A City Guide to NYC

When I was a kid, I used to pretend to be sick so I could stay home and watch Miracle on 34th Street in the fall. As I got older, I would skip college classes to binge Gossip Girl, or re-watch You’ve Got Mail with my floor mates for the millionth time. I guess you could say that I’ve been metaphorically running away to New York City my whole life – and who could blame me? The city has so much energy and vibrancy – it’s everything that Taylor Swift and Frank Sinatra sing about, and more. Today, we’re sharing a few of our favorite places in the city (trust me, this list could go on and on forever), so you can narrow down what to do while in the city.

Eat:
The Minetta Tavern
This place is special – it’s been around forever, and has such classic, New York, rat-pack vibes. You can basically imagine Barry Holiday in the booth next to you, drinking a martini. Don’t miss the Black Label Burger (repeatedly voted best burger in NYC), or any of the cocktails.

Little Collins
Looking for a quick coffee and brunch spot? This is delicious food and great drinks. We strongly recommend the Salmon Avocado Benedict.

The Wren
The Wren is my favorite brunch place in the world – which I know is a strong statement. They have incredible, reasonably priced food, mixed with wonderful ambiance and decor.

Amelie
GUYS. Stop what you’re doing a book a table at this intimate French wine bar, that has an unbeatable happy hour, and a cozy feel. You can’t go wrong with any wine flights, the beef tartare, the escargot, or the goat cheese ball with baguette.

Palma
Palma might be the prettiest restaurant I’ve been inside. It looks like a rambling Italian house, that started growing a garden in the middle of it. There’s a clear ceiling, and flowers growing everywhere. The pasta isn’t to be missed.

Smith Street Bagels/ Liberty Bagels/ Best Bagels and Coffee/ Absolute Bagels
If you’re looking for your new favorite NYC bagel, look no further than these locations.

Barachino
Our first experience with Brooklyn pizza didn’t disappoint – the salami and honey pizza gets high marks from us.

Stumptown/ Blue Bottle Coffee/ Blue Stone Lane Coffee/ Two Hands
A few of our favorite places to pop in for a triple capp pick me up.

Alice’s Teacup
This is the coziest little place for a pot of tea and a plate of fresh baked scones.

Play:
Central Park
Believe the hype. Central Park is worth a visit (or two) on your trip. We love to go over to Bow Bridge, and the Bethesda Fountain.

The MET/ The MOMA
Get your museum fix at these two NYC institutions.

Bryant Park
One of our favorite spots, especially in the winter when there’s outdoor ice skating.

The New York Library
Wanna feel like you’ve enrolled in Hogwarts? Check out this beautiful exterior AND interior.

DUMBO
There was a street clogged with instagrammers trying to get the perfect ‘I always wear no jacket when it’s 20 degrees outside’ picture at this spot, but it’s a classic for a reason. Go for the view, and get your own pic.

Chelsea Market
Chelsea Market is a food lovers, and shopping lovers paradise. You could spend a good portion of a morning getting lost in here, and then having lunch.

The Plaza Food Court
After you’ve gotten your best Kevin McCallister photo in the lobby, go downstairs to the food hall and grab a lovely cheese pizza, just for yourself – or you know, something else from one of the many stalls.

TixToday
Wanna see a show in NYC? Get the TixToday app to check last minute prices for the best deals.

The Brooklyn Bridge
It’s as iconic and photogenic as everyone says.

Stay:
Yotel
Our favorite place to stay in New York, is the Yotel in Hells Kitchen. We had our first Yotel experience in London on our honeymoon, and fell in love with the hotel brand.

Airbnb
We’ve rented various Airbnbs, and had a ton of fun staying in a Brooklyn Brownstone on this last trip.

When:
Our favorite time to visit New York is late November – Early December. There really is nothing like Christmas in the city, and we think it’s a must for your visit.