short answer is whatever knife you like, and that works for you.
But here are a few more helpful suggestions. I will keep this list in the realm of factory production items; custom or handmade is a whole different discussion.
Kitchen:
I highly recommend kitchen knives made by Victorinox under the name Forschner. For the price, they are hard to beat. They can be found in all the basic sizes, come with either durable synthetic handles or beautiful rosewood. Their blades are ground thin and not having bolsters, they are a little lighter weight, cut well and are less likely to fatigue during use. They sharpen easily but hold an edge well.
If you want a kitchen knife with a little more pizzazz, and are willing to pay a little more, I would consider the Shun line by Kershaw.
If you prefer the traditional European bolstered style knives, consider the Wusthof Classic line, or for a bit more cost, the Zwilling J.A. Henckels International line.
I would recommend against buying a whole set of kitchen knives with a block. Often these sets have several knives you are likely to rarely or never use. The most frequently used knives, and thus the best ones to start a set with are one 8” Chef knife, a 3” or 4” paring knife and a bread knife. Then you can think about the specific type of cooking that you like to do and consider adding one or two other knives to your set, as needed.
For storage, I recommend using any of the synthetic blade covers like those made by Messermeister or Ergo Edge (or make your own from corrugated cardboard) to protect the blades. Note that Victorinox makes their own line of covers specifically to match their blades.
Store your knives in a drawer with a non-slip rubber liner like Duck Brand or consider natural cork.
If you have room in your kitchen, consider a magnetic holder like the RSVP Endurance in stainless steel or the attractive Kurouto Kitchenware one of walnut wood.
Pocket or Folding Knives:
If you like more traditional patterns, you can’t go wrong with Case or the older, somewhat harder to find Schrade or Old Timer line. Columbia River Knife and Tool and Kershaw both make a variety of solid knives at practical prices. Stepping up price-wise, Spyderco is one of my favorites, as well as Benchmade. And for a very solid knife (with a bit higher price tag), consider the Sebenza by Chris Reeve Knives.
For multi-tool types of knives, I highly recommend the Leatherman line of multi-tools, as well as the Victorinox Swiss Army knives.
Fixed Blade or Outdoor:
Ontario and Cold Steel have pretty good lines of tough work knives. Consider Bark River Knives for a variety of custom level knives at a more production price.
And of course, there is Randall Made knives, but that bumps the price up a bit…
I am happy to consult with you to help you choose a knife for your situation. Please send me some information about your situation, your budget, etc. And I can give you some specific suggestions.