OUR NYC RECS
Here’s a list of New York City Recs (from South to North Manhattan) for our friends visiting from out of town. Also make sure you check our New York City Calendar of Events! NYC is way more than just Manhattan and Brooklyn so I’ll work on the other boroughs soon!
1. DOWNTOWN
9/11 Memorial & Museum
12 Matcha (New, viral matcha place)
Battery Park (Waterfront and Statue of Liberty views)
Brooklyn Bridge (Walk across the iconic bridge for amazing NYC skyline views)
Mercer Labs (Immersive art and technology museum)
One World Observatory (Observation deck with panoramic NYC views)
Printemps (New luxury department store in a historic Art Deco building with restaurants inside)
South Street Seaport (Historic waterfront neighborhood with shopping, dining, and Funny Face Bakery)
Staten Island Ferry (Free ferry with views of the Statue of Liberty and NYC skyline)
Statue of Liberty & Ellis Island (Take the ferry from Battery Park — tickets recommended in advance)
The Oculus (Iconic architecture and shopping at the World Trade Center)
Wall Street Charging Bull & Fearless Girl Statue (Iconic Financial District photo spots)
2. CHINATOWN
Alimama (Boba & mochi donuts)
Canal Street (Famous shopping street with souvenir shops, street vendors, and bargain finds)
Chinatown Ice Cream Factory (Famous ice cream shop with unique flavors)
Doyers Street (One of Chinatown's most photogenic streets)
Kore Coffee (Croffles — croissant + waffle)
Mango Mango Dessert (Popular Asian dessert spot known for mango treats)
Mei Lai Wah (Famous pineapple pork buns — bring cash)
Nam Son (Popular Vietnamese restaurant)
Nom Wah Tea Parlor (Historic dim sum restaurant on Doyers Street)
Nyonya (Popular Malaysian restaurant — bring cash)
Peking Duck House (Famous Peking duck restaurant)
Wah Fung No. 1 (Famous cheap eats — roast pork and duck over rice, cash recommended)
3. SOHO
Blank Street Coffee (Popular NYC coffee and matcha spot known for its signature drinks and seasonal flavors. Many locations, including SoHo)
Glossier (Popular beauty shopping destination)
Ladurée (Macarons, afternoon tea, and dining in a beautiful setting)
Lil Sweet Treats (Viral candy shop with SoHo and West Village locations)
Dominique Ansel Bakery (Home of the famous Cronut — go early before they sell out!)
SoHo Shopping (Explore Broadway, Prince Street, Spring Street, and the neighborhood's trendy boutiques and designer stores)
4. GREENWICH VILLAGE/NOHO
Comedy Cellar (Legendary NYC comedy club featuring top comedians and surprise celebrity appearances)
Funny Face Bakery (Fun, decorated cookies — NoHo location)
Joe’s Pizza (Original location at 7 Carmine Street — famous classic NYC pizza slices)
Pop-Up Bagels (Famous rip & dip bagels — multiple NYC locations)
Sunday Morning (Viral cinnamon rolls — go early!)
The Uncommons (Popular board game café with coffee, snacks, and hundreds of games)
Washington Mews (Charming cobblestone street near Washington Square Park — great photo spot)
Washington Square Park (Iconic Washington Square Arch, street performers, and popular NYC photo spot)
5. WEST VILLAGE
Bar Pitti (Popular Italian restaurant known for its pasta and celebrity sightings)
Carrie Bradshaw’s Apartment (Iconic Sex and the City photo stop at 66 Perry Street — private residence, photos from sidewalk only)
Friends Apartment Building (Iconic Friends exterior at 90 Bedford Street)
John’s of Bleecker Street (Iconic coal-fired pizza since 1929 — whole pies only)
L’Industrie (Famous NYC pizza spot known for its delicious slices, especially the burrata slice)
Levain Bakery (Famous oversized NYC cookies)
Lil Sweet Treats (Viral candy shop — also has a SoHo location)
Magnolia Bakery (Original Bleecker Street location — famous cupcakes and banana pudding)
Mama’s Too (Viral pizza spot famous for its square slices)
Pop-Up Bagels (Famous rip & dip bagels — multiple NYC locations)
The Little Owl (Charming restaurant located beneath the iconic Friends apartment building)
Via Carota (Famous Italian restaurant known for its rustic dishes and celebrity clientele)
6. LOWER EAST SIDE
Economy Candy (Iconic old-school candy shop filled with nostalgic sweets and hard-to-find treats)
Essex Market (Historic indoor food market with dozens of vendors and delicious eats)
Katz's Delicatessen (Iconic NYC deli famous for its pastrami sandwiches — expect lines)
Russ & Daughters (Historic NYC institution famous for bagels, lox, and smoked fish — original location on Houston Street)
The Pickle Guys (Famous old-school pickle shop with a variety of pickled treats)
Yonah Schimmel's Knish Bakery (Historic NYC bakery famous for traditional potato knishes)
7. FLATIRON/NOMAD
Dough Doughnuts (Famous oversized doughnuts, especially the hibiscus flavor)
Eataly Flatiron (Huge Italian marketplace with restaurants, specialty foods, gelato, and shopping)
Flatiron Building (One of NYC's most iconic buildings and a must-see photo spot)
Harry Potter New York (Flagship store with magical merchandise, Butterbeer, and interactive experiences)
LEGO Store Flatiron (Fun flagship shopping experience with impressive LEGO displays)
Madison Square Park (Beautiful park with public art installations and the original Shake Shack location)
Ralph's Coffee (Stylish Ralph Lauren coffee shop at 160 Fifth Avenue)
8. KOREATOWN/K-TOWN
31st–33rd Streets between Fifth Avenue and Broadway (Explore NYC's Koreatown, especially the restaurants and shops along 32nd Street)
Boba Shops (Gong Cha, Teamakers, Tiger Sugar, Kung Fu)
Food Gallery 32 (Popular Korean food court with a variety of food stalls)
Grace Street (Popular Korean dessert café known for shaved snow, waffles, and specialty drinks)
H Mart (Popular Korean supermarket with Korean snacks, drinks, beauty products, and more)
Jongro BBQ (Popular Korean BBQ restaurant)
Koreatown Karaoke (Fun private karaoke rooms where you can sing with friends)
Mochi Mochi (Korean corn dogs, tanghulu, and mochi donuts)
Paris Baguette (Popular Korean bakery with pastries, cakes, and specialty drinks)
Shopping & Street Food Booths (Look for Tanghulu, Fluffy Algodon, and other vendors around 32nd Street and Fifth Avenue — availability varies)
Speedy Korea Grill (Korean street food, including gold coin cakes)
9. MIDTOWN
5th Avenue Shopping (Iconic NYC shopping destination featuring Tiffany & Co., Saks Fifth Avenue, luxury boutiques, and flagship stores)
Bryant Park (Beautiful park behind the New York Public Library with seasonal markets, ice skating, and events)
Din Tai Fung (Famous Taiwanese restaurant known for its soup dumplings — reservations recommended)
Empire State Building (Iconic NYC skyscraper with observation decks and incredible city views)
FAO Schwarz (Iconic toy store at Rockefeller Center featuring the Jellycat Diner — book ahead — and Build-A-Bear)
Grand Central Terminal (Iconic NYC landmark known for its beautiful architecture, celestial ceiling, and famous clock)
Halal Guys or Adel's Famous Halal Food (Famous NYC halal food carts — check current locations)
Le Café Louis Vuitton (Luxury café inside the Louis Vuitton temporary flagship on 57th Street — reservations recommended)
Lil Sweet Treats (Viral candy shop with a Rockefeller Center location and other NYC locations)
Louis Vuitton Flagship (Famous giant LV suitcase façade at the Fifth Avenue flagship renovation site — temporary installation)
Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) (World-famous art museum featuring works by Van Gogh, Picasso, Warhol, and more)
New York Public Library (Beautiful Beaux-Arts architecture, famous reading rooms, and iconic lion statues)
Pop-Up Bagels (Famous rip & dip bagels — multiple NYC locations)
Ralph's Coffee (Stylish Ralph Lauren coffee shop at Rockefeller Center)
Rockefeller Center & Top of the Rock (Iconic NYC landmark with shopping, dining, an observation deck, and the thrilling Skylift experience)
Russ & Daughters (Famous NYC bagels, lox, and black-and-white cookies — 34th Street location)
SUMMIT One Vanderbilt (Immersive observation deck near Grand Central featuring mirrored rooms and incredible skyline views)
Sweet Graffiti (Popular dessert shop known for creative sweets and Dubai chocolate)
The Plaza Hotel (Afternoon tea at The Palm Court, near Central Park)
Tiffany Blue Box Café (Luxury dining experience inside the Tiffany & Co. flagship on Fifth Avenue — reservations recommended)
10. TIMES SQUARE
Broadway Show (Catch a world-famous Broadway musical or play in NYC's Theater District)
Carmine's (Famous family-style Italian restaurant known for its huge portions — reservations recommended)
Junior's Cheesecake (Iconic NYC restaurant famous for its New York-style cheesecake)
One Times Square (New immersive attraction with an observation deck and an up-close experience with the famous New Year's Eve Ball)
Red Steps at Times Square (Famous red staircase above the TKTS booth — iconic photo spot with views of Times Square)
RiseNY (Immersive NYC experience featuring interactive exhibits and a thrilling flying ride over New York City)
11. HUDSON YARDS
The Edge (One of NYC's highest outdoor observation decks with incredible skyline views and a glass floor)
High Line (Elevated park built on a former railway — walk from Hudson Yards toward Chelsea Market and Little Island)
Magnolia Bakery (Located inside The Shops at Hudson Yards — famous cupcakes and banana pudding, with other NYC locations)
The Shops at Hudson Yards (Luxury shopping destination with restaurants, cafés, and popular brands)
Vessel (Iconic honeycomb-shaped landmark with stunning views — tickets available to climb)
11. CHELSEA / MEATPACKING DISTRICT
ARTECHOUSE NYC (Immersive digital art experience featuring interactive installations and stunning visuals)
Chelsea Art Galleries (Explore dozens of contemporary art galleries, many with free admission)
Chelsea Market (Iconic indoor food hall with popular restaurants, unique shops, and delicious treats)
Google Store Chelsea (Flagship Google Store with interactive tech experiences and shopping)
High Line (Elevated park built on a former railway with beautiful city views, public art, and photo spots)
Little Island (Unique floating park on the Hudson River with beautiful gardens, skyline views, and seasonal performances)
Los Tacos No. 1 (Famous NYC taco spot inside Chelsea Market — expect lines)
Market 57 (Food hall at Pier 57 featuring a variety of vendors curated by the James Beard Foundation)
Milk Bar (Famous NYC bakery known for its Cereal Milk soft serve, cookies, and Birthday Cake — multiple locations)
Starbucks Reserve Roastery (Massive Starbucks experience featuring specialty coffee, pastries, cocktails, and unique coffee-making experiences)
Whitney Museum of American Art (Famous contemporary American art museum with outdoor terraces and stunning city views)
12. UPPER EAST SIDE
BonBon (Popular Swedish candy shop known for its colorful pick-and-mix sweets)
Central Park (Iconic NYC park with beautiful walking paths, famous landmarks, and photo spots)
The Frick Collection (Beautiful art museum housed in a historic Gilded Age mansion)
The Metropolitan Museum of Art (The Met) (World-famous art museum with iconic steps, stunning exhibits, and incredible architecture)
Nuts Factory (Popular sweets and snack shop known for Dubai chocolate and other treats — multiple NYC locations)
Pop-Up Bagels (Famous rip & dip bagels — multiple NYC locations)
Ralph's Coffee (Charming Ralph Lauren café on Madison Avenue with classic NYC style)
14. UPPER WEST SIDE
American Museum of Natural History (Famous museum featuring dinosaur fossils, the giant blue whale, and immersive exhibits)
Beacon Theatre (Historic theater hosting concerts, comedy shows, and special performances)
Central Park – Strawberry Fields (Famous John Lennon memorial featuring the Imagine mosaic)
Children's Museum of Manhattan (Interactive museum with fun exhibits and activities for kids)
Levain Bakery (Original Upper West Side location at 167 West 74th Street — famous oversized chocolate chip cookies)
Lincoln Center (Iconic performing arts destination home to the Metropolitan Opera, New York City Ballet, and more)
New York Historical (Museum featuring fascinating exhibits on NYC and American history)
Riverside Park (Beautiful waterfront park along the Hudson River with scenic walking paths)
The Dakota (Historic apartment building where John Lennon lived, across from Strawberry Fields)
Zabar's (Iconic NYC gourmet food market famous for bagels, smoked fish, coffee, and specialty foods)
13. DUMBO / BROOKLYN HEIGHTS
Washington Street (famous Manhattan Bridge photo)
Brooklyn Bridge Park
Jane's Carousel
Time Out Market New York
Brooklyn Heights Promenade
Grimaldi's or Juliana's Pizza
14. WILLIAMSBURG
Domino Park
Bedford Avenue shopping
Glossier Brooklyn
L'Industrie Pizza (original Brooklyn location)
Brooklyn vintage shopping
Williamsburg waterfront