How exciting you’re taking a trip to NYC, one of my my favorite places! I lived there for three years and absolutely loved it. I always end up writing some poorly formatted iPhone note list for my friends when they visit NYC and ask for recommendations and figured I should finally put it all on an official list that I can easily share with friends, and anyone else that stumbles across this list, you’re a friend now too.

Three years ago I left NYC for Philadelphia but I keep going back for the amazing culture of food, theatre, and just…. LIFE. Now I go for a day or two for visits with friends or to do something fun so I will continue adding to my list of experiences I want to share with you all! Let’s dive in!

Food by neighborhood:

I have added a double asterisk** next to my top favorites to help you prioritize if you don’t have much time. I wanted to include MANY options because choices are usually dictated by your location and budget, so there are lots of options.

Hell’s Kitchen/Theatre District/Times Square

This neighborhood is probably my favorite because I used to work in this area and have eaten out here a LOT. Many NYC visitors tend to stay in the midtown area so these might be the most centrally located spots for you while in NYC, additionally it is in the theatre district so you can choose one of these spots before / after seeing a show.

**Tim Ho Wan: A Michelin star restaurant that is originally from Hong Kong, specializing in Dim Sum! You MUST get the BBQ buns, and the chicken and rice! Anything else is a plus! I’ve been so many times and it’s always a favorite 🙂 

Viv – My favorite place for Thai food in Hell’s Kitchen (although there are many great options). This place is big and usually has a table open and the decor is super fun. I love the curry and the fried rice here!

Pio Pio 8 – Peruvian food: This place is BIG (for New York standards) but I would still advise making a reservation. Great place to try Peruvian food for the first time or as a Peruvian food lover.

The Marshal: Great wood fired pizza, cocktails, and also a good brunch!

Farm to Burger: One of the best chicken sandwiches I’ve ever had was here, and years later, I still remember that fat slice of pineapple on my sandwich.

**Empanada Mama: I’m not sure how to gracefully put this but if you find yourself having had a few too many drinks and good times in Hell’s Kitchen, this is exactly where you need to go for a few empanadas.

**Bird & Branch Coffee: If you need a good coffee shop in Hell’s Kitchen, not too far from your hotel. I recommend Bird & Branch – the cutest coffee shop there with very fun speciality drinks! I’ve known the owners since they opened and love them! 

Schmackery’s Cookies: If you’re looking for a quick cookie fix, these are best eaten late at night when you’ve had a great day and just want to eat a cookie 🙂

5 Napkin Burger: A GREAT Burger in Hell’s Kitchen can always be found here. They have many options, some very unique. Great spot to hit before a show.

**Back Pocket Bar: This is such a special little place. It is very tiny (hence the name) and their specialty is the Frosé but they also serve other drinks. A great place to spend time singing along with the fabulous playlists or snuggling up in the corner with your date. They specialize in millennials so keep that in mind 🙂

Columbus Circle

Marea at Columbus Circle, a TWO Michelin Star spot on billionaires row. You’ll probably need a reservation, and you will definitely pay top dollar here but the food is super exciting and delicious. Seafood is a big thing here, and the wine list is incredible.

Garment District / Hudson Yards / Penn Station

Grace Street Cafe: Found in little Korea, this is a Korean coffeehouse offering unique desserts and drinks. The presentation is 1000% Instagram worthy and the taste matches.

Top of the Strand Rooftop bar: This is a cozy little rooftop bar with beautiful views of the Empire State building. Great place to stop in for a cocktail and enjoy the views.

Little Spain Mercado: Who knew we needed a Little Spain market? Well someone knew and we should all be grateful. This is where you can grab a vino, vermouth, bocadillo de jamon (ham sandwich) and other delightful tapas. This is a great thing to do along with The Edge.

Chelsea

Chelsea Markets: One of my favorite ways to spend an hour or two is browsing all the artisan shops at the Chelsea Markets. It’s in a delightful little neighborhood and there is plenty of things to see and enjoy at the markets, as well as lots of great food options. I tried vegan sushi here (yes, it’s a thing) and loved it!

East Village

Ivan Ramen: If you like Ramen – Go to Ivan Ramen! There is a cool episode on Chef’s Table (or another food show, but I think chef’s table) about Ivan, the guy, and how is wife died, sad but inspiring, and the Ramen is some of the best in NYC. 

Mr. Purple: Now this is where you go if you want to feel fancy, they are a club, a restaurant, and there is a pool on the roof. I watched the 4th of July fireworks from here and it’s a great place to party.

**Remi Flower & Coffee Shop: One of the most magical places in all of New York City. If you are a coffee shop girlie, this is a MUST VISIT for you. It’s a flower shop, but also a coffee shop, and the latte art doesn’t disappoint.

West Village / Greenwich Village

**Artichoke Pizza: If you want the BEST PIZZA in all of NYC: Go to Artichoke Pizza. It’s a little shop in the West Village (and right smack dab in the middle of a very fun area, where all the comedy clubs are). You get one slice, it will be more than enough, it’s a white sauce slice with artichokes on it! It is INCREDIBLE. Total pizza shop vibe, you might get a little seat, but you might eat it standing at a little bar or on the street.

While We Were Young: I had a birthday brunch here for my birthday in 2019 and the food was absolutely stunning, and also quite delicious. Highly recommend checking this place out if you have the time. Make a reservation in advance, it’s very small.

Upper West Side

**French Roast: for a classic brunch on the upper west side. Did you even visit the UWS if you didn’t have a great brunch? No, you didn’t. And this is the place to do it. This is where I went out for brunch my very last time before moving away from NYC. I got pink blinis and profiteroles and I just loved it all! I’ve eaten here multiple times and it’s always a home run. If you visit them, tell the GM (Sam) that Dan Likes To Eat says hello and you read about it on his blog.

Jacobs Pickles: Another of the best brunch spots on the upper west side is found in Jacob’s Pickles. They do serve pickles but for a deep dive on what brunch there looks like, check out the article I wrote about it in one of my very first posts on this blog here.

Washington Heights

Tampopo Ramen: If you find yourself this far up in Manhattan, this is a wonderful option for Ramen. I used to eat here from time to time and loved it every time. This is a great spot to have a meal if you’re hanging out in the Met Cloisters and Fort Tryon Park – worth a trip uptown to see this area.

Suross Thai Bistro: I used to order take out from here at least once a week. One of my favorite places on the whole Island of Manhattan. Also the very first place I ordered from during covid, and the very last meal I ate as a resident of NYC in the summer of 2020. Highly recommend the pad thai and the curry empanadas.

Chinatown

Chinese Tuxedo in China Town is AWESOME! Mid-to high price level but the food is incredible.  Great 7 second egg on the dish. Also this is on an iconic street in Chinatown.

Alimama Tea is a perfect little tea shop and the cream puffs are incredible (and I have the highest standards when it comes to cream puffs).

Sweet Moment NYC: This place makes the wildest art on drinks you’ll ever find and they have tasty treats as well. This is a treat yourself kind of place but totally worth the experience!

Check out my Youtube Video about Chinatown if you want more details on these spots!

Flat Iron / Union Square

**The Cauldron: If you and your friends are Narnia, Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter, magic loving friends, I highly recommend getting a reservation here! Check out my blog post about how magical it is! 

Obica Mozzarella Bar: incredible Italian spot near the flat iron building.  Great wine list as well!

Street Taco: The vibe is “taco truck” and the tacos and margaritas here are delicious. Lots of different options and meat-free options as well. You can’t go wrong with the tacos and margs here.

Queens

Casa Enrique: A one Michelin Star Mexican restaurant. The Mole here is good, well, everything I’ve tried here is good. I’ve been twice and can confirm both times were great.

Lol I have nothing else to recommend in queens. I lived there for three months and only went to Target and cried on the train.

Brooklyn

**Casa Ora: The very first Venezuelan restaurant to ever be listed in the Michelin guide! This place is one of those super special spots where you walk in and you just feel the love and the vibes, and then when you taste the food you just want to flip your table because it’s so good and you’re unsure of how to express your emotions properly. The empanadas were so good, the asado negro was absolutely incredible, the bollos pelones (left photo below), the hallacas (right photo below), I mean everything was delicious.

The Bagel Factory in Brooklyn for Rainbow NYC bagels! I don’t know that these bagels are better than any other NYC bagels but they are rainbow and fun and you can get things like Funfetti cream cheese too.  

**Smorgasburg in Williamsburg. There are multiple Smorgasburgh locations but Williamsburg is my favorite because it has so many vendors and an incredible view of Manhattan.  I’m not sure if it has started for the season but if it has, this is an AWESOME weekend food market. Different locations are open only certain days on the weekend so check out which location is best for you. 

Check out my Youtube Video of other things to do in Brooklyn here.

Tribeca

Two Hands for Brunch: I just learned there is another location in NOHO, but I went to the Tribeca one. This is a nice quiet spot for a sensible brunch with easy train access. Delicious food and a great place to sit and chat and catch up with friends.

Terroir Wine Bar: Okay so as of the time of publishing this article, I have never visited this place but it has been on my list for years and I haven’t been able to get there. Let me know if you want to go with me sometime 🙂

Multiple Locations

The Smith: There are four locations in NYC and I’ve been to all of them. Great classic brunch, I love the huevos rancheros dish. You might even spot some celebrities here 🙂

Bareburger: This is a great place for a burger. Multiple locations and I’ve eaten countless Bareburgers, they have great non-meat options as well (Impossible Burger, anyone?) and good drink selections.

**2 Bros Pizza – Dollar pizza! Get a slice or two and eat it standing in the shop, don’t forget to add parmesan cheese and salt and pepper to make it even tastier! This is great at any time of day, but especially when you are hangry or after going out at night 😀 There are locations all over the city. My favorite is the one near Bryant Park, Bryant Park is a cool park and featured in a ton of movies so it’s fun to go and check it out. It’s right next to the NY Public Library with the Lion statues 🙂 

Observatory Decks

**One World Trade Center: This is the best of the best and can’t be beat, it’s also emotional, cathartic, and overall very well done. If you can only do one, this is the one to do.

The Edge: If you only do two, I personally think The Edge should be number two. You have a great vantage point of all the other cool buildings in the city, and you’re right next to the water. Check out my video about The Edge here and don’t forget to go downstairs to the Little Spain market before or after going to the top.

The Top of the Rock: This is sort of a “classic NYC” experience so no one will fault you for going here. It’s really cool to sit on the roof and watch the sunset here. Great views of central park.

Non food but things you should know:

Go to Washington Street in Dumbo Brooklyn for that CLASSIC view of the Manhattan bridge. That google map pin will take you exactly where you need to go.

Rent City bikes and ride around Central Park. You could easily ride from Hell’s Kitchen up 8th Ave to the Park and then ride around in the park.

Coney Island: It’s a classic spot but only during the on-season. It can get crowded but there’s always a spot on the beach where you can ignore other people, and don’t forget to get a Nathan’s Hot Dog!

Take the Ferry to Staten Island (and then come right back) for great views of the Statue of Liberty – it costs the same as a subway ride and is quicker and cheaper than a tour of the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. 

Governors Island is a cool place to spend the day when it’s warm. There are food trucks, bikes to rent, and great sights to see.

Tips on Safety in NYC

• It’s a big city so that means you need to be aware of your surroundings. Don’t keep valuable things in pockets that are easily exposed.
• Don’t make eye contact with weirdos on the street more than once or you are asking for trouble.
• Be careful on the trains not to be clueless with your purse or phones because people like to grab and run off as the doors close and there’s nothing you can do after those doors close.
• Timesquare is cool to check out but that might be one of the most dangerous spots as well so keep your eyes peeled.
• The only reason to go to the Bronx is for the New York Yankees or the Zoo, anywhere else, be ware 🙂

It’s good to be safe and thoughtful so nothing happens but also, don’t be afraid to be rude back to people if they are rude to you, it’s just NYC, and most importantly, HAVE FUN!!!