The City That Never Sleeps evokes all the senses: bright lights, metallic smells from the subway tracks, blaring horns, people jostling along the sidewalk and a diverse food scene thanks to the thousands immigrants calling NYC home. While there are tens of thousands incredible restaurants, bars and places in NYC, those below are just a few favorites.
From JFK airport take the AirTram to Howard Beach or Jamaica to then take the subway to Manhattan. From Howard Beach, take the A train toward Brooklyn and Downtown. From Jamaica, the E will take you to Midtown. From Newark airport, take a direct New Jersey transit train from the airport to Pennsylvania Station.
If you plan to spend at least a weekend in NYC, visit the 911 Tribute Museum and Memorial. While an emotional experience, this Museum is incredibly well done.
We’ve broken out our suggestions below by Downtown (anything below 14th Street) and Uptown (anything at 14th Street and above). In our humble opinion, Downtown has a better nightlife scene overall.
DOWNTOWN
EAT
Adrienne’s Pizza Bar Delicious square-shaped pizzas on Stone Street in the Financial District (FiDi).
Bleeker Street Pizza The best pizza in the city (we think). Pop into their tiny West Village location to grab a slice and takeaway or order delivery.
BondSt. High-end Japanese restaurant in Noho.
Cuba Restaurant and rum bar in Greenwich ViIlage.
Jeepney Filipino food in the East Village.
Jing Fong Enormous Cantonese dim sum restaurant in Chinatown with plates served from push-carts.
Kiki’s Amazing and affordable Greek food in Chinatown. No bookings.
Louie and Chan Italian restaurant in the Lower East Side (LES) with an Asian-inspired cocktail bar in the basement.
The Meatball Shop An NYC institution with locations across the city.
The Odeon French-American bistro in Tribeca. Great for brunch and celeb-spotting.
Pig and Khao Trendy Southeast Asian restaurant in LES.
Red Farm Trendy dim sum in the West Village. The pastrami egg-rolls are a must.
Sauce Cozy, family-style Italian in LES.
Tacqueria St. Marks Place Cheap and good by NYC standards. It gets noisy on the weekends and is on a fun street in the East Village.
Two Hands Australian restaurant in Tribeca with a great wine list and attractive serving staff!
Yuerba Buena Pricey but delicious Latin Food and cocktails.
DRINK
Antler Beer & Wine Dispensary Chill bar in LES. Good for groups.
Blind Tiger Alehouse Craft beer pub in the West Village.
Bonnie Vee Hip cocktail bar and garden in Nolita.
The Dead Rabbit Funky cocktail bar in FiDi.
Decibel Sake speakeasy in East Village.
Hill & Dale Trendy gastropub with a DJ and dancing in the back.
The Flower Shop 70’s style basement bar in LES.
Fools Gold Craft beers on tap in LES.
Happy Bones Sweet, tiny cafe in LES run by Kiwi friends.
Jeremy’s Ale House Dive bar in Seaport popular with locals and firefighters.
McSorley’s Old Ale House 1854 beer saloon in the East Village.
Meow Parlour Cat cafe in the LES that makes great coffee. All of the cats are available for adoption.
The Spotted Pig Posh pub in the West Village.
PLAY
Battery Park Walk around the oldest and southern-most tip of the island of Manhattan.
Comedy Cellar A West Village institution where many of the greats started out and still swing by for late-night gigs.
Staten Island Ferry This is a free way to take a cruise with views of the Statue of Liberty.
Tenement Museum Step back into the 19th and 20th centuries to experience life as an immigrant in New York’s LES.
Wall Street Check out the New York Stock Exchange and statues of the Charging Bull and Fearless Girl.
STAY
For those on a budget, the West Village’s historic Jane Hotel offers rooms that maximize space and shared, communal bathrooms. The Holiday Inn Financial District is another option.
UPTOWN
EAT
Chelsea Market Urban food market next to The High Line. Our favorite stalls are Los Tacos No. 1, Num Pang, the Lobster Place and Doughnuttery. There are often sample sales happening here too.
Eataly It’s touristy but a fun way to spend an hour. Locations in Flatiron and the World Trade Center.
Jacob’s Pickles Southern American in the Upper West Side (UWS). Great for brunch.
Levain Bakery The BEST chocolate cookies in the entire world. This UWS shop sells cookies the size of fists.
Red Rooster Famous Harlem restaurant revered for its Southern-inspiring cooking and jazz brunches.
DRINK
Boat Basin Cafe Great spot in UWS to sit outside as the sun falls across the Hudson.
PLAY
Broadway shows Grab same-day discounted tickets from the TKTS South Street Seaport location.
Central Park Pack a picnic and relax in Sheep’s Field.
The Cooper Hewitt Smithsonian Design Museum Design museum on the Upper East Side.
Dizzy’s Jazz Club World renowned jazz music at Lincoln Center.
The High Line Former raised railway that is now a west side park spanning from 14th Street to Hudson Yard.
The Metropolitan Museum of Art (The MET)
The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA)
Museum of Natural History Stately gem on the UWS.
STAY
If you are on business and based in Midtown, or budget is not an issue, we recommend the Iberostar 70 Park Avenue or The Redbury Hotel.
For a more local, relaxed experience, stay in an Airbnb in a fun neighborhood. Lindsay’s brother and sister-in-law host this brownstone penthouse apartment in Harlem, just two blocks from the 125th Street station.
