New York City is one of my favorite cities! It is a mecca of food, culture and shopping! I have been to The City many times, so I rounded up some of my favorites and to make it easier, organized by neighborhood.
SoHo & Chelsea
In front of the shopping area of the Hudson Yards you will find The Vessel a new landmark, which is a spiral staircase meant to be climbed. This interactive artwork was imagined by Thomas Heatherwick and Heatherwick Studio as a focal point where people can enjoy new perspectives of the city and one another from different heights, angles and vantage points. Keep in mind, to climb the Vessel you need to have tickets. You can reserve tickets 14 days in advance online or try for same day tickets starting at 9:30am. They seem to sell out so quickly!
Pietro Nolita (174 Elizabeth St) is an all pink restaurant! Go there for the gram, it’s beautiful! Food is authentic Italaian, pretty pricey but not bad for lunch! They also sell cute pink shirts, hats and stickers to commemorate your visit! The place is a little small so try to go on off hours if you can to avoid a long wait.
Flying Tiger (920 Broadway) is a fun eclectic items for your office, craft room or just in general if you are a fan of stationary! The place has an Ikea style model where you wander through a path that will ultimately take you to the register. I was able to get some super cute stickers and note cards for my planner. I also grabbed a sharpener for my desk and some silly props for a friends upcoming birthday (think tiara, sash the works). They also have items for the home and electronics.
Times Square & Hells Kitchen
Summertime in the city means it's rooftop season! One of my favorites was Haven (132 W 47th St), located on the top of the Sanctuary Hotel and offers stunning views over the city in the theater district. Perfect location for a place to go right before a Broadway show. I also loved Cantina (605 W 48th)! Cantina is a modern Mexican restaurant and much more lively than Haven. Perfect for Happy Hour! For HH you can get $8 Margaritas, wine or sangria. There is also Taco Tuesday specials and Wednesday they have big ass margaritas and big ass tacos for parties of 8. The views here are also great!
Hu Kitchen (78 5th Ave) is a dairy free girl's dream come true. I knew I loved Hu when I discovered the wonderful chocolate bar at Whole Foods. Hu Kitchen’s local restaurant in NYC allows for healthy eating on the go with a food hall style establishment. I went with a make your own quinoa bowl, a Hu chocolate bar and kombucha!
Matcha lattes are all the craze but mix that with a beautiful aesthetic and you have a winning combination! ChaCha Matcha (1158 Broadway) uses ceremonial ground matcha, so all the benefits of the calm focus and calorie burn without the jitters. There are various drinks with matcha from lattes, lemonade or chai as well as classic coffee drinks, cold brew and espresso.
Chinatown
Shanghai Heping Restaurant (104 Mott St) has THE BEST SOUP DUMPLINGS! Keep in mind, CASH ONLY. This is a solid Chinatown joint you have to try out! Prices are amazing, and the Pork Steamed Dumplings are where it's at! You can get 8 of them for only $4.95. This is perfect for one person, easily.
Milk & Cream Cereal Bar (159 Mott St.) is a super cute little shop with so many photo opportunities before you even get to the counter to order, so be ready! If you thought ice cream was an amazing treat wait until you pair it with your favorite cereal, that's another level. BUT they don't just pair it, Milk & Cream infused and mixes it in the ice cream! The portions are huge but who wants to share ice cream!
I love finding unique food while I travel. I read about a Sushi burrito and knew I had to have one! I used to always go to Poketown in Chinatown but they closed the location I went to. I would recommend trying Great Wall Chinese (384 Grand St) which is a little more east in the lower east side but worth it! You can pick your favorites to go inside the roll like a poke bowl but they roll it all into a burrito and make sushi a hands free treat!
Brooklyn
Hop on the subway and escape the city and head over to Brooklyn if you have some extra time!
There you will find the most instagramable corner! Washington and Water Streets in Dumbo is the perfect spot for a picture! It is a beautiful view of the Brooklyn Bridge, NYC in the far background and the frame of the picture are two old classic buildings.
Jane's Carousel is a carved, wooden, 48-horse carousel that was built in 1922 housed in a beautiful glass enclosure out of the elements. For just $2 a ride, enjoy all the nostalgia! Located on Old Dock Street.
Fitness
Central Park has multiple running routes and trails that vary by difficulty. It is a vast green oasis in the middle of a bustling city, the views are amazing. You will find so many people running in and around the park throughout the day. There are multiple run clubs and run tours if you are looking to make new friends or not run alone. Depending on the time of year, there is also sunrise yoga or pilates classes offered in the park.
305 Fitness (18 W 8th St) is a Miami inspired dance cardio class. I just had to include this one, being able to enjoy the 305 in NYC was a dream come true for me! Can we take a moment to realize this is located on Calle Ocho? How Miami is that? Live DJ in each class, it is a nonstop dance party! 305 Fitness is making sweat sexy nationwide!
trampoLEAN (37 W 26th St Fl 9) is not your typical workout, while it is is focused on posterior muscles like glutes/hamstrings/rear delts, but the workout was actually full-body HIIT style class on a mini trampoline.
A unique once a year class is Solstice Yoga in Times Square! Take a free yoga class in the middle of Times Square! They have classes running all day long on the first day of summer in June. Aerie is one of the major sponsors and they give out yoga mats to each yogi participating as well as a little goodie bag! There are two instructors per class and it is projected on one of the jumbotrons!
Holidays
Everyone knows about the ice skating at Rockerfeller Center but I feel NYC holds so many other holiday gems!
Right after Thanksgiving, the city is decorated with wreaths and Christmas trees come out in all of their glory. But nothing compares to a walk Downtown to see the window displays. The most beautiful Holiday Windows in New York are located at Tiffany & Co, Henri Bendel, Lord & Taylor, Saks Fifth Avenue and of course, Macy’s. Macy’s takes the cake! They not only have a beautiful display for their windows, but the entire store inside is decorated. The Santaland inside is amazing and kids come every year to see and speak to the Macy’s Santa.
The holiday season in NYC isn't complete without a visit to Rolf's (281 3rd Ave), Gramercy's Christmas paradise. The German restaurant has become known for its over-the-top decorations, with thousands of ornaments and twinkling lights.
The NYC Rockettes Show is my absolute favorite show! It is spectacular! The dancers are amazing, the costumes are over the top, the music includes all your favorites - it is overall pure joy. You will be transformed into an immersive, winter wonderland. There are usually two show times a day and the show is an hour and a half with no intermissions.
So many options! Let me know if you tried any of them or if you think I should add something!
