TOP THINGS TO DO IN NYC

New York City is one of the greatest cities in the world and it’s a city that “never sleeps,” literally! There are mouth-watering restaurants at every corner, famous sites, award-winning Broadway shows that you must see, and there’s always something going on any time of the day.

When it comes to planning a trip to NYC, it’s hard to narrow down what to do. It becomes even harder if you have a limited amount of time. It makes choosing between incredible buildings, Broadway shows, and all the Gossip Girl filming locations almost impossible.

TRY DELICIOUS NYC EATS

Let’s be honest one of the best things to do in NYC is to eat, even coming from a local, it’s food paradise! There are so many options from restaurants, bars, markets, and cafes to choose from!

Pizza & Bagels are the two best things in life done in NYC. If you haven’t tasted NYC pizza, you are missing out. The best spots to get pizza are Joe’s Pizza near Chailait, Juliana’s next to Brooklyn Bridge and Di Fara Pizza in Brooklyn.  For Bagels, H&H Midtown Bagels hits the spot, I wish I was there right now! Let’s be real it might take you an hour or so to get a $5 slice of pizza, but it will all be worth every cheesy bite!

Italian: You may find that there are so many options with Italian food, as a local I could even tell you it’s hard to pick sometimes! Briciola, however, has taken a special place in my heart because it’s so good but yet inexpensive as well!

Markets: One of my favorite things to do in NYC is to go to the Gansevoort Market, it’s been up and running since 1884. You find many delicious eats there like ramen, New York-style pizza, ice cream, and more! Another option is the Chelsea Market where it has 35 vendors and draws in the attention of over 6 million people every year.

Hot dogs: Head to Katz Deli on East Houston for a proper hotdog. This deli is known for its corned beef, the family-owned spot has been around for over 100 years!

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GET A DOSE OF CAFFEINE

New York City has almost more cafes than restaurant and bars. I usually just google spots depending on where in Manhattan I find myself in. New places are springing up and hey you might even find a hidden gem!

Some cafes that have made it to my top list and I always find myself going are:

Two Hands: Nobody does coffee like Colombians or Australians, so you bet this Australian owned spot can make you a delicious cup of coffee! Head to their Tribeca location & check out their “ladies room” downstairs, it’s Instagram worthy!

Little Skips: If you are an artist or freelancer, this will be a place for you to go. Little Skips has everything you would want. They offer sandwiches, baked goods, coffee, wine, and even beer. This spot also has rotating art and music, so you will constantly see different things going on.

Chalait: Located in Hudson Square, Chelsea Market, and NoMad is known for their avocado toast and signature matcha tea which I’m addicted to! They have Quinoa bowls and gourmet sandwiches to get you energized to get you through all the NYC sightseeing.

Toby’s Coffee Estate: There are 5 locations throughout NYC but the cutest ones are 5th ave location or the one in Brooklyn. It’s an Instagrammer paradise! The shelves are filled with vintage goodies, tin ceilings, and marble countertops. Each location varies.

TAKE THE SUBWAY

Taking the subway in New York City is a cultural experience and honestly,  the easiest way to get around. It’s one of the things to do to get a sense of the city.

While it might not be the most comfortable way to get around especially during rush hour, it’s a melting pot of people. Everyone uses the subway including locals, and there are even live performances depending on the station. I once heard the theme song of Game of Thrones being played through instruments, it was amazing & mind-blowing! This was in 50th street Station.

In NYC there’s so much talent all in one island from around the world, it’s incredible!

WANDER AROUND THE GARDENS

When most people think of Manhattan or the Big Apple, the first thing that comes to their mind is Central Park. What they don’t realize is that it also has a beautiful spot called Conservatory Garden. It’s located at 5th Avenue and 105th Street, it’s open from 8 am until dusk. It’s the only formal garden found in Central Park.

Did you know you can also go canoeing, yep, you can do that as well in Central Park but it’s seasonal.

Another beautiful option is Washington Square Park on 5th Ave and Macdougal near Chailait. It’s most well-known for its arch that honors George Washington as well as the fountain.

One last park is the Brooklyn Botanical Garden, which only costs $15 to get in but you will find many events and exhibits worth going to.

SEE A BROADWAY SHOW

There are hundreds of shows playing every day, from long-running classics like wicked to new editions like Hamilton. Lion King and Book of Mormons have been the best by far!

If you have your heart on wanting to watch a top show, make sure you book your tickets way in advance, tickets get sold out so quick!

Advice: If you want tickets at a cheaper rate you can get them on the app TodayTix. Sometimes it has the best prices and if you get lucky you get good seats!

TOP SIGHTSEEING SPOTS

Freedom Tower and 9/11 Memorial: Freedom Tower is a tribute to those who lost their lives in 9/11. It’s quite a sobering experience until this day but it’s a chance to dive deeper into this horrendous tragedy. The memorial is composed of two twin reflecting pools which are technically where the twin towers foundations were located. The two reflecting pools have the largest humanmade waterfalls in North America. Aside from that, they contain the names of everyone who died on that day.

Statue of Liberty: The Statue of Liberty is a colossal neoclassical sculpture gifted from the French to the American people. In Ellis Island, more than 12 million immigrants took their first steps toward American citizen back then and you get to see the process of what they had to go through. Once you get to the deck you will also get to see NY and NJ.

Empire State Building: Want an ionic shot of NYC this is the place to go! The observation deck provides you 360-degree views of the Statue of Liberty, Central Park, the Brooklyn Bridge, and the Hudson River. If you are in a mission to capture as much as possible up there, make sure you take a wide-angle lens!

Grand Central: Grand Central is not only just a busy transportation hub. It’s a place to dine, shop and experience everything that New York has to offer. The station has mind-blowing architecture from over a century ago. Fun fact- It’s also where the famous scene of Serena returning to NYC in Gossip Girl was shot among many other movies! Don’t forget to look up at the celestial ceiling which was restored.

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Brooklyn Bridge: Is one of the prettiest bridges in the tri-state area. It has so much history especially from back when it was being built. It has a breath-taking view of the Manhattan skyline during sunset that you won’t want to miss!

Washington Square Park: Washington Square Park is a 9.75-acre public park in Greenwich Village, it’s considered a landmark as well as a meeting place and center for cultural activity. The park is an open space, dominated by Washington Square Arch.

High Line: The High Line is a 1.45-mile-long park that was built on an old elevated railway. The long stretch offers food vendors, artistic buildings along the high line, views of the Hudson River and NYC Skyline. The best time to visit is during morning hours or evening to avoid huge crowds.

Top of the Rock: Top of the Rock is another amazing observatory that offers 360 views of Manhattan! On your way up, make sure to stop at the center of Sunken Plaza. The stairs there will be the best spot to snap a picture of the golden Prometheus statue.

Flatiron Building: This iconic 21-story building is known for its triangular shape. It doesn’t have to be the tallest building to be considered important in NYC, it’s been featured in postcards more than any other building in Manhattan. Currently, it’s an office building but there have been plans to turn it into a hotel. It’s one of the Instagrammable locations!

SHOP UNTIL YOU DROP

Whether you are in the hunt for thrift shopping, designer clothes or vintage, NYC has it all! From SoHo to West Village to Brooklyn, there are unique boutiques everywhere you look.

Awoke Vintage in Brooklyn: If you are like me and love to look around for vintage pieces, you have to stop by Awoke. They have the cutest storefront and some of the best vintage pieces!

Pink Olive in Brooklyn: If you are in the lookout for home and paper goods, go to Pink Olive. They have everything from home decor to stationery.

HEAD TO BROOKLYN

Brooklyn is a must-visit when traveling to NYC. It’s becoming more and trendier, there are popup shops, street art and instagrammable places scattered throughout Dumbo, Park Slope, Williamsburg, Flatbush among other neighborhoods.

Dumbo: Trendy Dumbo’s cobblestone streets and converted Brooklyn warehouse buildings are the backdrop for independent boutiques, trendy cafes and high-end restaurants. Aside from that, Dumbo has a lot of history behind it so if you are interested read up on it.

The north end of Brooklyn Bridge Park offers picturesque views of Manhattan Skyline as well as historic Jane’s Carousel.

Brooklyn Heights Promenade: Offers amazing views of Wall Street and South Ferry area all part of Lower Manhattan. Take a stroll with your significant other.  Don’t hesitate to walk around this area, I found some interesting historic Mansions.

New York Overall is a beautiful concrete jungle of buildings . . .