Guidebook for New York

Kristal
Guidebook for New York

Arts & Culture

Dinosaurs! Beautiful museum; good for kids and adults alike (and by donation!)
1623 locals recommend
American Museum of Natural History
200 Central Park West
1623 locals recommend
Dinosaurs! Beautiful museum; good for kids and adults alike (and by donation!)
Just across the park, best museum in NY if you have to choose (in my opinion). There is always an interesting exhibition and the permanent collection is outstanding. Something for everyone!
2653 locals recommend
The Metropolitan Museum of Art
1000 5th Ave
2653 locals recommend
Just across the park, best museum in NY if you have to choose (in my opinion). There is always an interesting exhibition and the permanent collection is outstanding. Something for everyone!
This movie theatre has reclining barcaloungers and assigned seating. You're welcome.
138 locals recommend
AMC 84th Street 6
2310 Broadway
138 locals recommend
This movie theatre has reclining barcaloungers and assigned seating. You're welcome.
Always some amazing performer doing a show here. Try and catch one while you're here!
95 locals recommend
Beacon Theatre
2124 Broadway
95 locals recommend
Always some amazing performer doing a show here. Try and catch one while you're here!
Ballet or Opera? Or sit and have a coffee by the fountain while the students from Julliard shuttle past? Great people watching spot if the performing arts aren't your bag.
621 locals recommend
Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts
Lincoln Center Plaza
621 locals recommend
Ballet or Opera? Or sit and have a coffee by the fountain while the students from Julliard shuttle past? Great people watching spot if the performing arts aren't your bag.
For the Modern Art-lover.
2114 locals recommend
The Museum of Modern Art
11 West 53rd Street
2114 locals recommend
For the Modern Art-lover.

Sightseeing

John Lennon Memorial with the "Imagine" mosaic. Also the Dakota apartment where John Lennon was shot and Yoko Ono still resides is visible from the memorial.
121 locals recommend
Strawberry Fields
West 72nd Street
121 locals recommend
John Lennon Memorial with the "Imagine" mosaic. Also the Dakota apartment where John Lennon was shot and Yoko Ono still resides is visible from the memorial.
It's in every single movie about NY so you would be remiss to pass it by. Also offers lovely views of people in their rowboats in the summer.
51 locals recommend
Bethesda Terrace
72 Terrace Dr
51 locals recommend
It's in every single movie about NY so you would be remiss to pass it by. Also offers lovely views of people in their rowboats in the summer.
Also a very iconic part of Central Park. Beautiful tree lined strip with vendors and musicians.
9 locals recommend
The Mall
The Mall
9 locals recommend
Also a very iconic part of Central Park. Beautiful tree lined strip with vendors and musicians.
Great for a quick 5K stroll or run. Beautiful views!
142 locals recommend
Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Reservoir
142 locals recommend
Great for a quick 5K stroll or run. Beautiful views!
That skinny building you always see in posters of NY
304 locals recommend
Flatiron Building
175 5th Ave
304 locals recommend
That skinny building you always see in posters of NY
New York's above-ground (in an overpass) park. Great to grab a coffee and stroll with the view of the city and the river on either side of you.
2323 locals recommend
The High Line Park
2323 locals recommend
New York's above-ground (in an overpass) park. Great to grab a coffee and stroll with the view of the city and the river on either side of you.
Amazing zoo you would never guess you were in NY (if you are into zoos at all this one is larger than most)
572 locals recommend
Bronx Zoo
2300 Southern Blvd
572 locals recommend
Amazing zoo you would never guess you were in NY (if you are into zoos at all this one is larger than most)
Because you have to do it even though it is the most obnoxious place on earth. At least go see a show and make the ordeal of walking through there worthwhile
829 locals recommend
Theater District
829 locals recommend
Because you have to do it even though it is the most obnoxious place on earth. At least go see a show and make the ordeal of walking through there worthwhile
I always recommend doing this one for daytime views (over the Empire State Building).
423 locals recommend
Top of the Rock
30 Rockefeller Plaza
423 locals recommend
I always recommend doing this one for daytime views (over the Empire State Building).
Not my favorite (I prefer Top of the Rock), but if you're going to go I suggest going at night.
1787 locals recommend
Empire State Building
20 W 34th St
1787 locals recommend
Not my favorite (I prefer Top of the Rock), but if you're going to go I suggest going at night.
Big church.
253 locals recommend
St. Patrick's Cathedral
253 locals recommend
Big church.
Just walk over it. You won't regret it, and you can treat yourself to ice cream when you get to the other side.
1505 locals recommend
Brooklyn Bridge
Brooklyn Bridge Promenade
1505 locals recommend
Just walk over it. You won't regret it, and you can treat yourself to ice cream when you get to the other side.
Just do it. (Or ride the SI ferry roundtrip for free--it gets pretty close)
1303 locals recommend
Statue of Liberty Museum Shop
1 Liberty Island - Ellis Island
1303 locals recommend
Just do it. (Or ride the SI ferry roundtrip for free--it gets pretty close)
Interesting museum
178 locals recommend
Ellis Island
178 locals recommend
Interesting museum
I don't know why but people always want to see the outside of this building. It's not like you get to walk around pretending to be a trader, this isn't an 80s movie.
190 locals recommend
Wall Street
Wall Street
190 locals recommend
I don't know why but people always want to see the outside of this building. It's not like you get to walk around pretending to be a trader, this isn't an 80s movie.
People always ask where it is.
186 locals recommend
Charging Bull
Bowling Green
186 locals recommend
People always ask where it is.
Get some dumplings.
497 locals recommend
Chinatown
497 locals recommend
Get some dumplings.

Food Scene

My favorite burgers in NYC. Started downtown, this is the UWS location--it has spread to have locations in the US and in the UK. YUM.
993 locals recommend
Shake Shack
Madison Avenue
993 locals recommend
My favorite burgers in NYC. Started downtown, this is the UWS location--it has spread to have locations in the US and in the UK. YUM.
Great for casual but slightly upscale brunch. One free boozy drink with Sunday brunch too!
37 locals recommend
Isabella's
359 Columbus Ave
37 locals recommend
Great for casual but slightly upscale brunch. One free boozy drink with Sunday brunch too!
All-you-can-drink sangria is included with brunch. Nuff said.
42 locals recommend
Calle Ocho
2756 Broadway
42 locals recommend
All-you-can-drink sangria is included with brunch. Nuff said.
Good simple brunch. Line is always super long (food is good but perhaps not worth the wait if it's crazy busy).
80 locals recommend
Good Enough To Eat
520 Columbus Avenue
80 locals recommend
Good simple brunch. Line is always super long (food is good but perhaps not worth the wait if it's crazy busy).
Decent Italian food, affordable. Nice patio.
45 locals recommend
Osteria Cotta
513 Columbus Ave
45 locals recommend
Decent Italian food, affordable. Nice patio.
My favorite coffee shop!
214 locals recommend
Joe Coffee Company
514 Columbus Ave
214 locals recommend
My favorite coffee shop!
Decent Mexican (not by TexMex or California standards by any means, but good in a fix). Decent margaritas and usually lively.
22 locals recommend
Cilantro
485 Columbus Ave
22 locals recommend
Decent Mexican (not by TexMex or California standards by any means, but good in a fix). Decent margaritas and usually lively.
New York classic! Must go. My favorite hotdog in the city
52 locals recommend
Gray's Papaya
2090 Broadway
52 locals recommend
New York classic! Must go. My favorite hotdog in the city
Hands down the best cookie in the city. They're the size of softballs though, so don't eat anything before (chocolate chip walnut all the way!)
215 locals recommend
Levain Bakery - 74th Street
167 W 74th St
215 locals recommend
Hands down the best cookie in the city. They're the size of softballs though, so don't eat anything before (chocolate chip walnut all the way!)
Cupcakes are overrated. Get the banana pudding (I don't even like bananas and that stuff is amazing).
401 locals recommend
Magnolia Bakery
401 Bleecker St
401 locals recommend
Cupcakes are overrated. Get the banana pudding (I don't even like bananas and that stuff is amazing).
Simple bakery and coffee (LOVE the pumpkin sandwich in the fall and pretzel croissants).
16 locals recommend
Birdbath Bakery
518 Columbus Avenue
16 locals recommend
Simple bakery and coffee (LOVE the pumpkin sandwich in the fall and pretzel croissants).
If Starbucks is your thing.
754 locals recommend
Starbucks
301 W 145th St
754 locals recommend
If Starbucks is your thing.
My favorite restaurant in the hood. Southern food, good drinks, great food. Lively and open late.
239 locals recommend
Jacob's Pickles
509 Amsterdam Ave
239 locals recommend
My favorite restaurant in the hood. Southern food, good drinks, great food. Lively and open late.
Chain coffee but better than Starbucks. Wifi.
6 locals recommend
The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf
532 Amsterdam Avenue
6 locals recommend
Chain coffee but better than Starbucks. Wifi.
Chain quick bites place, simple gourmet-ish fare.
247 locals recommend
Le Pain Quotidien
861 Lexington Ave
247 locals recommend
Chain quick bites place, simple gourmet-ish fare.
Great little French spot. Solid food, reasonable price, fantastic wine list.
20 locals recommend
Nice Matin
201 W 79th St
20 locals recommend
Great little French spot. Solid food, reasonable price, fantastic wine list.
Favorite sushi spot--a bit pricier but quality is high!
42 locals recommend
Haru Sushi
433 Amsterdam Ave
42 locals recommend
Favorite sushi spot--a bit pricier but quality is high!
Love this Thai spot!
48 locals recommend
Land Thai Kitchen
450 Amsterdam Ave
48 locals recommend
Love this Thai spot!
Because cupcakes are an American thing and these ones are bite-sized.
26 locals recommend
Baked by Melissa
784 Lexington Ave
26 locals recommend
Because cupcakes are an American thing and these ones are bite-sized.
When you don't want to go all the way downtown for a Lobster roll (and you're broke).
22 locals recommend
Luke's Lobster Upper West Side
426 Amsterdam Avenue
22 locals recommend
When you don't want to go all the way downtown for a Lobster roll (and you're broke).
$1 oysters before 7 pm and a decent lobster roll.
175 locals recommend
The Mermaid Inn
570 Amsterdam Ave
175 locals recommend
$1 oysters before 7 pm and a decent lobster roll.
Mario Batali's complex of imported foods also includes half a dozen restaurants (wine & cheese, pasta, meats, and a rooftop beer garden). Yum.
592 locals recommend
Eataly NYC Flatiron
200 5th Ave
592 locals recommend
Mario Batali's complex of imported foods also includes half a dozen restaurants (wine & cheese, pasta, meats, and a rooftop beer garden). Yum.
Solid Asian noodles of various types. Great when the wind is freezing your face.
24 locals recommend
Republic
37 Union Square W
24 locals recommend
Solid Asian noodles of various types. Great when the wind is freezing your face.
Really good Persian food. A little pricey but you that's because we always over-order :)
13 locals recommend
Persepolis
1407 2nd Ave
13 locals recommend
Really good Persian food. A little pricey but you that's because we always over-order :)
Solid Ethiopian place.
17 locals recommend
Massawa
1239 Amsterdam Ave
17 locals recommend
Solid Ethiopian place.
Hyped soul food restaurant of Marcus Samuelsson, the food is good upstairs, and the Gospel Brunch on Sunday is worth it for the singing alone (go early, the buffet clears out pretty quickly).
1044 locals recommend
Red Rooster
310 Lenox Ave
1044 locals recommend
Hyped soul food restaurant of Marcus Samuelsson, the food is good upstairs, and the Gospel Brunch on Sunday is worth it for the singing alone (go early, the buffet clears out pretty quickly).
Best slice in the city. Seriously.
337 locals recommend
Joe's Pizza
7 Carmine St
337 locals recommend
Best slice in the city. Seriously.
Get some cannoli and a lobster tail and thank me later.
27 locals recommend
Pasticceria Rocco
243 Bleecker St
27 locals recommend
Get some cannoli and a lobster tail and thank me later.
A restaurant for risotto. Comfort food overload.
8 locals recommend
Risotteria bleecker street
270 Bleecker St
8 locals recommend
A restaurant for risotto. Comfort food overload.
One of my favorites. Get the duck meatballs. You won't regret it.
8 locals recommend
Perilla
8 locals recommend
One of my favorites. Get the duck meatballs. You won't regret it.
Simple inexpensive REALLY YUMMY Italian food. Everything is made fresh and local (including the meats which come from their place in Brooklyn)
21 locals recommend
Frankies 570 Spuntino
570 Hudson St
21 locals recommend
Simple inexpensive REALLY YUMMY Italian food. Everything is made fresh and local (including the meats which come from their place in Brooklyn)
REAL Chinese food but pricey!
124 locals recommend
RedFarm
529 Hudson St
124 locals recommend
REAL Chinese food but pricey!
Get the crab and a drink with coconut in it.
12 locals recommend
Fatty Crab
643 Hudson St
12 locals recommend
Get the crab and a drink with coconut in it.
Get a cheesecake. The real one in Brooklyn is too far from here.
33 locals recommend
Junior's Restaurant & Bakery
1515 Broadway
33 locals recommend
Get a cheesecake. The real one in Brooklyn is too far from here.
Restaurant/bar at the back of a pawn shop. People from out of town tend to love it (crowd is hit or miss).
235 locals recommend
Beauty & Essex
146 Essex St
235 locals recommend
Restaurant/bar at the back of a pawn shop. People from out of town tend to love it (crowd is hit or miss).
Filipino Thai fusion in a tiny space. BYOB and it feels like you're at someone's apartment
26 locals recommend
Kuma Inn
113 Ludlow St
26 locals recommend
Filipino Thai fusion in a tiny space. BYOB and it feels like you're at someone's apartment
Pancakes. Fluffy fluffy pancakes.
365 locals recommend
Clinton St. Baking Company
4 Clinton St
365 locals recommend
Pancakes. Fluffy fluffy pancakes.
All you can drink brunch.
18 locals recommend
Essex
124 Rivington St
18 locals recommend
All you can drink brunch.
MMM brunch with stroller parking.
106 locals recommend
Bubby's
120 Hudson St
106 locals recommend
MMM brunch with stroller parking.
24 hour joint. Fun after 2 a.m., sass your way into a table if you can.
111 locals recommend
Cafeteria
119 7th Ave
111 locals recommend
24 hour joint. Fun after 2 a.m., sass your way into a table if you can.

Essentials

Over-priced grocery store but good in a pinch and better prices than the local bodega of course.
66 locals recommend
Gristedes Foods
66 locals recommend
Over-priced grocery store but good in a pinch and better prices than the local bodega of course.
Gourmet food store (good coffee and fresh pastries every morning).
12 locals recommend
Gastronomie 491
12 locals recommend
Gourmet food store (good coffee and fresh pastries every morning).
My favorite grocery store. Inexpensive (super cheap by NY standards). Always insanely busy but line moves quick!
420 locals recommend
Trader Joe's
715 River Rd
420 locals recommend
My favorite grocery store. Inexpensive (super cheap by NY standards). Always insanely busy but line moves quick!
Good super market (they have everything). Some stuff over-priced but pretty good. All the veggies Trader Joe's doesn't have (and all the name brands too).
185 locals recommend
Fairway Market 74th Street
2131 Broadway
185 locals recommend
Good super market (they have everything). Some stuff over-priced but pretty good. All the veggies Trader Joe's doesn't have (and all the name brands too).
Go for their deli and cheese selection alone.
205 locals recommend
Zabar's
2245 Broadway
205 locals recommend
Go for their deli and cheese selection alone.
Forget Adkins and indulge
191 locals recommend
Amy's Bread
672 9th Ave
191 locals recommend
Forget Adkins and indulge
I could live in this place.
179 locals recommend
Murray's Cheese Bar
28-30 Jackson Avenue
179 locals recommend
I could live in this place.

Entertainment & Activities

I have never been but my friends' kids love it.
72 locals recommend
Children's Museum of Manhattan
212 W 83rd St
72 locals recommend
I have never been but my friends' kids love it.

Everything Else

Love these ladies! They do same-day drop-off if you are so inclined, or you can wash/dry there yourself. They also do dry cleaning (but they outsource). They haven't lost anything of mine yet!
7 locals recommend
Park West Laundromat
101 W 84th St
7 locals recommend
Love these ladies! They do same-day drop-off if you are so inclined, or you can wash/dry there yourself. They also do dry cleaning (but they outsource). They haven't lost anything of mine yet!
Urgent Care if you need it while you are visiting!
7 locals recommend
CityMD West 69th Urgent Care - NYC
2025 Broadway
7 locals recommend
Urgent Care if you need it while you are visiting!
Spend a paycheck in two stores, row.
50 locals recommend
Bleecker Street
Bleecker Street
50 locals recommend
Spend a paycheck in two stores, row.
Good bar, dancing upstairs on the weekend and some week nights.
257 locals recommend
Pianos
158 Ludlow St
257 locals recommend
Good bar, dancing upstairs on the weekend and some week nights.
Museum opened up recently.
567 locals recommend
9/11 Memorial South Pool
180 Greenwich St
567 locals recommend
Museum opened up recently.

Drinks & Nightlife

Decent bar, live music most nights.
65 locals recommend
Prohibition
503 Columbus Ave
65 locals recommend
Decent bar, live music most nights.
Ok bar, lots of TVs if you want to catch a game.
6 locals recommend
Fire House Tavern
522 Columbus Ave
6 locals recommend
Ok bar, lots of TVs if you want to catch a game.
New bar next to my favorite restaurant, always busy, decent drinks.
23 locals recommend
e's BAR
511 Amsterdam Ave
23 locals recommend
New bar next to my favorite restaurant, always busy, decent drinks.
Dark sports-ish bar. Good for a quick beer in low lighting.
12 locals recommend
George Keeley NYC
485 Amsterdam Ave
12 locals recommend
Dark sports-ish bar. Good for a quick beer in low lighting.
Good for pricey specialty cocktails on someone else's tab. Food is great too but perhaps not worth the pricetag.
107 locals recommend
The NoMad Hotel
1170 Broadway
107 locals recommend
Good for pricey specialty cocktails on someone else's tab. Food is great too but perhaps not worth the pricetag.
Bar is in the reception area of the hotel but is usually busy. Decor is gothic ironic so expect the trendy and annoying. Drinks are strong but also pricey.
81 locals recommend
Ace Hotel New York
20 W 29th St
81 locals recommend
Bar is in the reception area of the hotel but is usually busy. Decor is gothic ironic so expect the trendy and annoying. Drinks are strong but also pricey.
One of the bars in this neighborhood I like, good bites and solid drinks.
200 locals recommend
The Penrose
1590 2nd Ave
200 locals recommend
One of the bars in this neighborhood I like, good bites and solid drinks.
Oysters and lobster rolls with shoestring fries. Just amazing.
31 locals recommend
Pearl Oyster Bar
18 Cornelia St
31 locals recommend
Oysters and lobster rolls with shoestring fries. Just amazing.
Famous bar but great atmosphere.
58 locals recommend
White Horse Tavern
567 Hudson Street
58 locals recommend
Famous bar but great atmosphere.
Decent roof for the LES considering it's not actually a hotel. Three floors, different music. Strong drinks.
135 locals recommend
Hotel Chantelle
92 Ludlow St
135 locals recommend
Decent roof for the LES considering it's not actually a hotel. Three floors, different music. Strong drinks.
90s Hip Hop Fridays. Nuff said.
14 locals recommend
Lobby Bar
247 Eldridge St
14 locals recommend
90s Hip Hop Fridays. Nuff said.