Guidebook for New York
Food Scene
Excellent and well priced Cuban food (and margaritas) in a buzzy but not overwhelming environment. They also deliver.
218 locals recommend
Café Habana
17 Prince StExcellent and well priced Cuban food (and margaritas) in a buzzy but not overwhelming environment. They also deliver.
Delicious, creative modern Thai eats & cocktails in a small, funky cafe with brick walls & Bangkok flea market-decor. If the wait is too long, try Uncle Boon's sister (a casual, quick eats spot) on Mott Street.
68 locals recommend
Uncle Boons
186 Mott StDelicious, creative modern Thai eats & cocktails in a small, funky cafe with brick walls & Bangkok flea market-decor. If the wait is too long, try Uncle Boon's sister (a casual, quick eats spot) on Mott Street.
Modern counter serve with sweet & savory grass-fed Greek yogurt, plus butter coffee & light bites. Also a beautiful patio.
27 locals recommend
Greecologies
379 Broome StModern counter serve with sweet & savory grass-fed Greek yogurt, plus butter coffee & light bites. Also a beautiful patio.
Landmark NoLita restaurant serving coal-fired, thin-crust Neapolitan pizza since 1905. Sometimes touristy but the pizza is so good that it's worth it.
149 locals recommend
Lombardi's
32 Spring StLandmark NoLita restaurant serving coal-fired, thin-crust Neapolitan pizza since 1905. Sometimes touristy but the pizza is so good that it's worth it.
Wood-fired pizzas & homemade pastas highlight this rustic Italian with a skylight in the back room.
49 locals recommend
Emporio
231 Mott StWood-fired pizzas & homemade pastas highlight this rustic Italian with a skylight in the back room.
Tacos, quesadillas & more are dispensed from a VW van parked inside this kitschy garagelike space.
188 locals recommend
Tacombi
267 Elizabeth StTacos, quesadillas & more are dispensed from a VW van parked inside this kitschy garagelike space.
Modern bagel shop for Montreal-style wood-oven bagels plus smoked fish & creative sandwiches. In my opinion, the best bagels in NYC.
97 locals recommend
Black
170 Elizabeth StModern bagel shop for Montreal-style wood-oven bagels plus smoked fish & creative sandwiches. In my opinion, the best bagels in NYC.
Mile End Deli is a New York City-based Jewish Delicatessen specializing in traditional specialty foods, including housemade Montreal-style smoked meats, hot dogs and sausages.
25 locals recommend
Mile End Deli
97a Bond StMile End Deli is a New York City-based Jewish Delicatessen specializing in traditional specialty foods, including housemade Montreal-style smoked meats, hot dogs and sausages.
Stunningly beautiful Italian restaurant at the Bowery Hotel. Not cheap, but delicious and one of the prettiest spaces in the neighbourhood.
67 locals recommend
Gemma
335 BoweryStunningly beautiful Italian restaurant at the Bowery Hotel. Not cheap, but delicious and one of the prettiest spaces in the neighbourhood.
Pricey yet iconic French brasserie with steak frites, brunch & pastries in a classy space with red banquettes. An NYC staple that's been around for over 20 years.
274 locals recommend
Balthazar
80 Spring StPricey yet iconic French brasserie with steak frites, brunch & pastries in a classy space with red banquettes. An NYC staple that's been around for over 20 years.
Buzzy, late night casual Thai spot. The food won't change your life, but it's a cute place with a great ambience and is one of my go to local spots for a quick meal.
98 locals recommend
Lovely Day
196 Elizabeth StBuzzy, late night casual Thai spot. The food won't change your life, but it's a cute place with a great ambience and is one of my go to local spots for a quick meal.
Sunny little cafe focusing on everything egg including creative sandwiches, fancy Benedicts & more. Go early, or be prepared to wait.
104 locals recommend
Egg Shop
151 Elizabeth StSunny little cafe focusing on everything egg including creative sandwiches, fancy Benedicts & more. Go early, or be prepared to wait.
American fare, craft cocktails & Colonial tavern decor draws a hip crowd to this hidden-away spot, though don't go if you are offended by taxidermy as they've got some animal heads mounted on the walls.
199 locals recommend
Freemans
Freeman AlleyAmerican fare, craft cocktails & Colonial tavern decor draws a hip crowd to this hidden-away spot, though don't go if you are offended by taxidermy as they've got some animal heads mounted on the walls.
Essentials
Whole Foods Market
95 E Houston StGroceries, household supplies, quick meals etc.
Duane Reade
110 Newark AvePharmacy and drug store.
Drinks & Nightlife
Cute, cozy and casual wine bar with great food and ambience. My favourite spot to warm up with a glass of wine on a cold evening, plus they have a great Happy Hour from 4-7.
13 locals recommend
YN
227 Mott StCute, cozy and casual wine bar with great food and ambience. My favourite spot to warm up with a glass of wine on a cold evening, plus they have a great Happy Hour from 4-7.
Playful cocktail bar with a dark, speakeasy vibe serving unique aperitifs, highballs & punches.
45 locals recommend
Nitecap
151 Rivington StPlayful cocktail bar with a dark, speakeasy vibe serving unique aperitifs, highballs & punches.
Innovative, creative cocktails & classic concoctions mixed up in an industrial-style space.
102 locals recommend
Attaboy
134 Eldridge StInnovative, creative cocktails & classic concoctions mixed up in an industrial-style space.
(Le) Poisson Rouge is a multimedia art cabaret founded by musicians on the site of the historic Village Gate. Dedicated to the fusion of popular and art cultures in music, film, theater, dance, and fine art, the venue’s mission is to revive the symbiotic relationship between art and revelry; to establish a creative asylum for both artists and audiences. As a professional musician myself, it is one of my favourite spots in the city, with high quality yet eclectic programming.
57 locals recommend
(Le) Poisson Rouge
158 Bleecker St(Le) Poisson Rouge is a multimedia art cabaret founded by musicians on the site of the historic Village Gate. Dedicated to the fusion of popular and art cultures in music, film, theater, dance, and fine art, the venue’s mission is to revive the symbiotic relationship between art and revelry; to establish a creative asylum for both artists and audiences. As a professional musician myself, it is one of my favourite spots in the city, with high quality yet eclectic programming.
Expansive, rustic German beer hall with outdoor seating, a large beer menu & traditional fare.
36 locals recommend
Loreley Beer Garden
7 Rivington StExpansive, rustic German beer hall with outdoor seating, a large beer menu & traditional fare.
Rockwood Music Hall is a music venue at 196 Allen Street on the Lower East Side of Manhattan, New York City. The venue features three stages and a record label of the same name. A hub for the best of the local music scene as well as a drop in for intimate one off shows by established artists.
226 locals recommend
Rockwood Music Hall
196 Allen StRockwood Music Hall is a music venue at 196 Allen Street on the Lower East Side of Manhattan, New York City. The venue features three stages and a record label of the same name. A hub for the best of the local music scene as well as a drop in for intimate one off shows by established artists.
A mid-size NYC staple where you can catch larger touring indie bands.
135 locals recommend
The Bowery Ballroom
6 Delancey StA mid-size NYC staple where you can catch larger touring indie bands.
Futuristic looking music venue with programming that spans the NYC avant-garde to club nights, indie rock, pop and jazz. High art meets pop culture.
55 locals recommend
National Sawdust
80 N 6th StFuturistic looking music venue with programming that spans the NYC avant-garde to club nights, indie rock, pop and jazz. High art meets pop culture.
Arts & Culture
The New Museum is a leading destination for new art and new ideas. It is Manhattan's only dedicated contemporary art museum and is respected internationally for the adventurousness and global scope of its curatorial program.
629 locals recommend
New Museum of Contemporary Art
235 BoweryThe New Museum is a leading destination for new art and new ideas. It is Manhattan's only dedicated contemporary art museum and is respected internationally for the adventurousness and global scope of its curatorial program.
A masterpiece around every corner, plus cutting edge exhibitions. One of the best museums in the world.
2114 locals recommend
The Museum of Modern Art
11 West 53rd StreetA masterpiece around every corner, plus cutting edge exhibitions. One of the best museums in the world.
The Metropolitan Museum of Art of New York, colloquially "the Met," is the largest art museum in the United States. It would take days to see everything. Personal favourites include the weapons and armor hall, the indoor garden pavilions, the costume institute and the Egyptian section, though everything in here is pretty special.
2653 locals recommend
The Metropolitan Museum of Art
1000 5th AveThe Metropolitan Museum of Art of New York, colloquially "the Met," is the largest art museum in the United States. It would take days to see everything. Personal favourites include the weapons and armor hall, the indoor garden pavilions, the costume institute and the Egyptian section, though everything in here is pretty special.
New York's Tenement Museum focuses on America's urban immigrant history. The Tenement Museum provides walking tours and is a popular attraction in the Lower East Side of NYC. I've never been, but I've heard it's great.
603 locals recommend
Tenement Museum
103 Orchard StNew York's Tenement Museum focuses on America's urban immigrant history. The Tenement Museum provides walking tours and is a popular attraction in the Lower East Side of NYC. I've never been, but I've heard it's great.
Entertainment & Activities
Angelika Film Center is a movie theater chain in the United States that features independent and foreign films.
184 locals recommend
Fulton Street Art Gallery
116 John StAngelika Film Center is a movie theater chain in the United States that features independent and foreign films.
Parks & Nature
The High Line is a 1.45-mile-long elevated linear park, greenway and rail trail. It was created on a former New York Central Railroad spur on the west side of Manhattan in New York City. A great example of New York's creativity and resourceful use of its limited space. Plus it's close to the Whitney and they have a lot of arts events/installations up there.
2323 locals recommend
The High Line Park
The High Line is a 1.45-mile-long elevated linear park, greenway and rail trail. It was created on a former New York Central Railroad spur on the west side of Manhattan in New York City. A great example of New York's creativity and resourceful use of its limited space. Plus it's close to the Whitney and they have a lot of arts events/installations up there.
Personally I'd pick Prospect Park in Brooklyn over Central Park, but you can't go wrong either way.
3418 locals recommend
Prospect Park
Personally I'd pick Prospect Park in Brooklyn over Central Park, but you can't go wrong either way.