Guidebook for New York
Arts & Culture
The Met Cloisters
99 Margaret Corbin DrArt influenced by the Black culture. Primarily artists of African descent. If you're curious about Black history, this is definitely a Harlem staple.
10 locals recommend
Studio Museum 127
429 W 127th StArt influenced by the Black culture. Primarily artists of African descent. If you're curious about Black history, this is definitely a Harlem staple.
Essentials
Open until Midnight, carries good, quality brands similar to Wholefoods.
108 locals recommend
CTown Supermarkets
4918 Broadway Open until Midnight, carries good, quality brands similar to Wholefoods.
Fine Fare Supermakets
4211 BroadwayOpen 24 hrs
2 blocks from apt. Ask for a day pass. Sometimes they offer specials. Very inexpensive pricing. All brand new equipment.
103 locals recommend
Planet Fitness
3799 Broadway2 blocks from apt. Ask for a day pass. Sometimes they offer specials. Very inexpensive pricing. All brand new equipment.
Duane Reade
3387 BroadwayDrug store/pharmacy with snacks, toiletries etc.
Cannot beat the prices. You can get an hour massage for $39 and it's very good massage! They allow walk-ins, but I recommend booking an appointment by phone. They can typically get you an appointment within a few hours as they have 3 floors of spa rooms and several massage therapists on staff. Great for couples massages also. Very relaxing ambience.
Renew Day Spa
10 BoweryCannot beat the prices. You can get an hour massage for $39 and it's very good massage! They allow walk-ins, but I recommend booking an appointment by phone. They can typically get you an appointment within a few hours as they have 3 floors of spa rooms and several massage therapists on staff. Great for couples massages also. Very relaxing ambience.
Parks & Nature
Inwood Hill Park
Seaman AvenueIsham Park
Isham StreetFort Tryon Park Trust
741 Fort Washington AveSightseeing
You can find a good deal for $12 per person (regularly $33 per person) on Groupon. It's a 1-hr ferry ride takes you to see Statue of Liberty, World Trade Center, and Brooklyn Bridge. There is food and drinks available onboard.
6 locals recommend
Hornblower Cruises & Events Pier 15
78 South StYou can find a good deal for $12 per person (regularly $33 per person) on Groupon. It's a 1-hr ferry ride takes you to see Statue of Liberty, World Trade Center, and Brooklyn Bridge. There is food and drinks available onboard.
It's a beautiful campus and many tourists go to visit and take pictures of the scenery.
539 locals recommend
Columbia University
116th and BroadwayIt's a beautiful campus and many tourists go to visit and take pictures of the scenery.
Food Scene
It's a boat that stays at dock. The food is excellent and vibrant atmosphere.
141 locals recommend
Frying Pan
207 12th AveIt's a boat that stays at dock. The food is excellent and vibrant atmosphere.
Melba's
300 W 114th StHarlem Soulfood and really nice atmosphere.
Great brunch special with live music on Weekends. And excellent outdoor patio.
428 locals recommend
Harlem Tavern
2153 Frederick Douglass BlvdGreat brunch special with live music on Weekends. And excellent outdoor patio.
One of the best pizzerias in the city and it's connected to a church. Very iconic spot.
26 locals recommend
Grimaldi's
656 6th AvenueOne of the best pizzerias in the city and it's connected to a church. Very iconic spot.
Another favorite pizzeria in Hell's Kitchen. A bit on the pricier side, but it's worth it.
20 locals recommend
Capizzi
547 9th AveAnother favorite pizzeria in Hell's Kitchen. A bit on the pricier side, but it's worth it.
Good quality burgers and have plant-based burgers as well for the vegans/vegetarians.
465 locals recommend
Bareburger
33-21 31st AveGood quality burgers and have plant-based burgers as well for the vegans/vegetarians.
Great burgers, cocktails, and full bar downstairs. Really cool decor and cassette player as well. In the summer have a nice outdoor patio also.
6 locals recommend
GENUINE Liquorette
191 Grand StGreat burgers, cocktails, and full bar downstairs. Really cool decor and cassette player as well. In the summer have a nice outdoor patio also.
Iconic breakfast/brunch spot, but the wait is ridiculous. I like to order as takeout and eat around the corner at the park.
365 locals recommend
Clinton St. Baking Company
4 Clinton StIconic breakfast/brunch spot, but the wait is ridiculous. I like to order as takeout and eat around the corner at the park.
Casa Mezcal
86 Orchard StBest Mexican food and margaritas.
Great gastropub with an Asian fusion twist. Everything comes in sets of 3. Great for large groups/sharing food.
Set L.E.S
127 Ludlow StGreat gastropub with an Asian fusion twist. Everything comes in sets of 3. Great for large groups/sharing food.
Great tacos, avocado, cocktails & margaritas. Good music too. They have a downstairs and another restaurant connected on the other side call The Corner Deli. Very popular place.
263 locals recommend
La Esquina - SoHo
114 Kenmare StGreat tacos, avocado, cocktails & margaritas. Good music too. They have a downstairs and another restaurant connected on the other side call The Corner Deli. Very popular place.
Sylvia's Restaurant
328 Malcolm X BlvdVery famous Soulfood place in Harlem. Reasonable prices.
Very authentic soul food, not as nice decor as Melba's or Sylvia's, but still deserves a notable mention. The mac n' cheese & banana pudding are excellent!
241 locals recommend
Amy Ruth's
113 W 116th StVery authentic soul food, not as nice decor as Melba's or Sylvia's, but still deserves a notable mention. The mac n' cheese & banana pudding are excellent!
Great Mexican food, good vibes & decor. Open late as well.
17 locals recommend
Lupe's East L.A. Kitchen
110 6th AveGreat Mexican food, good vibes & decor. Open late as well.
One of my favorite markets in the City. They have several food and dessert vendors inside to choose from. They even have a taco food truck inside which is excellent. Very cool scenery and decor inside. Often will catch live Jazz during the day.
108 locals recommend
Gansevoort Market
101 Liberty StreetOne of my favorite markets in the City. They have several food and dessert vendors inside to choose from. They even have a taco food truck inside which is excellent. Very cool scenery and decor inside. Often will catch live Jazz during the day.
Great ramen, and the pork buns are good too. I'm not a sushi fan but it's primarily known for its sushi and ramen.
137 locals recommend
Jin Ramen West Harlem
3183 BroadwayGreat ramen, and the pork buns are good too. I'm not a sushi fan but it's primarily known for its sushi and ramen.
If you're in Hell's Kitchen and traveling with a group, it's highly recommended because everyone can pick from something different. Have several food vendors inside from burgers, to Italian, to Ramen, and tacos etc. And there's an ice cream parlor in there that has excellent vegan ice cream options as well.
126 locals recommend
Gotham West Market
600 11th AveIf you're in Hell's Kitchen and traveling with a group, it's highly recommended because everyone can pick from something different. Have several food vendors inside from burgers, to Italian, to Ramen, and tacos etc. And there's an ice cream parlor in there that has excellent vegan ice cream options as well.
Authentic Chinese place in Chinatown. Crazy cheap. For two people can be $20-$25 USD. I recommend the cold noodles in peanut sauce and fried rice.
13 locals recommend
456 New Shanghai
69 Mott StAuthentic Chinese place in Chinatown. Crazy cheap. For two people can be $20-$25 USD. I recommend the cold noodles in peanut sauce and fried rice.
They have several locations around the city. This is by far one of my favorite coffee shops in the city. Try the hemp milk latte. Then walk to TJ Maxx, Wholefoods and Sephora just down the street with a stroll through the Upper West Side of Central Park afterwards.
135 locals recommend
Birch Coffee
134 1/2 E 62nd StThey have several locations around the city. This is by far one of my favorite coffee shops in the city. Try the hemp milk latte. Then walk to TJ Maxx, Wholefoods and Sephora just down the street with a stroll through the Upper West Side of Central Park afterwards.
Drinks & Nightlife
Located in Hell's Kitchen, right next to Kinky Boots Broadway musical. Over 500 craft beers and 15+ quality whiskeys to choose from. Small, intimate space that locals frequently go to.
13 locals recommend
Beer Culture
328 W 45th StLocated in Hell's Kitchen, right next to Kinky Boots Broadway musical. Over 500 craft beers and 15+ quality whiskeys to choose from. Small, intimate space that locals frequently go to.
Inwood Bar & Grill
4892 BroadwayCheap drinks, happy hour from 4-8pm.
Our favorite dive bar in LES neighborhood.
Typically have great music especially on Saturdays.
56 locals recommend
Home Sweet Home
131 Chrystie StCheap drinks, happy hour from 4-8pm.
Our favorite dive bar in LES neighborhood.
Typically have great music especially on Saturdays.
Max Fish
120 Orchard StIconic dive bar in LES as well. Very affordable drinks.
3-level bar/nightclub with a nice rooftop, and lower level where they hosts live music shows every night (have to pay at door for the lower level).
87 locals recommend
The Delancey
168 Delancey St3-level bar/nightclub with a nice rooftop, and lower level where they hosts live music shows every night (have to pay at door for the lower level).
Great spot, very dim lighting, intimate. Has a downstairs with pool table, lounge area. Very good bar food as well.
43 locals recommend
The Flower Shop
107 Eldridge StGreat spot, very dim lighting, intimate. Has a downstairs with pool table, lounge area. Very good bar food as well.
Gallow Green
542 W 27th StCocktail bar with one of the best rooftops in the city.
Located in a secret spot inside Chelsea Market or you can enter from the alternate entrance on 15th street. Great, vibrant atmosphere. Small cheese/meat plates.
45 locals recommend
The Tippler
425 W 15th StLocated in a secret spot inside Chelsea Market or you can enter from the alternate entrance on 15th street. Great, vibrant atmosphere. Small cheese/meat plates.
Iconic dive bar in East Village. Super cheap and you get a free personal-size pizza with every drink. Have some arcade games and a photo booth as well.
22 locals recommend
Crocodile Lounge
325 E 14th StIconic dive bar in East Village. Super cheap and you get a free personal-size pizza with every drink. Have some arcade games and a photo booth as well.
Excellent prices, good happy hour. Another iconic dive bar in the city. Locals frequent, not many tourists go here.
44 locals recommend
Welcome To The Johnsons
123 Rivington StExcellent prices, good happy hour. Another iconic dive bar in the city. Locals frequent, not many tourists go here.
Entertainment & Activities
Great zoo, if you're a student you show ID and get a good discount. It's a 4 min walk to the bus stop from apt. And less than 12 mins bus ride fro Zoo. Walk to 207th street and take the Bx12 select bus to Bronx and it's just 7 stops.
572 locals recommend
Bronx Zoo
2300 Southern BlvdGreat zoo, if you're a student you show ID and get a good discount. It's a 4 min walk to the bus stop from apt. And less than 12 mins bus ride fro Zoo. Walk to 207th street and take the Bx12 select bus to Bronx and it's just 7 stops.