Exploring New York City
True confession: I haven't been to New York City, since 2000. There's no explanation, nor excuse. I just haven't.
Since my sister's move to NYC a few years ago, I had been dying to get up there, when my mom suggested we all go up for her birthday. While the trip was short, it was jam-packed with things to do!
The below information is a complete guide of the best places to stay, the top rated places to dine and drink, and all there is to see and do. We’ve also included transportation tips, as well as a summary of the history of this energetic city.
Jump To:
Where to Stay
5th Ave.
Financial District
Garment District
Refinery Hotel (Great rooftop!)
Hell's Kitchen
Midtown East
Times Square
Other Areas
Bowery Hotel (Bowery)
Carnegie Hotel (Next to Central Park)
Hotel Barriere Fouquet's New York (SOHO) - Has a perfect 10 rating!
Nine Orchard (Lower East Side)
The Beekman (TriBeCa - the building was built in 1882 and the atrium, from 1940)
The Maritime Hotel (Near MSG)
Where to Dine
With a city so big, there are a ton of restaurants to go to for virtually any cuisine at any price point. The below list reflects the cremé de la cremé of food experiences across Manhattan.
Chelsea
Raines Law Room (SpeakeasY)
A semi-secret entrance (ring bell) leads to this plush lounge crafting Prohibition-era cocktails. Note that they have two great locations: One in Chelsea and one at The William.
Shukette
Bustling destination with chef's tables, turning out kebabs and seafood specialties.
East Village
Jose Luis Mediterranean Cuisine (East village)
Tapas, paellas & pasta are served in this relaxed restaurant that has snug surroundings & a patio.
The Office of Mr. Moto
An Omasake speakeasy. The reservations are exclusively released on Tock the 1st of every month at 10am for the following month. If you snag one, you will need to decode a cipher in the email, then enter the code on a PIN pad at the Victoria-era mailbox at the entrance. After the meal, guests can head to the basement and enjoy a drink while listening to jazz.
Zaragoza Mexican Deli and Grocery
In the back of a pint-sized Mexican-owned bodega in the East Village, chef-owners Pompeyo and Maria Martinez sell delicious Poblano dishes out of this covert eatery (its very name is a nod to their hometown of Zaragoza de la Luz in the state of Puebla).
At its inception in 2000, the bodega-cocina sold imported Mexican spices, herbs, and chilies to the then-mostly Latino surrounding neighborhood. They’ve always sold hot food, but they never needed anything more than a bench along the wall until years later.
You’ll find a rotating menu of Mexican classic fillings for tacos, burritos, tortas, and more.
Flat Iron
Bōm
A Michelin-starred restaurant, featuring a progressive Korean tasting menu at an intimate chef’s counter, with custom built-in grills.
Gramercy Tavern
Danny Meyer's Flatiron District Michelin-starred tavern with a fixed-price-only dining room & a bustling bar area.
Jua
A Michelin-starred restaurant, serving multi-course Korean tasting menus featuring wood-fired dishes.
Noda
Eight-seat sushi bar devoted to high-end omakase dinners, with a separate lounge area.
Thai Villa
Serves traditional and unique Thai fare in a stylish space with dark-wood accents and ornate fixtures.
Undercote (Speakeasy)
Subterranean spot beneath a fine-dining restaurant with craft cocktails, champagne & jungle decor.
Garment District
Gabriel Kreuther
A two Michelin-starred restaurant serving sophisticated French cooking.
Los Tacos No. 1
They use family recipes that include fresh, simple, and tasteful ingredients, straight from Mexico.
Greenwich Village
Bleecker Street Pizza
While they describe themselves as a basic pizza shop, they are known as the best pizza shop in NY. It offers cheap slices and pies until late at night. NOTE: They do offer gluten-free crust!
Cafe Reggio
When Domenico Parisi set up shop in New York’s Greenwich Village in 1927, he whipped up cappuccinos to the delight of his customers, which set off a country-wide trend. The espresso machine, which dates back to 1902, is the oldest on display in the city. In addition, the cafe contains an original bench from the Palazzo Medici Riccardi in Florence.
Besides being the place where the cappuccino was introduced to America, the cafe’s striking interior has made it an ideal filming location for directors. The extensive list of movies shot here includes Greenwich Village, Next Stop, The Next Man, The Sun Is Also A Star, The Godfather Part 2, and more.
Lower Manhattan
Le Coucou
A Michelin-starred restaurant serving refined French fare, such as lobster, rabbit, duck, and foie gras in an airy, elegant setting.
Tomiño Taberna Gallega
Informal Spanish storefront restaurant & tapas bar featuring Galician fare with wines & cocktails.
Little Italy
Potluck Club (Little Italy)
Serving upscale Chinese cuisine.
Torrisi
Inside the iconic Puck Building, the Michelin-starred Torrisi features a bustling bar, two dining rooms, and a menu inspired by our neighborhood of Little Italy and the city’s beloved culinary traditions.
Midtown East
Blue Box Cafe
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to dine in Tiffany’s building in what feels like a Tiffany’s box? New York’s Michelin-starred Chef Daniel Boulud and Blue Box Café Executive Chef Raphaelle Bergeon bring a seasonally inspired menu, including Breakfast at Tiffany’s Afternoon Tea, and an all-day à la carte selection, to this charmingly elegant café. The Peter Marino-designed space now includes a private dining area, café and bar and features custom art installations as well as the signature Tiffany shade of blue.
Il Corso
Fresh pastas dominate a traditional Italian menu in a modern setting with a neighborhood feel.
Le Bernardin
A three Michelin-starred restaurant that offers serves elite French cuisine, with an emphasis on seafood.
Le Jardin (Baccarat Hotel)
Per their description, “Perched above the sights and sounds of the city, Le Jardin's outdoor setting invites cocktails and conversation amidst a most inspired backdrop. This al fresco vista is resplendent with elongated trees, square cut topiaries, blooming florals, and an ivy-laden treillage wall. The menu created by Two Michelin-Starred Culinary Director Gabriel Kreuther is the perfect complement to light fare selections, specialty cocktails, and an extensive wine and champagne list. “
Le Jardinier (Baccarat Hotel)
Per their website, "Le Jardinier," French for "The Gardener," is a collaborative culinary experience crafted by the Michelin-starred Chef Alain Verzeroli and global hospitality group The Bastion Collection. Rooted in the refined elegance of French culinary technique, Le Jardinier celebrates seasonality with dishes that encapsulate the land’s rich offerings on every plate, reflecting and paying tribute to the rhythm of nature. “ They have retained their Michelin star.
Patent Pending (Speakeasy)
Low-lit bar behind a hidden door in Patent Coffee, serving cocktails with an electric theme.
Per Se
A three Michelin-starred restaurant offering a luxe New American fixed-price menu with Central Park views.
The Campbell (In Grand Central station)
When American financier, John W. Campbell, decided he needed an office for both work and play, he knew he wanted it to be near the railroad for easy access to transportation. So what better place than in Grand Central Station itself?
Campbell leased a space from William Kissam Vanderbilt II in 1923 and modeled it after a 13th century Florentine palace, going as far as installing a $300,000 Persian rug.
Having fallen into disrepair through the years, it was eventually remodeled as a bar in the late 90s, replete with 1920s-era décor and drinks. Signs of Campbell’s lavish lifestyle still persist — just look to the fireplace where his beautiful steel safe resides.
The Modern
A two Michelin-starred restaurant serving French/New American fare in a modernist space, with garden views at the Museum of Modern Art.
White Olive
Per their website, “Our executive chef, Hasan Karci, a master in Mediterranean cuisine, brings to your table traditional European and Asian-inspired spices with a refined and modern twist.”
TriBeCa
Other Areas
63 Clinton (Lower East Side)
A Michelin-starred restaurant serving a seasonal menu of modern American fare. They are also known for their cocktails.
ATomix (NOMAD)
A Michelin-starred Korean restaurant offering a chef's tasting menu with beverage pairings.
Carne Mare (seaport)
Warm spot offering seafood, oysters & prime-aged beef, plus a bar & views of the Brooklyn Bridge.
Dame (South Village)
Relaxed seafood eatery offering hearty mains, small plates & classic cocktails, plus a terrace.
Ellens’ Stardust Diner (midtown west)
Multi-level '50s-themed diner with memorabilia, singing servers, and an extensive menu of American classics.
TIP: If you get in line around 9:30pm, you will see a whole slew of broadway actors make their way to the diner for additional performances!
Essential by Christophe (Manhattan)
A Michelin-starred restaurant serving French cuisine with an emphasis on sauces. It’s a top-rated restaurant!
Frevo (West Village)
A Michelin-starred restaurant, serving a multi-course modern menu at an intimate chef's counter, tucked behind a gallery.
George Bang Bang (Speakeasy - Koreatown)
A hidden bar accessed through Okdongsik, George Bang Bang is a good place to wait for a counter seat at that Koreatown soup specialist, or to get a drink for dessert after dinner. This place is so committed to its speakeasy theme that they actually light oil lamps on either side of the long bar,
House of Wax (Brooklyn)
The bar is home to a collection of over a 100 anatomical models, 25 wax death masks, wax depictions of birth, syphilis, and lungs afflicted with tuberculosis all installed inside the bar of newest edition of the Alamo Drafthouse, an Austin based chain of restaurant and movie theaters. This collection that was last on display in Castan’s Panopticum (1886 - 1922) - a turn of the century museum in Berlin - before being put in deep storage. The collection was saved in 2016 by oddities collector and dealer Ryan Matthew Cohn, who found a buyer willing to buy the entire collection. The buyer, Tim League, also happened to be the CEO of the Alamo Drafthouse.
The bar is tucked past the ticket booth of the Alamo Drafthouse before you head up to the theaters, and you do not need a movie ticket to visit the bar and view the models.
Keen’s Steakhouse (Midtown south)
Since 1885, actors, audience members, and theatre impresarios would seek refreshment at Albert Keen’s chophouse. Legend has it that actors in full costume, from the Garrick theatre next door, would rush into Keen’s between acts for a quick ale and a bite of his famous mutton chops before running back on stage.
What is more legendary is the world’s largest collection of Church Warden pipes. Being made of clay and too fragile to carry around, smoking enthusiasts would keep their pipes at the tavern for their own private use when dropping in and Keen’s has over 90,000 pipe smokers on its roster. This includes Theodore Roosevelt, Buffalo Bill Cody, Herbert Hoover, Albert Einstein, and Babe Ruth. Each pipe is numbered and upon entering the Chophouse, you would hand your membership over to a page boy who would retrieve your pipe. While you can no longer smoke there, you can view the pipes for yourself in the bar, right near the portrait of the proprietor’s mistress, Miss Keen.
NOTE: You can still order the mutton chops.
Lexington Candy Shop (Upper East Side)
The Lexington Candy Shop opened its doors in 1925 and was last renovated in 1948. The luncheonette still uses its original coffee urns and makes milkshakes and traditional New York egg creams with a 1940 Hamilton Beach mixer. Photos of celebrities and other memorabilia adorn the walls, including a picture of Robert Redford and Faye Dunaway, who filmed a scene for the spy movie Three Days of the Condor, there.
Today, the Candy Shop is run by John Philis, the grandson of the original owner. It’s a true neighborhood spot, both friendly and charming, serving much the same menu as it did when FDR was president: tuna melts, egg creams, malted milkshakes, and sodas using real syrup.
Loi Estiatorio (Near Central Park)
Offers traditional Greek seafood and other classics in minimalist digs, plus outdoor seating.
Manhatta (Financial district)
Set on the 60th floor, this ritzy, high-end restaurant features New American cuisine and city views.
Palm Court (The Plaza - 5th Ave.)
One of the most iconic spots to take afternoon tea and evening cocktails. You must adhere to their dress policy.
Raoul’s (Soho)
Classic bistro dating to the 1970s with a bustling Parisian atmosphere & a serious French menu.
SESAMO (Hell’s Kitchen)
Stylish, dimly lit wine bar with open kitchen & an Italian-leaning menu, including homemade pasta.
The White Horse Tavern (West Village)
The White Horse opened in 1880, but was not known as a literary niche until Dylan Thomas and other Beat Generation writers began spending time there in the early 1950s. The place is famous for being Dylan Thomas’s last “watering hole” before falling ill and dying in 1953. On the anniversary of his death, the bar serves the last meal he ate at the White Horse before he died.
Other famous faces that frequented the place include Bob Dylan, Jack Kerouac (who was kicked out of the establishment several times), Allen Ginsberg and Peter Orlovsky and Gregory Corso (the trio was once tossed out after bursting through the front door shouting “Hare Krishna” as they circled around the bar), and the Clancy Brothers (who often performed at the tavern).
food tours
Things to See & Do
Historical Exploration
Barthman's Sidewalk Clock
William Barthman, along with one of his employees, Frank Homm, created the timepiece in 1896, but not as it exists today. The original clock was a mechanical jump hour clock with the numbered tablets that would flip over on the hour. It also had a little light bulb that would illuminate the clock at night. In the beginning, as passersby trampled across the clock face, it was met with surprise and delight by turn-of-the-century shoppers. Unfortunately, the fatal flaw of the original contraption was that it was custom-designed by Barthman and Homm, and they were the only ones who knew how to fix it. Thus when the clock began to malfunction in later years, the operators of the store would cover it in cardboard. Eventually a new clock was installed, which is a more traditional analog dial, ringed with a classy brass compass rose.
Bus Tour of Brooklyn, Bronx, and Queens
Explore four of New York City’s boroughs with this all-day guided bus tour. Ride around comfortably and learn about Harlem’s African-American history at the Apollo Theater, see the graffiti murals and colorful street art in the Bronx and Brooklyn, immerse yourself in downtown Flushing’s Chinatown, and experience the culture and traditions of Brooklyn’s Hasidic Jewish community.
Empire state building
Constructed in 1931, The Empire State Building was the tallest building in the world until 1970. It also still has some of the best views, which you can see for yourself. There are two observation decks: the outdoor observation deck on the 86th floor and the indoor observation deck on the 102nd floor. All tickets include the 86th floor observation deck.
TIP: You can purchase special tickets to visit the Empire State Building at sunrise, at nighttime, or both.
Explorers Club Headquarters
Founded in 1904 by seven leading polar explorers of the era, the Explorers Club fosters the scientific exploration of land, sea, air and space. The 1910 Jacobean revival mansion was originally built for Stephen Clark, grandson of the co-founder of the Singer Sewing Machine Company. The Explorers Club purchased the building from the Clark family in 1960 after Stephen’s death. It became the international headquarters in 1965.
TIP: Visitors are welcome during opening hours to explore over 100 years of artifacts. Group tours can be scheduled by contacting reservations. Regular talks with exploration greats are held in the Clark Room from September - June.
Gilded age Mansions tour
Come step inside some of the few remaining Gilded Age mansions of Fifth Avenue and learn about the people who lived in and designed these masterpieces. If you're a fan of the HBO show, The Gilded Age, you'll love this tour.
During the Gilded Age, New York City became home to the greatest concentration of wealth in human history. As America's new millionaires competed with each other to see who could have the most ornate mansion alongside the newly created Central Park, they spent vast sums of money to hire architects inspired by European palaces to build structures the likes of which had never been seen in America. These men and women were as fascinating and complex as the homes they inhabited, and we'll hear stories of power, greed, love, and generosity from a time when America was quickly becoming one of the richest and most powerful countries in the world.
Ground Zero Tour
In remembrance of the events of September 11, 2001, take this guided tour of Ground Zero and the 9/11 Memorial. Walk through the space of the former World Trade Center in NYC, and get a deeper understanding of the events that took place on that day. Your ticket includes skip-the-line access to the 9/11 Museum and Memorial, as well as the One World Observatory for panoramic views of the city.
Merchant's House Museum
In 1835, Seabury Tredwell, his wife Eliza, and their six children moved to Manhattan’s aristocratic Bond Street neighborhood. The family resided there until 1933 when Gertrude Tredwell, the Tredwells’ youngest daughter, died in the house at the age of 93. In 1936, the house was opened to the public, serving as a near-perfect preservation of the styles and architecture of its time and offering an intimate glimpse of family life among the wealthy merchant class. The museum contains a large number of the family’s possessions, ranging from examples of 19th century decor and fashion to more personal, mundane items such as bedsheets, chamber pots, and sickbeds. The stunning family garden and recently restored servants’ quarters are also open to the public.
The history of the house isn’t the only fascinating thing about it. Accounts of unexplained phenomena, including temperature fluctuations, strange smells, disembodied voices and footsteps, sounds of parties and piano-playing heard from the street, and alleged ghost sightings have earned the house the title of Most Haunted House in Manhattan. The most frequent report is of a woman in a brown dress moving about inside the house; she has even been rumored to interact with museum visitors. They believe it is Gertrude, herself.
New York Public Library
John Jacob Astor placed a codicil in his will to bequeath $400,000 (equivalent of $13.5 million in 2023) for the creation of a free, public library. After Astor's death in 1848, the resulting board of trustees executed the will's conditions and constructed the Astor Library in 1854, in the East Village. In 1870, an act of the New York State Legislature incorporated the Lenox Library, which was built on Fifth Avenue in 1877. Bibliophile and philanthropist James Lenox donated a vast collection of his Americana, art works, manuscripts, and rare books, including the first Gutenberg Bible in the New World. At its inception, the library charged admission and did not permit physical access to any literary items. However, nine years later, Former Governor of New York and presidential candidate, Samuel J. Tilden, believed that a library with citywide reach was required, and upon his death, he bequeathed the bulk of his fortune—about $2.4 million (equivalent of $78 million in 2023)—to "establish and maintain a free library and reading room in the city of New York". This money would sit (untouched) in a trust for several years, until John Bigelow, a New York attorney, and Andrew Haswell Green, both trustees of the Tilden fortune, came up with an idea to merge two of the city's largest libraries. In 1895, the merger was complete and the New York Public Library was born.
New York Transit Museum
Founded in 1976, the New York Transit Museum is dedicated to telling and preserving the stories of mass transportation – extraordinary engineering feats, workers who labored in the tunnels over 100 years ago, communities that were drastically transformed, and the ever-evolving technology, design, and ridership of a system that runs 24 hours a day, every day of the year.
Housed underground in an authentic 1936 subway station in Downtown Brooklyn, the Transit Museum’s working platform level spans a full city block, and is home to a rotating selection of twenty vintage subway and elevated cars dating back to 1907.
Visitors can board the vintage cars, sit at the wheel of a city bus, step through a time tunnel of turnstiles, and explore changing exhibits that highlight the cultural, social and technological history – and future – of mass transit.
The first NYC subway was built and operated by the Interborough Rapid Transit Company (IRT) and opened on October 27, 1904. The City Hall station on the IRT local track was lavished with fine architectural details, including glass tiles and large chandeliers. However, the Guastavino vaulted ceilings and skylights were lost on busy commuters, and the stop was one of the least-used in the system. It was the only station that did not have turnstiles installed by 1923.
Because of the curved platform, cars with center doors could not be used at this station unless they had specially modified door controls, which allowed just the end doors to be opened. In 1945, the station was closed when platforms along the line were being lengthened to accommodate longer trains.
TIP: The New York City Transit Museum hosts periodic tours of the abandoned station; however, you must be a member of the museum to attend, which is $60.
Park Avenue Armory
What’s so special about an armory? Well, if you were fans of Boardwalk Empire you know that the internal shots of the Commodore’s mansion were filmed in the Officers and Veterans rooms of the building. You can tour these Gilded Age rooms by clicking here.
St. Patrick’s Cathedral
The Diocese of New York was founded by Pope Pius VII in 1808. St. Patrick's was founded shortly after to serve New York City's small, but growing, Catholic population, which could no longer fit in St. Peter's Church. A site was selected on Mulberry Street in what is now Lower Manhattan, and St. Patrick's Old Cathedral was dedicated in 1815. At the time, there were 15,000 Catholics in the diocese.
Statue of Liberty & Ellis Island
Pay a visit to Lady Liberty and learn the stories of those who passed through Ellis Island with this convenient and flexible tour that lets you choose how long you want to spend at each attraction.
TIP: One of the coolest things next to seeing Lady Liberty herself is the original torch she held!
The Wendel House
John G. Wendel refused to allow his sisters to marry, worried that any children they had would dilute the family fortune. He gave them few opportunities to socialize with others and lived like a recluse stuck in his ways. The house, built in 1856, was lit by gaslight up through the 1920s, eschewing modern amenities like electricity or telephone. Decades went by without any updates made to the musty furniture or decor, or the Wendels’ clothing—they wore outdated Victorian garb and traversed the city in an old carriage instead of a car on the rare occasion they went out.
The last of the Wendel siblings, Ella, passed away in 1931. She left the Wendel home to Drew University requesting it remain as a memorial to the family in its current state. The university maintains a memorial room on campus, but the prized site on 5th Avenue was razed in 1934 and gave way to commercial properties like the rest of the formerly residential avenue.
Today, there are a few reminders of the Wendel empire, outside a vault at Trinity Cemetery in lower Manhattan, and a bronze plaque the size of a door at the site of the former Wendel home on 5th Avenue.
The Arts & Sciences
Broadway
It would almost feel wrong to go to NYC without seeing a Broadway play. Click the link above to access the complete list of shows, currently on stage.
Carnegie Hall
Since it opened in 1891, Carnegie Hall has set the international standard for musical excellence as the aspirational destination for the world’s finest artists. From Tchaikovsky, Dvořák, Mahler, and Bartók to George Gershwin, Billie Holiday, Benny Goodman, Judy Garland, and The Beatles, an honor roll of music-making artists representing the finest of every genre has filled Carnegie Hall throughout the years.
Carnegie Hall Achives
In the early 1980s, Gino Francesconi was working as a backstage artist attendant at Carnegie Hall when he found something quite remarkable. For many years, porters dumped programs down air vents that were, at the time, located between every tenth seat. This heap of filthy programs became collection No. 1 of the archives. After discovering this, he and his team set about collecting photographs, autographed posters, musical manuscripts, and videos telling the history of the building and the events that made it famous.
According to Francesconi, the most valuable single item in the archive is a page from one of Beethoven’s sketch books, part of the score for the Wellington Symphony. It came to Carnegie Hall by a donation form doctor who had been treating a one-time executive director of the hall. Next to it is a meticulously neat excerpt of a score, part of “A New World A Comin’,” written out by Duke Ellington in his own hand.
Cinepolis Chelsea
The only reason I'm throwing this in the list of things to see/do is because of the popcorn. Other movie theaters try to emulate gourmet popcorn, but it doesn't cut it. Try their Zebra-striped gourmet popcorn. Never again will you want to buy candy and popcorn separately!
Guggenheim Museum
Solomon R. Guggenheim began collecting works of the old masters in the 1890s. In 1926, he met artist Hilla von Rebay who introduced him to European avant-garde art, in particular, abstract art that she felt had a spiritual and utopian aspect. Guggenheim completely changed his collecting strategy, turning to the work of Wassily Kandinsky, among others. He began to display his collection to the public at his apartment in the Plaza Hotel in New York City.. Guggenheim and Rebay initially considered building a museum at Rockefeller Center in Manhattan. In 1937, Guggenheim established the Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation to foster the appreciation of modern art. In 1939, the Museum of Non-Objective Painting was opened but by the early 1940s, the foundation had accumulated such a large collection of avant-garde paintings that the need for a permanent museum was apparent. In 1943, Rebay and Guggenheim wrote a letter to Frank Lloyd Wright asking him to design a structure to house and display the collection. It took him 15 years, more than 700 sketches, and six sets of working drawings to create and complete the museum.
MADAME TUSSAUD'S WAX MUSEUM
As some of you know, there are Madame Tussauds Wax Museums all over the world. As some of you also know, I happen to LOVE them. I have never really been able to explain what my personal obsession is, but it’s just fun! The one in New York happens to be one of my favorites, particularly because of the Ghost Busters section.
Metropolitan Museum of Art
The New York State Legislature granted the Metropolitan Museum of Art an Act of Incorporation on April 13, 1870, "for the purpose of establishing and maintaining in said City a Museum and Library of Art, of encouraging and developing the Study of the Fine Arts, and the application of Art to manufacture and natural life, of advancing the general knowledge of kindred subjects, and to that end of furnishing popular instruction and recreations". This legislation was supplemented later by the 1893 Act, Chapter 476, which required that its collections "shall be kept open and accessible to the public free of all charge throughout the year". The founders included businessmen and financiers, Theodore Roosevelt Sr. (the father of President Theodore Roosevelt), Henry Gurdon Marquand, as well as artists and thinkers. The museum first opened on February 20, 1872. It currently hold 1.5 million objects.
Radio City Music Hall
Radio City Music Hall was built on a plot of land that was originally intended for a Metropolitan Opera House, although plans for the opera house were canceled in 1929. It opened on December 27, 1932, as part of the construction of Rockefeller Center. The 5,960-seat Music Hall was the larger of two venues built for Rockefeller Center's "Radio City" section, the other being Center Theatre. It was largely successful until the 1970s, when declining patronage nearly drove the theater to bankruptcy. Radio City was designated a New York City Landmark in May 1978, and it was restored and allowed to remain open. The theater was extensively renovated in 1999.
Radio City Music Hall's Secret Apartment
Samuel “Roxy” Rothafel was known for opulence, glamour, and entertainment. His eponymous Roxy film theatre in Times Square, sadly demolished in 1960, was known as the “cathedral of motion pictures.” Roxy gave Radio City his magic touch, producing thrilling and ground breaking shows. He introduced synchronized orchestral scores to silent films, and audiences flocked to what was, at the time, the world’s largest indoor theatre to see the latest film releases, paired with his glittering troupe of dancing Rockettes.
According to legend and to show their appreciation for his talents, Edward Stone and Donald Deskey decided to give Roxy a present. High up inside Radio City, they built him an apartment. As lavishly detailed in the art deco style as the theatre downstairs, Roxy wined and dined such leading lights as Olivia de Havilland, Samuel Goldwyn, and Alfred Hitchcock there. With 2- foot high ceilings, covered in gold leaf, and walls decorated floor to ceiling with plush drapes, Roxy’s apartment was as mesmerizing as his opulent stages shows below.
After Roxy died in 1936, the apartment lay unused and forgotten, hidden away far above the audiences he used to entertain. No one lives there now, but it remains in pristine condition. Today Roxy’s apartment (now known as the Roxy Suite) is available for hire for luxury events.
TIP: This is included in the Radio City Music Hall tour.
Unique Experiences
C. O. Bigelow Apothecary
C. O. Bigelow Apothecary is America’s oldest operating apothecary. Providing New Yorkers with a wide range of medicines, salves, balms, perfumes, and elixirs for nearly 200 years. Initially founded by Dr. Galen Hunter, ownership was sold to co-worker, Clarence Otis Bigelow, in 1880, starting a tradition where the store was passed on from employer to employee. Since 1939, three generations of Ginsberg’s have run this shop and it still fairly much looks and operates the same (Dr. Hunter’s first creation, the skin-replenishing “Rose Wonder Cold Cream” is for sale just as it was in 1838).
Bigelow’s is such an institution of Greenwich Village life that when its resident cat, Mr. Bigelow, was put to sleep in 1995, he was given his own obituary in the New York Times.
FUN FACT: Thomas Edison soothed his burnt fingers with a Bigelow’s balm while testing an early prototype of his light bulb. Mark Twain was also noted as buying something from the apothecary, but it’s not recorded as to what it was. Eleanor Roosevelt was also a regular customer when she lived on East 11th Street, between 1933 and 1942.
Coney Island
The origin of Coney Island's name is disputed, but the area was originally part of the colonial town of Gravesend. By the mid-19th century it had become a seaside resort and by the late 19th century, amusement parks had also been built at the location. The attractions reached a historical peak during the first half of the 20th century. However, they declined in popularity after World War II and, following years of neglect, several structures were torn down. Various redevelopment projects were proposed for Coney Island in the 1970s through the 2000s, though most of these were not carried out. The area was revitalized with the opening of the venue now known as “Maimonides Park” in 2001 and several amusement rides starting in the 2010s.
TIP: Make sure to head to the Coney Island Museum. Housed on the second floor of a century-old landmarked headquarters on Surf Avenue, it is dedicated to interpreting and preserving the history of the beachfront park that’s been a New York favorite for more than a century. Check out the crazy funhouse mirrors, rare “hold-to-light” postcards, vintage bumper cars, and a collection of objects and ephemera from Coney Island’s past, not to mention what is probably the largest assemblage of old-fashioned thermoses and coolers ever scrounged from the world-famous beach.
Dylan's Candy Bar
Daughter of American fashion designer Ralph Lauren, Dylan Lauren has made a name in her own right by opening the popular retail/e-tail shops called, “Dylan’s Candy Bar”. If you have ever stepped foot in one of her stores, you know it has an almost Willy Wonka-esque feel to them with anywhere from one-to-three levels of amazing confectionaries and other goods.
NOTE: If you have Celiac, none of her chocolate bars are genuinely gluten-free, as their labels clearly state, “MAY CONTAIN: WHEAT”. In fact, many of her candies are not as well, so make sure to read the labels carefully!
Horse and Carriage Ride Around Central Park
Since 1979, this company has been showing tourists (and locaks) Wollman Rink, the Central Park Carousel, and the Pond. They even pause for photos at Cherry Hill and Strawberry Fields, and you get to feed the horse a treat!
NOTE: They provide blankets in the winter.
IFC Center Peephole
Formerly known as The Waverly, the theater features independent and foreign films. But if you don’t feel like buying a ticket, there is a secret way to get a peek inside and even watch a film, right from the sidewalk.
When facing the entrance, look for a small metal circle about five feet from the ground. On the circle, you will notice two more, eye-width apart. No other signage exists. Get close, slide over the eye covers and you will have a direct view into one of the theaters. If a film is currently playing on screen, you’ll be able to watch from the sidewalk (while looking a bit like a crazy person with their face smushed up against the wall).
TIP: If there’s a line, be considerate - take a peek and a pic, and keep on moving!
New York Federal Gold Vault
The Federal Reserve Building has 14 above-ground stories and five basement levels. Its façade is separated horizontally into three sections: a base, midsection, and top section. The stone exterior is reminiscent of early Italian Renaissance palaces such as Florence's Palazzo Strozzi and Palazzo Vecchio. The Federal Reserve Building's gold vault rests on Manhattan's bedrock, 80 feet below street level and 50 feet below sea level. The vault contains the largest known monetary-gold reserve in the world, with about 5,620 metric tons in storage as of 2019.
The building was erected from 1919 to 1924, with an eastward extension built in 1935. The building was designated a city landmark by the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission in 1966 and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1980.
TIP: Tours of this vault are free.
Summit One Vanderbilt
Located on the top three floors of one of the tallest skyscrapers in Manhattan, is an immersive, multi-sensory experience with art installations, floor to ceiling mirrors, and of course, amazing views of the city skyline.
The Edge
Edge is the highest outdoor sky deck in the Western Hemisphere, located at 30 Hudson Yards, with a one-of-a-kind design. It’s suspended in mid-air, giving you the feeling of floating in the sky with 360-degree views you can’t get anywhere else. Look 100 stories down from the thrilling glass floor, lean out over the city on angled glass walls, and sip champagne in the sky.
The Ghostbusters Firehouse
The 1903 Beaux-Arts building, home to the real-life Hook & Ladder Company 8, was used for the exterior scenes of the fictional firehouse where Peter, Ray, Egon, and Winston set up their ghost busting operations. Although the Ghostbusters logo sign might not hang from the front of the building like in the movie, it’s still plainly recognizable today as the Ghostbusters firehouse.
The building was gutted and underwent a major renovation from 2016-2018.
NOTE: It’s a working fire station so be respectful while taking pictures!
The Secret Entrance to the Knickerbocker Hotel
Tucked away on the end of the platform of Track 1 on the S shuttle, between Grand Central and Times Square-42nd Street, closest to the 42nd Street exit is a secret door. At first glance, it’s similar to the many doors that can be found in many MTA stations, storing supplies or equipment. But where those lead into utility rooms, offices, and generators, this white door was once a portal into a glamorous world.
Atop the door is a faded metal sign which simply says “KNICKERBOCKER,” and behind it lay a secret entrance to the bar of what was once one of New York’s most luxurious hotels: John Jacob Astor’s Knickerbocker - a 500-room hotel with space for 2,000 people in its restaurants and bars.
Throughout the Gilded Age, the hotel was a centerpiece of Times Square and was commonly known as “42nd Street Country Club.” A 30-foot mural of Old King Cole and his Fiddler’s Three, painted by Maxfield Parrish, hung over the bar, where the bartender, Martini di Arma di Taggia, is rumored to have invented his famous namesake cocktail in 1912.
When Astor died on the Titanic, his son took over. The hotel soon fell out of favor in the Prohibition era. Parrish’s mural was moved to the St. Regis Hotel, and the old building was converted into offices for Newsweek magazine.
The hotel reopened in 2015 but so far, the door remains locked, though it can still be seen from the subway platform.
The Vessel
Built to plans by the British designer, Thomas Heatherwick, the elaborate honeycomb-like structure rises 16 stories and consists of 154 flights of stairs, 2,500 steps, and 80 landings for visitors to climb. It was opened in 2019.
In January 2021, following three suicides at the Vessel, it was closed to the public indefinitely. It reopened in May 2021, then indefinitely closed again after another suicide two months later. It has not been publicly accessible since, but you can see it from the street.
Walking Tours
Brooklyn Bridge
Proposals for a bridge between the then-separate cities of Brooklyn and New York had been suggested as early as 1800. At the time, the only travel between the two cities was by a number of ferry lines. In February 1867, the New York State Senate passed a bill that allowed the construction of a suspension bridge from Brooklyn to Manhattan.Two months later, the New York and Brooklyn Bridge Company was incorporated with a board of directors (later converted to a board of trustees). By September 1867, a master plan had been submitted. After several surveys and a design change, construction of the Brooklyn Bridge began on January 2, 1870. Thirteen years later, it opened on May 24, 1883.
With that knowledge in mind, take a walk across it and take in the views!
New York Botanical Garden
The New York Botanical Garden is a botanical garden at Bronx Park. Established in 1891, it is located on a 250-acre site that contains a landscape with over one million living plants; the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory, a greenhouse containing several habitats; and the LuEsther T. Mertz Library, which contains one of the world's largest collections of botany-related texts. Since 1967, the garden has been listed as a National Historic Landmark, and several buildings have been designated as official New York City landmarks.
Rockefeller Center & Top of the Rock
Rockefeller Center is a complex of 19 commercial buildings covering 22 acres in the Midtown Manhattan neighborhood of New York City. The 14 original Art Deco buildings, commissioned by the Rockefeller family, span the area between Fifth Avenue and Sixth Avenue, split by a large sunken square and a private street called “Rockefeller Plaza”. Later additions include 75 Rockefeller Plaza and four International Style buildings.
In 1928, Columbia University, the owner of the site, leased the land to John D. Rockefeller Jr., who was the main person behind the complex's construction. Originally envisioned as the site for a new Metropolitan Opera building, the current Rockefeller Center came about after the Met could not afford to move to the proposed new building. Various plans were discussed before the current one was approved in 1932. Construction of Rockefeller Center started in 1931 and the first buildings opened in 1933. The core of the complex was completed by 1939. Described as one of the greatest projects of the Great Depression era, Rockefeller Center became a New York City-designated landmark in 1985 and a National Historic Landmark in 1987.
The complex is noted for the large quantities of art present in almost all of its buildings, its expansive underground concourse, its ice-skating rink, and its annual lighting of the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree.
At 45-feet tall, the “Seated Ballerina” is Jeff Koons’ 3rd installation at Rockefeller. Prior to her installation in 2017, he had installed “Puppy” in 2000 and “Split-Rocker” in 2014. From sources, this ballerina departs from the topiary-influenced medium of the previous two, being made of inflatable, reflective nylon. The figure, a blond dancer in a light blue tutu, who is adjusting one of her ballet shoes, is based on a stainless-steel sculpture that Koons designed as part of his "Antiquity" series, which in turn, was modeled after a porcelain figurine.
Visit where some of today's most popular television shows are made, like Saturday Night Live, The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, Late Night with Seth Meyers, and The Kelly Clarkson Show. Also, get to see the headquarters for some of America's favorite news programming including TODAY, Nightly News with Lester Holt, MSNBC, and NBC News Now.
TIP: I’ve taken this tour and it’s great - especially when you can tour the SNL studio! However, it’s best to call or go to the ticket office to ask if that will be part of the tour. Depending on the day/time of year, they may be in rehearsals, which means it won’t be open to tours.
Top of the Rock’s three levels of indoor and outdoor observation decks deliver spectacular, unobstructed views of the city skyline in every direction. Want a little more adventure when taking in the skyline? Check out The Beam.
Did you know there is a hallway covered in gold inside Rockefeller Center? Or that you can rent one of its secret rooftop gardens where Spiderman was filmed? Millions of tourists and New Yorkers alike visit Rockefeller Center every year, but very few will see and experience what you will discover on this unique tour.
Join this small-group walking tour and discover the many secrets of this iconic NYC building! Walk through a lobby covered in gold, see a literal hidden gem of the complex: A sterling silver model airplane made by the Cartier company; uncover a secret portal that ceremoniously marks the completion of Rockefeller Center’s construction (and is signed by John D. Rockefeller himself); decode the meaning behind the world famous art that covers the complex; and discover the surprising story behind the World famous Rockefeller Christmas Tree.
Times Square
Originally known as “Long Acre Square” after London’s carriage district, Times Square served as the early site for William H. Vanderbilt’s American Horse Exchange. In the late 1880s, it consisted of a large open space, surrounded by drab apartments. Soon, however, the neighborhood began to change. Electricity, in the form of theater advertisements and street lights, transformed the public space into a safer, more inviting environment. Likewise, the construction of New York’s first rapid transit system spurred real estate speculation by shrewd businessmen who believed that increased foot traffic in the area would generate profits. Adolph S. Ochs, owner and publisher of The New York Times, from 1896 to 1935, saw an opportunity and selected a highly visible location to build the Times Tower, which was the second tallest building in the city at the time. In January 1905, the Times finally moved into their new headquarters. The previous spring, Mayor George B. McClellan signed a resolution that renamed the intersection of Broadway and Seventh Avenue from Long Acre Square to Times Square.
By WWI, most legitimate theaters had moved to Times Square from former entertainment districts further downtown. Respected restaurants and high-end hotels, like the Astor and the Knickerbocker, established themselves in the neighborhood, thus contributing to a thriving environment. While popular bars, restaurants, and theaters attracted people to the area, it was the development of public transportation that facilitated Times Square’s dramatic growth. By the late 1920s, subway lines, elevated lines, and bus routes all stopped at West 42nd Street.
Unfortunately, the Great Depression hampered this growth. Theaters struggled to survive and became cheap ‘grinder’ houses that showed sexually explicit films. Soon, other lower forms of entertainment arrived in the area: burlesque shows, cheap restaurants, peep shows, dance halls, and penny arcades. Then, commercialized sex proliferated throughout the neighborhood as both male and female prostitutes began lingering along 42nd Street. During WWII, soldiers on leave, in search of erotic entertainment, further catalyzed the neighborhood into a zone for vice. Likewise, construction restrictions during the war worsened conditions by halting the city’s building boom of the 1920s. Times Square had begun a descent into disrepair and depravity.
To make it worse, in May of 1942, Mayor La Guardia announced a dimout. Interior and exterior lighting, in addition to illuminated advertising and building lights, were required to be turned off or directed downward. The order sought to protect pedestrians silhouetted against the horizon from enemy submarines in coastal waters. The dimout was so extensive that the WPA announced that they would place blackout masks on 90,900 traffic lights throughout the city. Likewise, the electric news sign belting the Times Tower went dark for the first time since its debut in 1928.
By the 1960s, the word “obscene” took on a whole new meaning. Peep shows, adult films, and erotic stores became the norm, as did the violent mob scene. The 1970s and 1980s were no better as it brought on “male hustlers” (human traffickers) in exchange for money and drugs.
It wasn’t until the 2000s that huge efforts were made to turn this square into a safer place to be.
Wander Around the Streets
How to Get Around
Pedicabs
I never thought I’d take one of these in New York, but when there was a high chance my family and I were going to be late to dinner, we hopped in one. It turns out, it’s one of the fastest modes of transportation. Just make sure you have enough cash for the ride + tip.
Rideshares
Rideshares are aplenty but with traffic in the city a constant, make sure you plan for a 10-20 minute pickup time, and an additional 30-45 minutes in traffic (pending on where you are going).
Subway
The best (and most cost-effective) way to get around is the subway system.
Taxis
Taxis are aplenty in New York and once you get the hang of hailing one, it’s fairly easy. The NYC-approved taxis have credit card machines you swipe from the backseat. Tip: If you choose this method, factor in time to hail one and for traffic.
To/from the airport
I have found that the taxis' flat fee to the airport (JFK and La Guardia) is the best choice, as ride shares can fluctuate depending on the time of day. Both options are still expensive, but are the best options.
flying in and out of jfk? consider a night at the TWA hotel
A History Summary
1524 - The first documented European visit into New York Harbor was in 1524 by Giovanni da Verrazzano - an explorer from Florence in the service of the French crown. He claimed the area for France and named it Nouvelle Angoulême (New Angoulême).
1525 - A Spanish expedition, led by the Portuguese captain, Estêvão Gomes, sailing for Emperor Charles V,, arrived in New York Harbor and charted the mouth of the Hudson River, which he named Río de San Antonio ('Saint Anthony's River').
1609 - The English explorer, Henry Hudson, rediscovered New York Harbor while searching for the Northwest Passage to the Orient for the Dutch East India Company.
1614 - The area between Cape Cod and Delaware Bay was claimed by the Netherlands and called Nieuw-Nederland ('New Netherland'). The first non–Native American inhabitant of what became New York City was Juan Rodriguez, a merchant from Santo Domingo who arrived in Manhattan during the winter of 1613–14, trapping for pelts and trading with the local population as a representative of the Dutch colonists.
1624 - A permanent European presence near New York Harbor was established making New York the 12th-oldest continuously occupied European-established settlement in the continental United States, with the founding of a Dutch fur trading settlement on Governors Island.
1625 - Construction was started on a citadel and Fort Amsterdam on present-day Manhattan Island.
1626 - The Dutch colonial Director-General, Peter Minuit, acting as charged by the Dutch West India Company, purchased the island of Manhattan from the Canarsie, a small Lenape band, for "the value of 60 guilders" (about $1000 today).
1647-1664 - Peter Stuyvesant was the last Director-General of New Netherland. He surrendered New Amsterdam to English troops in 1664. The terms of the surrender permitted Dutch residents to remain in the colony and allowed for religious freedom
1673 - 1674 - During the Third Anglo-Dutch War, Anthony Colve of the Dutch navy seized New York from the English at the behest of Cornelis Evertsen the Youngest and rechristened it "New Orange" after William III, the Prince of Orange… but gave it back after the Treaty of Westminster of November 1674.
1700 - 1702 - New York experienced several yellow fever epidemics in the 18th century, losing 10% of its population in 1702 alone.
1730 - It became a slavery epicenter with 43% of homes having slaves.
1754 - Columbia University was founded under charter by King George II as King's College in Lower Manhattan.
1776 - The Battle of Long Island, the largest battle of the American Revolutionary War, was fought in August 1776 within the modern-day borough of Brooklyn. The Americans lost to the Brits, who made the city its military command center. It wasn’t long after that The Great Fire of New York ravaged the city.
1783 - British forces evacuated New York.
1785 - In January, the assembly of the Congress of the Confederation made New York City the national capital. George Washington was inaugurated there, the first United States Congress and the Supreme Court of the United States each assembled for the first time there; and the United States Bill of Rights was drafted there - all at Federal Hall on present-day Wall Street.
1790 - The capital was moved to Philadelphia.
1825 - Completion of the Erie Canal, through central New York, connected the Atlantic port to the agricultural markets and commodities of the North American interior, via the Hudson River and the Great Lakes.
1827 - Slavery was completely abolished.
1857 - Central Park became the first landscaped public park.
1860 - The Great Irish Famine brought a large influx of Irish immigrants, which now. made up 25% of the city's population. The Germans comprised another 25%.
1863 - Draft riots erupted, mainly by the Irish working class. This then morphed into attacks on New York’s elite, then blacks. The latter got so bad that 120 people were killed and more than 10,000 blacks fled the city.
1886 - The Statue of Liberty was dedicated at the New York Harbor.
1888 - Known as the “Great White Hurricane”, the Great Blizzard paralyzed the east coast. In NYC, neither rail nor road transport was possible anywhere for days and drifts across the New York–New Haven rail line at Westport, Connecticut, took eight days to clear. The New York Stock Exchange was closed for two days
1898 - The city of New York was formed.
1904 - The New York City Subway opened. Also, the steamship, General Slocum, caught fire in the East River, killing 1,021 people on board.
1911 - The Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire killed 146 garment workers and spurred the growth of the International Ladies' Garment Workers' Union and major improvements in factory safety standards.
1930s - The population soared past 10 million people.
1952 - The UN headquarters were built.
1960s - 1990s - New York City experienced an extremely high crime rate.
2001 - September 11th attacks on the Twin Towers resulted in 2,753 deaths, including 343 first responders from the New York City Fire Department, and 71 law enforcement officers.
2011 - The Occupy Wall Street protests in Zuccotti Park, in the Financial District of Lower Manhattan, began on September 17, 2011, receiving global attention and popularizing the Occupy movement against social and economic inequality, worldwide.
2012 - Hurricane Sandy hit NYC, which flooded the subway system, including all East River subway tunnels and of all road tunnels entering Manhattan, except the Lincoln Tunnel. The New York Stock Exchange closed for two consecutive days, due to weather, for the first time since the Great Blizzard of 1888.
2014 - The new One World Trade Center is the tallest skyscraper in the Western Hemisphere and the seventh-tallest building in the world by pinnacle height, with its spire reaching a symbolic 1,776 feet - a reference to the year of U.S. independence.