Things to do in New York City:
Brooklyn Bridge: Walk the bridge and get some pizza at Juliana's Pizza. Don't miss out on Pebble Beach in Brooklyn Bridge Park for a good view of the Manhattan skyline.
Staten Island Ferry: It's FREE and offers a killer view of the Manhattan Skyline. Stand on the right side of the ferry going out to Staten Island for a good view of the Statue of Liberty, and the front of the ferry coming back for the best shot of the skyline (since you won’t have the ferry’s wake in your shot anymore). This is an especially great activity for a hot day because you get an instant breeze moving over the water.
SoHo: My favorite neighborhood for shopping in Manhattan. They have all the stores you’d expect to see (Madewell, Nike, etc.) plus a bunch of retailers that I can usually only find online (Rothy’s, Everlane, etc.). Plus, clothing/shoe purchases under $110 in NYC don’t tack on sales tax.
Union Square Greenmarket: One of my favorite things to do in big cities is find a good market. The Greenmarket is open Mon/Wed/Fri/Sat year round, but I’d recommend going on a Saturday because more vendors tend to be there that day. At Christmastime there’s also a holiday market at the other end of the square. Whether or not you plan to buy anything, it's fun walking through.
Strand Book Store: My all-time favorite bookstore! It feels like floor to ceiling books when you walk in. It’s close to Union Square, so if you go to the Greenmarket, walk two blocks south to check it out!
The High Line: A park built on an old rail line. I like it because you get above the streets to see a different view of the city. You can walk the full length, or choose a section and stop off at Chelsea Market or Fabrique Bakery.
Flatiron District: I worked a few blocks away from this neighborhood when I interned in the city, so this quickly became one of my favorite areas in Manhattan. Check out the famous Flatiron Building, stop in at Eataly or Harry Potter New York (their Butterbeer ice cream is really good!), go shopping on Fifth Ave (there are plenty of non-luxury stores on Fifth Ave, and clothing and shoe purchases under $110 in NYC are tax free), or visit the original Shake Shack in Madison Square Park.
Grand Central Terminal: Take the subway to Grand Central at some point to check out the ceiling.
Top of the Rock: My favorite bird's-eye view of the city (if I had to choose between visiting Top of the Rock and the Empire State Building, I’d definitely choose Top of the Rock). I’ve gone first thing on a Saturday morning, as well as sunset hour, and I preferred going first thing in the morning. The line to go through security was short and it wasn’t very crowded at the top. However, a lot of people love sunset hour because you get both daytime and nighttime views of the city in one visit. Reserve your tickets online in advance.
Central Park: Rowboat, rent bikes, take a walk, or have a picnic lunch. Be sure to check out The Mall and Bethesda Fountain for iconic movie spots. The Metropolitan Museum of Art backs one side of Central Park, so if you're already planning on visiting the museum, you can group these two activities together.
The Metropolitan Museum of Art: My favorite New York Museum! Don’t miss the roof for a view of the city skyline and Central Park.
What to eat in New York City:
Rubirosa: My favorite Manhattan pizza. It can be tricky to get a reservation, so if they’re booked out, just plan to window shop around Nolita and SoHo while you wait for a table. Order a half and half pizza so you can try two flavors (I love “The TIE DYE Pizza”).
Ivan Ramen: This was my first Michelin Star restaurant, and it did not disappoint! The Chicken Paitan is my favorite: it’s hands down the best ramen I’ve ever had. I also think it’s pretty reasonably priced for a Michelin Star New York meal. Make a reservation online in advance.
Juliana's Pizza: A New York pizza classic! Order online or call in a to-go order so you don’t have to wait for a table. You can eat your pizza at Brooklyn Bridge Park for a meal with a view.
Clinton St. Baking Company: My favorite brunch spot in the city. They’re famous for their pancakes, but their French Toast is amazing too. Make a reservation online 4-6 weeks ahead of your travel dates.
Jacob's Pickles: A classic brunch spot, but great for other meals too! Be sure to book a reservation online in advance. They also serve an incredible Thanksgiving Dinner if you’re in town for the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.
Sweetgreen: The best salad and bowls place if you’re looking for something quick and not too heavy. There are a bunch of restaurants throughout Manhattan and a few in Brooklyn. I like getting a salad to go and walking over to Central Park for a picnic.
Pret A Manger: I first discovered this chain in London and was happy to find locations in Manhattan as well. Pret is great if you need something to grab and go or if you’re planning a park picnic.
Levain Bakery: Famous NYC cookies. As a chocolate lover, my favorite flavor is the Dark Chocolate Chocolate Chip. They have locations throughout New York City.
Breads Bakery: I watched a Seinfeld episode where Jerry and Elaine get into a debacle involving chocolate babka and I realized I had never had babka, so I looked up the best chocolate babka in NYC and Breads Bakery popped up. It did not disappoint, I wish I had known about it sooner!
How to get around New York City:
Paying for subway rides: If you’re in the city for three or more days or plan to ride the subway a lot, get a 7-Day unlimited subway pass at one of the subway station kiosks. They’re $34 ($33 fare charge + $1 for the MetroCard). If you’re only in the city for a day or two, use a contactless payment option (like Apple Pay) for single rides. It’s faster to tap at the subway turnstiles than it is to buy single ride passes.
Updated 2023
