New York City might not be an exotic destination, but this mesmerising concrete jungle still deserves some time in your travel calendar if you love city breaks.
Visiting New York is like finding yourself on the set of a hundred movies all at once. You can get utterly lost in Central Park, one of the world's most filmed locations. Navigating the equally famous (and huge!) subway network can be quite daunting. Just taking in the sprawling Manhattan skyline from one of the 274 skyscrapers can certainly feel overwhelming. But if you let the adventurous explorer in you take hold, NYC will treat you to a choice of over 150 neighbourhoods to explore. Each of them has a unique character and offering. The scale and variety really is hard to believe and just thinking about all the things to see and do can make your head spin.
Luckily, the niyaorfar curated list of restaurants, bars and attractions is here to make your life easier.
When to go: Late August or September. Summer can be scorching hot in NYC so if that's not something you enjoy, plan to arrive as far as the end of September. As an added bonus, you might even catch the beautiful autumn colours when the trees start to change their foliage around that time.
Key tips for visiting: Don't underestimate the size of this monster of a city! You'll need at least 5 days to cover enough ground across Manhattan and Brooklyn. If you're using the subway, get an unlimited Metro card for $33. Of course, Uber is also a great way of getting around if you're feeling fancy.
Where to stay:
Hudson New York - If you'd like to focus on Manhattan, I couldn't recommend the Hudson enough. It's got an excellent location (on the corner of Central Park), a cool ambiance and it has a great rooftop bar to top it all off.
The Williamsburg Hotel - Next time I'm in NYC I will definitely be staying at the Williamsburg Hotel in Brooklyn, as it comes highly recommended. Besides, that view and that level of industrial chic cool is impossible resist!
Mingle with the locals: where to eat & drink in New York
Black Seed Bagels - the bagel is a universally recognised New York breakfast staple, and this place is an absolute must. Their award winning artisan bagels are literally a treat, with a slightly sweet-tasting, baked-to-golden-perfection dough.
Zucker's Bagels - a bagel shop offering a fantastic selection of smoked fish. In classic New York fashion I had my poppy seed bagel with salmon, cream cheese and capers and it was delicious!
Market Crates - a couple Manhattan locations offering a variety of salads and bento boxes. A perfect option for a quick healthy lunch on a busy day of sightseeing.
Scarpetta - an upscale Italian restaurant famous for its signature handmade spaghetti with tomato & basil sauce. Prices can be a bit steep, but on weekdays $32 can buy you their fixed price three-course lunch.
Mission Ceviche - supposedly the best ceviche in NYC, and hands down the best Peruvian I have ever had. I can't recommend this place enough. From the service to the quality of the ingredients and the overall vibe, it's a 10/10 winner! Order the Classic Peruvian, the Nikkei and at least one plate of the octopus (we ordered two).
Momofuku Ssam Bar - an Asian eatery in the East Village by chef David Chang. If you've watched the Ugly Delicious food show on Netflix, you know you can expect an inventive menu from this guy. The red snapper tartare (quite spicy) and the pork buns are to die for!
Bar Pitti - this place was a recommendation from a few local friends. Bar Pitti serves great Italian food and apparently is known to attract a few well-known faces, if you're into people watching with your meal.
Magnolia Bakery - if you need an afternoon snack to power you up, this place on Bleecker Street sells classic desserts and a selection of inventive cupcakes. It's also where Carrie and Miranda of Sex and the City have cupcakes in Season 3, so it's a must-visit if you're a fan of the show.
Banter NYC - a gorgeous little cafe and bar offering health-conscious meals, coffee and cocktails. A very friendly and cosy atmosphere make this place a real sanctuary in the West Village.
Jack's Wife Freda - I read about this place in a blog long before I visited New York, and when I finally got there and tried it, it didn't disappoint. I still remember having the weird but wonderful green shakshuka and the crispy, yet soft challah toast as if it were yesterday!
Little Choc Apothecary - a cosy little spot to have brunch if you're staying in Williamsburg. They serve unbelievable crepes, which are fully vegan. Try the Choc Butter Newtella!
Juliana's - my recommendation for an unmissable New York style pizza, in a restaurant located right under the Brooklyn Bridge. Full disclosure: I waited for over an hour to get in, but it was worth it. I got a front row seat with a view of the coal-fire oven, and the friendly waiter told me his life's story of how he came to New York from Italy. The experience doesn't get more authentic than that.
The Skylark - the unassuming entrance downstairs will not prepare you for the glamorous bar with a killer view that awaits 30 floors above the ground. This is the perfect spot for when you feel like having a sophisticated, fancy night. Also check out the smaller bar, styled as an equally classy living room.
Top of the Standard - a friend took me to this gorgeous bar that turns into a club after 10PM. It's a much more chilled vibe on the rooftop which opens in summer, but the bar below is just as great for casual drinks at sunset. We also caught a gig on the terrace in their East Village location, so definitely check out their events schedule!
Be the savvy tourist: cultural attractions in New York
The High Line - not the obvious choice for a green space in the city... and that's the best thing about it. Someone had the incredibly original idea to turn an unused rail line into an elevated urban park, and people went crazy about it. A quirky promenade with some great river and city views is definitely a winner in my book.
Chelsea Market - just a stone's throw from the High Line, this buzzing indoor market has it all - groceries, little eateries and a bunch of cool, quirky shops. You could easily spend hours there and not regret it at all. See if you can catch one of the cultural events held there, too.
The Met - The Metropolitan Museum of Art could mislead you with its name. It certainly has a huge collection of paintings and artworks, but there are also some amazing historical artefacts from around the world, including a life-size temple that was brought over from Egypt.
The Rose Main Reading Room - for all you bibliophiles out there, this gorgeous reading room in the New York Public Library is certainly worth a visit. With its high ceilings covered with murals of skies with cotton candy clouds, this place could easily belong in a fairytale.
Central Park - an absolutely essential New York experience. One whole blog post would not be enough to cover all the things to see and do, so here are my top three tips. Make sure to check out the Alice in Wonderland sculpture, the Loeb Boathouse and the Bethesda Terrace.
Top of the Rock - for lovers of 360 degree panoramic views. You don't want to see New York's skyline from the top of the Empire State, because the Empire State is arguably the most iconic building in that skyline! I went up at sunset and spent over an hour taking in the stunning views from every possible angle.
Staten Island Ferry - a nice way of seeing the Statue of Liberty from the water if you'd rather not get all touristy. The ferry is free and it takes about 25 minutes. The ride back is actually the best part as that's when you're treated to an incredible view of lower Manhattan.
Pop culture attractions - sadly Central Perk cafe is a purely fictional location, but you can go hang out in front of the Friends building instead. Alternatively, if Sex and the City is your cup of tea (or rather your glass of Cosmo), check out Carrie Bradshaw's apartment. Just be mindful of the fact that actual people live there, so acting out your favourite scenes on the steps might be frowned upon.
For the gram: great photo spots in New York
Wonderworld NYC - a beautiful exhibition with interactive installations in each room. If you're looking for some real IG feed candy, that's the spot.
Manhattan Bridge from Dumbo - stand on the corner of Water St and Washington St for the perfect artistic capture of the blueish steel bridge framed by two red brick industrial buildings. Apply a vintage effect filter and just like that, you're a top influencer.
Brooklyn Bridge from Pebble Beach - just a few steps away from the Manhattan Bridge photo spot, this tiny pebble beach doubles up as a gorgeous riverside promenade. Take your shot with the Manhattan skyline at sunset for the ultimate dreamy backdrop, or just go for the classic shot against the bridge's arches.
Milk & Cream Cereal Bar - grab one of these incredibly extra ice-creams with cereal toppings and add some colour and quirkiness to your feed.
28th Street station - while the NYC subway may not be particularly photogenic, the beautiful floral mural at this station makes it an exception worth checking out.
LROOM cafe - Why should you settle for an ordinary hot beverage when you can have a glittery gold latte for your spread? This place can give you exactly that.
Cha Cha Matcha - a hip cafe with a tropical decor, which is just as energising as the colourful drinks served behind the bar. The ultimate feel good place in the NoMad neighbourhood. Also a perfectly instagrammable spot.
Take a piece of New York home: Gifts & souvenir ideas
Since the 19th century, New York has been the undisputed capital of American advertising. That makes vintage ad posters the perfect unusual gifts. You can find hundreds of great options in Philip Williams Posters in lower Manhattan.
I'd love to hear your ideas too! Let me know in the comment sections if you can think of a better souvenir from NYC.