I was itching to get out of town again this summer but wanted to keep a low budget vacation after my spendy Hawaii Trip in April. A friend of mine had an empty apartment in New York so I decided to take advantage of some free accommodations to visit the city. I’ve been to New York a couple times before so I wasn’t racing off to see the Statue of Liberty or the Empire State Building; on this trip I wanted to hit spots that both locals and visitors alike can enjoy while of course eating the amazing food. In addition to the spots mentioned below I recommend some quick google searches on events happening around town. You never know when you can see a concert, pop-up event or unique show. We visited over fourth of July and got to see the spectacular fireworks over the river.

UPTOWN

Since I was staying a friend’s apartment in the Upper East Side side I probably spent more time uptown than the average visitor. If you are looking for a quiet neighborhood with lots of great bars and restaurants I highly recommend staying in the Upper East or West Side away from the touristy bustle of Midtown and Times Square.

Activities

Central Park is of course a must see when you are in New York. I went early in the morning to take pictures when less tourists were around and the temperature was cooler. The only people out at sunrise were joggers and a couple getting professional photos taken. Make sure to see the Loeb Boathouse, Bethesda Terrace, and the Belvedere Castle.

Museums: There are so many incredible museums in this area. You can’t really go wrong at any of them but . During Covid a lot of them have stopped having free days but when things return back to normal I recommend planning for visit around when you can get free entrance. The Metropolitan Museum of Art, The Natural History Museum, The Guggenheim and my personal favorite Museum of Modern Art (MOMA).

Hudson River Waterfront Greenway

Stand-Up New York – if you want a chill evening out watching a show here will cost you $22.50 per person and a two drink $18 minimum.

Uptown Restaurant Suggestions:

Thep Thai – the sweet potato pad thai and avocado Massaman Curry were chef’s kiss. Thep also has ample outdoor hut seating if you are looking for restaurants with outdoor seating.

Meijin Ramen – great Ramen, cold noodles and some good happy hour deals.

Bagelworks – great NY style bagels at a reasonable price. We saw several locals grab a bagel and coffee on their way to work here. Get the black Russian to try a new flavor.

Emmy Squared – If you’re after pizza a little more substantial then a dollar slice these Detroit style thick slices are sure to satisfy any carb cravings you may have.

Han Dynasty – The dry pot here was phenomenal. If you’re on the Upper West Side skip Jacob’s Pickles and come here.

Van Leeuwen Ice Cream – good ice cream and plenty of yummy vegan options if you’re a lactose intolerant ice-cream lover like me.

Bakery Levain – getting a gooey chocolate chip cookie is a must. The cookie is sickeningly decadent but oh so good.

MIDTOWN

A lot of the activities and sites on Manhattan are located here from Chinatown and Soho to Times Square and Broadway there is so much to do in this area. Map out your route at the beginning of the day to optimize walking otherwise you may end of backtracking more than you wanted to.

Activities

The High Line- This urban renewal project below me away. The 1.45-mile-long elevated park was created on a former New York Central Railroad. We visited early for a serene morning walk without the crowds. On the weekends you might want to reserve time ahead to make sure you can stay for as long as you like.  

The Vessel – This interactive artwork is compromised of 154 interconnected flights of stairs and will give you fantastic views of the city and river. Its free to see this from the ground but if you want to go up the tickets must be reserved in advance for $10 and you need to go up with a buddy. They do not allow people to enter solo anymore due to a suicide risk.

The Little Island- This is a new, free public park pier within the larger Hudson River Park, opened to the public on May 2021. We went during sunset and soaked in a beautiful view of the financial district and Jersey along with the incredible landscaping that has over 350 species of flowers, trees etc.

Soho Shopping- You can find flagship stores for the likes of Uniqlo, Topshop and Everlane. If you’re interested in going shopping in New York Soho is where its at.

Broadway- Sadly I couldn’t see a show on this trip but Broadway shows start trickling back as of September of 2021 so make to get yourself a ticket. I also have a good excuse to return to New York City to watch a show.

Midtown Restaurant Suggestions:

Eataly- Come here for authentic Italian food, desserts and/or specialty goods. Having been to a couple Eatalys in Italy I think the one in NYC holds up pretty well. The fresh pasta we had at Il Pastaio was incredible.

Citizens of Chelsea – come here for breakfast and don’t miss out on the tasty velvet latte.

Jack’s Wife Freda – this is a very popular brunch spot. But if you’re like me and can eat breakfast at any time of day then feel free to go on a week day or for dinner to avoid the crowds.

Chelsea Market – tack on a quick wander around Chelsea Market before or after you walk the High Line for lunch or shopping for some local goods.

Chinatown – grab some delicious noodles and dumplings at 456 New Shanghai Restaurant then go for dessert at either Alimama for chewy and soft mochi donuts and boba tea or Taiyaki NYC for japanese ice cream in cute fish shaped cones. Note, that if you’re willing to make the trek, the best Chinatown is in Flushing, Queens. On this trip we never made it out but that’s definitely where you can find the most authentic and affordable asian food.

BROOKLYN

Admittedly, I still haven’t spend much time in Brooklyn despite visiting New York several times. Next time I’m in the city I definitely was to spend more time in this borough

Activities

Brooklyn Bridge – walk across the bridge, ideally at sunset or sunrise. Trust me, you won’t regret it. Plus its free!

Time Out NYC- your classic food hall located right on the water. I love visiting foodhalls when you can’t decide a restaurant that everyone you’re traveling with wants to eat at. With a variety of cuisines, everyone can find something they want to eat at Time Out.

Brooklyn Flea Market- located in Dumbo, the flea market is fun through comb through antiques, vintage clothing, and furniture. Even if you can’t bring anything back with you the people watching and hipster vibes are enough to stop by.

Brooklyn Bridge Park – on a warm sunny summer day there’s nothing better than having a meander around the park and maybe a little picnic in the grass with epic views of Manhattan across from the water.

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I’m sure you can tell from these recommendations, I ate a LOT of food and am in food recovery while I write this post. New York has a way of re-energizing me like no other city in the US. Although many restaurants and theaters are still recovering from Covid-19; New York as always, remains resilient. In the words of Dorothy Parker “New York is always hopeful. Always it believes that something good is about to come off, and it must hurry to meet it.”