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Travel Guide: NYC - Best of The Big Apple 🍎
38
items As a New York native, these are my top suggestions for visiting the city - including recs for ALL AGES
Map
Sections
4
Where to Eat
Good for all ages
Good for 21+
Where to Stay
Where to Eat
This is one of my favorite places in the city especially for brunch
Jacob's Pickles
This is the best halal food I’ve ever had. Trust me when I say WAIT IN THIS LINE (it moves fast). There’s a reason the Halal Guys have a line wrapped around the block when there are other options nearby.
The Halal Guys
I found Urban Hawker when my friend’s mom was visiting from Thailand. This place is a true hidden gem in NYC for fans of Asian food. It’s set up like a food court with tons of different food and drink vendors from different Asian cuisines. Everything...
Urban Hawker
Marian’s is so cute - the wallpaper and pillows and overall decor make you feel like you’re in a secret garden and the food is so good - don’t skip the warm focaccia!
Marian’s
Patsy’s is soooo good! If there’s a seasonal filled pasta available - try it! My favorite I’ve had was the pumpkin tortellini in alfredo sauce
Patsy's Italian Restaurant
I went to Frances Tavern with family - we loved the food and ended up staying there having drinks for hours. It’s a historical building dating back to George Washington and it has been featured in several movies.
Fraunces Tavern
The sign on the outside makes it look like a chocolate shop but it’s actually a full restaurant and bar.
My favorite dishes here are the Creamy Spinach & Artichoke Fondue, Max’s Famous Mac & Cheese and the chocolate fondue dessert experience...
Max Brenner New York
Iguana is a really good Mexican restaurant with a ton of margarita flavors and a nightclub downstairs.
Definitely get the table side guacamole
Iguana New York
Rosa Mexicano has really fun decor and some of the best table side guacamole
Rosa Mexicano
This is a great spot for drinks and apps.
Broadstone Bar & Kitchen
A friend of mine found this place and we really liked it. I had the mermaid fish tacos and they were so good.
In warmer weather, they open up the very large front window for more of an open air experience
The Mermaid Inn
This is my favorite bagel place in all of NYC! Try their monthly cream cheese flavors
Brooklyn Bagel & Coffee Company
This place serves cookie dough in a cup! The line is usually pretty long, but it moves fast. It's more filling than I realized so I stick with the smallest size.
DŌ, Cookie Dough Confections
Good for all ages
This is a really unique and fun experience that’s good for any age group.
Museum of Ice Cream
This little museum is a really interesting stop - the guy who owns this place was an approved photographer at the ground zero cleanup site following September 11, 2001 - he talks about his time and you can see some photos and artifacts that aren’t an...
9/11 Museum Workshop: 100 Images & Artifacts Exhibit
This is a really fun stop for families near Times Square. Make sure not to skip the wall of M&Ms - they have every color you can think of and you can make your own color mix!
M&M's World Store New York
FAO Schwarz has a lot of interactive toys for kids to play with inside this massive store. There is also a giant piano inside that you can walk across and make music.
FAO Schwarz
I love the architecture of this mall and inside there are tons of great stores
The Oculus - Westfield World Trade Center
This boat has a full bar and takes you past the most iconic sites on the Hudson River including the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island
Circle Line Sightseeing Cruises - Midtown
This is a great outdoor activity in the city. Don't miss your chance to walk across the iconic Brooklyn Bridge
Walk the Brooklyn Bridge
The Highline is a really pretty elevated walking path in NYC. This is a great option for a leisurely outdoor activity.
The High Line
I love just spending time in Union Square - there is always so much going on, it's a different experience every time
Union Square NYC
Central Park is beautiful and huge. There is so much to do here - Central Park Zoo, Strawberry Fields, The Boathouse, the pond, etc. Grab a blanket and have a picnic under the trees in one of the grassy areas.
Central Park
The Museum of Natural History is popular for a reason - don't miss their temporary exhibits!
American Museum of Natural History
Billy Joel has a residency at Madison Square Garden - check his dates to see if he's playing while you're in town. He's super interactive with the crowd and never plays the same set twice.
Billy Joel Tickets
Good for 21+
This bar is so much fun - it’s decorated in the most tacky way but that’s what I like about it
Trailer Park Lounge
This is a really fun rooftop bar. They serve really fun food and drinks and have good views of the city.
Magic Hour Rooftop Bar & Lounge
The frying pan is a bar on a boat that is permanently docked. Most people come for the drinks but the food is good too
Frying Pan NYC
This is a really cool rooftop spot. I love the huge hummingbirds that hang from the ceiling above the indoor bar. They have good music and amazing views.
Tip: Somewhere Nowhere is very popular. Stay at the New York Chelsea Renaissance Hotel for an e...
Somewhere Nowhere NYC: Lounge, Rooftop & Pool
I like Slate because there is a lot to do at this bar. There’s a slide between floors and the downstairs has games like air hockey
Slate
The museum of sex is a really fun stop for adult groups of friends.
Museum of Sex
Studs is awesome because they really take their time with you. I’ve never felt rushed at any point in the process. They will talk to you about how different piercings will look and heal on your anatomy and all the piercing tools are sterilized.
Stud...
STUDS Piercing Services
This is a pirate themed bar - I love the vibe here
Wicked Willy's
The food at Someday Bar is soooo good - it's rare that you find a place that's main focus is being a bar but they also put that same amount of effort into all of their food dishes.
Someday Bar NYC
Where to Stay
I stayed here for a friend’s bachelorette and fell in love with the decor. Everything was super clean and it’s in a great location.
Tip: if you stay here, it’s easier to get into the rooftop bar (which is usually packed and hard to get into)
Renaissance New York Chelsea Hotel - With Restaurant & Fitness Center
I stayed here for a long tattoo appointment in Brooklyn. It was super clean and reasonably priced. It’s located in the Financial District
The FIDI Hotel
Hotel Indigo is a really quirky hotel in Manhattan's Lower East Side. It's right in the middle of a ton of bars and restaurants!
Hotel Indigo Lower East Side New York
Yotel is a good hotel for groups. We had 5 in our group and Yotel was one of the only options in the city where we could all stay together. Their 5 person options are at the end of the halls - there's a door to enter the last section of hallway that ...
Yotel Times Square Hotel