Traveling in the Big Apple is always an adventure! There are plenty of things to do, but usually not enough time. This is when I come into the picture! This guide will help you to make the most of your stay in this gorgeous city, known as the number1 food city in the United States!
DAY 1:
My first recommendation to start your first day right would be to head to Cafeteria, a place made known by the hit show Sex and the City. It’s a modern-chic place where you will be served the best truffle eggs that the city has to offer! And believe me when I say I had my fair share of truffle eggs in New York City! Afterwards make your way downtown to the Lower East Side and visit the often underrated, but extremely interesting Tenement Museum. It will give you a new appreciation for modern-day living and shows you how immigrants in the early 20th century have lived in the city. Now, I imagine after any museum visit one is in the mood for some sweets….Welcome to Rice to Riches! It’s in walking distance from the museum and has a wide range of delicious rice pudding flavors. A must-try is the cheesecake flavor, which is divine! If time allows, Take a Statue of Liberty ferry in the afternoon and visit Ellis Island Immigration Museum (Tickets for The Statue Of Liberty & Ellis Island). The museum is very impressive and educational. A Museum-day in its finest!
For the evening, I highly recommend going to one of the many amazing jazz clubs in New York City. My personal favorite is Birdland, which has different performances throughout the week and serves excellent Southern comfort food. Besides, they know how to make a perfect peach martini! Another option is Jazz at the Lincoln Center. It’s also very classy, with views overlooking Columbus Circle at night.
DAY 2:
I hope you are ready to leave the borough of Manhattan behind you, because we are heading to Brooklyn! Breakfast at Cousin John’s, a small and personal bakery/café in Park Slope, is a must when you visit New York. They serve outstanding French Toast and the prices are right too. Afterwards, pay a visit to the Botanical Gardens. If you visit during spring-time, you will get to see a beautiful array of Cherry Orchards. Now it’s a good time to explore a different Brooklyn neighborhood- to be exact: Williamsburg. Here you can take a donation-based yoga class at Yoga to the People (mat rentals are $2) if you like to get a work-out in, or you can go straight to my recommended lunch spot, Crif Dogs. They truly serve the best hot dogs in the city and it’s a quintessential New York food item that you have to try at least once. Then walk to the waterfront to the East River State Park, with outstanding views of the Manhattan skyline. If you happen to be there on a Saturday, check out the weekly flee/food market there. If you are in the mood for some bowling before heading back, try the unique Brooklyn Bowl, which is located only a few blocks away. At last, instead of taking the subway, why not take the ferry back to Manhattan? For some, it’s their daily commute. For dinner, I highly recommend either to dine at The Smith, which serves high-quality American food, or Sardis, which is a famous pre-theater restaurant right in the middle of Times Square. Normally I advice travelers to avoid this area and run away from it for dear life, but this is actually a very good and well-known establishment, even for locals! Now, since you are already in the area, make sure to attend one of the many, many Broadway shows! Wicked and The Lion King are outstanding classics, but there are also plenty of non-conventional options to pick from – The selection is endless. Kinky Boots is another great option, and so is Hamilton, if you happen to win the lottery for that one, since it’s sold out a year in advance! During the summer months, I also recommend Shakespeare in the Park, where you get to witness beautiful and modern versions of Shakespearian greatness.
If you are not ready to call it a night after this eventful day, a great nightclub is Tao Downtown, which also has a restaurant with the same name attached to it. The atmosphere is electrifying!
DAY 3:
One of the best morning activities is heading to Central Park, before it’s being corrupted by hotdog sellers and alike (preferably before 8am). You can take a walking tour, or explore on your own. Sheep Meadow, one of the main areas in the park, is lovely for a morning picnic – you could stop at the fine Italian food store Eataly on 23rd street first, if that sounds of interest to you – it’s a combination of grocery store and different eating places inside, which are all outstanding! They have a Nutella bar, if you care for Hazelnut-inspired items, but also have all the items needed for a joyful picnic. They sell high-quality food all around. It’s a little pricey, but well worth it. While you’re at Central Park, if the weather is nice, take advantage of it, and rent a canoe by the Boathouse and cruise around the lake. Very romantic and idyllic! There’s also Belvedere Castle, located in the park, and you have the option to go for a run, or even better, rent bikes. If you managed to find yourself on the East Side of the park, then you should not miss out on having lunch at Café Sabarsky’s on 86th street. It’s inside of the Museum Neue Gallerie, which exhibits German and Austrian art pieces. You will find the famous Gustav Klimt painting Woman in Gold in here. So if that is something that sparks your interest, the museum is worth a visit! Now, I have built enough trust with you to give away a secret that I normally don’t share this casually: There is a massage school in Midtown that offers 1-hour massages (no tipping allowed!) for $20, if you have a student ID, and $30 regular price. For Veterans it’s completely free! The phone number is 212-213-8800, in case you want to schedule an appointment. You won’t be disappointed!
Central Park
If you have some additional time before dinner, I would ask you to do something very touristy- are you ready? Here it comes: Head to Rockefeller Center and go all the way to the top, which is called Top of the Rock. The views are magnificent and it beats the Empire State Building any given day. For your evening entertainment, Blue Man’s Group or Stomp are great shows to see and long-term favorites of mine. For dinner, there’s the relatively close-by Penny Farthing, which is a casual American tavern/bar establishment with great burgers and a good drink selection. If the weather permits and you’re in the mood for it, there is an ice cream place called Sundaes and Cones, another few blocks down. They have very unique flavors, such as green tea and lavender. Or go to Amorino, where they shape your ice-cream into rose-petals.
Top of the rock
I hope this itinerary will inspire you to see and experience only the best and biggest of New York! Now off to do some city-exploring!
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