Being from the West Coast, it was time for a break after a hectic year. Where else would I decide to go other than the thriving metropolis of NYC. Outside of the typical tourist spots, I found some amazing local stops, from coffee to food, to shopping. It was a girls trip through and through. (I think we found as many bakeries and chocolatiers to eat at as we did restaurants.)
Keep on reading for the full city guide of NYC after the jump!
Explore
The Met & The MoMA
Both of these stops are a must when in NYC. The Metropolitan Museum of Art has a phenomenal permanent collection. Tickets for The Met are given on a donation basis, so regardless of your budget it works. I recommend coming here on rainy day and planning to visit Central Park and the Plaza on the same day.
The Plaza Hotel at Central Park West
Eloise explored this stunning hotel and so can you. Enjoy exploring the hotel lobby and the most delicious food court in the basement. The hotel is absolutely gorgeous and you feel like you’re in a movie. Take your time and take it all in.
Central Park
Enjoy Central Park, one of New York’s iconic spaces. Located in the middle of Manhattan, it is massive. Working your way through the park, make sure to walk through the Mall and enjoy the expanse lined with benches and lamps. Go to the boat house, grab a drink or snack. If it’s summer time, rent a rowboat and spend a beautiful day experiencing the city. You can also find Citi Bikes available for rent at the perimeter of the park to enjoy a different way to get around.
The Highline
Located in the Chelsea neighborhood, this is a new park in NYC and is absolutely stunning. A park planted on a former elevated train track, it runs for one and a half miles, revitalizing a rusty spot to a gem in the city. There’s something about lush green space elevated among the highrises of Manhattan.
TKTS and Broadway
When coming to New York, treat yourself by going to a show on Broadway. Make sure to visit a TKTS location throughout the city to find discounted tickets that same day of the performance. It can feel a bit stressful, but it will allow you to stretch your budget for other things on your visit. Not to mention, you’ll be able to scratch seeing a show on Broadway off your bucket list.
Coffee
Joe’s & The Juice
If you’re looking for one of the most divine lattes of your life, head to Joe’s. You’ll find locations throughout the city. This coffee shop is probably one of the most rad I’ve seen in awhile. It doesn’t feel anything like that of a typical coffee shop. Featuring juices, smoothies, and quick bits, their menu has something for everyone.
Culture Espresso
Staying near Times Square I found good coffee hard to find. Culture Espresso was near our hotel and used great coffee. Their service was great and efficient in a moment of town that couldn’t seem to care.
Eat
Village Taverna
Probably the best Greek Food in the city. When dining there we went all out after a day on the road. Starting with appetizers, we ordered the grilled haloumi. This cheese from Cypress was heated throughout while retaining the structure of the cheese and served over a fresh tomato salad. This was served alongside probably some of the best grilled pita consumed in my life. For mains, we ordered the lamb shank and chicken souvlaki. Each was presented incredibly well and was absolutely delicious. While we had great food throughout our trip, this was our favorite meal.
Rubirosa
Located in Nolita, this Italian restaurant is absolutely adorable. Small and quaint they nailed the atmosphere. Most here order pizzas and salad. We opted to go for something more substantial. To start, we ordered a salad with fresh bocconcini, sundried tomatoes, spring mix, and olives. It was absolutely delicious. To finish off our meal we ordered mains of balsamic roasted eggplant and a housemade black linguine with fresh shellfish and a bolognese sauce. I would recommend eating here to anyone who finds themselves in Nolita. It was delicious.
Dean & Deluca
Found in the basement of the New York Times building, make sure to visit Dean and Deluca. This bakery and specialty shop is known for their quick service and delicious food. We stopped in here one night for a quick drink after a few miles of walking. We couldn’t resist purchasing their cookies. These cookies are amazing. We tasted the triple chocolate, the peanut butter, and the salted caramel chocolate chip. The peanut butter were our favorite. You can also find a phenomenal breakfast here as well. On our last morning we stopped in and picked up a classic New York bagel piled with smoked salmon, tomatoes, dill, and red onion. It was the perfect taste to end our trip.
Dig Inn
Taking the bowl restaurant concept to the farm, Dig Inn specializes in healthy and nutritious items to keep any foodie happy. Using locally sourced items, each bowl begins with a base of greens, quinoa, or brown rice. Add two veggies sides and your choice of protein. They offer call in options and take away food as well. I recommend doing take away and going to a nearby park to eat your meal.
Artichoke Pizza
Ditch the typical NY $1 pizza tradition and head to Artichoke Pizza. With various locations throughout the city, I couldn’t recommend their crab pizza more. With both a red and bechamel sauce, it’s rich and one piece could easily fill you up. If you have a bit of time and a group to feed, grab a whole pie and combine their two signatures, artichoke and crab on the same pizza. We went with this option and loved every bite. It was creamy and decadent.
Drink
Beer Authority
With over 90 beers on tap, Beer Authority is located in the heart of Midtown and takes the pub life seriously. Follow the three stories up to the rooftop and enjoy being surrounded by the city lights.
Sky Room
A rooftop lounge 30 floors and seated above the city at sunset. It was picture perfect and the best way to spend our last night in New York. The lounge has a side with a DJ to keep energy up and another side with a bit more laid back vibe. We opted for a chill option as we sipped on a Kentucky mule. The views were phenomenal.
Shop
Everlane Showroom
If you’ve read the blog for any period of time you know that I have a slight obsession with Everlane. With showrooms located in NYC and San Francisco, they carry sample sizes of their complete online inventory and have select pieces available for purchase. You can try on any items and receive free two-day shipping to an address of your choice. Wanting to a wear a new piece to the theater that evening? They also offer 1-hour delivery in NYC, so your item can be awaiting you the same day.
Glossier Showroom
Glossier has been shaking things up in the makeup scene. Known for their natural look and brilliant design, head to their penthouse in New York and pick up some of your favorite Glossier products.
Oculus Building at One World Observatory
As soon I saw the Oculus Building at the One World Observatory, I knew I was in for a treat. Designed by famous architect Santiago Calatrava, this building is stunning in nature looking as if it is ready to take flight from the ground. It was the perfect sentiment to rebuild in this space. I knew I was at home as it was the same architect that designed a bridge in my hometown. Head inside for a subway concourse, stunning shops, and delicious restaurants.
Thanks for joining us on our latest travels! We hope you enjoyed our city guide just as much as we loved exploring this amazing city.