Of all the emails and comments I get, the most frequent questions I receive are always regarding things to do in New York City. I sometimes feel like somewhat of a fraud answering them, since I’ve only lived here a few years, but that being said, I so know of some neat places!
Food.
Duh. There are so many restaurants in this city, and I’ve only tried a tiny fraction of them. I love using nymag.com or zagat.com (I have an online membership, which is about $1 per month for access to their guide for every city) to discover new spots! Of course, I’ll always have my favorites:
- Vegan food: Candle 79
- Omnivore health food: Spring Street Natural
- Italian: Zero Otto Nove (worth the trek to the Bronx!)
- Steak/seafood: Keen’s
- Cupcakes: Crumbs
- Bagels: Murray’s
- Dessert: Max Brenner
- Cafes: Peanut Butter & Co., One Lucky Duck, Quantum Leap, Eva’s Health Food
Look in my “NYC Restaurant Reviews“ tab for more suggestions!
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| Angel’s Nachos at Candle 79 |
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| Grasshopper Cupcake at Crumbs |
Nightlife.
Going out in New York is an absolute blast- like restaurants, there’s never a shortage of new bars to try! In general drinks/covers are pricier than in most cities, but there are still plenty of good deals to be found. I haven’t explored the entire city by any means, but my favorite neighborhoods for going out are:
- Greenwich Village/Bleecker Street: Lots of fun, college-type bars with decent drink specials and a laid-back atmosphere. My favorites are Off the Wagon and Peculier Pub.
- West Village: Generally a calmer, more adult area, with lots of lounges and bars with late-night restaurants. My favorites are Lederhosen and Aria Wine Bar.
- Meatpacking District: Home of the NYC club scene; be prepared to spend some serious money! I don’t think that most of the places live up to their hype, but every once in awhile they’re fun for a night of dancing and celeb-spotting. Tenjune is pretty popular, as are Simyone Lounge, 1Oak and Avenue.
Fitness.
I think the best way to see New York is by walking or running through it! Central Park is obviously beautiful, but I also really love running along the Hudson River, down to Battery Park, which has gorgeous views of the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. Other fun activities include:
- Yoga at Yoga to the People, an open, donation-based studio in the East Village.
- Taking a class at Physique 57 or The Bar Method, trendy dance-inspired workouts
- Walking down Fifth Avenue from Central Park to Washington Square Park
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| Walking along the Hudson River |
Shopping.
Though midtown may be home to the flagship stores of many top designers, there are way more affordable and unique finds in other neighborhoods. Broadway below Houston St. in Soho is packed with well-known brands like Zara, Lululemon, Victoria’s Secret and the like; the West Village has some cute, upscale boutiques, and the East Village is home to a ton of vintage shops. Union Square is also a neat place to visit, with a huge Forever 21 and DSW right next to Whole Foods. Speaking of which, check out any ethnic food markets you come across- they always have some interesting stuff!
Sightseeing.
Everyone knows about the Empire State Building and Rockefeller Center, but if you go off the beaten path there’s just as much cool stuff to see. Some fun ones include:
- The Museum of Sex (It’s exactly how it sounds. Don’t go with your parents.)
- The Bronx Botanical Garden
- The Discovery Center in Times Square (touristy, but cool if you’re a nerd like me!)
- Washington Square Park
Hope that helps and that everyone who visits loves it here as much as I do! If anyone else ever needs more recommendations, feel free to email me at uneviesaine@gmail.com.
Have you ever been to New York City? What’s your favorite thing to do/place to eat here? What would you most like to see/do that you haven’t before?
