A Comprehensive Guide to New York City

Tripoto
11th Apr 2014
Photo of A Comprehensive Guide to New York City 1/1 by Kimberly Fisher

EAT

Fine dining

  • Per Se - The mecca of fine dining in the U.S.
  • Jean Georges- The sauces and desserts are the standout winners here.
  • Gramercy Tavern - Impeccable food & service in a cozy, comfortable place. Classic NYC.
  • Eleven Madison Park - Always tops the lists for best food in NYC by Daniel Humm.
  • Tao - Trendy fine dining.  Amazing food in a club atmosphere. Must try the sea bass!
  • Lavo - Great food for brunch or dinner; can’t pass up the meatball!

Middle of the road

  • Balthazar- This restaurant has been around for years and is still one of my favs…
  • Little Owl - trendy, small fresh Italian food
  • Stanton Social- I used to love the small plates menu. The last couple of times it might have fallen off a bit. Used to be the best comfort food around! (mini grilled cheese, sliders, meatballs). Or visit the same owners’ uber hip Beauty & Essex.
  • STK - Still one of my bi-coastal favorites. Go for the scene, the drinks, lobster mac n cheese, creamed corn & desserts.
  • The Spotted Pig- for their famous burger.
  • La Esquina- Apparently serves the best Mexican fare in New York.
  • Family-friendly: The Meatball Shop, Ellen’s stardust Diner, Shake Shack, Max Brenner, Carmine’s.

Cheap eats

  • Shake Shack - The East Coast version of In and Out.
  • Marmoun’s - The best falafel and shwarma EVER

PLAY

  • Ride the subway.*
  • See the Statue of Liberty.*
  • Have a drink in the middle of Central Park at The Boathouse.*
  • See a play on Broadway.*
  • Aimlessly wander the streets and explore the culture of city life.*
  • Empire State Building*
  • Have an authentic hot dog from a corner vendor.*
  • Grab a drink from the rotating restaurant - The View.*
  • Visit the Metropolitan Museum of Art.*
  • Times Square.*
  • Time Warner Center.*
  • Rockefeller Center.*
  • Stroll through the West Village.*
  • Coal-fired Grimaldi’s Pizzeria by the Brooklyn Bridge.
  • Try a pizza cone.*
  • Ippudo for boutique ramen noodles and THE BEST pork buns.*
  • Apple picking in Duchess County.
  • Ellis Island.
  • Have a macaroon at Bouchon Bakery or Ladaree.*
  • Central Park Zoo.*
  • Marmoun’s falafel, for the cheapest (and best!) falafel that has been around since the 70′s.*
  • Have a drink at The Monkey Bar like Tennessee Williams, Marlon Brando, Ava Gardner and Joe DiMaggio once did. The posh spot is now owned by Vanity Fair Editor, Graydon Carter.*
  • Museum of Natural History.*
  • Museum of Sex.*
  • Try authentic eats in Chinatown, especially soup dumplings from Joe’s Shanghai. Other favorites include Jing Fong and well-hidden Golden Unicorn.*
  • Little Italy.*
  • Explore Mario Batalli’s 50,000 square foot Eataly. Made up of 7 different restaurants, wine store, kitchenware department and cookbook section.* (200 Fifth Ave. @ W. 23rd St. 212-229-2560)
  • The Bronx Zoo*
  • Check out 8 floors of art at MOMA.*
  • Grab lunch at a Michelin starred restaurant.*
  • Dylan’s Candy Bar for over 5,000 kinds of candy and sweet treats.*
  • Walk across the Brooklyn Bridge.
  • Momofuko for cereal flavored ice cream.*
  • Pretend you are in Europe with a champagne brunch at Bagatelle.*
  • Wine tasting.
  • Listen to jazz at The Blue Note Jazz Club.
  • Watch the New York Knicks score at Madison Square Garden.
  • Admire the Manhattan Skyline on a cruise.
  • Meet a Rockette during the Radio City Stage Door Tour.
  • Check out M & M World.
  • Perfect your triple axel at The Rink at Rockefeller Center.
  • Have tea infused with Vodka at The Russian Tea Room.
  • Check out the multilingual tour of the United Nations.
  • Chill in High Line Park.*
  • Brunch and 140 kinds of tea at Alice’s Tea Cup.*
  • People-watch in one of many NYC parks; Central Park, Union Square Park, Madison Square Park.*
  • No stop in New York is complete without a visit to Henri Bendel for high-end accessories.*
  • Visit one of the largest booksellers ever, The Strand.*
  • Lincoln Center for plays, movies and special events*
  • Have a musical-filled night at historical Greenwich club Cafe Wha?*