NEW YORK CITY, NY
New York City is exactly how all of the songs describe it as a"Concrete jungle where dreams are made of!" It's a city filled with amazing architecture, bright lights, flashing billboards, awesome museums, one of a kind restaurants, and breathtaking Broadway shows. What makes this city so neat is all of the little areas that make up NYC like Times Square, the Financial District, Midtown, Central Park, etc. Each area is unique in its own way with great character, charm and iconic spots. NYC is definitely one of our favorite cities to visit because there is always something new and exciting going on! It also is a very walkable city so be sure to bring some comfy shoes when you visit. We are so excited to share some of our favorite NYC places with all of you!
(Click on the links below to visit the website for each restaurant, bar, location, etc.)
TOP BRUNCH SPOTS
-PARKER & QUINN: (Midtown) Parker and Quinn is a vintage and unique restaurant that is the perfect brunch spot. This cozy place is known for their creative cocktails and awesome dishes.
-BUTTER: (Midtown) Are there any Gossip Girl fans out there? Butter is where a bunch of scenes from Gossip Girl are filmed! It is a super cute restaurant with beautiful high ceilings, big windows and an inviting atmosphere. They also have a delicious menu that changes based on the season. Be sure to make a reservation!
-TACO DUMBO: (Midtown) Taco Dumbo is a super hip, bright, modern and upbeat spot that is perfect for lunch! They have freshly squeezed margaritas and awesome mini tacos.
-THE LOEB BOATHOUSE: (Central Park) The Boathouse is probably one of our favorite brunch spots because it overlooks Central Park Lake! Not only is their brunch menu amazing but they also have excellent mimosas. Be sure to leave some extra time after brunch to take out a row boat on the lake.
-SERENDIPITY: (Lenox Hill) Serendipity is a vibrant, enchanting, bright restaurant known for their famous frozen hot chocolate, mouthwatering desserts, and cheery atmosphere! This is definitely a place you will want to check out!
TOP DINNER SPOTS
-THE SMITH MIDTOWN: (Midtown) The Smith Midtown is a super trendy, upbeat and happening restaurant. They have delicious dishes and signature cocktails. Their inviting restaurant makes it a restaurant you won't want to miss.
-BEAUTY & ESSEX: (Lower East Side) Are you looking to be extra glamorous for the night? If so, check out Beauty and Essex! When you enter this fabulous establishment, you are welcomed by stunning chandeliers and multiple picturesque backdrops. They have fun crafty cocktails and innovative dishes! This place is perfect for a date night or girls night out!
-BAZAR TAPAS: (Chelsea) Bazar is a cozy, rustic, upbeat restaurant know for their creative tapas and innovative cocktails. This place is fun if you are wanting to try a bunch of different dishes.
-TORO: (Chelsea) Toro is a unique, modern and industrial restaurant known for their fun Spanish tapas. This upbeat, lively spot is perfect for a group dinner!
-CARMEN'S: (Times Square) Carmen's is a traditional Italian restaurant in Times Square. They serve all of their dishes family style and have excellent wine. It is the perfect spot to go before a Broadway show!
-L'ARTUSI: (Greenwich Village) L'Artusi is a beautiful Italian restaurant that is known for their delicious small places, creative cheese bar and extensive wine selection.
TOP BARS
-230 FIFTH: (Manhattan) 230 Fifth is by far the coolest roof-top bar I have ever been to! This penthouse bar and lounge has a rooftop garden overlooking the Empire State building. It also has little igloo huts you can sit in on the roof and enjoy great food and awesome cocktails. To top it off, this awesome bar has live music on the weekends! You must check it out!
-R LOUNGE: (Times Square) R Lounge is located in the Renaissance Hotel in Times Square. This bar has floor to ceiling windows overlooking Times Square. It is the perfect spot for an afternoon cocktail or pre-dinner drink!
-RAINBOW ROOM: (Midtown) Rainbow Room is an upscale bar and restaurant located on the 65th Floor of the Rockefeller Center. The views from this bar are absolutely magical and they have excellent signature cocktails.
-ELSIE ROOFTOP: (Midtown) Elsie is a lavish rooftop bar in Midtown. It has a super trendy, hip and modern atmosphere. They are known for their mixology drinks, beautiful outdoor patio and live music.
-LE POSSION ROUGE (LPR): (Greenwich Village) If you are looking for a place to dance the night away, then LPR is the spot for you! LPR has live bands every night that get the whole place dancing!
TOP THINGS TO DO
CENTRAL PARK: Central Park is by far one of our favorite areas in NYC. It is located in Manhattan and is one of the most visited Urban Parks in the United States. It's a beautiful park filled with gorgeous landscape, activities, tours, events and amazing views of the city. Some of our favorite things to do in Central Park are listed below:
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Explore central park by walking, biking, running, or even by a horse-drawn carriage!
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Ice Skate in Central Park in the winter!
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Rent a boat from Loeb Boathouse and sail around Central Park Lake while gazing at the beautiful NYC skyline!
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Visit the Central Park Zoo!
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Have a nice picnic in Central Park! You can either bring your own food or buy food once you get to Central Park. If you feel like eating at an actual restaurant then the Loeb Boathouse is our top pick. It is right on Central Park Lake,
TIMES SQUARE: Times Square is the most tourist place in NYC. You will feel like a true movie star when you walk in Times Square. It's a place filled with massive billboards, bright lights, and millions of people. It's definitely a place you have to check out. Some of our favorite things to do in Times Square area are:
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See a Broadway Play! There are so many great Broadway Plays happening every day. You can also get cheaper tickets if you are willing to wait in line at TKTS Ticket Booth the day of the show.
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Visit Top of the Rock! This is by bar one of the coolest things I have ever done in NYC. It is an observatory deck on top of the Rockefeller Center! I would recommend going at sunset because it is absolutely magical seeing the sunset over NYC. Be sure to buy tickets in advance because they do sell out especially the sunset times. After you visit the Top of the Rock, stop by the Rainbow Room for a fancy cocktail!
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Shop on 5th Ave! They have every store you could think of! This is a great way to spend your afternoon in the city.
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Visit Grand Central Terminal! This is not just a transportation hub, but they also have shopping, dining and events. It is definitely worth checking out this historic landmark.
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Take a tour of NBC Studios! NBS Studios is located in Rockefeller Center. During the tour you will learn about the entire TV production process which is very eyeopening.
FINANCIAL DISTRICT: The Financial District, which is also known as FiDI, is located in lower Manhattan. This is the financial heart of New York featuring the iconic Wall Street, bustling New York Stock Exchange, and the famous Charging Bull statue. Here are some must see things in the Financial District:
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Wall Street: Take a stroll down the 8 blocks of Wall Street to witness some of the largest financial companies in the world.
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New York Stock Exchange: Witness the New York Stock Exchange which is the largest stock market exchange in the world.
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Charging Bull Statue: Snap a photo in front of the famous Charging Bull located in the Financial District. The bull symbolizes, "aggressive financial optimism and prosperity,"
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Brooklyn Bridge: Walk across the famous Brooklyn Bridge that connects Manhattan and Brooklyn. It goes over the East River and is a beautiful walk with numerous photo opportunities.
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9/11 Landmark and World Trade Center: Visit the 9/11 landmark and World Trade Center.
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Oculus: Hang out at the Oculus. The Oculus is not only a transportation hub but a very creative, modern and upscale mall. It has numerous retail stores and restaurants.
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Trinity Church: Visit the historical and beautiful church.
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Battery Park: Stroll in Battery Park which is a 25 acre park overlooking the New York Harbor.
CHELSEA AREA: The Chelsea Area is an artsy neighborhood on the westside of Manhattan. There are many trendy attractions in the Chelsea Area that include:
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High Line: Take a stroll on the High Line, which is an elevated park on top of former railroad tracks. This beautiful 1.5 mile greenway has gorgeous gardens, multiple art shops, and unique restaurants. This is a fun area to explore.
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The Chelsea Market: Visit the Chelsea Market, which is a bustling food hall and shopping mall. It attracts over 6 million visitors every year making it one of the greatest food halls in the world. You will definitely want to check this place out.
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The Flat Iron Building: Take a photo in front of the famous Flat Iron Building that actually looks like an iron!
OTHER FAMOUS LANDMARKS YOU MUST SEE:
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Status of Liberty: Take a cruise out to the stunning Statue of Liberty. The Statue of Liberty has become an icon of freedom, There are numerous cruises you can take to see this famous tourist attraction.
The Boathouse | Brooklyn Bridge | NYC Skyline |
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Central Park | Top of the Rock | Central Park |