One cannot paint New York as it is, but rather as it is felt.
Georgia O’Keefe
Every New Yorker has their own New York. There is something here for everyone. As such, it’s impossible to curate an exhaustive guide to all the city has to offer. Plus, the city is always changing and evolving, which is part of what makes it so special.
New York comprises five boroughs: the Bronx, Queens, Staten Island, Manhattan and Brooklyn. Especially if you’re a first-time traveler to the city, you’ll likely spend most of your time in the latter two, which is why this guide focuses solely on them. But again, this is by no means a complete list (not even close) of everything worth seeing and doing in the global metropolis. Prepare to be surprised, allow room for spontaneity and whatever you do, don’t stop walking in the middle of the sidewalk.
Read on for a mere taste of the best of NYC. For a more tailored itinerary and personalized recommendations, reach out. I’ll design a vacation that makes the most sense for you. In the meantime, here’s a little inspiration to spark your wanderlust.
Need to Know
Airports: John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK), LaGuardia Airport (LGA), Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) (the last of which is technically New Jersey, but I’ll let it slide).
Transportation: Walk if you can. Otherwise, take the subway. If you’re not feeling the subway, taxis and Ubers/Lyfts abound. Download the Curb app to order a yellow cab. (And if you’re feeling adventurous, try renting a Citi Bike.) Renting a car is something you could do, but I don’t recommend it.
Best Time to Visit: Late spring — May and early June — is a beautiful time of year, when everything is starting to bloom, the mood is happy and the weather is just right. October is another sweet spot for weather. The holidays are magical, if a bit nippy. Summer is fun, too, though it can get rather hot, humid and sticky.
Dress Code: It’s New York. You do you. Everything goes: from an eclectic thrifted ensemble and comfortable shoes to a sophisticated outfit a la Sex and the City. Individuality is the name of the game. However, if New Yorkers have a dress code, it is black.
Manhattan
Manhattan’s endless energy excites. There’s always something new to discover, something novel to explore. The borough’s numerous neighborhoods each have a distinct personality. It’s impossible to see it all, and that’s exactly as it should be.
Lobby | Warren Street Hotel
Manhattan: Where to Stay
Crosby Street Hotel, The Whitby Hotel & Warren Street Hotel: This Firmdale Hotel trifecta brings posh, playful British design to SoHo, Midtown and TriBeCa. Book with me to receive a $100 food/beverage credit, a welcome amenity, breakfast daily, an upgrade and extended check-in/out whenever possible.
The Roxy Hotel New York: A cool downtown haunt with the best taste in music and a subterranean jazz bar. Book with me to receive a $50 food/beverage credit, breakfast daily and extended check-in/out whenever possible.
ModernHaus SoHo: A playful modernist stay filled with art from renowned artists. Book with me to receive a welcome amenity, an upgrade and extended check-in/out whenever possible.
The Ned NoMad: An exclusive Art Deco stay/members’ club with a handsome, stylish aesthetic. Book with me to receive a $100 hotel credit for at least two nights, a welcome amenity, $70 breakfast credit, an upgrade and extended check-in/out whenever possible.
Soho Grand Hotel: Playful, modern and trendy, with a legendary retro diner to boot. Book with me to receive a $50 food/beverage credit, breakfast daily, an upgrade and extended check-in/out whenever possible.
The Carlyle, A Rosewood Hotel: An elegant New York City icon on the Upper East Side, home to the equally iconic (and art-filled) Cafe’ Carlyle and Bemelmans Bar. Book with me to receive Rosewood Elite perks including a $100 food/beverage credit, welcome amenity, breakfast daily, an upgrade whenever possible.
The Standard East Village: Cheeky and hip, a beloved mainstay in NYC’s ever-cool and edge East Village. Book with me to receive a $100 hotel credit (with at least a two night stay), breakfast daily and extended check-in/out whenever possible.
Nine Orchard: A converted downtown bank with a stellar culinary program.
The Greenwich Hotel: Discreet and luxurious, with a popular Italian hotspot and one of the city’s best spas. Book with me to receive a $100 hotel credit, $45 daily breakfast credit, an upgrade and extended check-in/out whenever possible.
Hotel Chelsea: A funky, eclectic NYC icon with the legendary Spanish restaurant, El Quijote. Jack Kerouac, Janis Joplin, Bob Dylan, Patti Smith and other New York luminaries have lived here throughout the building’s storied history. Hotel Chelsea is owned by the same group as The Greenwich, and the Chelsea is basically the cool rock-and-roll little sister.
The Mercer: Effortlessly cool, where savvy locals go for a staycation. Book with me to receive a $50 hotel credit (for deluxe studios and above), a welcome amenity, an upgrade and extended check-in/out whenever possible.
What to do in Manhattan
Guggenheim Museum
As in any great city, you’ll never run out of things to do in New York, especially in Manhattan. Even better, there’s something here for everyone.
If you’re into museums, you’ll be spoiled for choice. The Lower East Side’s Tenement Museum (housed in two tenement buildings) is an intimate, non-touristy option that tells the ongoing story of immigration in New York. The Witney Museum of American Art, in the Meatpacking District, is a work of art in itself, as is the Guggenheim, in the Upper East Side. Reserve at least half a day for the Metropolitan Museum of Art (the Met), especially if it is your first time in NYC. Other fun art galleries and museums include Gagosian, the American Museum of Natural History, the Frick Collection (for old Masters and European sculpture), and the Museum of Modern Art (MOMA).
In New York, everyone walks everywhere. Luckily, there are beautiful routes on which to do so. Walk the High Line, on the city’s west side. Start at Hudson Yards and work your way down to Little Island, a zen green oasis. There are delightful pockets of green sprinkled throughout the borough. SoHo’s Elizabeth Street Garden and Greenwich’s Jefferson Market Garden are two particularly lovely options.
The West Village is also prime for wandering, shopping and people watching. Pop into homewares shop Lahn for bespoke and funky objects. Three Lives & Company is a friendly neighborhood bookshop with the best, most soothing jazz playlist. Bleecker Street is always abuzz. There are numerous shops to explore, among them Sarah Jessica Parker’s eponymous shoe store, where she’s been known to service clients herself. Then walk east and south, to NoHo. A new store is Nur, owned by an Afghan-American woman who’s grandmother’s gold jewelry inspired her to create her own collections. It’s a great neighborhood to simply spend the day shopping and eating.
Manhattan’s entertainment scene is among the best in the country. Pop into the Comedy Cellar if you can; one never knows who may show up. A Broadway show is timeless and classic. The Blue Note Jazz Club is a legendary music venue that hosts artists of numerous genres, especially those in the R&B and, of course, jazz spaces. The talent of the New York City Ballet is the best of the best, as is that at the Met Opera.
Head to the waterfront South Street Seaport, in the Financial District (FiDi) for ice skating in the winter, pop-ups in the summer and good vibes, food and views year-round. (Bryant Park is also another magical winter ice-skating location.) Another year-round delight is the Union Square Greenmarket, where fresh produce, cheeses, flowers, honey, breads, treats, and more are on glorious display. Mid-summer to early fall tends to be the sweet spot.
Where to Eat in Manhattan
Formaggio Essex Cheese Stall | Essex Market
It’s almost comical to attempt to list all the places that merit a visit in this food-obsessed borough. But a few special sports stand out. If you’re in the Village, grab dinner at Lanterna di Vittorio. Brunch at Buvette will make you feel as if you were whisked away to Paris. Other West Village staples include I Sodi and Via Carota for unfussy Italian that is worth the wait. Don Angie for playful American-Italian, Semma for Michelin-starred Indian and St. Jardim for a chef-driven menu in a small, lively space. Save room for delightful gelato at Pamina, which uses the best ingredients sourced either from Italy or the nearby greenmarket.
Over in the East Village, Hearth serves up a meticulously, greenmarket-sourced menu in a cozy-stylish setting. 7th Street Burger and Superiority Burger are excellent no-frills spots for a tasty and unexpectedly elevated meal. Afterward, head to tropical cocktail bar Paradise Lost. Gluten-free and vegetarian diners will appreciate Tiger Lily Kitchen, as well as Divya’s Kitchen for Ayurvedic Indian. A bit south, in NoHo, the modern Mexican haunt ATLA is also not to be missed.
Below Houston Street, Chinese Tuxedo is a moody, sexy spot for Asian fusion. Thai Diner is legendary for a reason, as is the pizza at SoHo’s Rubirosa. Dhamaka, in Essex Market, is exceedingly popular for Indian street food from the uber-talented team behind Semma. After dinner, grab a masterful cocktail at Attaboy and Subject, both in the Lower East Side. In TriBeCa, the Greenwich Hotel’s Locanda Verde attracts savvy locals and travelers alike.
In Flatiron and Midtown, get the marinated short ribs and ribeye at miss KOREA BBQ. If you’re after a classic steakhouse moment, you can’t go wrong with Keens. Danny Meyer’s Gramercy Tavern is a NYC mainstay, and his newer Italian hit Ci Siamo will quickly become one. Go to Cosme for vibey and elevated Mexican helmed by Enrique Olvera. Rockefeller Plaza’s Pebble Bar is a handsome sport for a nightcap, while Blue Dog is perfect for a perfectly sourced meal. Further uptown, Tiki Chick is a fun and playful tiki bar with an equally fun and playful menu of casual snacks and bites.
Brooklyn
The vibe in Brooklyn — at least in most of its neighborhoods — is, on balance, chiller than Manhattan. It’s eclectic, quirky, cool and yes, hipster — all at once.
Skyline King | 1 Hotel Brooklyn Bridge
Where to Stay in Brooklyn
1 Hotel Brooklyn Bridge: An eco-conscious stay with a soothing natural aesthetic. Book with me to receive a $100 food/beverage credit, $25 daily breakfast credit, an upgrade and extended check-in/out whenever possible.
The William Vale: A hipster haunt in Williamsburg with an outdoor pool, a rooftop bar, and a restaurant by Andrew Carmellini. Book with me to receive a $20 daily breakfast credit and extended check-in/out whenever possible.
The Hoxton Williamsburg: Effortlessly cool and trendy, with fun rooftop restaurant, Laser Wolf.
Hotel Indigo Williamsburg: Cozy, contemporary and perfectly located. Book with me to receive a $50 hotel credit, welcome amenities, an upgrade and late check-out whenever possible.
Ace Hotel Brooklyn: A youthful downtown stay with an industrial-chic bent. There’s aways something fun going on here, from DJ nights and happy hours to artist residencies and pop-up chef-driven meals.
Wythe Hotel: A masterfully converted factory with local art and a chic French restaurant, Le Crocodile. Also, don’t miss the hotel’s Bar Blondeau, where seafood, wine and cocktails are enjoyed with views of the Manhattan skyline.
Where to Play in Brooklyn
For an outdoor nature moment, Prospect Park is your best bet. Walk through the park enroute to the Brooklyn Botanic Garden. The waterfront Domino Park is another outdoor space populated with walkways, fountains, playgrounds and sports areas (for games like bocce and beach volleyball). Grab a drink at the nearby Radio Star, or tacos at Taqueriz Ramirez. Talk a walk through Fort Green Park, especially on a Saturday morning, for the farmers’ market.
If you’re into art, the Brooklyn Museum is a must see. If you’re into making art, get lost in a project at Happy Medium’s charming Art Cafe’ where you’ll “order” your own art project to work on. Go to Choplet to learn how to craft beautiful pottery.
Brooklyn is also a great place for a ferry ride. Take it from Williamsburg to DUMBO (down under Manhattan Bridge Overpass). Before boarding, sample as much as you can at Smorgasburg, an open-air food market. When in DUMBO, walk through Brooklyn Bridge Park into Brooklyn Heights. Check out Salter House for clothing, then walk down Court Street where there are tons of local shops. (Pro tip: Stop for a drink and a pizza at Franks Wine Bar.) Consider ferrying or city biking to Red Hook, where the new BonBon warehouse store, filled with the Swedish candy company’s sweet masterpieces, awaits. Grab a frozen key lime pie on a stick from Steve’s Authentic Key Lime Pie before walking to Louis Valentino, Jr., Park and Pier for an amazing view of the Statue of Liberty.
Where to Eat & Drink in Brooklyn
Incredible list of things to do and explore in NY!